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Swiss Alps: Irish man among three killed in helicopter crash

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An Irish man was among the three individuals who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in the Swiss Alps. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning on Petit Combin mountain, with two other individuals being airlifted for medical treatment, and another rescued later.

The helicopter was en route to a drop-off point for skiers, carrying a guide and visitors, when the crash transpired at approximately 09:25 local time. The Department of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the event and stands prepared to offer consular assistance.

According to local police, the helicopter crashed at the mountain’s airfield and slid down the northern slope. Onboard were the pilot, a mountain guide, and four clients. Seven rescue helicopters responded to the scene.

The Swiss Safety Investigation Service has initiated an inquiry into the crash’s cause. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, overseeing aviation accidents, is collaborating with Fedpol and the Valais Cantonal Police for the criminal investigation.

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FlixBus: Deadly crash on German motorway near Leipzig

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A tragic incident occurred near Leipzig in East Germany involving a FlixBus coach, resulting in four fatalities and over 40 injuries, according to police reports.

The coach, which departed from Berlin with two drivers and 52 passengers bound for Nuremberg and Zurich, veered off the A9 autobahn, leading to its overturning. The company expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

The crash occurred around 10:00 local time on Wednesday, two hours into the journey, at a junction near Leipzig/Halle Airport. No other vehicles were involved, as per police statements.

Emergency services, including helicopters and ambulances, swiftly responded to the scene, prompting the closure of both lanes near the Schkeuditzer Kreuz interchange.

FlixBus, a long-distance coach service operating across Europe, America, and Asia, emphasized that the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, while expressing solidarity with those affected.

This unfortunate event has parallels with previous incidents on the A9 motorway near Leipzig, including a fatal crash in 2019.

A tragic incident occurred near Leipzig in East Germany involving a FlixBus coach, resulting in four fatalities and over 40 injuries, according to police reports.

The coach, which departed from Berlin with two drivers and 52 passengers bound for Nuremberg and Zurich, veered off the A9 autobahn, leading to its overturning. The company expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

The crash occurred around 10:00 local time on Wednesday, two hours into the journey, at a junction near Leipzig/Halle Airport. No other vehicles were involved, as per police statements.

Emergency services, including helicopters and ambulances, swiftly responded to the scene, prompting the closure of both lanes near the Schkeuditzer Kreuz interchange.

FlixBus, a long-distance coach service operating across Europe, America, and Asia, emphasized that the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, while expressing solidarity with those affected.

This unfortunate event has parallels with previous incidents on the A9 motorway near Leipzig, including a fatal crash in 2019.

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Two workers die in bridge collapse in Dutch city of Lochem

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In the Netherlands, a tragic incident occurred in Lochem where two workers lost their lives and two others were injured during the construction of a bridge. The collapse happened when cables supporting a bridge arch snapped, causing it to plummet to the ground. The deceased workers were identified as one from Belgium and the other from Poland, but further details such as their names and ages were not disclosed.

The collapse, labeled as an “industrial accident” by officials, prompted an ongoing investigation to determine its cause. Witnesses, including onlookers, were deeply affected by the sudden collapse and are receiving psychological support.

According to one witness, the collapse occurred shortly after the arch began swinging, followed by a loud bang. The bridge was intended to span a major canal as part of a new ring road project in Lochem, Gelderland.

Mayor Sebastiaan van ‘t Erve expressed shock over the incident, highlighting the extensive planning and development efforts over five years leading up to the construction. Despite this, the bridge collapsed in a single day, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing. Local authorities confirmed that the injured workers were hospitalized but expected to recover.

Andre Meilink from the regional safety authority provided insight into the incident, explaining that the bridge began to twist as it was being lifted, leading to the collapse of a section.

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Spread of gang violence wrecks Sweden’s peaceful image

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The surge in gang-related violence, including shootings and bombings, once confined to Sweden’s major cities, has now spilled into quieter suburbs and towns, challenging the nation’s reputation for safety. Upplands-Bro, a community north of Stockholm, has witnessed a series of incidents, including the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy in August and multiple shootings and bombings since January.

The shift in violence from impoverished urban areas is attributed, in part, to gangs targeting the relatives of their rivals. Law enforcement suspects that some of the recent violence is coordinated by criminal leaders based in other countries, such as Turkey and Serbia. The toll has been significant, with nearly 50 fatalities and over 140 explosions in 2023 alone, surpassing the previous year’s record of over 60 deaths from gun violence.

Gangs have evolved beyond street-level criminal activities, forming connections with higher-level criminals. Innocent bystanders, including a 70-year-old man and a 24-year-old teacher, have fallen victim to the violence. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the severity of the situation in a rare national address, promising stricter penalties for deadly violence.

Children as young as 13 or 14 are being recruited into gangs through promises of money and designer clothes on social media. Concerned individuals are taking action, organizing street patrols in affected areas. Community engagement, like night walks and support for families affected by violence, is seen as a way to enhance safety.

In areas like Jarva, where unemployment rates are high, individuals like Libaane Warsame have taken it upon themselves to patrol the streets after losing a family member to gun violence. Despite a lack of fatal shootings this year, residents remain on edge.

The rise in gang violence has prompted the government to reevaluate immigration policies. The right-wing coalition government, elected in 2022, believes that the increase in violence is linked to past immigration policies. Steps include making it harder for immigrants outside the EU to receive social benefits and introducing compulsory preschool to improve Swedish-language skills in certain areas. Legislation against recruiting children for criminal activities has been enacted, and plans for stop-and-search zones and increased prison sentences for offenses, such as gun crimes and explosions, are in progress.

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Venice tourist bus plunges from bridge, killing 21

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A tragic incident occurred near Venice as an electric bus, carrying 39 people, crashed off a flyover, resulting in the death of at least 21 individuals, including several children. The bus broke through a barrier and plunged nearly 15 meters (50 feet) near railway tracks in Mestre, connected to Venice by a bridge. The casualties included five Ukrainians, one German, and the Italian driver.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene as a “huge tragedy” and “apocalyptic.” CCTV footage showed the bus passing another vehicle before toppling off the road. Three children, including a baby, were among the fatalities, and the toll may rise, according to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Fifteen people were injured, some seriously, including Ukrainians, Austrians, Spaniards, and other foreign tourists.

The bus, an electric vehicle, was rented to transport tourists from Venice to a campsite in the Marghera district. The cause of the accident remains unclear, with investigators examining security camera footage. The experienced 40-year-old driver may have become ill, leading to the tragic crash. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

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Greek Rescuers Among Victims in Fatal Libya Road Crash

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In a tragic incident, a collision on the road claimed the lives of at least three Greek rescue team members and three members of a Libyan family. The accident occurred as the rescue team was en route to the flood-stricken city of Derna, with their bus colliding with the family’s car. A Libyan official reported that two individuals in the car and eight others on the bus sustained serious injuries. Investigations into the incident have been initiated.

Othman Abdeljalil, the health minister of the eastern Libyan administration, stated that the team had been traveling from Benghazi when the crash occurred. Discrepancies exist in the reported death toll, with Greek armed forces confirming three fatalities and two individuals missing, while Libyan sources reported four deaths.

Libya remains divided between two rival governments, one backed by the UN in Tripoli and another supported by Egypt in Benghazi. Greek authorities indicated that a bus carrying medical personnel collided with an oncoming vehicle, leading to the loss of three members of Greece’s humanitarian mission, with two team members still unaccounted for. They expressed uncertainty about the precise circumstances and pledged to collaborate with Libyan authorities. Additionally, efforts were underway to repatriate their personnel.

A diplomatic source revealed that the team consisted of 16 Greek rescuers and three interpreters, en route to join other international teams, including those from France and Italy. The devastating floods in Derna resulted in thousands of casualties when two dams ruptured during a powerful storm a week prior. According to the UN, the death toll currently stands at approximately 11,300, with over 10,000 officially listed as missing, based on figures from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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Spanish Boy’s Miraculous Survival After Clinging to Tree During Floods Overnight

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A young boy in Spain managed to survive a deadly flood by climbing a tree and holding on throughout the night. His family’s car had been swept away into a river, and tragically, his father remains missing. The 10-year-old is now receiving treatment for hypothermia, as reported by Spanish media.

The devastating floods, caused by record rainfall, have resulted in at least three fatalities and the disappearance of three others in central Spain, according to police. Regions southwest of Madrid were particularly hard-hit, with bridges destroyed and roads transformed into muddy rivers.

The boy’s family was attempting to escape the floodwaters in a rural part of the affected area when their car was swept into the river, explained Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the head of the Madrid region. The young boy spent the entire night clinging to a tree for survival.

While the boy’s mother and sister have been located, rescue efforts are still underway to find his missing father near Aldea de Fresno, one of the three individuals swept away by the heavy rainfall, according to the civil guard police force.

Additionally, three deaths have been confirmed in the Toledo region, situated southwest of Madrid, due to the storm, as stated by the civil guard.

The Spanish weather service, Aemet, recorded record-breaking rainfall of 9cm (3.5in) in the region on Sunday.

Efforts to clean up the aftermath of the floods are ongoing, with residents working to remove mud and debris left in their wake. Regional administrations in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha have requested that the federal government declare the affected areas as “catastrophe zones,” which would provide government funding for repairing damaged buildings.

In a first-time move, emergency text messages and loud alarms were used to warn residents about the storm on Sunday, and authorities credit people adhering to advice to stay at home and leave their vehicles behind for helping rescue services manage the thousands of calls they received.

This disaster in Spain follows an intense summer heatwave, with climate scientists warning that global warming leads to more water evaporation during the summer, resulting in more severe storms.

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Paris Bids Farewell to Electric Scooter Rentals

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Paris has implemented a ban on rental electric scooters due to increasing injuries and fatalities in the city. Despite the ban being supported by nearly 90% of the voters in April, voter turnout was less than 8%. This move makes Paris one of the first capitals to prohibit rented electric scooters, only five years after initially embracing them.

As someone who is a traditional cyclist, I’m frustrated by the intrusion of electric “personal vehicles” like e-scooters into our space. I’ve spent four decades advocating for cycle paths, only to see them crowded out by this new form of motorized transportation. Additionally, as a parent, I’ve witnessed numerous instances of scooters speeding down sidewalks, posing hazards that require quick avoidance. A close friend of mine even suffered a broken rib in an e-scooter accident in Paris last year, which still causes him pain.

I hold no affection for these free-floating e-scooters. If it were up to me, they would have never been invented, and Parisians would still be cycling like it was the 1970s in Amsterdam, relying on their legs rather than pushing buttons.

However, that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize a political maneuver when I see one. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is a member of the Socialist party, but her presidential campaign in the previous election garnered just 1.75% of the national vote. In an effort to regain political relevance, she seized upon e-scooters as her cause, conveniently forgetting that she had introduced on-street scooter rentals in 2018. She became the spokesperson for those who find scooters deeply annoying.

At the beginning of the year, she announced a referendum to let the people decide on the scooter issue, stating that she would follow the people’s choice, even if it conflicted with her personal stance. The vote took place in April with minimal publicity, and only a small fraction of Parisians participated. Predictably, older citizens, who vote regularly and dislike e-scooters, turned out in large numbers, while younger users of e-scooters were less inclined to participate. The result was a clear majority in favor of banning the machines, giving the mayor her victory.

Now, rental scooters have disappeared from the streets, much to the dismay of tourists, nightlife enthusiasts, and some commuters. However, dealers in privately-owned e-scooters remain unaffected. Unlike the transition from horses to automobiles a century ago, where horses were replaced by a more advanced technology, the e-scooters’ absence may not be permanent. These scooters have only been around for five years, and there’s a possibility they may return at some point.

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Infant and Mother Among Six Fatalities as Migrant Boats Capsize near Italian Shore

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Six individuals, including a mother and her baby, have tragically lost their lives as three migrant vessels sank in the Mediterranean Sea.

One vessel sank off Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands, resulting in four confirmed deaths, while 51 people are feared missing.

Another heartbreaking incident occurred near the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a mother and her one-year-old baby perished. Over 30 individuals are unaccounted for after two boats sank.

The victims, hailing from the Ivory Coast, were discovered by coastguards. The boats departing from the Tunisian city of Sfax were carrying 48 and 42 people, respectively, bound for Lampedusa.

The Kerkennah Islands incident involved passengers primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Tunisian authorities.

Tunisian officials also found the remains of 10 migrants on a beach near Sfax, likely due to a storm that possibly caused their boat to sink.

Sfax is recognized as a common departure point for migrants aspiring to reach Europe for better prospects.

Italy’s coastguard rescued 57 migrants from the sunken vessels located southwest of Lampedusa. The UN’s migration agency reported over 30 missing individuals initially.

The tragedies come after a fatal boat accident in Greece in June that resulted in numerous deaths and missing persons.

Subsequent to the recent events, Italian authorities, along with patrol boats and charitable organizations, have rescued around 2,000 more migrants arriving on Lampedusa.

However, rescue operations are hampered by adverse weather conditions and substandard boat quality. In some instances, boats’ engines are stolen mid-journey by traffickers for reuse.

NGOs have criticized Italy’s far-right government for passing laws that force rescue ships to use distant ports, increasing costs and reducing effective patrolling.

The Italian interior ministry reported a significant rise in sea migration figures this year, reaching 92,000 compared to 42,600 in the same period last year.

Since March, crossing attempts from Sfax to Lampedusa have surged due to Tunisian President Kais Saied’s accusations against sub-Saharan migrants.

The Central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe remains a deadly route, with over 1,800 lives lost, though the actual toll is suspected to be higher, says the International Organization for Migration.

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Outrage in Paris following police shooting of teenager who defied traffic stop

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Violent protests erupted in Paris overnight following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old who failed to comply with a traffic stop order by police. Video footage circulating on social media shows a police officer aiming a gun at the driver of a car, followed by a gunshot and the car subsequently crashing. The teenager, identified as Naël M, succumbed to chest wounds despite receiving assistance from emergency services. The officer responsible for the shooting has been apprehended on charges of homicide.

Initially, the police claimed that the teen had driven his car toward them with the intent to harm. However, verified footage contradicts this account, revealing two officers attempting to stop the vehicle. One officer points his weapon at the driver through the window and seemingly fires at close range as the driver tries to flee. In the video, an unidentified person can be heard saying, “you’re going to be shot in the head,” but the speaker’s identity remains unclear.

Two other individuals were in the car at the time of the incident. One of them fled, while the other, also a minor, was detained by the police. The shooting triggered protests in the Nanterre area, located west of Paris, with incidents of arson, destruction of bus shelters, and the use of fireworks near the police station. Riot police employed tear gas to disperse the protesters, leading to the arrest of twenty individuals.

Following the teenager’s death, two separate investigations have been initiated—one into the potential misconduct of a public official resulting in a fatality, and another into the driver’s failure to stop the vehicle and alleged attempt to harm a police officer.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns about the officer’s actions, although he suggested the officer may have felt threatened. The family’s lawyer contested this justification, stating that the video unequivocally depicted a police officer deliberately killing the young man. The family filed a complaint against the police for providing false information initially, claiming that the car had attempted to run over the officers.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the video shared on social media as “extremely shocking” and called on people to respect the family’s grief and the presumption of innocence for the police. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon extended his condolences to the teen’s family, emphasizing that no officer has the right to kill unless in self-defense. He called for a comprehensive reform of the uncontrolled police force, which he believes undermines the authority of the state.

This incident follows another fatal police shooting two weeks earlier in Angouleme, where a 19-year-old driver was killed after allegedly hitting an officer during a traffic stop. Last year, a record number of 13 individuals died in police shootings during traffic stops in France, according to Reuters. Naël M’s death marks the second such incident this year.

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