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British government officials have held two high-level, secret security meetings in the wake of mysterious drone activity over American air bases in England. That has led Borough President Vito Fossella to slam U.S. officials for their lack of transparency over drone activity in the United States. “What are we waiting for?” the borough president said in a prepared statement. The Times of London reported that two secret meetings of the Civil Contingencies Committee have been held by top U.K. officials after mystery drones buzzed American air bases in England. Concerns were heightened because the drones had technology so sophisticated that authorities have been unable to track them or identify those responsible, the Times said. Military officials have not ruled out the involvement of a hostile state but have expressed alarm that it has so far proved impossible to find the pilots responsible for controlling the drones. It was said that the drones were not programmed but were controlled in real time by live operators. Also known as COBRA or COBR, the meetings are convened to handle matters of national emergency or major disruption. Its purpose is to coordinate different departments and agencies in response to such emergencies. The meetings are held in the Cabinet Office Briefing Room in London and include top officials, including sometimes the British prime minister. “Our concern, from day one, has been the lack of transparency and clear understanding of these vast drone sightings,” Fossella said. “There were reports that even President Biden made attempts to determine what they were, and those attempts resulted in no credible information.” Said Fossella, “Each time our concerns are raised, we are told there is no public safety risk, even as our closest ally in Europe assesses the possibility that these drones may be operated by a foreign adversary.” He said, “If the United Kingdom can take this concern of public safety seriously, so can we. The federal government needs to do the right thing, sooner than later, and give the American public the answers they deserve.” The U.S. drone sightings were first reported in New Jersey five weeks ago and have spread to other parts of the country, including Staten Island and military bases across the U.S. Mystery drones have also been spotted over a U.S. military base in Germany. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned drones over certain areas of the country, including Staten Island, and has warned that deadly force could be used against operators who break the ban. Most Popular Stories by Tom WrobleskiThe Case For Salutogenic Health: A 360° Solution With Prosocial AI
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Thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents in Spain's second city. Barcelona, which has already taken action to stop the spread of holiday rental apartments, is the latest Spanish city to see protests for cheaper housing. Backed by left-wing parties and unions, the demonstrators gathered in central Barcelona behind a giant banner declaring "Lower the rents". "Today a new political cycle starts concerning housing," Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Catalan Tenants Union, the main organiser, told reporters. "Investors must not be allowed to come to our cities and play with the apartments like a game of Monopoly," she added. The union would target "profiteers" who are taking "half of our salaries", Arcarazo said. The demonstrators demanded a 50 percent cut in rents, leases with an unlimited term and a ban on "speculative" sales of buildings. They threatened to start a rent strike. An estimated 22,000 people took part in a similar demonstration in Madrid on October 13. Campaigns have been launched in other cities. According to the Idealista specialised website, rental prices per square metre have risen 82 percent across Spain over the past decade. The average salary has gone up by 17 percent in that time, according to the national statistics institute. Facing pressure over a housing crisis, the government in 2023 passed legislation calling for more social housing, greater restrictions on rents in high demand areas and penalties for owners who do not occupy properties. But rents have continued to rise while the government has battled city and regional authorities to get some parts of the law applied. vid-vab/tw/jmFEMA under investigation over Trump supporter discrimination