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Barcelona, located in northeastern Spain, is one of the most visited cities in Europe, renowned for landmarks such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and the Picasso Museum. In 2023 alone, it attracted over 12 million tourists, solidifying its status as a global tourism hotspot. However, this influx has exacerbated local housing shortages, prompting municipal authorities to take drastic action.

Today, the Barcelona city government announced plans to completely ban short-term rentals for tourists by late 2028. This initiative aims to reclaim housing from the tourism sector for local residents. According to Jaume Collboni, the left-wing mayor, there are currently 11,101 apartments authorized for short-term rentals, and their permits will expire by November 2028 without renewal. He emphasized that these tourist apartments, as they are known today, "will disappear from Barcelona" starting in 2029.

Cities like Berlin, Paris, and Barcelona have all pointed to platforms offering shared housing for tourists as contributors to the difficulty locals face in finding long-term rentals, thereby driving up housing prices. Collboni stated that Barcelona's short-term rental boom has contributed to a 68% increase in rents and a 38% rise in property purchase costs over the past decade.

The Spanish central government's Housing Minister, Isabel Rodriguez, fully supports Barcelona's policy, aimed at ensuring affordable housing for its citizens, particularly the youth.

"In the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Hajj pilgrimage began on the 14th day, attracting believers from around the world. Due to scorching weather, with temperatures reaching 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit), over a thousand pilgrims died from heat-related causes. According to Saudi Arabian officials, nearly half of the deceased had not registered for the pilgrimage. Egypt has established a crisis management team to investigate the situation.

The Hajj is a sacred activity for Muslims, and it is obligatory for them to complete this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation allocates the number of pilgrims each Muslim country can send. Participants must register and obtain permits to participate.

The timing of the annual Hajj is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, it coincided with the intense summer heat in Saudi Arabia, resulting in unusually high temperatures. On Arafat Day (June 15), pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat, approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Mecca, for prayers and preaching. Pilgrims with permits could stay in air-conditioned tents and use buses for transportation to and from the holy sites, along with access to medical services.

Many pilgrims traveled through unofficial channels without obtaining permits, leading to their inability to use cooling equipment during the pilgrimage. The lack of adequate facilities and the large number of participants contributed to this unfortunate situation.

Saudi Arabia’s official registration for this year’s Hajj exceeded 1.8 million people, with an estimated additional several hundred thousand pilgrims traveling through unofficial means. As of the 17th of this month, over 2,700 people were hospitalized due to heatstroke, and more than 1,000 deaths were reported from over 20 countries, with Egyptians constituting the majority of fatalities.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has instructed the establishment of a crisis team to address the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims. Investigations and penalties are also planned for companies involved in illegal pilgrimage arrangements."

"Boeing faced significant consequences due to design flaws in the 737 Max aircraft, resulting in fatal crashes shortly after takeoff for Lion Air in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019, claiming a total of 346 lives. All aircraft of the same type were grounded until the cause was identified and addressed. Families of the victims collectively pressured the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute Boeing and impose a $24.8 billion fine.

On the 18th, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testified before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Senate, admitting the company’s mistakes and acknowledging retaliation against whistleblowers. He stood to apologize to the families of the victims, stating that lessons had been learned and employee feedback would be heeded. Families, some traveling from other countries, emphasized ongoing pressure on the U.S. government to hold Boeing and its executives criminally responsible for the 346 deaths. They also believed that part of the fine should be allocated to an independent oversight body for Boeing.

Paul Cassell, an attorney representing some victims, urged the Justice Department, emphasizing that Boeing’s actions caused significant loss of life, and the proposed fine was reasonable and appropriate.

According to The Wall Street Journal, there is still no consensus within the Justice Department on whether to prosecute Boeing. The case is highly sensitive due to Boeing’s significant impact on future U.S. defense weapon and aircraft sales, prompting Attorney General Merrick Garland to personally modify the prosecution’s court filings.

In 2021, Boeing reached a deferred prosecution agreement with authorities, but a safety incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in January 2024 (where a cabin door detached mid-flight) led to Boeing violating the previous agreement. Prosecutors must decide by July 7 whether to proceed with criminal charges against Boeing, negotiate a plea agreement, or potentially extend the prior deferred prosecution agreement for another year."

Thailand’s parliament has passed an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code, allowing same-sex couples to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples.

The legislation, which received strong public support, will now go to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for assent. Once published in the royal gazette, it will take effect 120 days later.

Thailand will become the third Asian jurisdiction, after Nepal and Taiwan, to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill replaces gender-specific terms like “men” and “women” with gender-neutral language, ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ couples, including inheritance and adoption rights. The minimum marriage age for same-sex couples will be 18 years old. This historic step marks a victory for activists, civil society organizations, and lawmakers who have tirelessly fought for marriage equality in Thailand.

The 2024 South Korean doctors’ strike is an ongoing strike, which began on February 20, 2024. Doctors in South Korea expressed dissatisfaction with the announcement of new government policies significantly increasing the medical student quotas.

Despite the government’s insistence, thousands of interns and resident doctors have resigned and gone on strike to protest this plan. The strike has severely impacted South Korea’s healthcare system, with over half of the medical professors at Seoul National University Hospital participating in an indefinite strike.

The Korea Medical Association continues to support the strike, urging authorities to reconsider the policy of expanding medical student admissions. This prolonged strike has put the South Korean healthcare system in a difficult situation.

While some healthcare workers believe that increasing medical school enrollment will only marginally help address doctor shortages in rural areas, nearly 80% of the public opposes the strike according to a recent Nownsurvey poll. Violating the government’s return-to-work order could result in license revocation or other legal consequences for doctors. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed disappointment over the strike by physicians.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan attended the G7 Summit in Italy, where on June 14 local time, he held bilateral talks with several world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as reported by Asahi Shimbun and Jiji Press.
Modi's visit marked his first overseas trip since re-election and his first meeting with Kishida post-re-election. There were indications that Modi intended to visit Japan later this year. Kishida emphasized the desire to "further diversify and deepen bilateral relations," and both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation. Reports highlight India's significant role among Global South countries—emerging and developing nations.

Additionally, Kishida engaged in bilateral discussions with Italian host Giorgia Meloni, agreeing to initiate negotiations on the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) to allow mutual provision of food and fuel for training purposes between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Italian military. Kishida and Meloni also announced an "action plan" to enhance cooperation across seven sectors including diplomacy, national defense, and economic security, with plans for annual strategic dialogues between their foreign ministries.

On the same day, Kishida met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific region. They agreed to cooperate in security and maritime surveillance activities and confirmed plans to strengthen economic cooperation in sectors such as Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) production.

Canada will assume the G7 presidency in 2025. During their meeting, Kishida and Trudeau discussed the importance of sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, pledging coordination on these issues.

Following the U.S. decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the European Union (EU) announced on the 12th that it will impose provisional anti-subsidy duties on Chinese imports of EVs starting July 4th, with rates up to 38%, in response to China's excessive subsidy policies. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that it will take all necessary measures to defend the rights of Chinese enterprises.

The European Commission began an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EV imports last October. On the 12th, it announced the preliminary results, finding that Chinese government subsidies cover the entire EV industry chain. To protect local industry competitiveness, the EU will impose provisional anti-subsidy duties on BYD, Geely, and SAIC at rates of 17.4%, 20%, and 38.1%, respectively, starting July 4th. The anti-subsidy investigation will continue until November 2nd, and if confirmed, the high tariff rates will remain in effect for five years.

Regarding Western automakers like Tesla and BMW exporting cars from China to Europe, they are classified as cooperating companies in the investigation. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce expressed concern about the subsequent developments, accusing the EU's decision of lacking factual and legal basis and calling it a "protectionist act." The Ministry stated that it will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises. Germany, Sweden, and Hungary also worry that this move could provoke retaliation from China, but overturning the EU decision would require support from at least 11 other member states.

Recently, multiple regions in Japan have experienced outbreaks of a rare and deadly bacterial infection known as "flesh-eating bacteria" (Necrotizing Fasciitis). This epidemic has been rampant in Japan, setting a record for the highest number of cases for the same period in history, with nearly a thousand people infected. This situation has also caused considerable alarm among the Taiwanese population.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, the mortality rate after infection with this bacterium is as high as 50%, leading to widespread national concern and panic. The term "flesh-eating bacteria" refers to Group A Streptococcus, a common bacterium that can cause necrotizing fasciitis and even trigger "Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS)," which can lead to organ failure and death, hence the nickname "flesh-eating bacteria." Doctors indicate that when a skin wound is infected with Group A Streptococcus, tissue necrosis can easily occur, making the wound appear as though "a chunk has been eaten away." Group A Streptococcus is related to Streptococcus pneumoniae, and among children under the age of 15 with throat inflammation symptoms, about one-third are infected with Group A Streptococcus, making it one of the most common bacterial infections in children.

Since early June this year, major hospitals across Japan have been receiving numerous patients infected with the "flesh-eating bacteria." This bacterial infection rapidly destroys the patient's skin, fat, and muscle tissues, with the disease progressing very quickly. Without timely treatment, it can lead to death within a few days. Currently, the infection cases are concentrated in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, with the risk of spreading to other regions.

In response to this epidemic, the Japanese Ministry of Health has swiftly implemented several emergency measures, including enhancing public health awareness, improving medical response capabilities, and strengthening monitoring and reporting.

Medical experts emphasize that early detection and prompt treatment are key to reducing the mortality rate of "flesh-eating bacteria." They recommend that anyone exhibiting symptoms such as high fever, severe pain, skin redness, or the appearance of purple patches should seek medical attention immediately. Patients with existing wounds or post-surgery wounds should be especially vigilant to avoid infection risks.

The outbreak of the "flesh-eating bacteria" epidemic poses a significant challenge to Japan, but with the joint efforts of the government and the entire nation, it is believed that this crisis can be overcome. The Japanese Ministry of Health urges all citizens to remain calm, actively cooperate with preventive measures, and work together to get through this difficult time.