3 h. ago Eurovision 2026 hanging by a thread as hosts threaten to step down over Israel involvement

Austria will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 if Israel participates, broadcaster RTE has announced, as a number of other countries have threatened the same

Politics

68 h. ago Eurovision at war: German chancellor calls on the nation to QUIT the singing contest if Israel is excluded after countries including Spain and Ireland threatened boycott over their war in Gaza

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is due to hold a vote in November to decide whether Israel will be permitted to compete in Eurovision 2026.

Events

6 d. ago Dear Coleen: 'Daughter won’t go to school so I had to quit my job'

The mother told Coleen: My marriage is hanging by a thread because my husband and I argue over our daughter all the time.

Politics

6 d. ago Wallabies look to end Rugby Championship on high with turbulent times ahead | Jack Snape

Australia’s focus may be on beating the All Blacks on Saturday but R360 upheaval is looming and a change of coach just months awayThe Wallabies’ hopes for an unlikely Rugby Championship triumph are hanging by a thread ahead of their final match against the All Blacks in Perth on Saturday, and despite looming international upheaval the Australians are trying not to look further ahead.The final home Test for 2025 is followed by a trip to Japan and then Europe – a spring tour that will demonstrate the level of improvement under coach Joe Schmidt, who will hand over the reins to Les Kiss next year. The rugby calendar changes next year due to the anticipated start of a nations cup, and the hibernation of the Rugby Championship due to alternative plans made by the Springboks and All Blacks. Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago Streeting warns BMA: ‘NHS is hanging by a thread, don’t pull it’

Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned the doctors’ union they risked helping Nigel Farage take the keys to No 10.

Events

1 week ago Eurovision to decide whether Israel can take part in 2026 contest as calls mount for its exclusion

Eurovision Song Contest organizers say member countries will vote in November about whether Israel can participate in the musical extravaganza next year, as calls have mounted for the country to be excluded over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza

Politics

1 week ago Transgender Americans are seeing a wave of hate unleashed by Charlie Kirk’s killing | Erin Reed

In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, the far-right and Trump administration have turned up attacks on transgender peopleOn the day anti-LGBTQ+ activist Charlie Kirk was shot, fear rippled through the left that the far right would seize the moment to consolidate power. Nowhere was that fear more acute than in the transgender community.Within hours, Republicans were already blaming trans people; one commentator even claimed the bullets carried “transgender symbols”, a claim investigators quickly debunked. But the deeper fear wasn’t misinformation – it was the crackdown that would follow. With fragile rights hanging by the thread of court rulings and blue-state protections, trans people braced for the worst. And they were right: The right has seized on the shooting as its own Reichstag fire, accelerating a campaign to target transgender existence – now with the full weight of the Trump administration behind it.Erin Reed is a transgender journalist based in Washington DC. She tracks LGBTQ+...

Events

2 w. ago Assisted dying bill gets second reading in Lords, but with peers also setting up select committee to review it – UK politics live

Committee to conclude review of bill by 7 NovemberThe UK is preparing to recognise the state of Palestine imminently, after Israel failed to meet conditions that would have postponed the historic step, including a ceasefire in Gaza, Patrick Wintour reports.YouGov has relased polling today suggesting that Britons are in favour of this by more than two to one, although a large minority of people do not have a view. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago UK and Ireland announce new Northern Ireland Troubles legacy deal – UK politics live

Package described by diplomats as ‘a return to partnership’ after years of disagreement and an interstate law suit launched by IrelandThe UK is preparing to recognise the state of Palestine imminently, after Israel failed to meet conditions that would have postponed the historic step, including a ceasefire in Gaza, Patrick Wintour reports.YouGov has relased polling today suggesting that Britons are in favour of this by more than two to one, although a large minority of people do not have a view. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Davide Ancelotti back on Rangers manager radar as he's 'on the brink' of Botafogo exit

The Italian is said to be 'hanging by a thread' at Brazilian side Botafogo and could be back in contention should Russell Martin bite the bullet

Politics

3 w. ago Irish deputy premier backs mooted Eurovision boycott over Israel participation

Ireland is among countries which have said they will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 if Israel participates.

Politics

3 w. ago The alliance against Ruben Amorim: Man United legends tear into under

Ruben Amorim may have earned the backing of Manchester United's owners for now - but his job is hanging by a thread after receiving an avalanche of criticism from legends of the club.

Politics

3 w. ago Spain says it will withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spain votes to withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump is no 'strongman' when it comes to Russia or Israel. If other democracies don’t step up, anarchy awaits | Simon Tisdall

Putin and Netanyahu are creating chaos in the vacuum left by a weak US president. But there are still ways to foil themIt is too easy to blame Donald Trump for everything that goes wrong in the world. The ability of any US president to fundamentally change or control the behaviour of other major powers is frequently overestimated. Yet by posing as a sort of uncrowned global monarch and grand arbiter of war and peace, Trump perpetuates fantasies of US hegemony, omnipotence and divine right. Intoxicated by such ego-inflating delusions, he pledged before taking office to swiftly end the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Perhaps, in his vanity and hubris, he truly believed he could.Eight months on, the exact opposite is happening. Both crises are expanding and escalating. The bubble has burst, his bluff has been called, the emperor has no clothes – and there is no denying that Trump, by alternately appeasing, excusing and encouraging the two foremost villains of these twin tragedies, is great...

Politics

3 w. ago Ireland joins growing list of countries threatening Eurovision boycott if Israel stay in

Ireland will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 if Israel participates, broadcaster RTE has announced, as a number of other countries have threatened the same

Politics

3 w. ago RTÉ says Ireland will boycott Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete

National broadcaster joins Slovenia in making participation next year conditional amid war in GazaIreland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to take part in next year’s Eurovision song contest if Israel is a participant.RTÉ is the second of 37 broadcasters who took part in the event this year to have made participation next year conditional. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ireland pulls out of the 2026 Eurovision Song contest over 'the participation of Israel'

Ireland has announced it will pull out of the 2026 Eurovision song contest over the 'participation of Israel'.

Politics