Ireland will not take part in or show the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel's involvement, citing the ongoing violence and deaths in Gaza. This is the second year Ireland is boycotting the event for the same reason, joining other countries like the Netherlands, which also refuse to participate.
Key Facts
Ireland announced it will boycott the 2027 Eurovision contest and not broadcast it.
The decision is due to the ongoing loss of lives and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ireland also boycotted the 2026 contest for the same reason.
Other countries skipping the 2026 contest included the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain.
Eurovision organizers said countries involved in armed conflicts cannot host the contest.
Israel has been at war in Gaza since 2023 and finished second in Eurovision in 2025 and 2026.
The 2027 Eurovision contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, on May 15.
The 2026 Eurovision contest had 131 million viewers, fewer than the previous year due to boycotts.
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Ireland will not take part in or show the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 because of the ongoing killing in Gaza, according to Ireland's public broadcaster RTE. This is the second year in a row Ireland has boycotted the contest due to conflicts related to Israel and Gaza.
Key Facts
Ireland's public broadcaster RTE announced it will skip Eurovision 2027 and not broadcast it.
The decision is because of the ongoing loss of civilian lives and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ireland also boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel's participation.
The Netherlands is also boycotting Eurovision 2027, citing the contest is no longer neutral.
Eurovision excludes countries involved in armed conflicts from hosting the event.
Israel, engaged in war in Gaza since 2023, finished second in Eurovision in both 2025 and 2026.
Five countries (Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia) boycotted the 2026 contest; three of them did not broadcast it.
Eurovision 2027 will be held on May 15 in Burgas, Bulgaria.
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Patients in England with a certain type of advanced breast cancer can now get a new drug called Enhertu on the NHS. This drug can help them live nearly seven months longer on average.
Key Facts
Enhertu is available to patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England.
The drug can extend life by about seven months on average.
Women in Scotland and 26 other European countries have had NHS access to Enhertu since 2023.
Wales is expected to make Enhertu available soon, but it is not yet approved in Northern Ireland.
Kate Wills, a 51-year-old patient with advanced breast cancer, expressed relief and hope about the drug being available.
HER2-low breast cancer means the cancer cells have low levels of a protein called HER2, which affects treatment options.
The NHS approval means doctors can now prescribe Enhertu to eligible patients in England.
This drug is seen as a significant development for patients with incurable breast cancer to improve survival time.
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Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson resigned after his right-wing political group narrowly lost the recent general election. The centre-left opposition, led by Magdalena Andersson, is set to form the next government, but talks about this may take some time because of disagreements between parties.
Key Facts
Ulf Kristersson is Sweden’s Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing bloc.
The centre-left opposition, led by Magdalena Andersson and the Social Democrats, is projected to win 176 of the 349 seats in Sweden’s parliament.
Kristersson’s right-wing bloc, including his Moderates and the Sweden Democrats, is projected to win 173 seats.
The Sweden Democrats, a hard-right party, lost some support for the first time since 2010.
Election results are preliminary and official certification is expected soon.
Swedish politics typically involves coalitions because no single party usually wins a majority.
Andersson is negotiating with other opposition parties about forming a government despite differences on tax policies.
Past government formation in Sweden has taken between about one to four months.
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Sweden’s left-wing opposition won a narrow majority in the national election, gaining 176 out of 349 seats in parliament. The current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, from the conservative party, announced his resignation, while Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson looks to form a new government despite challenges within her political bloc.
Key Facts
The election results gave the left-wing opposition 176 seats and the center-right coalition 173 seats.
The Swedish parliament, called the Riksdag, has 349 total seats.
Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democrats remained the largest single party, even though they lost some support.
Andersson aims to become prime minister again after losing the job in 2022.
The outgoing government was led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson with a center-right coalition.
Kristersson’s government relied on the Sweden Democrats, a party initially far-right but now more mainstream.
There are tensions inside the left-wing group, making it hard to form a stable government.
Overseas and late-arriving ballots confirmed the opposition’s small lead.
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Nicholas Brandram, a man suspected by police of pushing a woman into traffic in Putney, London in 2017, died by suicide. His family says there was no evidence linking him to the incident and that police pressure led to his death.
Key Facts
Nicholas Brandram was investigated by the Metropolitan Police over a 2017 incident in Putney, London.
He was suspected of pushing a woman into the path of a bus while jogging on Putney Bridge.
Brandram was 44 years old at the time of his death.
His family says he died by suicide after months of intense police pressure.
The family claims there was no forensic or credible evidence connecting him to the case.
They state there is no proof he was on Putney Bridge when the incident happened.
The Metropolitan Police have been asked to comment on the situation.
The family argues that evidence actually shows he was not the person seen in footage from the incident.
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Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, urged the country to fully commit to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He emphasized the need for local community-led green energy projects to tackle the ongoing climate crisis and highlighted recent extreme weather events affecting the UK.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham called for the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
He supports community-led renewable energy projects like solar panels and wind farms.
The UK recently experienced its hottest summer on record, with heatwaves and wildfires.
Extreme weather has caused health and safety problems, including nurses collapsing and homes destroyed by fires.
Burnham is under pressure about approving two North Sea fossil fuel projects, Jackdaw and Rosebank.
Some Labour MPs and the Green Party oppose these fossil fuel projects, saying they conflict with climate goals.
The decision on approving the Jackdaw project has been delayed until later in the autumn.
Burnham links climate action to giving local communities more control over energy production and economic benefits.
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BRICS is a group of countries working together to create more than one center of economic and political power in the world. These countries want to reduce their dependence on the United States as the main global leader but are not yet able to replace its influence.
Key Facts
BRICS is an international group of countries focused on economic and diplomatic cooperation.
The group aims to provide alternatives to the U.S.-led global system.
Several nations are joining BRICS to create multiple centers of influence.
BRICS countries want to have more control over global decisions.
Despite efforts, BRICS cannot fully replace the U.S. as the main global power yet.
This shift reflects a desire for a more balanced global leadership.
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Irish broadcaster RTÉ will not take part in or show the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row. RTÉ said this decision is because they cannot justify participation while many people are dying in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis continues.
Key Facts
RTÉ withdrew from Eurovision 2026 and will also not participate or broadcast in 2027.
RTÉ’s decision is due to the ongoing loss of civilian lives in Gaza and the difficult humanitarian situation.
The European Broadcasting Union allowed Israeli broadcaster KAN to take part, which led to RTÉ’s boycott.
Other countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia also boycotted Eurovision 2026 for similar reasons.
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, from May 11 to 15.
Bulgaria earned the hosting rights after winning Eurovision 2026 for the first time.
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS also announced it will not take part in 2027, citing the war situation.
The conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, followed by Israeli military actions in Gaza.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to the European Parliament as Canada strengthens its partnership with the European Union. This move comes while relations between Canada and the United States have become more difficult, showing a change in Canada's international alliances.
Key Facts
Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada.
He gave a speech at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The speech emphasizes closer ties between Canada and the European Union.
Canada’s relationship with the United States is currently strained.
Canada is positioning itself as a reliable partner for energy exports to Europe.
The speech reflects a shift in Canada’s international focus from the US to Europe.
This change in alliances is notable because similar messages were usually directed to the United States before.
The event happened on September 17, 2026.
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United Nations human rights experts reported that there is good reason to believe the United States committed war crimes in two airstrikes in Iran on February 28, including an attack on a school in Minab that killed many children. The U.S. has not admitted responsibility for the strikes, and there are also accusations that Iran’s security forces committed serious human rights abuses against protesters.
Key Facts
UN human rights experts say the U.S. likely committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran.
One strike hit a school in Minab, killing about 170 people, mostly young schoolgirls.
The U.S. preliminary assessment suggested the school was hit by mistake due to outdated intelligence.
Another strike targeted a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd, killing 22 civilians.
U.S. Central Command denies responsibility for the Lamerd strike.
Iran’s security forces reportedly committed crimes against humanity during a January crackdown on protests.
The fact-finding mission was set up by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 and is led by Sara Hossain.
Civilians in Iran are facing dangers from both the conflict with the U.S. and actions by their own government.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney supports the European Union's plan to make Canada its first "associate member." He said that Canada and Europe are stronger when they work together.
Key Facts
The European Union proposed making Canada an "associate member" of the bloc.
Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, spoke in favor of this proposal.
He addressed the EU lawmakers in Strasbourg to express his support.
Carney emphasized the strength of Canada and Europe working together.
This would be the first time the EU grants associate membership to a country.
The proposal aims to increase cooperation between Canada and the European Union.
The announcement was made on September 17, 2026.
The concept of "associate member" allows close ties without full EU membership.
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A U.N.-commissioned group of human rights experts said there is evidence that the U.S. may have committed war crimes in two airstrikes in Iran that killed at least 178 civilians. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump plans to meet with Persian Gulf leaders during the U.N. General Assembly to discuss the ongoing war with Iran.
Key Facts
U.N. experts found "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed war crimes in two airstrikes in Iran.
One strike hit a school in Minab, Iran, killing many civilians including children.
The strikes killed at least 178 civilians in total.
The U.S. did not intend to target the school and may have acted on outdated intelligence.
Iranian officials deny wanting peace talks until the U.S. meets their conditions based on a previous agreement that collapsed.
President Trump said Iran wants to make a deal and hopes the war is nearing an end.
Trump will meet with Persian Gulf leaders during the U.N. meeting to discuss post-war plans.
Oil prices fell after news that a damaged Saudi oil pipeline hit by drones will be repaired soon.
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The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, are facing problems with housing for athletes and officials because no dedicated athletes' village was built. Organizers are using a cruise ship, wooden cabins, and hotels, but some teams have complained that the accommodations are uncomfortable and poorly arranged.
Key Facts
The Asian Games beginning this weekend in Japan have housing issues for athletes and officials.
Japan did not build a special athletes’ village for this event to save money.
Organizers expected 15,000 athletes, but more have arrived due to new sports being added.
Athletes are staying on an Italian cruise ship, in wooden container huts, and in hotels.
Some teams, like South Korea’s basketball team, complain the wooden huts have very small beds.
Rooms sometimes house coaches and athletes together, causing discomfort.
Japan prepared backup hotel rooms to help with problems.
The local organizer and a committee of former athletes say the accommodations are functional and improvements are ongoing.
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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to the European Parliament, urging Canada and the European Union to build stronger ties. He highlighted cooperation in trade, technology, and security as a way to work together amid tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on September 17, 2026.
Carney said Canada and Europe are stronger when working together and should deepen their partnership quickly and clearly.
He suggested cooperation in areas like critical minerals, defense, artificial intelligence, energy security, and space.
Carney called for easier digital trade of goods and services and better opportunities for young people to live and work across the Atlantic.
He emphasized that the goal is resilience and independence, not rivalry or domination.
Carney did not mention President Trump directly but his speech came during a trade and diplomatic dispute with the U.S.
The European Union offered Canada the possibility of becoming its first "associate member," a special partnership status.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed a strong desire to deepen ties with Canada quickly.
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French fishermen blocked several ports in southern France to protest rising fuel prices. Their actions add pressure on the government, which is trying to complete the 2027 budget amid political divisions and concerns about energy costs.
Key Facts
French fishermen blocked ports, including Nice, in protest of high fuel prices.
The protests come amid wider strikes by workers in various sectors, such as electricity and police.
The government extended emergency fuel subsidies for farmers, fishermen, and construction workers until the end of 2026.
The 2027 budget is delayed and difficult to finalize due to energy price pressures and political disagreements.
French borrowing costs have risen to the highest level since 2008 because of market worries.
Some political parties, like the Socialists, refuse to support the budget, making its approval uncertain.
The far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, may influence the budget outcome but has criticized some spending plans.
President Macron held a meeting with party leaders to discuss the regional conflicts and their energy market impact.
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Scientists say climate change played a key role in a deadly mountain collapse in Nepal and Tibet last month, which killed over 1,400 people and left thousands missing. The disaster was caused by a mix of warming temperatures, melting glaciers, thawing frozen ground, and unstable mountain slopes.
Key Facts
A large part of rock and glacier broke off Langtang Lirung mountain on August 26, causing floods of water, ice, and debris.
The World Weather Attribution group reported that the disaster was due to long-term climate effects, not just one weather event.
July and August recorded temperatures about 5°C (9°F) higher than normal in the area.
Melting glaciers and thawing permafrost (permanently frozen ground) have weakened mountain slopes.
An earthquake in 2015 might have also weakened the mountain, but its exact impact is unclear.
Nepal has about 6,150 people still missing and over 1,400 bodies found after the disaster.
The government estimates rebuilding costs at $4.78 billion.
Nepal’s Prime Minister will speak at the United Nations about the urgent need to address climate change and disaster recovery.
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President Donald Trump warned the European Union (EU) that the U.S. might impose serious tariffs if the EU allows Canada to become an associate member. The EU wants closer ties with Canada to strengthen democracy amid global challenges, but some EU officials said the U.S. cannot control their decisions.
Key Facts
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, invited Canada to become the EU’s first associate member.
President Trump called the idea “laughable” and threatened heavy tariffs or cutting trade if the plan goes ahead.
Von der Leyen said the partnership with Canada is meant to reinforce democracy and is not aimed against any country.
France’s Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, said the U.S. does not have the power to veto EU political decisions.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament about the partnership plan.
The U.S.-EU trade relationship is sensitive to changes like tariffs, which are taxes on imports or exports.
This issue is part of larger global discussions about democracy and international alliances.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to the European Parliament on September 17, 2026. This event followed President Donald Trump’s statement that Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union could be seen as a hostile action.
Key Facts
Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada.
He addressed the European Parliament on September 17, 2026.
President Donald Trump commented that Canada joining the EU as an associate member might be considered a hostile act.
The European Parliament is a key decision-making body of the European Union.
Associate membership means a closer relationship with the EU but is not full membership.
The topic reflects ongoing discussions about Canada and its international partnerships with Europe.
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A "48 Hours" team spent a night in the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden took place. Lizzie Borden was accused but acquitted of killing her parents with a hatchet, and the case remains a famous mystery with new insights and media retellings continuing to emerge.
Key Facts
Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were killed on August 4, 1892, in their home.
Lizzie Borden, Andrew’s daughter, was the prime suspect but was found not guilty after a two-week trial.
The murders were violent; Abby was stabbed fewer than a dozen times, and the weapon was a small hatchet, not an axe as commonly believed.
The Borden house is now a museum and Bed and Breakfast where guests can stay in rooms connected to the crime.
The house is over 180 years old and has been restored with original crime scene photos on display.
Visitors and investigators note the thin walls and small size of the house make it hard to believe Lizzie didn’t hear the attack upstairs.
Questions remain about how the killer could commit the murders without leaving blood evidence or noise.
The case has inspired many books, films, a nursery rhyme, and a Netflix series called "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story."
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