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- New technology may safeguard public buildings against terrorist threats – find out how | News UK
- Argentina reports surge in hantavirus cases as MV Hondius outbreak unfolds
- Würzburg church to become bouldering centre as congregations decline
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- Spain allows passengers to disembark MV Hondius following hantavirus outbreak
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New technology may safeguard public buildings against terrorist threats – find out how | News UK
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Get you up to speed: New technology may safeguard public buildings against terrorist threats – find out how | News UK
SAFETY INNOVATION
Researchers from the University of Sheffield have developed a new blast prediction tool to enhance safety assessments following the Manchester Arena bombing and improve public space protection.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield have developed a new blast prediction tool to enhance safety assessments following the Manchester Arena bombing and improve public space protection.
TERRORISM SAFETY
Engineers from the University of Sheffield have developed a blast prediction tool that enhances safety assessments under Martyn’s Law, potentially saving lives in public spaces.
Engineers from the University of Sheffield have developed a blast prediction tool that enhances safety assessments under Martyn’s Law, potentially saving lives in public spaces.
PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE
Researchers from the University of Sheffield are integrating their blast prediction tool into the Steel Construction Institute’s EMBlast software to enhance building safety assessments.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield are integrating their blast prediction tool into the Steel Construction Institute’s EMBlast software to enhance building safety assessments.
What we know so far
New technology being developed by engineers at the University of Sheffield aims to enhance safety in public spaces by predicting the impact of bomb blasts. This innovation follows the tragic Manchester Arena bombing, which claimed 22 lives in 2017, and seeks to improve security measures across stadiums and shopping centres.
The blast prediction tool can provide vital insights into the potential damage caused by explosions in confined areas, as well as support safety assessments mandated by Martyn’s Law. This legislation, enacted to protect the public from terrorist attacks, establishes preparedness requirements for certain venues and events.
Researchers emphasise that their approach is not only faster but also more accurate than current methods used by government agencies. The tool has the potential to inform the design of buildings capable of withstanding explosions, thereby reducing injuries and structural damage during attacks.
As the team collaborates with the Steel Construction Institute to integrate the tool into existing safety software, there are expectations that this advancement will significantly improve the UK’s response to bomb threats. Dr Andrew Barr highlighted that traditional methods often underestimate the destructive power of explosions in enclosed spaces, and this new model aims to change that.
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This new technology could protect public buildings from terrorist attacks – here’s how | News UK
Public spaces such as stadiums and shopping centres will soon be better protected from terror attacks thanks to new technology.
The blast prediction tool can save lives by predicting what level of damage an explosion will likely cause in public buildings and transport hubs, according to researchers from the University of Sheffield.
The technology could also support safety assessments after Martyn’s Law, legislation which passed following the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 in 2017.
University of Sheffield engineers, who developed the tool to predict the impact of bomb blasts, say it could also be utilised to develop materials that could be placed around explosives to reduce their energy.
They have shown that the tool is more accurate and faster than methods currently used by government agencies to predict the damage of a bomb.
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The researchers, from Sheffield’s Blast and Impact Group, say it can predict the impact any explosion will likely have in any confined space.
Their findings, published in the journal Process Safety and Environmental Protection, show it could also be used to predict the structural damage and injuries a bomb blast would cause.
The team say the tool could be used to help design buildings and infrastructure that are better equipped to withstand explosions by reducing structural damage and potential injuries to people nearby.
Following recent bomb attacks, engineers and government agencies have been urgently seeking quick-running tools to help them predict, and ideally proactively prevent casualties.
The Sheffield team explained that a key aspect is being able to predict the pressure that is generated by a blast in confined spaces, where blast wave reflections from walls and other objects can increase its magnitude and duration.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law after Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, was enshrined in UK law last year to better protect the public from terrorism.
It requires certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep people safe in the event of an attack.
The new model could enable the rapid assessment of multiple potential scenarios, even when the exact mass or composition of the explosive is not known.
Sheffield engineers are working with the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) to incorporate the model into their EMBlast software, which is used by the industry for predicting blast effects on buildings.
Dr Andrew Barr said: ‘Explosions inside buildings can be far more destructive than those in open air. When high-pressure shockwaves hit walls and other obstacles, they bounce back and interact, creating a sustained pressure that can cause severe injuries and major structural damage.
‘Engineers assessing these threats have typically relied on look-up charts developed decades ago for TNT explosions. These methods are fast, but they can’t be easily adapted to other explosive types or scenarios.
‘Our new predictive tool simulates the mechanical, thermal and chemical processes behind this dangerous pressure build-up, giving engineers and safety specialists a more accurate picture of the potential consequences of an explosion.’
His colleague, Dr Dain Farrimond, said: ‘We hope to use this knowledge to help develop materials that can be placed around explosives to safely reduce their destructive energy.
‘We would then also be able to model the blast-reducing effects of these materials by adapting the predictive tool, further assisting quick decision-making by engineers and government agencies.’
Argentina reports surge in hantavirus cases as MV Hondius outbreak unfolds
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Get you up to speed: Argentina reports surge in hantavirus cases as MV Hondius outbreak unfolds
On April 1, the MV Hondius cruise left the port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina. The vessel is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde after three passengers died, possibly of hantavirus.
According to Argentina’s Ministry of Health, increasing human interaction with wild environments and habitat destruction are contributing factors to the rise in hantavirus cases, which have surged by 10 per cent this year compared to the previous year. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the risk to the public posed by hantavirus remains “low.”
Health officials are currently meeting the MV Hondius cruise ship in Granadilla, Tenerife, to arrange the repatriation of British passengers on a dedicated flight. Argentina has recorded 101 hantavirus cases since last June, marking a notable increase compared to previous years.
The surprising reason this country is facing a rise in Hantavirus cases | News World
Hantavirus cases have surged over the last year in Argentina, the origin of the stricken MV Hondius ship (Picture: Reuters)
On April 1, the MV Hondius cruise left the port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina.
The vessel has since grabbed attention all over the world following an outbreak of hantavirus, a rare disease typically transmitted from the faeces of infected rodents.
Health officials are meeting the ship today in Granadilla on the island of Tenerife, from where British passengers will be flown home on a dedicated repatriation flight.
While the source of the outbreak remains unknown, a clue may lie in the ship’s origin.
Argentina has experienced an unusually high number of hantavirus cases this year.
The South American country has recorded 101 cases since last June, CNNreported.
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Containers used to diagnose the Andes strain of the hantavirus (Picture: AFP)
This is a 10 per cent increase on the same period the previous year, when just 59 cases were recorded.
Ushuaia is not one of the places to record instances of hantavirus, with the disease typically concentrated in four geographical areas of Argentina, including provinces in the north east, north west and the south.
Experts now believe that climate change has contributed to the rise in cases in the country, with habitat destruction leading to more exposure to the urine and faeces of infected rodents.
Argentina’s Ministry of Health said: ‘Increasing human interaction with wild environments, habitat destruction, the establishment of small urbanisations in rural areas, and the effects of climate change contribute to the appearance of cases outside historically endemic areas.’
Temperature changes are also affecting the spread of the disease. Ecosystem changes affect the long-tailed mouse, which is the carrier of the virus in Argentina and Chile.
Rodents are more able to adapt to climate change – which could explain why we’re seeing higher cases of the disease.
This year, the capital region of Buenos Aires has been the epicentre of the disease, with 42 cases recorded.
Dutch couple Mirjam Schilperoord, 69 and her husband, who both died of the disease after boarding MV Hondius, are thought to have visited at least two affected areas, Misiones and Neuquén, during a tour of South America.
The sudden outbreak on board the cruise ship has triggered recollections of the Covid pandemic.
There are some parallels. Both viruses are thought to originate from animals, with experts pointing to climate change and human encroachment on natural habitats as possible causes of the outbreaks.
However, unlike COVID, epidemiologists do not believe hantavirus will become the next pandemic.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Tenerife that the risk to the public posed by the virus remained ‘low’.
The MV Hondius cruise pictured arriving at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife (Picture: Reuters)
In contrast to the easily transmitting COVID, hantavirus rarely spreads between humans, and when it does, it is usually after prolonged contact with an infected person.
Dr Charlotte Hammer, an assistant professor in health security and infectious diseases at Cambridge University, said that the specific conditions onboard the MV Hondius did not reflect those of everyday life, with passengers on cruises routinely mixing in tight spaces.
‘In terms of the transmission potential, it is incredibly different from Covid’, she said.
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Würzburg church to become bouldering centre as congregations decline
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Würzburg church to become bouldering centre as congregations decline
Church Transformation
St Andrew’s Church in Würzburg is to be deconsecrated and repurposed as a bouldering centre, with the facility set to open in summer 2027.
St Andrew’s Church in Würzburg is to be deconsecrated and repurposed as a bouldering centre, with the facility set to open in summer 2027.
Distinctive Scale
Germany has approximately 44,000 to 45,000 church buildings, underscoring the significant challenge of repurposing these structures as congregations decline and costs escalate.
Germany has approximately 44,000 to 45,000 church buildings, underscoring the significant challenge of repurposing these structures as congregations decline and costs escalate.
Community Support
“We are grateful that a good solution for preserving the church and parish centre was found so quickly,” stated Father Tobias Fuchs regarding the new use of St Andrew.
“We are grateful that a good solution for preserving the church and parish centre was found so quickly,” stated Father Tobias Fuchs regarding the new use of St Andrew.
Key developments
St Andrew parish church in Würzburg will be repurposed into a bouldering centre, marking a significant transformation as the Diocese of Würzburg confirmed plans for the space, set to open in summer 2027.
The church, consecrated in 1968, will be officially deconsecrated in 2026, allowing new sports facilities to be integrated while preserving its architectural significance as a designated historic monument.
Bouldering instead of praying: churches find new roles
There are around 44,000 to 45,000 church buildings in Germany – depending on which sacred spaces are included. Many of these buildings shape the character of villages, neighbourhoods and landscapes. But the question of how they can be preserved is being asked ever more often as congregations shrink and costs rise.
The parish church of St Andrew in the Sanderau district of Würzburg is also facing such a transformation. From the outside it stands like a silent witness to post‑war modernism. Inside, however, the church interior is to take on a new function: where services were held for decades, people will in future be climbing on bouldering walls.
The church, consecrated in 1968 by Bishop Josef Stangl, is to be profaned, in other words deconsecrated under canon law. The Diocese of Würzburg and the operators of the “Rock Inn” bouldering centre announced this publicly (source in German) in April 2026. Climbing walls, a yoga room, a café and a children’s area are planned. The sports facility is due to open in summer 2027. St Andrew could then become Bavaria’s first “climbing church”.
“We simply can’t manage any more”
For decades, St Andrew was a venue for religious celebrations and a space for community events. But the burdens became too great. Father Tobias Fuchs, who looks after St Andrew together with the neighbouring parish of St Adalbero, speaks of high maintenance costs and a lack of staff. “For example, for a long time we had a man who worked voluntarily as caretaker, but he recently had to stop for reasons of age,” says Fuchs. In the end, he says, it was clear to everyone: “We simply can’t manage any more.”
In February 2026 the building was listed as a historic monument, ruling out demolition. For many members of the parish this at least means that the striking structure will be preserved, even if it is put to a new use.
When churches are given “E” status
St Andrew is not an isolated case. The Diocese of Würzburg has reviewed its property portfolio and internally marked almost 80 churches with the code “E”. This denotes churches that are to be given a new use in the long term. Financial director and Ordinariatsrat Gerald Düchs stresses that an individual solution is sought for each church and that the parishes are involved. The pain for the community is to be kept as low as possible.
The diocese already has experience with repurposed churches: in the 1970s, church buildings in Erbshausen were converted into flats, in Mespelbrunn into a parish centre and in Hausen near Aschaffenburg into an artist’s studio. In Würzburg itself, the historic Spitäle today serves as an art gallery and the Neubaukirche of the Old University as a banqueting hall.
Pressure is also growing nationwide. Since the year 2000, liturgical use has been completely discontinued in 611 Catholic churches, the press office of the German Bishops’ Conference said in response to an enquiry. Only 201 of them were sold out of church ownership. Many other buildings remained in the hands of the Church and are used differently today – for example for social facilities, care, housing or archives.
What is allowed – and what is not
The Church cannot decide arbitrarily which follow‑on uses are possible. The Diocese of Würzburg requires a concept that is compatible with Christian values. Markus Hauck from the Episcopal Ordinariate of Würzburg explains on request that cultic use by non‑Christian religious communities is excluded – “out of consideration for the religious feelings of Catholic believers”.
This line follows the guidelines of the German Bishops’ Conference. As early as 2003 it stated that demolition should only ever be a last resort. Conversions should, as far as possible, be reversible so that later generations could in theory use the spaces for church purposes again. At the same time, the dignity of the place sets limits: liturgical signs and objects may not be taken over decoratively into commercial concepts.
For the Church of St Andrew in Würzburg, architect Roland Breuning of the Archicult office is therefore planning a restrained intervention. The bouldering walls are to stand on an inserted gallery. “Overall, the aim is to treat the existing rooms as gently as possible and to design any new structures so that they can be removed,” the architect explained in the press release issued in April.
From the application to the final Mass
Before anyone can start climbing, the church must be officially profaned, that is, deconsecrated. Bishop Franz Jung will seek advice on this in the Council of Priests and the General Episcopal Council; the diocesan art commission will also issue an opinion. The bishop can then order the profanation.
It is carried out at the end of a final solemn Mass by a member of the cathedral chapter. “This Mass ends with the clearing of the church interior and the presentation of the profanation certificate,” Hauck explains. If all those involved give their consent, this step could still take place in summer 2026.
For the parish, this farewell is more than just an administrative act. The German Bishops’ Conference provides for its own liturgical rite for this. It is intended to express gratitude and direct the gaze towards the future.
Post‑war churches under particular pressure
St Andrew belongs to a group of buildings that is currently especially at risk: churches dating from between 1950 and the early 1970s.
In a contribution (source in German) to the journal “Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte”, art historian Prof Stefanie Lieb interprets the repurposing of church buildings as a profound structural transformation. Conservationists view churches as part of the townscape and the built community. Theologians look more from the inside, from their liturgical function. When a parish moves out, the space loses its core from a church perspective. This tension underlies many debates about new uses.
Other examples show that new uses can succeed in a respectful way. The former church of St Ursula in Hürth near Cologne, designed by Gottfried Böhm, was converted into an art gallery in 2010. Aachen’s Church of the Redeemer was rebuilt in 2016 as a columbarium – a place for urn graves that still has a quiet, spiritual atmosphere.
A question for society as a whole
Not everyone views commercial follow‑on uses positively. Olaf Zimmermann, managing director of the German Cultural Council, said in an interview with the Protestant Press Service in January 2025: “Churches are common goods.” Many people feel attached to these buildings, even if they stopped going to church long ago. Churches are landmarks – and their future is therefore not just an internal church matter.
The Protestant Church is also looking intensively at this issue. At the 31st Protestant Church Architecture Day in Berlin in 2024, the future of church buildings took centre stage. Klaus‑Martin Bresgott from the Cultural Office of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) recommended involving several partners at an early stage: congregations, municipalities, heritage authorities and potential new operators. Church congregations, he said, must learn to share responsibility.
Art historian Stefanie Lieb also argues for a broader perspective. The repurposing of churches is a structural change comparable to the transformation of former industrial sites in the Ruhr region. What used to be seen as a burden is now often valued as cultural heritage. The preservation of church buildings therefore requires not only ecclesiastical but also societal support.
Climbing under the pyramid
Andreas Schmitt, co‑managing director of Rock Inn and an architect himself, sees the new use as fitting the character of the place. “A church is a place that brings a community together. We also see ourselves as an institution that brings people together. In that respect, this new use is a very good fit.” The “Inn” in the company name stands for hospitality.
Father Fuchs calls it a stroke of luck: “We are grateful that a good solution for preserving the church and parish centre was found so quickly.” The presbytery will remain in the hands of the parish, and a pastoral worker on site is to coordinate future work with children and young people. So the parish is not losing everything – it is passing a space on.
Fewer church members
The case of St Andrew must also be seen against the backdrop of declining membership numbers. At the end of 2025, 43.8% of the population still belonged to the Catholic or Protestant Church. According to provisional figures (source in German) from the German Bishops’ Conference, the Catholic Church had 19,219,601 members, while the Evangelical Church (source in German) had around 17.4 million. The numbers leaving remain high: around 307,000 people left the Catholic Church in 2025, and around 350,000 left the Evangelical Church.
For many parishes this has concrete consequences. Fewer members mean less income, fewer staff and less room for manoeuvre when it comes to maintaining large buildings. What happens to these buildings also shows which places a society wants to preserve in order to maintain a sense of community in other ways.
Nigel Farage claims £5 million undisclosed donation stems from ‘serious hacking’ | News UK
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Get you up to speed: Nigel Farage claims £5 million undisclosed donation stems from ‘serious hacking’ | News UK
POLITICAL DONATIONS
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims illegal hacking revealed a £5 million personal gift for security from billionaire Christopher Harborne amid mounting threats against him.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims illegal hacking revealed a £5 million personal gift for security from billionaire Christopher Harborne amid mounting threats against him.
POLITICAL OPERATION
Officials disclosed that Nigel Farage received a £5 million personal gift for security after threats against him, including an arson attempt on his home.
Officials disclosed that Nigel Farage received a £5 million personal gift for security after threats against him, including an arson attempt on his home.
POLITICAL TURMOIL
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is exploring legal options regarding claims of illegal activities linked to security funding from the billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is exploring legal options regarding claims of illegal activities linked to security funding from the billionaire Christopher Harborne.
What we know so far
Nigel Farage has alleged that an undeclared gift of millions from a billionaire associated with Reform UK was disclosed amid a ‘serious computer-hacking case’ against him. The Reform UK leader contends that this action is part of an ‘operation’ targeting him and suggests illegal activities are behind it. The party is reportedly considering legal avenues to address the situation.
Farage firmly opposed calls for greater transparency regarding his party’s finances, stating, ‘No, no, no, no, no, what do you want? Do you want to put a camera in the bedroom? This is illegally obtained data. I’ve had my computer hacked during this campaign. The whole thing is an operation.’ Earlier, he was referred to the Parliamentary standards watchdog by the Conservative Party for not reporting the substantial gift to the Commons.
The financial backing in question includes a seven-figure sum received from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024, alongside a historic £9 million donation to Reform UK last year. Farage noted that Harborne’s contributions stemmed from concerns for his safety, particularly following an attack on his home.
Farage confirmed that he received a separate £5 million personal gift for security costs, as traditional state support has not been forthcoming. He described the scale of threats against him as a factor necessitating this support, asserting, ‘I’m very much on my own and will be for the rest of my life.’
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Nigel Farage says undeclared £5,000,000 gift was result of ‘serious computer hacking’ | News UK
Nigel Farage has claimed that an undeclared gift of millions from a Reform billionaire was disclosed because of a ‘serious computer-hacking case’ against him.
The Reform UK leader said it was part of an ‘operation’ against him, and has claimed it’s due to illegal activity. The party is reportedly exploring legal options.
When asked by reporters whether he supported greater transparency in his party’s finances, Farage was adamant.
‘No, no, no, no, no, what do you want? Do you want to put a camera in the bedroom? This is illegally obtained data. I’ve had my computer hacked during this campaign. The whole thing is an operation,’ he said.
Earlier this year, Farage was referred to the Parliamentary standards watchdog by the Tories, who said he had been required to report the gift to the Commons.
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Farage received the seven-figure sum from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024.
The British billionaire also bolstered Reform’s war chest with a £9 million donation last August – the biggest single donation in history to a political party from a living person – and he has given millions more since and previously.
Farage disclosed he had received a separate £5 million personal gift as he spoke of attacks on his home.
An incendiary device was pushed through his letterbox in an ‘outright arson attempt’, the Reform UK leader told the Telegraph last month.
Farage said the scale of threats against him had led to a seven-figure personal gift from Harborne to pay for his security.
Harborne has drawn attention recently for donating more than £12m to Reform – including £9m in one go last December, the largest single donation by a living person to a UK political party in history.
Farage told the newspaper: ‘I have tried and failed in the past to get security funded by the Home Office and I don’t think the state will ever help me.
‘I’m very much on my own and will be for the rest of my life, and I have to face up to that grim reality.
‘Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned for my safety.’
As the money for security was a personal gift and does not count as a political donation, it was not taxed or declared.
Spain allows passengers to disembark MV Hondius following hantavirus outbreak
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Get you up to speed: Spain allows passengers to disembark MV Hondius following hantavirus outbreak
Passengers have disembarked from the MV Hondius at Granadilla de Abona port in Tenerife following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three deaths. The British nationals, among the last group to leave, will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, Merseyside for isolation.
Passengers from MV Hondius have disembarked in Tenerife after being stranded due to a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three deaths. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the 22 British nationals will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside for a six-week isolation period upon their return.
The first buses carrying passengers from MV Hondius have arrived at Tenerife airport, with the 14 Spanish nationals being flown to a hospital in Madrid. British nationals will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, where they will isolate for six weeks upon their return home.
Hantavirus cruise ship passengers reach land in ‘unprecedented’ operation | News World
Passengers stranded on board a luxury cruise ship at the centre of a deadly rat-virus outbreak have finally reached land.
The first group of symptomless guests have disembarked from MV Hondius in the Granadilla de Abona port in Tenerife.
A total of 146 people – including 22 Brits – have been trapped on the doomed liner for weeks after three passengers died from confirmed and suspected hantavirus.
Dressed in blue scrubs and head caps, some of the individuals were taking photos of one another as they were brought to shore.
The first sealed-off bus carrying people to the nearby airport has also left the port.
The British nationals will be one of the last groups to leave the ship and are all due to be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, which was used as a quarantine site at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Pinned Update May 10, 2026 9:03 am
Army parachuted into remote Atlantic Island to help infected Brit
A tandem parachute jump with the ICU Nurse and a paratrooper from 16 Air Assult on to Saint Helena (Picture: Georgia Callaway/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire)
A daring parachute drop has taken place on Saint Helena – Britian’s most remote overseas territory – to get medical support to the British national who is thought to have contracted hantavirus.
A specialist army team parachuted onto the island, which has no airstrip, with medical personnel and supplies.
It is the first time the UK military has inserted medical personnel to provide humanitarian support via a parachute jump, the Ministry of Defence said.
May 10, 2026 10:45 am
Buses arrive at Tenerife airport for evacuation flights
The first buses carrying MV Hondius passengers have arrived at nearby Tenerife airport.
The coach is surrounded by health workers in white hazmat suits.
The 14 Spanish nationals taken off the ship first will be flown by military aircraft to a hospital in Madrid.
May 10, 2026 9:23 am
Disembarked Brits will isolate for six weeks once they’ve returned home
Medical crew are preparing to take MV Hondius guests off the boat (Picture: ANP/Shutterstock)
British passengers and crew will have to isolate for six weeks once they return home to the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency has unveiled how they will handle the 22 British nationals due to leave MV Hondius.
Once they land in the country, they will be escorted onto dedicated transport and transferred to an isolation facility at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside.
From there, they will be tested again for the virus and their living arrangements will be assessed to determine whether they need to isolate from home or the hospital.
All crew and passengers will then be asked to isolate for up to 45 days while they are monitored and tested.
May 10, 2026 9:06 am
Brits will be among last to leave doomed ship
Spain’s health minister has announced the running order of nationalities disembarking MV Hondius to be taken home.
running order of the nationalities disembarking the ship:
Spain
The Netherlands (flight will also take passengers from Germany, Belgium and Greece)
Turkey
France
UK
US
Australia
May 10, 2026 8:55 am
Spanish health officials testing passengers before they disembark
Morning, welcome to WTX’s live blog following the developments live as MV Hondius arrives in the Canary Islands.
Health officials have arrived on board the doomed liner to check that all passengers and crew are still asymptomatic.
If they are, they will be taken off the boat in groups to be driven to the airport and taken home.
May 9, 2026 9:25 pm
live coverage ends for today
We are wrapping up our live coverage for today, but please follow along tomorrow as MV Hondius is set to arrive to Tenerife.
May 9, 2026 8:09 pm
What will happen when MV Hondius arrives?
The hantavirus cruise ship MV Hondius’s arrival on Tenerife will be handled by Spanish health officials.
The ship will stay anchored in the harbour basin, with a tugboat
Each passenger will be medically evaluated before they disembark to make sure they are not showing symptoms
Unloading of the people will be handled using small boats and at stages
Spanish citizens are set to get off first
Everyone involved will wear masks
The body of the deceased passenger will continue on to the Netherlands
May 9, 2026 3:46 pm
Merseyside hospital ‘set to welcome Britons on cruise’
A hospital in Merseyside has been named as a site where British passengers on the hantavirus cruise will be taken to isolate, according to Sky News.
The people flown in from MV Hondius to the UK will be taken to Arrowe Park on the Wirral, Merseyside.
The hospital is reportedly on standby to welcome ‘the guests on Sunday, May 10.’
Janelle Holmes, the chief executive for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said in a letter: ‘We have been asked by NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to house the guests, recognising how quickly and positively we responded to and supported the repatriation of British nationals from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.’
May 9, 2026 3:12 pm
First victim of hantavirus outbreak named
(Picture: Leo Schilperoord/Facebook)
The first passenger to die of hantavirus on MV Hondius has been named as ornithologist Leo Schilperoord.
The 70-year-old had boarded the ship with his wife Miriam after they visited a landfill in Argentina, where they are believed to have caught the virus.
He was the first person to die, with Miriam dying a few days later trying to board a flight back home to the Netherlands from South Africa.
The couple were on a five-month trip in South America, and travelled to the landfill site as it is home to a rare species of Patagonian birds, including the White-bellied Seedsnipe.
May 9, 2026 1:10 pm
Two hospitalised in Spain after hantavirus contact
Two people in Spain are now isolating after coming into contact with hantavirus.
One person is being treated in a hospital in Barcelona after coming into contact with the virus on a flight.
A second person is suffering with symptoms and is self-isolating in a hospital in Alicante.
May 9, 2026 12:29 pm
European countries will send evacuation planes
Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands announced they will evacuate nationals from the cruise ship when it docks.
The EU is planning to send two further planes for remaining European nationals, according to Spain’s interior ministry.
The UK and US have confirmed planes and contingency plans were being arranged for non-EU citizens whose countries couldn’t send planes, Reuters reports.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska from the ministry said passengers will be allowed to disembark once their evacuation plane is ready to leave.
May 9, 2026 11:56 am
MV Hondius will dock early tomorrow morning
The Spanish government has said hantavirus-hit MV Hondius will dock in Tenerife between 4am and 6am tomorrow.
Spanish citizens will disembark from the vessel first.
Some of the crew will remain on board and travel to the Netherlands with the body of a person who died on May 2.
May 9, 2026 10:35 am
More plane passengers test negative for virus
A Danish passenger who flew on the same flight as someone who contracted hantavirus has tested negative.
They flew from Johannesburg to Amsterdam on a plane on which an infected person also travelled, the SSI authority said last night.
A flight attendant also tested negative for the virus.
May 9, 2026 9:03 am
US evacuating 17 citizens from hantavirus cruise ship
The US has shared its plan for medically repatriating 17 people on board MV Hondius.
Once the ship arrives in the Canary Islands, a US government medical flight will take passengers to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.
They will then be transported to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska.
Donald Trump said the virus ‘seems to be okay’, adding ‘it is not easy to pass on’.
He added: ‘We hope that’s true.’
May 9, 2026 8:54 am
Number of confirmed hantavirus cases rises to six
The number of confirmed cases of hantavirus has risen from five to six, the World Health Organisation has said.
Eight people in total have fallen ill, including three who have died.
There are now six confirmed cases with two suspected cases.
Four patients remain in hospital.
May 8, 2026 9:05 pm
Live coverage wraps up
It is time to end today’s rolling hantavirus coverage.
Thank you for following along.
May 8, 2026 8:18 pm
MV Hondius to dock in Tenerife on Sunday
The MV Hondius cruise is to arrive in the Canary Islands on Sunday.
Officials are working to organise a dedicated repatriation flight for British passengers.
Britons will be tested for hantavirus onboard the ship, and will be flown home the same day if they have a negative result and display no symptoms.
The vessel is on track to land in Tenerife on Sunday, subject to weather conditions.
May 8, 2026 6:00 pm
Dutch hantavirus victim’s body repatriated
The body of a Dutch woman who died after contracting hantavirus has been repatriated, South African officials have confirmed.
Health department spokesperson Foster Mogale told reporters the unnamed woman’s body was returned to the Netherlands on a KLM flight.
Posthumous tests have returned a positive result for hantavirus.
She was among dozens who left the MV Hondius while it was docked in St Helena.
It’s unclear whether the body of her 70-year-old husband, who also died in the outbreak, has been repatriated.
May 8, 2026 5:55 pm
Spanish authorities preparing to welcome MV Hondius
Afternoon all, it’s Ryan Prosser to take you through the evening.
Authorities in Tenerife are preparing to welcome the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Health officials have drawn up plans to evacuate the some 140 passengers and crew when the stricken vessel arrives in the Canary Islands.
At least three passengers have died, and several others are sick. None of the remaining passengers or crew is currently showing symptoms.
Both the UK and the US are arranging flights to repatriate their citizens. The WHO says the risk of hantavirus to the wider public remains low.
Passengers who disembarked the vessel before the outbreak was detected are being tracked by health authorities.
May 8, 2026 4:06 pm
Those still on MV Hondius report no symptoms
The passengers who remain on the hantavirus-hit cruise ship are not reporting any symptoms, the World Health Organisation has said.
Those who have been exposed to the virus have been asked to self-isolate with regular medical checks
The World Health Organisation’s technical officer Anais Legand said: ‘They will be asked to take their temperature every single day for 42 days, they will be asked to check every day for other symptoms like feeling unwell or a headache
‘They will be provided with someone to contact if they’re not feeling well, it’s up to the national authorities where people will go next.
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Péter Magyar sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister following election victory
9:00 am
Péter Magyar sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister following election victory
New Prime Minister
Péter Magyar has been sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister, following a landslide election victory where his Tisza party secured 141 seats in the National Assembly.
Péter Magyar has been sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister, following a landslide election victory where his Tisza party secured 141 seats in the National Assembly.
Majority Control
Péter Magyar’s Tisza party holds 141 out of 199 seats, establishing a significant outright majority in Hungary’s National Assembly, indicating a decisive shift in political power.
Péter Magyar’s Tisza party holds 141 out of 199 seats, establishing a significant outright majority in Hungary’s National Assembly, indicating a decisive shift in political power.
New Beginning
Péter Magyar stated, “There can be no new beginning without reconciliation, and no reconciliation without justice.”
Péter Magyar stated, “There can be no new beginning without reconciliation, and no reconciliation without justice.”
Key developments
Péter Magyar has officially taken office as Hungary’s new prime minister, concluding 16 years of Viktor Orbán‘s leadership following a decisive victory in the April elections.
In a notable departure from tradition, former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not attend the inaugural session or deliver a speech, breaking a 36-year convention during government transitions.
Péter Magyar sworn-in as Hungary’s new prime minister after landslide April election victory
Péter Magyar has been sworn-in as Hungary’s new prime minister, after taking his oath in parliament on Saturday morning, bringing an end to 16-years of Viktor Orbán rule, cementing a landslide April election victory.
Magyar’s Tisza party secured 141 seats in the 199-seat National Assembly, an outright majority. The outgoing Fidesz has 44, while the KDNP, who formerly allied with Orbán, have 8 and Mi Hazánk 6.
Magyar post was confirmed on Saturday in the inaugural session of the National Assembly. He was appointed with 140 votes in favour, 54 against and 1 abstention.
After taking the oath, Péter Magyar said that people had given his Tisza party a mandate to lead a new chapter in the country’s history, to change not only the government but the system as well.
“I will not rule over Hungary, I will serve my homeland,” he stressed. “However, there can be no new beginning without reconciliation, and no reconciliation without justice,” he added.
“In the house of Hungarian democracy, I call on those holders of high public office who were the servants of the previous system to resign today, or by 31 May at the latest,” said the new PM, adding that “President Tamás Sulyok should be the first to do so.”
Breaking 36-years of tradition and protocols pertaining to government change, former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not deliver a speech at the inaugural parliamentary session, nor was he even present for the proceedings.
Ágnes Forsthoffer, Vice President of the Tisza Party, was elected the new Speaker of parliament, and she was quick to announce her first order of business, reinstalling the EU flag on the Hungarian parliament building, after around 12 years of absence.
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