Author: staff
Russian drone strikes hit the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed firefighters battling large fires, black smoke rising above apartment buildings and damaged homes across the city. Ukrainian officials said apartments, a private house, garages and a kindergarten were hit during the attack. Authorities reported at least 18 people injured, with several hospitalized. Emergency crews and psychologists were deployed to assist residents following the strikes.
Published on 18/05/2026 – 12:31 GMT+2 Ryanair reported a record profit after tax of €2.26 billion for the year up to March 2026, representing a 40% rise from the previous fiscal year, while warning that volatility in oil prices and geopolitical risks remain key concerns for the airline industry. Passenger numbers rose 4% to 208.4 million during its 2025-26 period, despite continued delays with Boeing aircraft deliveries which constrained capacity growth. Revenue per passenger also increased 7%, driven by 10% higher fares, while operating costs only rose 6%, keeping unit cost growth at 1%. Total revenue increased 11% to €15.54…
Colombian singer Shakira has won an important legal victory against the Spanish tax agency after the Audiencia Nacional (National Court) annulled penalties related to the 2011 tax year. The ruling concludes that the Treasury failed to prove that the artist resided in Spain for more than 183 days during that year, a key requirement for her to be considered a tax resident in the country. According to the decision, the court considers it proven that the performer remained outside Spain for much of 2011 due to international professional commitments, including an extensive world tour. The verdict thus rejects the claim…
Published on 18/05/2026 – 12:26 GMT+2 Russia targeted eight regions of Ukraine in its latest overnight drone and missile barrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, with local authorities reporting that the strikes wounded more than two dozen civilians, including three children. Russian forces fired 524 attack drones and 22 ballistic and cruise missiles, Zelenskyy said. “Air raid alerts remain in effect across many border and frontline communities, but our services are operating wherever the security situation allows,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. “Russia relies on ballistic missiles to strike people and that is precisely why we…
Burnham’s ‘55% chance’ of losing Makerfield and throwing Labour into chaos – POLITICO Skip to main content
As fears mount over jet fuel price surges, more and more European travellers are opting for short-haul or domestic travel this summer, according to Airbnb. New data from the short-term let booking platform has shown that 25% of travellers in countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and the Netherlands will be embracing staycations in 2026. Those who are going abroad are travelling shorter distances. In Sweden, for example, the median booking distance has dropped 26% since 2023 and is now under 500 kilometres. Another trend on the rise is splitting the cost of travel across a larger group, with bookings…
Italy’s premier argued that in the same way that the stability agreement exempts defense expenditures from its calculation, energy-related costs should similarly not be taken into account. “We must have the political courage to recognize that today energy security is also a European strategic priority,” she insisted. Meloni added Rome would struggle to justify participation in the EU’s SAFE defense financing program if Brussels refuses similar flexibility for energy spending. Italy wants the bloc’s existing “national safeguard clause” — currently tied to defense investment — temporarily expanded to cover emergency energy measures as well. The Italian prime minister’s appeal comes…
Hundreds of fans waving Bulgarian flags gathered at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport on Sunday to welcome Eurovision winner Dara home after Bulgaria’s first victory in the contest. The 27-year-old singer arrived smiling and holding the Eurovision trophy after her win in Vienna with the dance anthem ‘Bangaranga’. Several Bulgarian television channels interrupted their regular schedules to broadcast her arrival live. Dara, whose real name is Darina Yotova, said the success should remind people to support Bulgarian artists and creative industries. Fans at the airport described the victory as emotional and long overdue. Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev was among the officials…
The EU wants to reduce “cookie fatigue” through browser-level consent rules that promise fewer banners and more transparency. Critics warn the proposal could create new gatekeepers, weaken personalised advertising, and increase costs for European businesses.
Things can’t only get better It wasn’t always like this. The last Labour prime minister to win big before Starmer was Tony Blair. When he came to power in 1997, the U.K. had a bigger economy than China’s, was a leading member of the growing European Union trade bloc, and was approaching peak oil and gas production in the North Sea. Blair led Britain for 10 years. Nearly three decades on, Starmer inherited a country that has never really recovered from the economic shock of the 2008 financial crisis, is menaced by Russia, and now relies on imports for its energy security. Keir Starmer celebrates winning the 2024 general election with a speech at Tate Modern in London…