Former French President Sarkozy found guilty of conspiracy, but not corruption, in Libya trial
A Paris court has found former French president Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy in a trial in which he was accused of receiving millions...
The deaths of at least 16 people in the derailment of a historic Lisbon cable car have cast a spotlight on the city’s “old charm” image, revealing cracks in its ageing infrastructure amid a booming tourist industry.
On Wednesday, the tram left the tracks at a bend and collided with a building just metres from its twin at the bottom of the steep 265-metre slope. The wreckage was mangled, with passengers trapped inside, after the traction cable linking the two cars snapped.
Jorge Silva, vice-president of the Portuguese Association of Civil Protection Technical Experts, said that a car made from modern materials such as carbon fibre, rather than the century-old wood and metal design, could have reduced the severity of the crash.
“The components are rigid enough for normal operation, but they are not designed to absorb the impact of a derailment. They twist, leaving passengers more exposed,” Silva explained.
Lisbon’s trams, which run on similarly steep hills, still use mid-20th century designs. Silva stressed that investments should focus on modernising the carriages while preserving their historic appearance.
An investigation is underway to determine the role of the pendulum cable system in the accident.
The line has faced rising demand, with passenger numbers on the “Gloria” funicular tripling in the past decade to over three million annually. The two cars, each carrying around 40 passengers, operate in tandem, climbing and descending the slope via an electric motor pulling the connecting cable.
Manuel Leal, head of the Fectrans union, told local media that workers had previously flagged issues with cable tension affecting braking, though it is too early to confirm if this caused the crash. The municipal transport company, Carris, said that all scheduled maintenance had been completed. Silva suggested that more frequent and rigorous inspections may now be required to safely handle increased passenger loads.
Modernisation in Lisbon, however, is complicated by the city’s seismic risks. Experts warn that renovations on historic buildings, many of which were constructed shortly after the 1755 earthquake with pioneering anti-seismic designs, may undermine their structural integrity. While post-1958 buildings must comply with seismic standards, older structures undergoing renovation are not legally required to receive anti-seismic reinforcement.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
A Paris court has found former French president Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy in a trial in which he was accused of receiving millions of euros in illegal financing from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid.
Italy has sent a second navy ship in support of the international aid flotilla that has come under drone attack while trying to deliver aid to Gaza, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday.
A man in his 40s has been arrested in West Sussex in connection with a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace that disrupted check-in systems across multiple European airports, including Brussels, Berlin and Heathrow.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Thailand and Cambodia should scale back their military presence along their shared border and work together to de-escalate tensions, Thailand's new foreign minister told reporters on Thursday.
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