Latest news with #EBU
STV News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Fire destroys main stage of Tomorrowland festival days before opening
Video footage shows fire engulfing the Orbyz main stage of Tomorrowland 2025 A huge fire engulfed the main stage of Belgium's Tomorrowland two days before the electronic music festival was due to open. Video footage shared on social media shows flames tearing across the stage as plumes of thick black smoke rise into the air, while fireworks can also be seen and heard going off in the distance. It is unclear how the fire started at the festival site, in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, where an estimated 200,000 people were due to gather this weekend. No festival-goers were on site at the time of the fire, but about 1,000 staff members were present and have now been evacuated, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported. 'Due to a serious incident and fire on the Tomorrowland Mainstage, our beloved Mainstage has been severely damaged,' festival organisers said in a statement on Wednesday, confirming that no one was injured. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed. / Credit: EBU The festival, whose big names on this weekend's line-up include David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens, is expected to go ahead without the main stage, although it is unclear how acts will be rescheduled. Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said a lot of workers were devastated to see the main stage destroyed, given that it took years to build, 'with so much love and passion.' 'We're going to make it a great festival. It will be without a main stage. But hopefully, we can do something else, but I can't say much about that yet,' she added. Organisers said they 'spent the night working on possible solutions for the mainstage area' and that its 'Dreamville' campsite welcomed festivalgoers on Thursday morning. Morgan Hermans, who lives near the festival site, told CNN that she initially heard fireworks going off, which prompted her to look outside. 'There was just a big cloud of fireworks and smoke very near us, so that was a bit scary,' she said. 'It's one of the biggest events in the entire year. Our town is very small so to welcome people (from) around the entire world, it's crazy and it's so much fun. 'It's a big deal so everyone in Boom was a bit terrified for a few seconds.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Euronews
09-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Companies warn against introducing mandatory fees in telecom plans
A group of 84 associations – including the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Euroconsumers and European Digital Rights (EDRi) – reject the potential introduction of a mandatory fee to help infrastructure build-out in upcoming telecom proposals, in a joint statement published on Wednesday. The Digital Networks Act (DNA), legislation aimed at overhauling telecom rules to improve connectivity, is set to be presented by the European Commission in December. Companies say they regret that this 'fair share' mechanism – where content providers would be required to pay telecom operators fees for delivering traffic – is 'still being actively considered' in the ongoing discussions, as it endangers the principle of net neutrality, they claim. 'Measures introducing interconnection charges would risk driving up costs, limiting choice and open access to information, undermining the affordability, quality, and diversity of digital products and services,' the letter says. The public consultation, asking companies for feedback, ends this Friday and largely builds on a White Paper published in February of last year. It spells out the different policy options that could be included in an overhaul of the existing telecom regulation, as well as new initiatives including spectrum management and sustainability targets. The plan, heavily lobbied by the telecom industry when former EU Tech Commissioner Thierry Breton started working on the rules, sought to charge online platforms and other network users for the build-out of telecom infrastructure. It has been watered down since. Options could include broadening the scope of today's EU telecoms rules, which safeguard network access and competition, to 'ensure a regulatory playing field' with equal rights for all companies active in the sector. Connect Europe, an association representing telecom providers, called in a publication earlier this month for increased investment in the telecoms sector.
The National
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Italy and Germany threaten to withdraw from Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is banned
Amir Alon, a former member of Israel's Eurovision delegation has claimed that the public broadcasters of Italy and Germany have threatened to withdraw from next year's Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is excluded without clear legal grounds, according to the website Eurovision Fun. Italy and Germany are reportedly backing Israel's public broadcaster Kan, which maintains editorial independence from the Israeli government. Speaking to Israel's N12News, Alon said: 'As long as the war in Gaza continues and images of the conflict reach European audiences, it will be difficult for countries like Italy and Germany to publicly defend Israel. These two countries are among the contest's top financial contributors, are in direct communication with the EBU and support Kan. If Kan is excluded, they have threatened to leave the contest as well — something the EBU wants to avoid.' On Thursday, the European Broadcasting Union held a meeting at the BBC headquarters in London to discuss the possible expulsion of Israel from Eurovision. There wasn't any voting, and discussions were postponed until the next meeting in winter. According to Ynet, the push to ban Israel has been led by Iceland and Slovenia. Meanwhile, Austria, Germany and Switzerland were the only countries to publicly express support for Israel. In a move that surprised many, the BBC reportedly requested that a vote be avoided and encouraged continued dialogue — a gesture seen as a concession to Israel. Ayala Mizrahi, a lawyer representing Israel on behalf of Kan, told the assembly that Israel values its long-standing participation in the song contest and emphasised the country's more than 50-year Eurovision history. Some past and present Eurovision participants have called for an investigation into whether Israel breached contest rules by promoting Yuval Raphael's entry with government-funded ads during the most recent competition. However, the EBU has said that this did not violate its regulations. The EBU has consistently maintained that it will not ban Israel, stating that Eurovision is a competition between public broadcasters, not governments, and that Kan has not broken any rules.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovision Organisers Speak Out After Broadcasters Hold Discussions About Israel's Involvement
Eurovision organisers have confirmed that discussions were held with its participating broadcasters this week about whether Israel should remain part of the competition moving forward. Israel's involvement in Eurovision has long been a controversial issue due to the political situation in the Middle East. However, in the last few years, some fans have been calling for Israel's expulsion from the competition due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In the lead-up to this year's event, many public figures associated with the contest – including then-reigning winner Nemo from Switzerland – urged organisers to ban Israel from Eurovision, similar to how Russia has been excluded since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. National broadcasters for Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain have all raised questions about Israel's participation in Eurovision in the last few months. The Palestine-led BDS movement has also called for a boycott of the competition for the last two years. Earlier this week, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) held a meeting with its participating national broadcasters in London, to discuss several issues relating to the Eurovision Song Contest, including whether Israel should be invited back in 2026. A statement released on Thursday said: 'At today's EBU General Assembly, Members held an open and constructive discussion on the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and the increasingly complex global context in which it takes place. 'The Assembly was a chance to celebrate the success of ESC 2025 - not just in terms of its record-breaking reach and engagement but in terms of its cultural resonance and ability to foster inclusivity, creativity, and a sense of belonging on a world stage. 'But of course, despite its extraordinary success, the Eurovision Song Contest, like many other events, is not immune to the pressures of global politics. Questions around participation have become increasingly sensitive and multifaceted, and our Members hold a wide range of perspectives on these issues which they were able to express in detail today.' The statement continued: 'Members had a constructive exchange of views. There was a shared understanding that this is an unprecedentedly complex situation and there is a wide diversity of opinions. 'Members also expressed their support for the work of the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and its independence, noting the pressure it is repeatedly experiencing from the Israeli government.' 'To help us navigate the current landscape, a former senior TV executive has now been invited to lead a structured and in-depth dialogue with our Member broadcasters in the coming weeks,' the EBU's spokesperson concluded. 'They will engage with Directors General and other stakeholders to gather insights on how we manage participation, geopolitical tensions, and how other organisations have approached similar challenges. They will report back with recommendations this autumn.' According to the English-language Israeli news site Ynet, the debate on Thursday lasted around 90 minutes, with Austria, Germany and Switzerland's broadcasters being the only ones to vocally back Israel's participation next year. It was also claimed that the BBC had 'called to avoid a vote' on the matter, and 'instead supported further dialogue'. In the end, no vote took place, although so-called EBU 'sources' apparently told Ynet that 'further discussions will be inevitable' if the war continues. Eurovision previously said: 'We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East. 'The EBU is not immune to global events but, together with our members, it is our role to ensure the Contest remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music. 'We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.' They added: 'As a reminder, the EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are all eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the requisite requirements. It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.' Reigning Eurovision Winner JJ Calls For Israel To Be Removed From The Contest Remember Monday Speak Out About Getting Zero Points From Eurovision Viewers Eurovision Organisers Confirm Spanish Broadcaster Was Spoken To Over Pro-Palestine Message
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First Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
West Asia News Live: US and Iran to resume nuclear talks in Oslo for the first time since regional war began
West Asia News Live: Welcome to our live blog bringing you the latest developments from West Asia. Stay updated on key shifts in regional geopolitics, oil and energy markets, diplomacy, security tensions, economic reforms, civil movements and religious dynamics. Follow how regional actors read through ongoing regional tensions, international negotiations and domestic challenges: read more (File) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025. Reuters Welcome to today's live coverage of key developments across West Asia. After nearly two years of heightened tensions and regional conflict, the United States and Iran are preparing to resume nuclear talks in Oslo, in what could mark a critical turning point in regional diplomacy. Meanwhile, investigations into civilian harm near Gaza aid sites and a surge in PTSD diagnoses in Israel point to the deepening humanitarian and psychological toll of ongoing violence. In other developments, Iran has indicated it will not escalate militarily unless provoked, while President Donald Trump has stated he is open to meeting Iranian leaders if needed. Amid these shifts, a vote on Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been delayed following intense debate within the European Broadcasting Union. Stay tuned for updates as events unfold: President Donald Trump announced he would meet with Iran's leadership 'if necessary,' signaling a conditional openness to direct talks with Tehran, as per a report in Asharq Al-Awsat. This statement comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia and follows the 'maximum pressure' campaign initiated during Trump's first term, which included the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. Iran will not retaliate further in response to what it characterizes as US strikes, nor will it pursue nuclear 'militarization,' according to a report in The Hill. The statement from Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid… is conditional, specifying that Iran will not respond again 'as long as there is no act of aggression being perpetrated by the United States against us.' The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has postponed a vote on a potential ban of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest following a contentious debate among its members, as per a report in Haaretz. The proposed ban, which targets Israel's public broadcaster KAN, has gained traction due to the ongoing military conflict in Gaza. Advocates for the exclusion cite the precedent set when the EBU banned Russia from the competition following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a past event. Data from three of Israel's largest Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)—Maccabi, Leumit, and Meuhedet—reveal a nearly 100% increase in clinical diagnoses of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, according to a report in Haaretz. The HMOs, which collectively insure about 5 million people, are part of Israel's universal public healthcare system, making the data representative of a significant portion of the country's population. The sharp rise in formal diagnoses indicates a measurable public health crisis stemming from the national trauma of the attacks and the subsequent war. The Israeli military has launched an internal investigation into multiple incidents involving civilian harm near aid distribution sites in Gaza, where hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, according to a report in BBC. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that new instructions have been issued to its forces based on 'lessons learned' from these events. The investigation follows several deadly episodes during chaotic aid distributions, which have been exacerbated by the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. The casualty figures, which come from a series of events rather than a single incident, are primarily from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and are difficult to verify independently. The United States and Iran will reportedly resume nuclear negotiations in Oslo next week, marking the first such talks since the beginning of the wider regional conflict that started in October 2023, according to a report in The Times of Israel. An Iranian deputy foreign minister stated that while Iran is open to diplomacy, it requires guarantees from the U.S. that it will not resort to force. The official also asserted that Iran 'has every right to do enrichment within its territory.' Welcome to today's live coverage of key developments across West Asia. After nearly two years of heightened tensions and regional conflict, the United States and Iran are preparing to resume nuclear talks in Oslo, in what could mark a critical turning point in regional diplomacy. Meanwhile, investigations into civilian harm near Gaza aid sites and a surge in PTSD diagnoses in Israel point to the deepening humanitarian and psychological toll of ongoing violence. In other developments, Iran has indicated it will not escalate militarily unless provoked, while President Donald Trump has stated he is open to meeting Iranian leaders if needed. Amid these shifts, a vote on Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been delayed following intense debate within the European Broadcasting Union. Stay tuned for updates as events unfold:
