Latest news with #French
Metro
7 minutes ago
- Metro
Airport chaos after two flights have midair emergencies within a minute
Two flights have been disrupted within seconds of each other in separate incidents at the UK's second biggest airport. The British Airways and easyJet flights encountered problems on their way to or from Gatwick Airport on Tuesday afternoon. In the first incident, BA flight BA2203 to Cancun declared a 'full emergency' due to fumes in the cabin. The flight was forced to land at 3.29pm yesterday after the pilots were forced to open windows in the cockpit to let in fresh air, The Sun reports. It circled London for about 45 minutes and dumped fuel before it was able to return to Gatwick, meanwhile oxygen masks were deployed as the 340 passengers and crew reported a 'smell of used socks' which left them 'dizzy'. The BA plane landed back at Gatwick almost an hour after its initial takeoff at 2.11pm, and both the plane and runway needed thorough inspection after the unscheduled return. Passengers were delayed by 24 hours until their replacement flight, with BA sending them to local airport hotels overnight. A BA spokesperson said: 'The aircraft landed safely at Gatwick after our pilots identified a technical issue. 'Customers disembarked normally and we've apologised for the disruption to their travel plans.' The second incident saw easyJet flight EZY8520 from Madeira declare a 'pan pan' incident after a suspected bird strike. Pilots requested a 'continuous descent into Gatwick Airport' and 'sterile runway' to deliver its 190 passengers and crew safely at 3.30pm. More Trending Officials had to then inspect the runway before it could be used again by other planes. A spokesperson for easyJet said: 'Flight EZY8520 from Funchal to London Gatwick on July 155 requested a priority landing into London Gatwick. 'The aircraft landed normally was met by emergency services in line with procedures, purely as a precaution. 'The safety of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers' guidelines.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'Heart-stealer' city is Europe's quirky foodie capital — and it just got direct UK flights MORE: Passengers stranded in airport for 17 hours after couple smoke on London-bound flight MORE: Ryanair calls for 'urgent' reform as French air strikes stretch to four days
Local Germany
8 minutes ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
Merz makes first trip to London to make 'friendship' pact
They will also discuss continued support for Ukraine, with both London and Berlin expected to play a role in US President Donald Trump's plan to send weapons to Kyiv with financing from other NATO countries. The visit is Merz's first to the UK as chancellor, although he has already met Starmer several times, including on a trip to Ukraine just days after he took office in early May. Merz's trip comes a week after a state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by an EU head of state since the UK left the bloc five years ago. The wide-ranging new treaty between Germany and Britain will refer to the turbulent security situation that both countries face and include a mutual defence pact. "There is no strategic threat to one which would not be a strategic threat to the other," the text is expected to say, alongside a pledge that the two countries "shall assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack". While Britain and Germany already have a commitment to mutual defence as NATO members, the treaty is expected to pave the way for greater defence cooperation, including in weapons development and operations on NATO's eastern flank. The two countries already signed a landmark defence agreement in October and in May said they would begin developing strike missiles with a range of 2,000-plus kilometres (1,250 miles). Merz and Starmer are set to announce Thursday that this system will be delivered within the next decade, and they will unveil a new agreement on boosting UK defence exports to Germany such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets. Overcoming Brexit 'trauma' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will accompany Merz on the visit and is expected to meet his British counterpart David Lammy. A German government source said of the visit that "we shouldn't underestimate" how much relations with the UK had improved since the "traumatic" experience of Brexit. READ ALSO: Majority of Germans would support the UK re-joining the EU The treaty will include measures to improve citizens' contacts between the two countries, for example by simplifying border procedures for school trips. The two leaders are also set to commit to doing more to tackle irregular migration, a key domestic priority for both Merz and Starmer. Advertisement Merz's government is expected to make a commitment to modify German law by the end of the year to criminalise the facilitation of "illegal migration". This will include action against storage facilities used by migrant smugglers to conceal small boats intended for Channel crossings. The text will also include sections on science and technology, with more cooperation promised in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence. Advertisement It will also establish a new UK-Germany Business Forum, with several German companies poised to announce new investment in Britain on Thursday. On the topic of transport, the two countries will commit to improving train connections. Last month Eurostar said it planned to launch a new route from London to Frankfurt in the early 2030s, which would be the first such direct connection between the UK and Germany.
Al-Ahram Weekly
9 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
France court orders release of Lebanese militant after four decades in prison - Region
A French appeals court Thursday ordered the release of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who has been imprisoned for 40 years for the 1982 killings of two foreign diplomats. Abdallah, 74, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov. The Paris Appeals Court ordered he be freed from a prison in the south of France next week, on Friday, July 25, on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. Abdallah is one of the longest serving prisoners in France, as most convicts serving life sentences are freed after less than 30 years. The United States, a civil party to the case, has consistently opposed his release but Lebanese authorities have repeatedly said he should be freed from jail. In November last year, a French court ordered his release conditional on Abdallah leaving France. But France's anti-terror prosecutors, arguing that he had not changed his political views, appealed the decision, which was consequently suspended. Abdallah has always insisted he is a "fighter" who battled for the rights of Palestinians and not a "criminal". Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Glasgow Times
9 minutes ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
EasyJet cancels 660 flights due to ATC strikes in France
Kenton Jarvis, chief executive of the Luton-based carrier, warned that the industrial action is presenting 'unacceptable challenges'. Tens of thousands of passengers were disrupted when French ATC staff walked out on July 3 and 4 in a dispute over working conditions. Flights to and from French airports, as well as those scheduled to fly over French airspace, were affected. ‼️ French Air Traffic Control strikes extended to 4 days (3-6 July) ‼️ ❌ further EU-wide delays ❌ thousands more passengers impacted Once again, we're calling on EU President @vonderleyen to urgently reform EU ATC services. Demand action👇 — Ryanair (@Ryanair) July 5, 2025 Fellow airline Ryanair has also hit out at the French strikes, as they claimed further strikes on Wednesday disrupted the travel plans of 30,000 passengers. Mr Jarvis said: 'We are extremely unhappy with the strike action by the French ATC in early July, which as well as presenting unacceptable challenges for customers and crew also created unexpected and significant costs for all airlines.' French ATC has been the leading cause of delays to easyJet flights since the start of the summer. Mr Jarvis described the walkout in early July as 'very, very disruptive' as it forced it to cancel 660 flights and cost it £15 million. Around 70% of easyJet's flights either fly to or from a French airport, or over the country's airspace. Mr Jarvis said the airline has 'very strong measures in place to protect our operations', and has improved its punctuality record, but 'no measures will cope when French airspace effectively closes'. He added: 'What we have to do is demand that the French government steps in and really works with their ANSP (air navigation service provider) because it has been the worst performing air traffic control area in Europe, and they get ahead of it and do some long-term measures. 'More recruitment into the tower for controllers, protecting over-flying, using AI and data that's available nowadays to improve the life of the controller. 'We're asking for improved actions, but at easyJet we've made a lot of investment into our resilience.'
South Wales Argus
11 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Queen Camilla pictured in new photo released to mark 78th birthday
Camilla was pictured smiling in the sunshine and leaning on a metal gate in front of a meadow at her Wiltshire residence Ray Mill House. The image shows the Queen looking relaxed and wearing a turquoise dress in a Liberty fabric printed with a rainforest of toucans, lemurs and monkeys. Last year, Camilla was on duty on her birthday attending the State Opening of Parliament at the King's side. This year, she is said to be spending the day privately. Queen Camilla posing for a portrait to mark her birthday in the garden of her home Ray Mill House in the village of Lacock (for Buckingham Palace) The King, who is still being treated for cancer, is known to have been buoyed by his wife's support since his diagnosis last year. The pair celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at the start of April and have had a busy run of engagements, including hosting a state visit by the French president last week, ahead of their upcoming annual summer break to Scotland. The King and Queen receive France's First Lady Brigitte Macron during the state visit at Windsor last week (Chris Jackson/PA) In the birthday portrait taken by photographer Chris Jackson earlier this month, Camilla can be seen wearing gold drop earrings, a delicate gold bracelet, a gold ring composed of circular plaques on her pinky finger, her wedding band and her five carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring as she places her hands together while resting on the gate. On Wednesday, the Queen was gifted a roll of clingfilm for her birthday in a special holder when she visited a nuclear-powered submarine in Plymouth. The wrapping was used to fix a defect in the main engines of HMS Astute. Flowers and a cling film roll holder that was presented to Camilla during a garden party for the HMS Astute Ship's Company and their families (Aaron Chown/PA) 'There's nothing more useful, brilliant, how wonderful,' the Queen remarked about the present which had a small plaque with the words 'Clingflim keeping nuclear submarines at sea'. Camilla is also to be made a Vice Admiral – a honorary role – in recognition of her support of the Royal Navy, it was announced the same day.
