Europe briefing: 5 stories to know about today

Europe briefing: 5 stories to know about today
Copyright Reuters
By Pascale Davies
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From the Turkish lira crisis to a platform collapsing at a festival in Spain, Euronews has the top 5 stories to know about this Monday morning.

1. Turkish lira crisis

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The lira fell almost 9% in early trading this morning before slightly recovering. That's rattled global markets as the euro slid to a fresh 13-month low. Turkey has tried to reassure investors by announcing plans for banks and the real economy sector.

President Tayyip Erdogan accused foreign countries of waging war on Turkey on Sunday and said his government would respond with trade measures to reduce reliance on the dollar and US markets.

Meanwhile, Turkey's interior ministry says it will investigate social media comments on economy said 346 social media accounts that posted comments about the weakening of the lira "in a provocative way" have been identified since Aug. 7 and legal action has been launched.

See more about what is behind the lira crisis read here.

2. Hundreds injured in Spanish festival after wooden promenade collapses

More than 300 people have been injured in the north-west city of Vigo in Galicia, Spain after a section of a wooden promenade collapsed at a local sport and music festival.

According to reports, the incident happened shortly before midnight as a crowd was listening to the Mallorcan rap artist Rels B.

No fatalities were reported while several emergency teams attended to the injured, and divers were sent into the sea to check that no-one was trapped beneath the structure.

3. Migrants marooned

The NGO boat that provoked a diplomatic crisis in June when it was turned away from Italy, is again looking for somewhere to dock. This time it has 141 rescued migrants on board.

The Aquarius has been stranded for three days and has called on European governments to offer it safe harbour.

The ship was at the centre of a major diplomatic standoff in June, when Italy and Malta turned it away before it docked in Spain.

4.Romania protests: Thousands hold fresh rallies after clashes

Thousands took part in the third night of protests in Romania's capital Bucharest on Sunday against alleged government corruption.

Crowds were thinner after tens of thousands had gathered the previous two days. Demonstrations turned violent on Friday night as police clashed with protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds.

Protesters accuse the leftwing government of corruption and have urged it to resign.

5. Fresh fires in Greece

Wildfires continued in Greece on Sunday, prompting 500 people being evacuated from the island of Evia. Greece is still mourning the 94 killed in a wildfire that struck the coastal resort of Mati in July.

This year's wildfires have been the country's worst such disaster and has prompted criticism over the government's handling of the situation.

Prime minister Alexis Tsipras replaced the Civil Protection Minister, the heads of Fire Brigade and Police. Tsipras announced the demolition of thousands of illegal buildings in response to the deaths of dozens of people who were unable to escape a maze of poorly planned streets.

As it happened updates for Monday, August 13.

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