Three individuals suspected of having hantavirus, among them a British doctor, have been evacuated from the cruise ship associated with the outbreak. The evacuation permits the vessel, carrying roughly 150 passengers, to resume its three‑day voyage to the Canary Islands after Spanish officials granted permission to dock. Since the outbreak began, the World Health Organization has stated that the danger to the general public remains low.
Lisa O’Carroll reports that negotiations on the EU‑US trade agreement will start this evening at 7 p.m., following President Donald Trump’s warning to raise tariffs on European cars. The so‑called trilogue talks, involving German MEP Bernd Lange’s trade committee and EU member‑state representatives, aim to resolve outstanding issues concerning the Turnberry deal signed last year at Trump’s golf course. Trump’s threat to lift EU car tariffs from 15 % to 25 % jeopardises ratification; Lange argues the president has shown himself to be an unreliable EU partner. Lange’s team is seeking three changes: a sunrise provision that would activate the agreement only if the United States fulfils its obligations; a sunset clause that would terminate the pact in March 2028 unless renewed; and a mechanism allowing suspension of all or part of the deal should Trump impose new tariffs. Although Lange enjoys the backing of most MEPs, Manfred Weber, leader of the centre‑right EPP group, said his faction prefers a swift adoption. The dispute has split the EU, with Friedrich Merz and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging a diplomatic solution and rapid implementation to avoid crisis, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for activation of the EU’s anti‑coercion “bazooka” to enable retaliatory measures. Trump defended the tariffs, claiming the EU is delaying its side of the agreement. Although the US portion of the deal was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court, the EU continues to push for its preservation to steady transatlantic ties.
Lisa O’Carroll also notes that dual nationals living in the United Kingdom who plan to travel to Europe this summer—or anywhere else—should verify that all paperwork is in order before crossing borders. She highlights the case of a British woman from Aberdeen and her eleven‑month‑old child who became stranded in Spain after encountering problems with UK dual‑nationality regulations.
Read next
Pussy Riot demonstration shuts down Russian pavilion at Venice Biennale
The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was forced to close its doors temporarily on the second day of the preview after the activist collective Pussy Riot staged a disorderly demonstration opposing Russia’s participation in the art festival.
Dressed in pink balaclavas, the protesters rushed to the pavilion, gathered
Giorgia Meloni urges public to think before sharing after AI-generated lingerie photo of her spreads online.
Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has spoken out against the spread of AI‑generated deepfake images of her, one of which shows her in lingerie, after the pictures were shared widely online.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Meloni wrote: “Over the past few days several fabricated pictures of
Trump warns Iran: accept the deal or face a new wave of US bombing
Donald Trump has issued a fresh ultimatum, telling Iran to accept a deal to end the war or face a new wave of US bombing “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before”.
The social media announcement on Wednesday was the latest in a rapid series of