92 m. 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

2 h. 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

5 h. ago Zelenskyy says 3,500 drones launched at Ukraine this month as he calls for Trump to take ‘clear position’ on Russia — Europe live

Sanctions and security guarantees for Ukraine are among the ‘missing pieces’ the Ukrainian president asks for in overnight interview ahead of US president’s state visit to UK As I mentioned earlier, the EU’s von der Leyen is speaking now in Brussels on “one year after the Draghi report.”Painting a rather rosy picture, she argues that Europe “is not only a challenger, but a leader in many fields that will define that race” on innovation, including computing power and AI adoption.“Now is the time to implement the joint protection of our European skies with a multi-layered air defense system. All the technologies for this are already in place. What is needed are investments and determination – strong action.” Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Russia and Belarus carry out military drills amid rising tension – Europe live

Allies rehearsing scenarios of an attack on Belarus in the first such exercises since Russia invaded UkraineEU trade spokesperson Olof Gill also defended the EU’s sanctions from criticism that they are not going far enough.He said:“Our assessment is that the successive sanctions packages we have brought forward, which includes new initiatives plus additional initiatives to make the previous one stronger if that makes sense, our assessment is that those sanctions are working. The economic evidence shows that they are having an impact on the Russian economy, and that is precisely what they intended to do. “Phasing out of Russian fossil fuels is something that we have been doing and are doing actively for a number already of years, since the beginning of the war, with a very clear roadmap, with now even a clear legislative proposal in order to phase out the remaining gas still entering the EU. This is something on which the EU has been very actively and we have a very, very clear roadm...

Events

3 d. ago Rutte calls Russian drones incursion into Poland ‘largest concentration of violations into Nato airspace’ – Europe live

Rutte says that ‘America’s commitment to Nato’s ironclad in every sense’ and he is ‘very happy with the American reaction’Tusk also says the announcement with BAE Systems is “only a part of our cooperation with the UK.”He says he “received another message from prime minister Starmer about greater UK involvement in military assistance, here in Poland, on an urgent basis,” without offering further details. Continue reading...

Society

4 d. ago Poland says Russia’s drone incursion ‘wasn’t a mistake’ after Trump’s speculation – Europe live

Donald Trump appeared to be dismissive Thursday night as he said it ‘could have been an mistake’Prince Harry has also made a surprise visit to Kyiv after an invitation from the Ukrainian government, saying he wanted to do “everything possible” to help the recovery of the thousands of military personnel who have been seriously injured in the three-year war against Russia.During the trip to the Ukrainian capital, he and a team from his Invictus Games Foundation are set to detail new initiatives to support the rehabilitation of the wounded, with the eventual aim of providing help to all areas of the country. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Eurovision issued ultimatum by Ireland as they threaten to pull out over Israel

Ireland have joined a number of other countries threatening to pull out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest is Israel take part

Politics

4 d. 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

4 d. 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

4 d. ago Russian drone incursion an ‘aggressive, reckless act’, says EU as Poland plans no

Poland is seeking to step up its defences with plans to restrict air traffic in the eastern part of the countryGrynkewich now gets a specific question on Poland.He speaks about how allied command operations worked in this case, with every level “doing exactly what they were supposed to do, which was to defend Alliance territory.”“But when you’re when you’re an operational commander, and you have a capability and there’s an attack or an incursion into your airspace, the cost of the weapon doesn’t matter at that moment in time; you’re going to use it to defend our population.” Continue reading...

Events

5 d. 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

5 d. ago UN security council to hold emergency meeting as Poland plans no

Poland is seeking to step up its defences with plans to restrict air traffic in the eastern part of the countryForeign ministers of Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland have just issued a joint statement “strongly condemning the recent incursion of Russian drones into Polish territory,” calling it a “deliberate and coordinated attack” and an “unprecedented provocation.”They recognised the need for “better coordination and operational coopration between our respective structures responsible for air security” to “prevent the harmful consequences of Russia’s outrageous actions.”Only an adequate and resolute response will half further escalation. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago New French PM takes office as ‘Block Everything’ protests rock country – Europe live

Sebastien Lecornu appointment comes amid protests across France including 1,000 demonstrators trying to enter Gare du Nord station in ParisEmmanuel Macron appoints his third prime minister in a yearA teacher taking part in the protests in Paris said he was against the ousted government’s planned budget cuts. “[François]Bayrou was ousted, [now] his policies must be eliminated,” Christophe Lalande told Reuters, calling for more funding for schools and hospitals.At another protest in the city, unionist Amar Lagha told the news agency:This day is a message to all the workers of this country: that there is no resignation, the fight continues, and a message to this government that we won’t back down, and if we have to die, we’ll die standing. Continue reading...

Society

7 d. ago François Bayrou leaves Élysée after resigning as France’s PM – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron to name successor ‘within days’ as political crisis grips FranceFrance to get third PM in a yearLithuania has also said it will strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia during the Zapad military exercise, the country’s border guard said today.The authorities said they would carry “even more active border monitoring, patrols, and other border control measures,” looking for any potential border violations and provocations against Lithuania. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Bayrou heads to Élysée to hand in resignation as France’s PM – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron to name successor ‘within days’ as political crisis grips FranceFrance to get third PM in a yearLithuania has also said it will strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia during the Zapad military exercise, the country’s border guard said today.The authorities said they would carry “even more active border monitoring, patrols, and other border control measures,” looking for any potential border violations and provocations against Lithuania. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Europe live: French PM loses confidence vote and will tender resignation amid political crisis

More than 350 French lawmakers voted against François BayrouAnd over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Europe live: Macron labelled ‘a defeated president’ as his PM faces no

Socialist Boris Vallaud launched blistering attack on Macron and says Bayrou’s decision to call a no-confidence vote is ‘a cop-out’And over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Europe live: François Bayrou says lawmakers face ‘not a political, but historical question’ on France’s future, ahead of confidence vote

Bayrou would be third prime minister to lose the post in a year, leaving Macron in a difficult political position and an impossible vacancy to fillAnd over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Putin says western troops in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’ as European countries pledge security support – Europe live

Macron says 26 nations have offered security guarantees for Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Slovakia’s Fico amid tension over Russian energy suppliesMacron says 26 countries ready to supply postwar military backing for UkraineHere is the full quote from the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, via Reuters.“I have no doubt that if the presidents consider it necessary, their meeting can be organised very quickly. Just as the meeting in Alaska was quickly organised,” Peskov told the Russian news outlet Argumenty i Fakty, referring to last month’s Trump-Putin summit. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago American music star quietly cancels European tour dates including huge Manchester Co

A major Co-op Live act has suddenly cancelled his shows in Europe with fans informed over email

Politics