ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — A 95-year-old woman injured in Greece’s deadliest fire last month died early Monday, raising the death toll to 91, state agency ANA reported. The woman succumbed to burn injuries hours after the government, widely criticised for its response to the emergency, replaced the heads of the police and fire brigade. The minister responsible for the police and state security also quit last week. Another 36 people are still hospitalised after the […]
Europe
Up to 20 feared dead in WWII vintage plane crash in Switzerland
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Up to 20 people are feared dead after a vintage World War II aircraft crashed into a Swiss mountainside, local reports said Sunday. The Junker JU52 HB-HOT aircraft, built in Germany in 1939 and now a collectors item, belongs to JU-Air, a company with links to the Swiss air force, the ATS news agency reported. Police have called a news conference for 1200 GMT. The Junker plane, which can carry […]
Eiffel tower to reopen after strike over long queues
by Joseph Schmid and Paul Gypteau Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The Eiffel Tower — closed to visitors since Wednesday afternoon — is to reopen on Friday after workers went on strike over unacceptably long queues at the Paris landmark. Workers walked out in protest at a new access policy that has seen separate lifts allocated to visitors with pre-booked tickets and those who buy them on site. At the same time, the tower […]
Eiffel Tower shut in dispute over ‘monstrous’ queues
PARIS, France (AFP) – Staff at the Eiffel Tower shut down the Paris landmark on Wednesday afternoon in protest over a new access policy which they say is generating “monstrous” queues for tourists. Access to the monument, which welcomed more than six million visitors last year, was blocked from 1400 GMT, according to a sign at the base of the tower. Staff had already been set to strike on Thursday. The site’s management said staff […]
Corsica flash flood kills 4 including girl
by Maureen Cofflard Agence France-Presse SOCCIA, France (AFP)–Four people including a seven-year-old girl were killed Wednesday after being swept away by a flash flood in a canyon on the French island of Corsica. The dead included a father and his young daughter as well as their guide, local prosecutor Eric Bouillard said. One of those killed was yet to be identified. A fifth person was still missing while two others belonging to the same group […]
Spanish taxis call off strike against Uber
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spanish taxis late on Wednesday called off their days-long strike against online ride-hailing services like Uber after Madrid agreed to let regional governments regulate the sector. The strike began in Barcelona on Wednesday last week and spread to Madrid at the weekend as drivers demanded action against what they believed was poor enforcement of regulations on VTCs (tourism vehicles with chauffeur). On Monday, it spread even further to cities across […]
Spain taxi strike against Uber to continue
by Daniel Bosque © Agence France-Presse BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) – Taxi drivers across Spain were set to keep striking on Tuesday against ride hailing competitors such as Uber and Cabify, which they say unfairly threaten their livelihoods after government negotiations ended without a deal. The strike began in Barcelona last week and spread to Madrid at the weekend as drivers blocked main thoroughfares, demanding action from the government. Strikes or partial stoppages were also called […]
Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines
PARIS, France (Eagle News) — Eiffel Tower workers are planning to strike this week over a new access policy for visitors which they say is generating “monstrous” waits at the famous tourist landmark, union officials said Monday. Since early July the monument has set aside half of daily tickets for people who buy them in advance on the internet and choose a scheduled time for their visit. Previously just 20 percent of tickets could be […]
Greek wildfires death toll rises to 91
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Greek fire services on Sunday said three more people were confirmed killed by the wildfires that have devastated seaside resorts near Athens, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 91. Another 25 remain missing, said spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri, giving a precise figure for the first time after mounting criticism over the issue. But some or all of the missing may be among 28 victims whose bodies are currently being examined […]
Greek wildfires death toll rises to 91
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Greek fire services on Sunday said three more people were confirmed killed by the wildfires that have devastated seaside resorts near Athens, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 91. Another 25 remain missing, said spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri, giving a precise figure for the first time after mounting criticism over the issue. But some or all of the missing may be among 28 victims whose bodies are currently being […]
Blame game blows up over deadly Greek wildfires
by Catherine Boitard and Patrick Galey Agence France Presse ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Grief and shock over Greece’s deadliest wildfires were clouded Friday by a bitter debate over who was to blame, as the opposition rejected the government’s suggestion that the blazes were started deliberately. Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas on Thursday suggested there were “serious” signs that the worst of the fires, which killed scores this week east of Athens, was the result […]
Heatwave grips northern Europe as Greece burns
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Scorching hot weather set the conditions for Greece’s wildfires — Europe’s deadliest this century with scores killed — while record temperatures in the north of the continent have also sparked blazes causing widespread damage in recent days. Ten EU countries have mobilised firefighters and equipment to help battle the fires in Greece as well as Sweden and Latvia. Here is a roundup of the devastation. – Greece – The fires in […]