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Emergency crews in Athens launched a large-scale search operation after a four-storey apartment building collapsed in the Petralona district on Tuesday. Firefighters, rescue teams and specially trained search dogs were deployed to comb through the debris amid concerns that people could be trapped beneath the rubble.

Authorities later confirmed that four individuals initially believed to be trapped had been located safely. However, rescue operations continued as emergency personnel searched the site to ensure no other victims remained under the collapsed structure. Additional response teams stayed on standby throughout the operation.

The cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. Officials said construction work was underway at a neighbouring building at the time of the incident, though it remains unclear whether it was linked to the collapse. An investigation has been launched as authorities work to determine what caused the building to give way.

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A light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed shortly after take-off near the town of Tomblaine in eastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board. The aircraft, operated by a local parachuting school, departed from Nancy-Essey airfield at around 11:00 a.m. local time before suddenly losing control and crashing near the edge of the airfield. The victims included the pilot, five skydiving instructors, and five people preparing for their first tandem jump.

French authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said several relatives had gathered at the airfield to witness the first-time jumps and tragically saw the aircraft go down. Medical and psychological support teams were deployed to assist grieving families and witnesses. Officials also noted that the aircraft narrowly missed a nearby residential area and shopping centre, preventing further loss of life.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane veer sharply before plunging almost vertically and bursting into flames on impact. While eastern France was under a heatwave warning at the time, investigators have not confirmed whether weather conditions played any role in the accident. Aviation authorities described the incident as the deadliest crash involving a private civilian aircraft in France’s history, excluding commercial and military aviation, as investigators continue examining the wreckage for clues.

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French Singer Patrick Bruel Questioned Over Sexual Assault Allegations

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has been placed in police custody as part of an ongoing investigation into multiple allegations of sexual assault. Prosecutors in Nanterre confirmed that authorities are questioning the artist regarding accusations made by several women involving incidents that allegedly took place in France and Belgium between 1997 and 2012.

According to prosecutors, the investigation includes allegations of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment involving 13 alleged victims. French authorities can hold Bruel in custody for up to 24 hours, with the possibility of extending the detention for an additional 24 hours if required.

Bruel, one of France’s most successful recording artists, has strongly denied all allegations. In a social media statement last month, he said he had never forced, manipulated or drugged any woman and maintained that he had done nothing wrong. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been announced at this stage.

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A French academic, Florent Montaclair, is under investigation after allegedly creating a fictitious international award in philology and awarding it to himself. Authorities say he also invented the “International Society of Philology,” which supposedly presented him with a Gold Medal of Philology in 2016 at a ceremony held at the French National Assembly attended by high-profile guests.

The case began unraveling after inconsistencies were discovered in Montaclair’s academic claims, including a supposed doctorate from a non-existent “University of Philology and Education” in Delaware. Prosecutors, led by Paul-Édouard Lallois, are examining whether the fabricated prize and credentials were used to artificially boost his academic reputation, though they note proving criminal intent may be difficult if no clear fraud can be established.

Investigators say the scheme may have gone unnoticed for years despite media attention and even international appearances, including events involving linguist Noam Chomsky and Romanian philologist Eugen Simion. Montaclair has defended himself by claiming the award was merely an attempt to create a new academic distinction, not a scam.

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The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into suspected corruption and fraud involving European Union agricultural funds in Croatia. Authorities confirmed that police are collecting evidence across several central regions as part of the ongoing probe.

According to prosecutors, the case involves Croatian nationals accused of abuse of power, bribery, subsidy fraud, and document forgery within an organized network. The alleged activities are believed to have harmed the financial interests of the European Union, though officials have withheld detailed information to protect the integrity of the investigation.

The development follows a similar controversy in Greece, where EU prosecutors recently uncovered widespread fraud linked to farm subsidies. That scandal led to fines, political fallout, and legal action against multiple individuals, highlighting growing concerns over the misuse of EU agricultural funding across member states.

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A 61-year-old woman has died after a ski gondola detached from its cable and crashed down a mountainside at the Engelberg ski resort in the Swiss Alps. The incident occurred late Wednesday morning as the gondola was ascending near the Trübsee station on Mount Titlis. Authorities said the cause of the detachment remains unclear and is under investigation.

Witnesses described strong winds battering the area at the time, with gusts reportedly exceeding 80 km/h—well above the usual safety threshold for gondola operations. Videos circulating online show the cabin tumbling down the snowy slope before coming to a stop. Emergency responders, including air rescue teams and police, were quickly deployed to the scene.

The accident prompted the suspension of gondola services, and between 100 and 200 passengers were safely evacuated from other cabins. Resort officials expressed shock over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

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Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior reported alleged racial abuse by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during their 1-0 Champions League win in Lisbon. The match was briefly halted after the incident, with Vinicius calling out racism on social media. Prestianni denied the claims, stating the Brazilian misunderstood what was said, and Benfica defended their player, citing distance and video evidence.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said he received conflicting accounts from both players and emphasized that Benfica is not a racist club, referencing legendary striker Eusebio. The incident drew criticism from Real Madrid players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, and football pundits like Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott, who condemned any justification of racial abuse.

UEFA has launched an ethics and disciplinary investigation into the matter. If Prestianni is found guilty, he could face a minimum 10-match ban from European competition, a punishment introduced in 2013 for discriminatory behavior. Team-mate Kylian Mbappe urged UEFA to take strict action, highlighting that such behavior should not be tolerated in top-level European football.

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German authorities have raided Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering, prosecutors said. The Office of the Federal Prosecutor said it is probing “unknown individuals and employees” at Germany’s largest lender, alongside the Federal Criminal Police Office, over past business relationships with foreign companies believed to have been used for illicit financial activities.

Officials declined to provide details on which employees or companies are under investigation, saying no further information could be disclosed about the transactions, their scale, or the entities involved. Deutsche Bank confirmed that searches were conducted at its premises but did not comment further. German media reports suggested potential links to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, claims his lawyers strongly denied.

Abramovich’s legal team said he has no connection to the investigation and is neither a suspect nor under scrutiny, adding that the raids relate solely to Deutsche Bank’s alleged failure to meet reporting obligations under Germany’s anti-money laundering rules. The case recalls a 2018 investigation when Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt headquarters and other offices were searched over suspected assistance in setting up offshore accounts to move funds linked to criminal activity.

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Russian authorities have detained the chief doctor and the acting head of the intensive care unit at a maternity hospital in the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk after nine newborn babies died over a short period earlier this month. Investigators said the detentions are part of a criminal case into suspected negligence, with the deaths triggering widespread shock and public anger across the country.

The babies, born between December 1 and January 12, died during Russia’s extended New Year holiday at Hospital No. 1 in Novokuznetsk. Officials have not yet disclosed the exact causes of death, but the State Investigative Committee said the infants died due to the doctors’ improper performance of their professional duties while organising and providing medical care. Video released by investigators showed one suspect being led away in handcuffs.

Media reports said the hospital had a poor reputation and had received multiple warnings from health authorities in recent months. Personal accounts from mothers alleged serious medical failings, including lack of medicines and abusive behaviour by staff, though Reuters could not independently verify these claims. The tragedy has raised wider questions about healthcare standards in regional Russia and comes amid concerns over how such incidents undermine efforts to boost the country’s declining birth rate.

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Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the deaths of nine newborn babies at a maternity hospital in the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk, following suspicions of medical negligence. The country’s Investigative Committee said hospital staff are being questioned, medical records have been seized and forensic examinations are under way to establish the cause of the deaths.

The hospital said it had treated 32 infants in intensive care since December 1, including 17 in critical condition suffering from severe intrauterine infections. While it maintained that all newborns received treatment in line with clinical guidelines, it confirmed that nine babies did not survive. Four infants remain in intensive care, while another four have been transferred to a different medical facility.

The case has sparked widespread public outrage, with the governor of the Kuzbass region, Ilya Seredyuk, suspending the hospital’s chief doctor pending the investigation. The incident has triggered angry reactions on social media and renewed scrutiny of Russia’s healthcare system, especially as authorities seek to boost the country’s low birth rate. The hospital has since suspended new admissions, citing a surge in respiratory infections and the introduction of quarantine measures.

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