Crans-Montana fire: Swiss bar fire probe widens to 5 more local officials, including mayor
The Straits Times
Nine people are now under criminal investigation. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA – Swiss prosecutors on March 9 said five current and former local officials were under criminal investigation over the New Year bar fire in Crans-Montana that killed 41 people, widening the probe.
The public prosecutor’s office in south-western Switzerland’s Wallis canton, where the upmarket ski resort of Crans-Montana is located, declined to provide further details.
However, a source close to the case confirmed to AFP that Mr Nicolas Feraud, mayor of the Crans-Montana municipality, is among those under suspicion, as reported by Swiss media.
The source said a former municipal councillor in charge of security, a former fire safety officer and his deputy, and a current member of the public safety team, had also been placed under criminal investigation.
The move widens the scope of the investigation into the tragedy, which took place in the early hours of Jan 1 at Le Constellation, a bar in the town.
Besides those killed – who were mostly teenagers – a further 115 people were injured in the blaze, many of whom remain in hospital.
MADRID, March 19 - Spain will delay the presentation of its annual budget, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday, as the cabinet puts together a package of emergency measures to counter the economic impact of the Iran war. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The statue “was toppled in the 14th century and shattered into more than 10,000 fragments by looters”. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MOSCOW, March 19 - A senior Russian official called on Thursday for the creation of a safety zone around Iran's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant to prevent a major disaster, two days after a projectile struck within several hundred metres of its reactor. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 19 - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28. Read more at straitstimes.com.
DUBAI, March 19 - Iran's foreign minister called for vigilance and regional coordination in separate calls with counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan as the military warned of a tougher response to any further attacks on its energy infrastructure, state media reported on Thursday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Defence lawyers will be required to obtain clearances before appearing in national security cases. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ATHENS, March 19 - An air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, Greece's defence minister said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Rescue missions in some areas have been restricted due to fuel shortage. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Diesel stocks are down to 30 days, said Australia's Energy Minister. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Authorities reported seven new cases of the disease that has killed two people so far. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Asia-bound travelers bypass Gulf hubs due to Iran conflict, boosting Singapore Airlines and other Asian carriers. Read more at straitstimes.com.
COPENHAGEN, March 19 - A Russian fighter jet violated neighbouring Estonia's airspace on Wednesday, triggering a response from NATO's Baltic Air Policing, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
For years Washington had pressed China to arrest sellers of chemicals used to make the deadly drug. Read more at straitstimes.com.