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1+ hour, 14+ min ago (364+ words) Some of the 16 shipping containers mostly filled with bananas that fell off a cargo ship were "not properly secured", an investigation has suggested. They fell from the Baltic Klipper cargo ship off the Isle of Wight and into the Solent on 6 December, with seven washing up in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour and two at Bognor Regis. Three have yet to be found. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said early findings showed some of them might have been lost when it "rolled heavily" in rough seas. Contractors and volunteers have scoured 28km (17 miles) of beach across West Sussex clearing fruit, metal and foam which were lost from the containers from the Liberia-registered ship. The Solent deep-water channel was closed briefly after the accident because of the potential risk of colliding with semi-submerged containers. The MAIB said its investigation will seek…...

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (281+ words) Wild boars in Malaga city. Credit: Miguel "ngel X Malaga Council has awarded a "30,000 contract to manage the growing presence of wild boars and feral pigs in urban areas, saying that the risks to public safety, traffic, and property are on the rise. The one-year deal, extendable for another year, was granted to Grupo SCAES-FAC and builds on measures introduced since September 2024. The contract follows a December 5 declaration of a temporary hunting emergency across Andalusia due to damage and health risks caused by these animals. It authorises intensified control measures, including potential population eradication through various capture methods. Preventive actions include installing additional watering points and planting vegetation in the outskirts of the city to discourage animals from entering. Monitoring will continue with night patrols, thermal cameras to track herds, and controlled feeding stations coordinated with the city's Environmental Health…...

1+ hour, 55+ min ago (307+ words) Spanish airports operator Aena is reinforcing its UK presence by taking a majority share in a holding company that has large stakes in Leeds Bradford and Newcastle airports. Aena is purchasing a 51% share of the holding company with the remaining 49% held by InfraBridge. The holding company wholly owns Leeds Bradford and has a 49% share of Newcastle airport. Seven local councils collectively hold the balance in Newcastle. Source: Leeds Bradford airport Aena will have a majority share in the holding company that owns Leeds Bradford airport Aena says it will acquire its interest in the two northern England airports " which handled a combined total of 9.5 million passengers last year " for "270 million ($361 million). It expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of next year. InfraBridge is the owner of a 49% stake in London Luton airport in which Aena already has…...

2+ hour, 5+ min ago (293+ words) Convicted killer Joran Van der Sloot reportedly tried to take his own life last week, inside a Peruvian prison. According to officials at Challapalca Prison, guards found Van der Sloot with a towel around his neck and "near death," 1819 News reports. The guards intervened while serving the inmates breakfast on December 12. Following the incident, the Peruvian Ministry of Justice said Van der Sloot was in stable condition. He later spoke with a film crew about his life behind bars, according to Radar Online. "Every day I see that the situation is getting worse for us inmates," he said. "You can't be with your family, you can't touch them or hug them." Van der Sloot is currently serving a 28-year sentence for the death of Stephany Flores, of Peru. A judge added another 18 years to his sentence in 2023, for drug trafficking....

2+ hour, 10+ min ago (300+ words) Midnight magic in the heart of Palma. Credit: Travelinho / Creative Commons New Year's Eve dinner in Mallorca is an experience in itself: long, celebratory and full of flavour. Many homes and restaurants serve sopa de nadal, a comforting seasonal broth, alongside porcella rostida, the traditional roasted suckling pig. The meal is rounded off with turr'n, Christmas sweets and sparkling cava, before heading out to enjoy the midnight grapes under the stars. To accommodate the celebrations, Palma reinforces its public transport services on New Year's Eve, adding extra night buses that connect the city centre, key neighbourhoods and the seafront. Using public transport is one of the safest and most convenient ways to move around, particularly for those planning to celebrate well into the early hours. On 1 January, a growing number of locals and visitors take part in the first swim…...

3+ hour, 10+ min ago (317+ words) FC Barcelona started preparations for Sunday's La Liga clash against Villarreal with a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning. Having had the day off on Thursday, the players reconvened to training today, with an eye on the team's final game before the mid-season break. However, in a concerning bit of development, key Barcelona midfielder Pedri did not train with the rest of the group, reports SPORT. Indeed, the Spanish international is still feeling the after-effects of the efforts he has made since returning from injury, and as such, is following an individual training plan with the club not taking any risks. Barcelona's plan was for Pedri to rest this week after the match against Osasuna, but he had to come on for 15 minutes in Guadalajara to help resolve the game, which was still level when he stepped onto…...

3+ hour, 15+ min ago (844+ words) A quarter-million beads reveal the power of ancient women. It's not uncommon for archaeologists to stumble upon ancient tombs filled with grave goods. Usually, we see weapons, jewels, crowns, or pottery. But finding a whopping 270,000 beads in a single location is unheard of. These beads, crafted from shells, stone, and animal bone, were used to create elaborate tunics worn by the women buried at the site. It was clearly a massive display of status, but it leaves us with two burning questions: who made them, and why? The grave is located at the Montelirio tholos, part of the massive Valencina Copper Age mega-site in southwestern Spain. Sitting on a plateau just 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) from the center of modern-day Seville, the site contains the remains of roughly 20 individuals. Most of them were women. These women were clearly VIPs of the…...

3+ hour, 19+ min ago (559+ words) Layers of History Shaping the Present Beyond the castle, history reveals itself in quieter ways. Churches, old residences, and narrow streets reflect a town shaped by community rather than spectacle. Walking through Milazzo feels intimate, as though the town invites visitors to observe rather than consume. This sense of continuity between past and present gives Milazzo a depth that many modern destinations lack. The Rhythm of Daily Life Food as a Reflection of Culture Cuisine in Milazzo reflects its maritime heritage and agricultural surroundings. Meals are built around fresh, seasonal ingredients, with seafood playing a central role. Dishes are often simple, allowing flavors to speak for themselves. Pasta with local fish, grilled vegetables, and freshly baked bread appear frequently on tables, both in homes and small restaurants. Food is more than sustenance here; it is a social experience. Meals are…...

3+ hour, 28+ min ago (438+ words) London police pulled a woman from the River Thames this week and then confirmed she was a suspect in a high-profile Colombian poisoning case. Authorities say the woman is Zulma Guzman Castro, a businesswoman accused of killing two schoolgirls in Bogota with chocolate raspberries allegedly laced with thallium, a toxic... Alleged Poison Raspberry Killer Pulled From Thames London police pulled a woman from the River Thames this week and then confirmed she was a suspect in a high-profile Colombian poisoning case. Authorities say the woman is Zulma Guzman Castro, a businesswoman accused of killing two schoolgirls in Bogota with chocolate raspberries allegedly laced with thallium, a toxic heavy metal, the Telegraph reports. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called just before 7am Tuesday to reports of a distressed woman on Battersea Bridge. Police said the force's marine unit recovered a woman…...

3+ hour, 49+ min ago (677+ words) Plus, here's more on the lesser-visited Spanish holiday destination that is now home to the best beer in the world ONE lesser-visited region in Spain has been named as one of the best places to visit next year. It has a main city that holds bull racing events along with huge valleys, mountains and even a desert. Conde Nast Traveller declared Navarra, also called Navarre, as one of the "Best Places to Go in Spain and Portugal in 2026. The publication said: "We often make a point of covering lesser-known sites in every region and in 2026 we want to encourage readers to check out a new project focused on rural areas in Navarra." The landlocked region located in'northern Spain, shares borders with the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain. Its capital, Pamplona, is home to around 200,000 residents. Enter these…...