2025-06-18

Europe News

Israel starts flying home citizens stuck abroad during Iran conflict

Repatriation flights have started landing in Israel amid its conflict with Iran, but thousands of Israelis remain stranded in countries such as Bulgaria.

18/06/2025

Europe News

EU pet protection plan barks up wrong tree, MEPs and NGOs warn

Driven by good intentions, the EU’s first-ever legislation on the welfare of cats and dogs is currently under discussion, but it’s raising concerns that it could unintentionally fuel illegal pet trade.

18/06/2025

Tech News

Why was the US TikTok ban extended again?

US President Donald Trump signalled that he would give TikTok’s Chinese parent company another 75 days to find an American buyer for the platform or face a nationwide ban. But why all the extensions?

18/06/2025

Culture news

Kneecap debut London billboards ahead of terror court appearance

Controversial Belfast rapper Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – appears in court in London today over terror charges. The band have debuted a series of billboards in the capital and fans have turned up to Westminster Magistrates Court to show their support.

18/06/2025

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | June 18th – Midday

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

18/06/2025

Business

Airbus pledges higher dividends as it confirms financial guidance

The pan-European aerospace firm said it would increase shareholder returns and leave its 2025 financial targets unchanged in an attempt to reassure investors.

18/06/2025

No Comment

Indigenous protest as Brazil sells Amazon oil blocks

Indigenous groups and environmental activists rallied in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday as Brazil auctioned off oil blocks near the ecologically sensitive Amazon River mouth.

18/06/2025

No Comment

Watch: Mass swim in Berlin calls for end to Spree River ban

Around 200 Berliners leapt into the Spree River on Tuesday to demand an end to a century-old swimming ban in the city’s central district.

18/06/2025

Europe News

Australia and Canada next in line after UK for defence deal with EU

Canada and Australia are both in the NATO military alliance, alongside 23 EU member states.

18/06/2025

Tech News

Commission finds AliExpress in breach of illegal content rules

At the same time, the platform’s voluntary commitments as part of the DSA probe on other areas have been made binding.

18/06/2025

Indonesia

Three Australians arrested in Bali over fatal shooting of compatriot

The three suspects face charges including murder and firearm offences that could result in a life sentence or the death penalty if found guilty, police said.

18/06/2025

Culture news

Renowned pianist and writer Alfred Brendel dies aged 94

Over a six-decade career, Brendel became known for his interpretations of classical masters including Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert.

18/06/2025

Art

What are the 20 most controversial album covers of all time?

Don’t judge an album by its cover... Easier said than done for some. Following the controversy surrounding the album image for Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, we look at the most controversial album artworks which landed the artists in hot water with the censors. And, in some cases, the taste police.

18/06/2025

Tech News

Dutch government says kids under age 15 should not use social media

The guidance differentiates between social media sites like TikTok and Instagram and messaging services like WhatsApp.

18/06/2025

Tech News

Iran asks its citizens to delete WhatsApp from their devices

WhatsApp should be deleted from Iranian devices, a state official said on TV Tuesday as a conflict with Israel enters its sixth day.

18/06/2025

Europe News

England and Wales police to collect ethnicity data on child sex abuse

The announcement follows a series of recommendations by Baroness Casey made in her audit on 'grooming gangs', which found that Asian men were overrepresented in three local areas – but more data was needed to gain a national picture.

18/06/2025

Health news

British lawmakers vote to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales

Amendment to the crime and policing bill means women who terminate their pregnancies after 24 weeks will no longer be prosecuted.

18/06/2025

Cinema

Tom Cruise and Dolly Parton are finally getting Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas will receive Honorary Oscars in November.

18/06/2025

Green News

Berliners jump into Spree River to show its clean enough to swim in

Berliners want to lift a 100-year Spree River swimming ban, citing improved water quality and rising urban heat.

18/06/2025

Europe News

Exclusive: EU visa rule change set to target Israeli citizens

Mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU has been reformed to include human rights breaches, and Israel could be one of the first countries affected.

18/06/2025

Culture news

Rare papers of Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing sets auction record

A treasure trove of World War II codebreaker Alan Turing’s scientific papers has sold for more than three times their expected sale price after being saved from the shredder.

18/06/2025

Markets

European shares notch up slightly despite Iran-Israel crisis

Israel and Iran continued to exchange airstrikes on Wednesday while the US moved fighter jets to the region.

18/06/2025

Sport

Japan shines as Tanaka claims -70kg gold and Murao triumphs in all-Japanese -90kg final

Shiho Tanaka takes her long-awaited first World title in -70kg. Sanshiro Murao defeats reigning champion Tajima in golden score to capture -90kg gold. Day 5 in Budapest belongs to Japan, with power, precision, and podium domination.

18/06/2025

World News

Trump demands Tehran's 'surrender' again as Israel conflict continues

Donald Trump said "I may do it, I may not do it" when asked by reporters if the US planned to join Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to thank the US president for "standing by us."

18/06/2025

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | June 18th – Morning

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

18/06/2025

Health news

Smokers buying cigarettes abroad after the Netherlands raised taxes

The Dutch public health agency said policy changes are needed to prevent smokers from evading the country’s high tobacco taxes by buying these products abroad.

18/06/2025

Canada

G7 leaders fail to reach major agreements after Trump's early exit

The summit concluded with a broadly worded statement in which leaders of the G7 unanimously agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and called for de-escalation in the Middle East.

18/06/2025

World News

Trump to sign order to extend TikTok sale deadline by 90 days

The new order will be the third time Trump has delayed the ban imposed by Congress and upheld by the US Supreme Court on the viral video sharing app owned by the Chinese company, ByteDance.

18/06/2025

Iran

Explosions heard in Tehran as Israel launches a new wave of airstrikes

US President Donald Trump says diplomatic talks are still an option for Iran as he offers to send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to resume talks with the Iranians amid heightened regional tensions and cross-border attacks.

18/06/2025