GLOBAL SNAPSHOT 1 Facelift for Tower 2 Aretha bows out

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower is to have a 2.5m bulletproof glass wall erected around its base to prevent terror attacks – and restore the landmark’s looks. Officials in Paris want to replace the existing metal security fence with a more aesthetically appealing reinforced glass wall, because the current barrier spoils the view for tourists. Tourists will be free to enter the area after a security check. NEW YORK: Her career has spanned nearly 60 years and spawned hits such as Respect and I Say A Little Prayer, but Aretha Franklin has revealed she is to retire – to spend more time with her grandchildren. The 74year-old Queen of Soul, who has sold 75 million records worldwide and had 20 US No.1 singles, said she would make one more album before retiring.

Deadly friendly fire

3 ANKARA: Russian air strikes accidentally killed three Turkish soldiers and wounded 11 others during an operation against Islamic State in northern Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the misdirected strikes on poor co-ordination between Moscow and Ankara.

4 Mystery of Europa

MIAMI: Europa is a frozen moon of Jupiter, which looks totally inhospitable and barren, but might be hiding an amazing secret. NASA believes there’s a gigantic ocean locked beneath its frozen surface and is planning to send a robotic craft to see if aliens are swimming in it.

5 McCanns suffer

LISBON: The parents of Madeleine McCann face fresh heartache after Portugal’s highest court stressed that they had not been cleared over her disappearance. The Supreme Court said removing suspect status should not be equated to proof of innocence.

6 Arrest on bribery

LIMA: A Peruvian judge has ordered the arrest of former president Alejandro Toledo on suspicion of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction firm at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal. The suspicions involve allegations he received $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

7 MPs target Zuma

CAPE TOWN: MPs of South Africa’s far-left Economic Freedom Fighters party brawled with parliamentary orderlies as they were ejected from the chamber for interrupting President Jacob Zuma’s state-ofthe-nation speech. Mr Zuma’s popularity has waned after a series of scandals, which led an anti-corruption watchdog to call for an inquiry.