BAKU, Azerbaijan (AFP) — At least 30 people died as a fire tore through a drug rehabilitation clinic in the Azerbaijani capital Baku early Friday, the local APA news agency reported. Firefighters and rescuers of Azerbaijan’s emergencies ministry had extinguished the blaze and were investigating its causes, the news agency added. © Agence France-Presse
Europe
WHO warns of “health risks” for vulnerable sectors in areas affected by extreme cold in Europe
(Eagle News) – The World Health Organization warned that the wave of extremely cold weather now affecting Europe this week posed “health risks” as the number of deaths due to the deadly blizzards in the region rose to more than 55. A news release from WHO said that the temperatures are even “expected to plunge below average in western European Russia, central Europe, the Balkans and the Baltic States.” This means that the death […]
Deadly blizzards lash Europe, air travel disrupted by snow
PARIS, France (AFP) — Heavy snowfall and deadly blizzards lashed Europe Thursday, forcing airports to cancel or delay flights around the continent, as a deep freeze gripped countries from the far north to Mediterranean beaches in the south. The snowstorms, unusual for much of Europe at this time of year, left roads blocked, thousands of drivers stranded and schools shut, with weather agencies predicting the biting cold would continue in parts of the region at […]
New Zealand spy papers reveal 1981 bid to kill Queen
by Neil Sands Agence France Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — A mentally disturbed teenager tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during a 1981 visit to New Zealand and police covered up the botched attempt, according to official documents released Thursday. Christopher Lewis fired a single shot towards the Queen’s car as she toured the South Island city of Dunedin, the documents from New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (SIS) spy agency revealed. No one was […]
Europe braced for fresh blizzards as deadly ice blast strands travellers
by Katy Lee Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Fresh heavy snowfalls and icy blizzards were expected to lash Europe Thursday as the region shivers in a deadly deep-freeze that has gripped countries from the far north to the Mediterranean south. Schools are shut and weather agencies predict the brutal cold will continue as the death toll from the freezing snap rose to around 48 since last Friday, with icy conditions causing accidents and […]
Four dead in Leicester explosion: British police
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Four people were killed in an explosion and fire at a three-storey building in the central English city of Leicester, police said on Monday. “At this stage, there are four confirmed fatalities and four people remain in hospital, one with serious injuries,” Leicestershire police said in a statement about the blast on Sunday evening. Officers said there was no indication the explosion was related to terrorism but the cause had […]
4 injured after explosion, building collapse in UK’s Leicester
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British police responded to a “major incident” that critically injured at least four people on Sunday in Leicester, a central English city, after an explosion and building collapse, according to local authorities. “There has been a major incident…” local police wrote on Twitter. “All emergency services are currently dealing with this.” It advised people to avoid the area and added that local roads had been closed. The Fire and Rescue […]
Miles de jubilados se manifiestan en España para exigir “pensiones dignas”
Egie Asis Eagle News Service MADRID, España— Miles de jubilados tomaron las calles de la capital el jueves para exigir lo que según ellos son pensiones “dignas.” Fuentes policiales cifraron entre 3.000 y 4.000 los manifestantes que intentaron acercarse al Congreso de los Diputados para protestar el estado de las pensiones. Este año, sube un 0.25%, una cifra que consideran insuficiente dada la inflación. Los manifestantes igual reclaman que en los Presupuestos Generales del Estado se destine […]
Merkel calls for end to ‘massacre’ in Syria
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called for an end to the “massacre” in Syria after fresh air strikes on a rebel-held enclave in the war-torn country killed another 13 people. Condemning the Syrian regime for targeting “its own people”, Merkel said: “The killing of children, the destruction of hospitals — all that amounts to a massacre that must be condemned and which must be countered with a clear no.” At […]
Turkey considers chemical castration for child abusers
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Turkey’s government said on Tuesday it would consider introducing chemical castration for child abusers after several cases of sexual assault on children sparked public outcry. “The courts will decide on the use and duration of chemical castration to limit or eliminate sexual desire,” said Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul. The government was putting the issue back on its agenda and would be revisited again “within a few days”, he added. Turkey introduced […]
Unas 2500 personas se manifiestan en Palma contra la exigencia del catalán en la sanidad balear
Helen Grace Malayao Eagle News Service MADRID, España — Bajo el lema “Los idiomas no salvan vidas – Por una sanidad sin fronteras lingüísticas,” unas 2.500 personas se manifestaron en Palma en contra de la exigencia del catalán en la sanidad balear. El decreto–que solamente necesita el dictamen del Consejo Consultivo—contempla que los médicos y enfermeros tendrán que tener la titulación de catalán B1 (elemental) y los auxiliares de enfermería el nivel A2 (básico). Los que ganen una […]
Play ‘fake news tycoon’ to combat misinformation
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Trolling, impersonating, demonizing: these are just some of the behaviors encouraged in a new online game launching Tuesday in which young players become “fake news tycoons” — to counter growing misinformation. Researchers at Cambridge University have teamed up with a Dutch media collective to develop an English version of the game aimed at inoculating people against the spread of so-called fake news. The exercise encourages participants, who are tasked with […]
