No Comment Chinese youths greet Putin on arrival in Beijing Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a two-day visit, where young Chinese flag-wavers and officials welcomed him at the airport ahead of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 19/05/2026
Azerbaijan Cities struggle to keep pace as war and climate define urban futures, WUF13 delegates warn Delegates at the World Urban Forum in Baku warned on day three that war and climate change are affecting cities faster than governments can respond, urging a shift away from standardised housing models. 19/05/2026
Europe News Crunch defence talks enter final stretch as EU races to rearm by 2030 European parliamentarians, EU member states and Commission mediators are in the thick of talks aimed at bolstering the bloc’s defence industry by cutting down on bureaucracy. Despite the political will for the continent to rearm itself, significant divisions have emerged on the details of delivery. 19/05/2026
United Arab Emirates UAE says mystery drones targeting nuclear plant came from Iraq The UAE said drones that targeted its Barakah nuclear plant last week were launched from Iraq, indicating Tehran-backed militias have continued targeting Gulf energy infrastructure on behalf of Iran. 19/05/2026
Culture news Flat and full length: Bayeux Tapestry readied for historic London show The loan of the work, listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, had sparked numerous protests in France, mainly due to its fragility. 19/05/2026
Europe News Merkel warns Europe can no longer rely on old security certainties Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was awarded the European Order of Merit on Tuesday. Merkel warned that Europe could no longer take peace and security for granted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She also said changes in US security policy showed old certainties were fading. 19/05/2026
No Comment G7 finance ministers gather in Paris amid Iran tensions and tariff concerns Finance ministers from G7 economies gathered in Paris for a second day of talks focused on global economic pressures, including the Iran conflict, US tariffs and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. 19/05/2026
Europe News EU keeps carbon border tax unchanged despite fertiliser price crisis Fertiliser producers argue that the EU's carbon pricing rules at the border protect the European industry from cheaper imports produced under weaker environmental rules. But farmers fear they are indirectly paying the bill through higher fertiliser costs. 19/05/2026
Europe News EU Order of Merit celebrates the same old memories and few fresh faces The European Order of Merit conferral ceremony came off as a celebration of the past with little hope for the future. Merkel was among those awarded. 19/05/2026
Qatar Gulf states talk Trump out of Iran strikes in a show of regional influence Trump said he suspended imminent US military strikes on Iran “for two or three days” after the Gulf states intervened to gain more time due to ongoing negotiations and concerns over Iranian retaliation, with Qatar stating that Gulf leaders are united in trying to avoid a resumption of the war. 19/05/2026
No Comment Giant Pele statue installed outside stadium ahead of 2026 World Cup A giant bronze statue of Pelé was installed outside Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 19/05/2026
Health news Should Europe screen airport passengers for Ebola? As the United States is stepping up its measures in response to the latest Ebola outbreak, what is happening in Europe? Will it also screen passengers at airports, or go as far as cancelling flights? And how effective are these measures? 19/05/2026
Health news Spain: 13 isolated hantavirus contacts to be allowed visits The only confirmed positive case continues to do well and is eager to begin a “normal quarantine”. From Tuesday, the other 13 isolated people may leave their single rooms wearing PPE and masks. 19/05/2026
No Comment World Cup stadium workers demand ICE stay out Workers at SoFi Stadium protested outside the venue demanding guarantees that personal data collected during FIFA accreditation would not be shared with US immigration authorities. 19/05/2026
Top News Stories Today Latest news bulletin | May 19th, 2026 – Evening Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this May 19th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. 19/05/2026
Tech News ESA–China SMILE mission launches to study Earth’s magnetic shield The SMILE mission will track the Earth’s magnetosphere, which protects the planet from charged particles that come from the Sun. 19/05/2026
Europe News NATO fighter jet downs stray Ukrainian drone over Estonia For the first time, a NATO fighter jet shot down what is believed to have been a stray Ukrainian drone over the Baltic country. Ukraine apologised for the “unintended incident”, while Russia threatened retaliation. 19/05/2026
Food and Drink Caber-nay: Beer consumption tops wine for the first time in France For the first time in France’s recorded history, beer has overtaken wine as the drink of choice. Oh. Mon. Dieu. 19/05/2026
Culture news Zurita de Oliveira, mother of Portuguese rock, gets a documentary film Francisca Marvão directs a documentary full of music and energy with a mostly female cast, in which artists and bands of today bring back the music of the first person to record a rock song in Portugal. 19/05/2026
USA Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have questioned whether the military has the legal authority to use lethal force against civilian-style vessels in international waters outside of a declared theatre of war. 19/05/2026
Business Line From raw materials to value-added exports: A structural trade transformation In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan is broadening its export base through market diversification, industrial growth, and trade reforms, targeting higher value-added products and new international markets. 19/05/2026
Tech News Pope and Anthropic co-founder to launch AI papal letter at Vatican Pope Leo's first major document will confront the age of AI. 19/05/2026
Europe News Brussels’ Manneken Pis goes sporty Brussels’ iconic Manneken Pis statue received a makeover in honour of the annual World Fair Play Day. Celebrated on 19 May, the event shines a spotlight on "fair play'' in the world of sport. 19/05/2026
Sport Game of Thrones: The secret of Florentino Pérez's power at Real Madrid Money talks. Especially at Real Madrid. If you can't personally guarantee €187 million and boast 20 years of club membership, there's no way to take over the club, which has allowed its president Florentino Pérez to rule for nearly two decades. 19/05/2026
The Cube Viral posts falsely claim Eurovision winner was secretly bought Posts claiming that the infamous pan-European music competition was rigged gained significant traction online, amidst wider scrutiny about the contest's voting rules and promotional campaigns. 19/05/2026
Europe News Ukraine 'paying the highest price to return home to European values' The Ukrainian human rights defender and European Order of Merit laureate said that after three centuries in Russia's shadow, Ukraine is now "back in Europe.” 19/05/2026
Europe News EU’s fertiliser rescue plan aims to prevent another farm uprising With fertiliser prices soaring due to the volatility of global markets, the European Commission is attempting to calm struggling farmers ahead of key political talks on the European Union's agricultural budget for the next seven years. 19/05/2026
No Comment Maldives cave diving tragedy: Search continues for missing Italian divers Search and recovery operations remained underway in the Maldives’ Vaavu Atoll after five Italian divers went missing during a deep cave dive near Alimathaa Island. 19/05/2026
Culture news Aqua, dance-pop band behind hit song ‘Barbie Girl’, announces breakup The band announced that they were breaking up on Instagram after having been together for more than three decades. Their single ‘Barbie Girl’ sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and became a huge hit on several continents when it was released in 1997. 19/05/2026
Residences Four Seasons opens a stunning new resort on the Red Sea Found on Shura Island in Saudi Arabia, the luxury property has a spa, three swimming pools and a 1.3km-long beach. 19/05/2026