2026-05-12

Travel News

Will airfares be easier on our wallets this summer?

Cheaper flight prices may be tempting travellers back into the skies, but debates over surcharges and route disruptions still leave uncertainty for summer planning.

12/05/2026

Iran

Iran threatens 90% uranium enrichment as peace talks falter

Tehran threatened to enrich uranium to weapons-grade if attacked again, as Trump said the ceasefire had a "one percent chance" of surviving after rejecting Tehran's proposal.

12/05/2026

Culture news

Nearly renovated Theological School of Halki faces fight to reopen

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has announced that the school's renovation works will be completed in September but it is still awaiting permission from Turkey to reopen the facility after its forced closure in 1971.

12/05/2026

12 minutes with

Partnership with EU ‘just getting started' - Canadian minister

Canada’s foreign affairs minister points to the rise of middle powers in global diplomacy and says Ottawa's growing ties with the EU are “not just a policy response” to Donald Trump's tariff hammer.

12/05/2026

Business

Lufthansa to take control of ITA Airways in €325mn deal

Lufthansa, one of Europe's top airlines, announced Tuesday its intention to expand its current minority stake in Italy's ITA Airways to 90%.

12/05/2026

Health news

What is hantavirus, and how is it transmitted?

Health authorities assess the risk of hantavirus transmission among the general population as ‘very low’.

12/05/2026

China

A weakened Trump to test China's appetite for deal-making in Beijing

A quagmire in Iran, sky-high oil prices and shrinking support at home: when US President Donald Trump belatedly travels to China this week, his position has weakened. Still, he is hoping for any deal. Nervous Europeans are watching.

12/05/2026

Lifestyle

Doing regular cultural activities linked to slower ageing, study finds

Researchers found that people who engaged in arts and cultural activities every week appeared to age more slowly at a biological level, with effects comparable to regular exercise.

12/05/2026

Pakistan

Nine killed after bomb rigged to rickshaw explodes at Pakistan bazaar

The Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups have grown more emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

12/05/2026

Europe Today

Ireland hopes new Budapest government will allow for Ukraine's EU path

Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne said the European Union must continue increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions, military support and diplomatic efforts.

12/05/2026

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | May 12th, 2026 – Midday

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this May 12th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

12/05/2026

Europe News

Zelenskyy's ex-chief of staff named as suspect in major graft probe

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff has been named as a suspect in a major corruption investigation by Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau.

12/05/2026

Europe News

Starmer says he will not step down as two ministers quit government

Starmer told Cabinet ministers that he took responsibility for devastating losses in last week’s local elections across the UK but he would fight on.

12/05/2026

Health news

Spain and WHO declare hantavirus cruise evacuation 'a success'

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the evacuation operation from the MV Hondius as a “success,” as the WHO has ruled out a “major outbreak.”

12/05/2026

Europe Today

Farage surge makes Starmer's EU push crucial, UK minister says

Crushing local election loss is piling pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as rising support for the anti-immigration Reform UK exposes growing public frustration over migration and the economy.

12/05/2026

Europe News

EU may ban social media for children this summer, says von der Leyen

European Commission will present plans for an EU-wide social media ban for minors as early as this summer amid growing pressure from several member states to strengthen protections for children.

12/05/2026

Kenya

Macron thanks Kipchoge for 'patience' after Nairobi morning run

Macron joined marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge for an early morning run in Nairobi on day three of his Africa tour, later thanking the two-time Olympic champion for his "patience."

12/05/2026

Economy

Shipping fuel crunch raises fears of higher prices worldwide

Global shipping companies are bracing for fuel shortages and rising costs as the Iran war disrupts supplies of bunker fuel through the Strait of Hormuz.

12/05/2026

Sport

How much would you pay to see Ronaldo? Here's the cheapest ticket

The match between Portugal and Colombia in the 2026 World Cup is becoming a phenomenon off the pitch. The anticipation surrounding what could be Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup has caused the price of the cheapest tickets to explode.

12/05/2026

Europe News

EU energy ministers to mull domestic gas drilling amid security woes

The EU Cyprus Presidency will raise the question during an informal gathering of ministers amid energy security concerns and soaring prices. Gas projects in Greece, Italy, Romania and Poland were flagged as available resources with potential for increased explorations.

12/05/2026

Business

What makes a stock jump 1,000%? Europe’s winners of 2026

From Swedish photonics to French satellites and British fuel cells, meet this year's top-performing equities across sectors.

12/05/2026

Europe in Motion

Where in Europe do people work the most on weekends?

Balkan and Mediterranean workers are most likely to be shifted on weekends. Which countries have been trialling the four-day working week?

12/05/2026

Economy

US Treasury enlists banks to target Iranian money laundering schemes

The US Treasury has directed banks to intensify their monitoring of Iranian money laundering networks that enable funds from sanctioned oil. The move is part of the wider strategy to pressure Iran into a deal as negotiations stall.

12/05/2026

No Comment

Final passengers disembark hantavirus-hit cruise ship in Tenerife

The final passengers aboard the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius disembarked in Tenerife before boarding flights to quarantine facilities in more than 20 countries.

12/05/2026

Culture news

Eurovision Song Contest: Who are the most popular artists of all time?

Spotify’s new research reveals the most streamed entries in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and key factors shared by winning entries.

12/05/2026

No Comment

German ultrarunner Arda Saatçi completes 600-kilometre Death Valley to Los Angeles challenge

German athlete Arda Saatçi completed a 600-kilometre ultramarathon challenge from Death Valley to Los Angeles after running for more than 123 hours.

12/05/2026

Europe Today

Newsletter: The EU's best offence is a good defence

As European officials attempt to grapple with how to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, and who from Europe should do the talking, the means and methods of supporting Ukraine on the frontlines is also at the fore of Tuesday's discussions.

12/05/2026

Health news

Hantavirus outbreak latest: Spain confirms one new case

Spain confirms one new hantavirus case amongst evacuees as passengers remain under watch across Europe.

12/05/2026

EU.XL

EU’s €2 trillion budget talks risk becoming ugly and delayed

A fierce budget battle is brewing in Brussels as the European Parliament pushes for nearly €200 billion more in the EU’s next long-term budget, setting up a clash with Ursula von der Leyen and fiscally conservative member states over how to fund Europe’s ambitions.

12/05/2026

Europe Today

Parents take TikTok to court over claims it hooks teenagers

Sixteen French families have launched an unusual collective complaint against TikTok, accusing the platform of a systematic "abuse of weakness." According to Franceinfo, their lawyer describes the algorithm as "digital crack," designed to trap teenagers in mental prisons. Let's investigate.

12/05/2026