Latest news with #EuropeanBroadcastingUnion
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Penny Spence dead: Award winning TV presenter dies as tributes pour in
Penny Spence, who was one of Australia's first female newsreaders, has died at the age of 83. Her cause of death has not been confirmed. Australian TV presenter Penny Spence has passed away at 83. Penny was the first female newsreader in Australia's history. Her cause of death remains unconfirmed. Penny, who rose to fame in the late 1960s as one of the first women to read the news on TV in Australia, died earlier this month. The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia shared the sombre news on social media, stating: "We're saddened to hear of the passing of Penny Spence, a trailblazer in Australian television. Spence was part of a pioneering group of women who were the first women to read television news in Australia." Fiona Dear, Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, paid tribute to Spence's groundbreaking career in a statement to Mediaweek: "Penny was a trailblazer for women in our industry, laying the path for countless women in television. With two Logies awarded to her, she was one of the country's most high profile news presenters for decades, and was one of the icons who made 9News 'still the one'. Her legacy lives on in TV newsrooms across the country and we send our condolences to her family." Before her time on Channel Nine, Penny fronted a women's current affairs programme on TCN9 – Channel Nine's broadcasting station. The Channel Nine icon became a household name in the late 1960s, presenting the afternoon news bulletin in New South Wales, while Brian Henderson took on the evening slot. Spencer's remarkable career was recognised with a Logie Award for Most Popular Female Personality in NSW in 1969, reports the Express. As tributes pour in, one individual reminisced: "I remember Penny as one of the best executives involved in children's television in the 1980s. Vale." Another simply expressed: "Very sad to hear this." After her stint at Channel Nine, Spencer took on a behind-the-scenes role, overseeing children's programming at the Nine Network. She later held the position of Executive Producer for the European Broadcasting Union's children's unit and was in charge of the popular 1985 Ray Meagher mini-series Colour in the Creek. The TV star then took her talents overseas as she became the Executive Producer of the European Broadcasting Union's children's unit and was at the helm of the popular 1985 series Colour in the Creek. Spencer also had a hand in several successful films such as Shipmates (1987), Sovereign Hill (1990), Hinkler: The Aviator (1990), and The Water Trolley (1988), which earned an International Emmy nomination. Her works live on as a selection of her produced works have been archived by the NFSA (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia). She was previously married to Channel Nine's musical director Geoff Harvey, who passed away in 2019, and is survived by her daughters Eugenie and Charlotte.
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.
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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:
South Wales Guardian
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Martin Osterdahl steps down as executive supervisor of Eurovision Song Contest
Martin Osterdahl, the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and Junior Eurovision Song Contest, was at the helm for the popular singing competition in the years it was held in Rotterdam, Turin, Liverpool, Malmo and Basel. During last year's competition, Mr Osterdahl, who traditionally announces when votes have been counted on finals night, was booed by certain audience members when he began to speak. Although he was present in the arena this year, he did not speak. He said: 'From day one, I was inspired by the contest's unique potential and power to unite people through music – never more so than in 2021, when we brought Eurovision back live to millions around the world amid a global pandemic, demonstrating the resilience and spirit at the heart of our community. 'I am immensely proud of the changes we made to modernise and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest. 'These include establishing the permanent 'United By Music' slogan for the event, attracting long-term sponsors and brand extension partnerships, and growing engagement and reach on our digital platforms that have brought millions of new fans to the contest. 'The ESC is now an event where hundreds of thousands sign up to buy tickets, a show watched by hundreds of millions, connecting with youth audiences worldwide, and stands as a unique platform for overnight global success for artists and songwriters.' He added that it had been 'the honour of my professional life to steer the world's largest music event, developing the contest as a global super-brand that brings joy to more people than ever before'. The 2021 competition was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after the show was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was won by Italy's Maneskin. A post shared by Eurovision Song Contest (@eurovision) The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) produces the annual singing contest, which this year saw Austria's JJ, real name Johannes Pietsch, crowned the winner with the song Wasted Love. Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: 'On behalf of everyone at the EBU, all our participating broadcasters, partners and the entire Eurovision Song Contest community, I extend my sincere thanks to Martin Osterdahl for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to the event. 'His steady leadership through some of the contest's most challenging and innovative years has set new standards of excellence. 'As we approach our 70th anniversary next year, Martin is leaving his role having played an integral part in growing the Eurovision Song Contest brand and ensuring its bright future. We thank him for his amazing work and lasting impact on the song contest, and wish him every success.' Mr Green will take on executive supervisor duties on an interim basis, the EBU said.
Leader Live
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Martin Osterdahl steps down as executive supervisor of Eurovision Song Contest
Martin Osterdahl, the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and Junior Eurovision Song Contest, was at the helm for the popular singing competition in the years it was held in Rotterdam, Turin, Liverpool, Malmo and Basel. During last year's competition, Mr Osterdahl, who traditionally announces when votes have been counted on finals night, was booed by certain audience members when he began to speak. Although he was present in the arena this year, he did not speak. He said: 'From day one, I was inspired by the contest's unique potential and power to unite people through music – never more so than in 2021, when we brought Eurovision back live to millions around the world amid a global pandemic, demonstrating the resilience and spirit at the heart of our community. 'I am immensely proud of the changes we made to modernise and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest. 'These include establishing the permanent 'United By Music' slogan for the event, attracting long-term sponsors and brand extension partnerships, and growing engagement and reach on our digital platforms that have brought millions of new fans to the contest. 'The ESC is now an event where hundreds of thousands sign up to buy tickets, a show watched by hundreds of millions, connecting with youth audiences worldwide, and stands as a unique platform for overnight global success for artists and songwriters.' He added that it had been 'the honour of my professional life to steer the world's largest music event, developing the contest as a global super-brand that brings joy to more people than ever before'. The 2021 competition was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after the show was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was won by Italy's Maneskin. A post shared by Eurovision Song Contest (@eurovision) The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) produces the annual singing contest, which this year saw Austria's JJ, real name Johannes Pietsch, crowned the winner with the song Wasted Love. Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: 'On behalf of everyone at the EBU, all our participating broadcasters, partners and the entire Eurovision Song Contest community, I extend my sincere thanks to Martin Osterdahl for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to the event. 'His steady leadership through some of the contest's most challenging and innovative years has set new standards of excellence. 'As we approach our 70th anniversary next year, Martin is leaving his role having played an integral part in growing the Eurovision Song Contest brand and ensuring its bright future. We thank him for his amazing work and lasting impact on the song contest, and wish him every success.' Mr Green will take on executive supervisor duties on an interim basis, the EBU said.
