Two people have been killed and thirteen injured when a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London. Police said the helicopter had hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf at about 08:00 GMT. About 90 firefighters were at the scene near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Doctors said one… Continue reading London helicopter crash UPDATE: Two dead and 13 injured in Vauxhall crane accident
Category: Europe News
Europe news
London: Helicopter crashes into crane on top of a building
A helicopter has crashed into a crane at a building site in south London. Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of a building. They said it was too early to confirm any casualties. Police said they first received calls at 08:00 GMT and the London Ambulance Service said it… Continue reading London: Helicopter crashes into crane on top of a building
German economy slows sharply in 2012
Germany’s economy grew by 0.7% in 2012, a sharp slowdown on the previous year, preliminary figures show. The figure was well below the 3% growth seen in 2011 and suggests the economy contracted in the fourth quarter. “In 2012, the German economy proved to be resistant in a difficult economic environment and withstood the European… Continue reading German economy slows sharply in 2012
Nadia Eweida discriminated by British Airways over her Christian beliefs
Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee, suffered discrimination at work over her Christian beliefs, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. Judges ruled Nadia Eweida’s rights had been violated under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. She took her case to the European Court of Human Rights after BA made her… Continue reading Nadia Eweida discriminated by British Airways over her Christian beliefs
Ernst Strasser sentenced to four years in jail for bribe-taking
Former Austrian Interior Minister and Euro MP Ernst Strasser has been sentenced to four years in jail after being convicted of bribe-taking. The conservative Austrian People’s Party MP was exposed by reporters from the UK’s Sunday Times, who secretly filmed him while posing as lobbyists. They showed him being offered a 100,000-euro ($130,000) annual payment… Continue reading Ernst Strasser sentenced to four years in jail for bribe-taking
No Pants Subway Ride 2013: London and New York
No Pants Day started off as a prank that bemused a few embarrassed commuters but has since grown into a global phenomenon. And despite the threat of snow and bleak midwinter temperatures many hardy thrill seekers braved bracing conditions and took to the London Underground on Sunday to take part in the No Trousers Tube… Continue reading No Pants Subway Ride 2013: London and New York
Kate Middleton due date in July and it’s not twins
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby is due in July, St James’s Palace announced today. Kate Middleton’s condition is also continuing to improve following her stay in hospital last month for severe pregnancy-related sickness, a spokesman for the couple said. The 31-year-old Duchess is believed to be around 13 to 14 weeks pregnant and confirmation… Continue reading Kate Middleton due date in July and it’s not twins
Silvio Berlusconi’s Ruby Heartstealer trial plea rejected
An Italian court has denied the request of former PM Silvio Berlusconi to halt a trial where he is accused of having sex with an under-age prostitute. The court in Milan also decided they did not need to hear testimony from Moroccan club dancer Karima El Mahroug. Silvio Berlusconi’s lawyers requested the trial be halted… Continue reading Silvio Berlusconi’s Ruby Heartstealer trial plea rejected
Femen activists protest at Vatican
Three activists of the Ukrainian women’s rights movement Femen staged a protest at the Vatican on Sunday, shortly after the Pope’s regular Sunday address. One of them sneaked into St. Peter’s square and took off her coat revealing a transparent blouse. The demonstrator held a sign saying “Freedom for Women” and shouted: “Libere siamo noi”… Continue reading Femen activists protest at Vatican
Mother gives birth on Armenia plane
A baby girl has been born on a plane flying from Russia to Armenia, local media say. The baby was named Hasmik – after the flight attendant who helped the mother to deliver, Hasmik Ghevondyan. The mother’s identity has not been revealed. Both she and the baby are reportedly doing well. The flight, operated by… Continue reading Mother gives birth on Armenia plane
Francois Hollande orders security stepped up because of military operations in Mali and Somalia
France’s President Francois Hollande has ordered security stepped up around public buildings and transport because of military operations in Africa. Francois Hollande was responding to the risk of Islamist attack after French forces attacked militants in Mali and Somalia. A pilot was killed as air strikes were launched on a column of Malian rebels. In… Continue reading Francois Hollande orders security stepped up because of military operations in Mali and Somalia
Czech presidential election: Milos Zeman to face Karel Schwarzenberg in second run-off
Former Prime Minister Milos Zeman is set to face Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in a run-off in the Czech Republic’s presidential election. With almost all the votes counted in the first round of voting, Milos Zeman has emerged as the front runner, with Karel Schwarzenberg in second place. The two candidates will now contest a… Continue reading Czech presidential election: Milos Zeman to face Karel Schwarzenberg in second run-off
Turkey questions Francois Hollande contacts with dead PKK activist
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on French President Francois Hollande to explain why he previously met one of the Kurdish activists shot dead in Paris on Thursday. One of the three women killed was Sakine Cansiz – a co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – a group proscribed by the European… Continue reading Turkey questions Francois Hollande contacts with dead PKK activist
Costa Concordia wreck will be removed by September
The wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship in Italy will be removed by September at the latest, officials overseeing the work have said. It has been lying on its side off the island of Giglio, on the coast of Tuscany, since it capsized a year ago with the loss of more than 30 lives.… Continue reading Costa Concordia wreck will be removed by September
Runaway boy, 13, drives father’s Mercedes 620 miles across Europe
A 13-year-old runaway boy who took his father’s car and drove nearly 1,000 km (620 miles) across Europe is being re-united with his family. The boy fled after a reported row with his parents in Italy. Having driven from Italy into Austria, he proceeded to Germany where he was stopped by police after his family… Continue reading Runaway boy, 13, drives father’s Mercedes 620 miles across Europe
Greek parliament approves new tax increases
The Greek parliament has approved a series of unpopular tax rises aimed at boosting revenue in line with Athens’ commitments to international creditors. The measures, approved overnight, introduce a new top tax rate of 42% for Greeks earning more than 42,000 euros ($56,000) a year. Corporate rates also go up and the tax base now… Continue reading Greek parliament approves new tax increases
The Shard Toilet: The loo with a view 750 ft above London
From the toilet in The Shard you can marvel at landmarks including the Tower of London and HMS Belfast as you gaze across the River Thames. The toilet is on the 68th floor of the £2 billion ($3 billion) development, 800 ft up the 1,016 ft high skyscraper, western Europe’s tallest, which opens to visitors… Continue reading The Shard Toilet: The loo with a view 750 ft above London
Costa Concordia: the largest and most daunting marine salvage operation ever attempted
Almost a year ago, more than 3,000 people were relaxing aboard the opulent cruise liner Costa Concordia at the start of a week-long Mediterranean cruise. Today the ship is the subject of possibly the largest and most daunting marine salvage operation ever attempted. On Friday 13 January 2012, Costa Concordia heeled over on to its… Continue reading Costa Concordia: the largest and most daunting marine salvage operation ever attempted
Nicolas Sarkozy to be investigated over secrecy breach in Karachi affair
French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy is to be investigated over accusations of a breach of secrecy in an alleged corruption case, the “Karachi affair”, agency AFP reports. Nicolas Sarkozy’s office had said in 2011 that the president was not named in any of the case documents. Plaintiffs in the case say that was a violation of… Continue reading Nicolas Sarkozy to be investigated over secrecy breach in Karachi affair
PKK female activists shot dead at Kurdish Institute in Paris
Three PKK female activists have been found dead with gunshot wounds to the head in the Kurdish Institute of Paris. One of the women is said to be a co-founder of the militant Kurdish separatist movement, the PKK. French Interior Minister Manuel Valls described the killings as “intolerable”. The motive for the shootings is unclear.… Continue reading PKK female activists shot dead at Kurdish Institute in Paris
Denis Burakov killed in zorbing accident after giant inflatable ball sped out of control and plunged off a cliff
Denis Burakov was killed in a horrifying accident when a giant inflatable ball in which he and another man were rolling down a mountain plunged off a cliff at a ski-resort in southern Russia. Father-of-two Denis Burakov, 27, married with two young daughters, broke his neck and spine in the zorbing accident, say reports. His… Continue reading Denis Burakov killed in zorbing accident after giant inflatable ball sped out of control and plunged off a cliff
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s daughter will be a Princess as Queen Elizabeth II issues the Letters Patent
Queen Elizabeth II has formally declared that the future daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be a Princess. With a long-awaited royal baby due in late spring or early summer, the Queen today issued what is known as a Letters Patent to announce that Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby would become… Continue reading Kate Middleton and Prince William’s daughter will be a Princess as Queen Elizabeth II issues the Letters Patent
France’s celebrity tax exiles
Tax policy rarely makes headlines in France, but the row between Gerard Depardieu and the government has given the issue unusual prominence in recent weeks. Gerard Depardieu’s opposition to plans for a new 75% rate of income tax prompted him to announce last month that he was leaving the country. When Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault… Continue reading France’s celebrity tax exiles
Eurozone unemployment rate hits new all-time high in November
Eurozone unemployment rate hit a new all-time high of 11.8% in November, official figures have shown. This is a slight rise on 11.7% for the 17-nation region in October. The rate for the European Union as a whole in November was unchanged at 10.7%. Spain, which is mired in deep recession, again recorded the highest… Continue reading Eurozone unemployment rate hits new all-time high in November
King Juan Carlos gives rare TV interview
King Juan Carlos of Spain has given a rare television interview on the eve of his 75th birthday. In the interview, King Juan Carlos expressed his “hurt” at the number of young Spaniards forced to emigrate by economic difficulties. The interview comes after a difficult year for the Spanish royal family. King Juan Carlos has… Continue reading King Juan Carlos gives rare TV interview