Contest

• Union Minister Chirag Paswan announced that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. • The party's state unit has been tasked with determining potential alliances and the specific details of seat-sharing arrangements. • This move signals the LJP's intent to expand its political footprint beyond its traditional strongholds into one of India's most critical electoral states.

• Union Minister Chirag Paswan announced that his party, LJP (Ram Vilas), will contest the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. • The party's state unit will be responsible for determining specific alliances and seat-sharing arrangements as part of a broader national expansion strategy. • To mark the occasion, the party will celebrate the birth anniversary of Ram Vilas Paswan in Lucknow.

• Union Minister Chirag Paswan announced on Sunday that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) intends to contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. • Paswan clarified that the final decision and approval for the party's participation will be determined by the LJP (Ram Vilas) central parliamentary board. • This move signals the party's ambition to expand its political footprint beyond its traditional strongholds and influence the electoral landscape in India's most populous state.

• Chirag Paswan announced that the LJP (Ram Vilas) will host the birth anniversary of Ram Vilas Paswan in Lucknow to increase the party's visibility in Uttar Pradesh. • The party is actively seeking to expand its national footprint and has expressed a strong interest in contesting the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. • This move signals the LJP's ambition to grow beyond its traditional strongholds and strengthen the overall NDA alliance within the state.

• Canada's national broadcaster has officially confirmed that the country will compete in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. • Fans are already suggesting high-profile Canadian stars, such as Shania Twain, as potential representatives for the event. • This expansion occurs amid significant political tension, as five nations—including Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands—boycotted this year's contest in Vienna to protest Israel's participation.

• The first Eurovision Song Contest Asia is scheduled to take place on November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. • Organizers confirmed that the competition will incorporate a "Rest of the World" vote, mirroring the format of the original Eurovision Song Contest. • Participating broadcasters are responsible for organizing their own entries, with most expected to select artists via national finals.

• Canada has officially announced that it will join the Eurovision Song Contest starting in 2027. • The move marks a significant expansion for the competition, allowing a non-European nation to compete in the eclectic music event. • This development is expected to spark widespread debate and excitement among fans regarding which Canadian artists should be selected to represent the country.

• Canada will make its debut appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027. • The European Broadcasting Union and the Canadian broadcaster CBC officially announced the partnership to bring the North American nation into the competition. • The event is scheduled to take place in Bulgaria, marking a significant expansion of the contest's global reach.

• CBC/Radio-Canada and the European Broadcasting Union have officially announced that Canada will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. • The upcoming competition is scheduled to take place in Bulgaria, marking a historic shift as Canada joins the event as a participating nation. • This move follows a history of Canadians competing for other countries, such as Céline Dion for Switzerland in 1988 and La Zarra for France in 2023.

• Canada will make its historic debut in the Eurovision Song Contest at the 2027 event hosted in Bulgaria. • This marks the first time a new country has joined the competition since Australia's entry in 2015. • CBC/Radio-Canada CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard announced the news on Canada Day, emphasizing the move as a celebration of the nation's cultural diversity.

Country is first to join since Australia in 2015 as event director says it ‘continues to welcome the world’Canada will ​join the Eurovision song contest next year, becoming the first new ⁠participant since Australia in 2015, organisers have announced.Participation is not limited to countries in geographic Europe and instead is open to all members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which Canada joined last week. Australia is an associate member. Continue reading...

Gabriel Garland, 24, was involved in New Year’s Eve altercation but not charged with any offenceA Love Island contestant has reportedly left the programme over his connection to a stabbing in London.Gabriel Garland, 24, was removed from the ITV2 dating series after briefly featuring in an episode on Sunday night as a Casa Amor villa boy. Continue reading...

• The election campaign for Johor's state seats has officially begun following the filing of nomination papers on Saturday. • A total of 172 candidates will compete for all 56 available state seats in Malaysia's southern state. • Candidates now enter a two-week intensive campaign period to secure voter support ahead of the official polling date.

• Canada has officially gained the right to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest after the public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada secured full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). • This move allows Canada to participate in the prestigious competition, which previously served as a launchpad for global superstars like Celine Dion. • The membership is intended to strengthen international cultural ties and provide a global platform for Canadian musical talent.

• Canada is now officially eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. • While Canada has not previously competed as a nation, Canadian artists have won before, most notably Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland and won in 1988. • This membership marks a significant expansion of the contest's reach, allowing the North American broadcaster to engage with the international competition.

Various issues – including a rodent infestation and mold – have left the historic, sprawling Ottawa estate empty10 Downing Street has two things: mice and a chief mouser. For more than a decade, an officially recognized feline has kept the residence’s rodent infestation to a minimum.Over a similar period, the official residence of Canada’s prime minister has seen an unchecked explosion of rodents. Continue reading...

• Chris Appleton, the celebrity hair stylist for Britney Spears, has been announced as the fourth contestant for the 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing. • Appleton joins a growing cast that already includes Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, and actress Lacey Turner. • The announcement sparked immediate social media excitement, with fellow celebrities like Dean McCullough and Tasha Ghouri offering their congratulations on Instagram.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to use International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition for ‘regulatory work’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s health watchdog has adopted a contested definition of antisemitism to guide its regulatory work.The move has been welcomed by the nation’s peak Jewish body while the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (Apan) has warned it could silence health professionals from criticising Israel’s human rights record. Continue reading...

Prime minister suggests he will not ‘walk away’ despite Burnham’s comfortable victory in Makerfield byelectionUK politics – live updatesHow quickly could Burnham become PM?Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, adding he will not “walk away”.The prime minister’s comments follow Burnham’s victory with 55% of the vote in Makerfield. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that people had “voted for change, they have voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster”. Continue reading...

Former health secretary Wes Streeting also threatened to launch a leadership contest if the prime minister did not set out a timetable to step downGood morning. Keir Starmer is still in France for the G7 summit but – as Margaret Thatcher discovered on a trip to Paris in November 1990 – acting as a statesman on the world stage does not protect a PM from a leadership challenge at home and, on that front, there has been a small development overnight; Starmer is now being told explicitly he will face a leadership challenge next week if he does not agree a timetable to stand down after the Makerfield byelection tomorrow.This has always been implicit, but last night Wes Streeting, the former health secretary who wants to launch a leadership bid, said it out loud.We can’t go on with this uncertainty. I think we will inevitably end up in a contest.I’ve given you my answer.Well, I’m sure I’ll talk to Andy after the weekend, of course I will. I’ve spoken to him many times in recent weeks. And when I came into politics in 2015, it was Andy Burnham’s team that I joined, and we worked very well together.He’s a huge asset, he’s been a fantastic mayor in Manchester and if he comes back into parliament – I hope he wins in the byelection – he’ll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country. Continue reading...

• Public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. • The boycott was triggered by the decision to allow Israel to participate in the competition. • This event marks the largest political boycott in the history of the contest, shifting the focus from music to geopolitical tension.

• Bulgaria has been announced as the host country for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027. • The event will feature a dedicated Eurovision Village and Euroclub, though the specific city and arena are yet to be finalized. • Early interest is already growing, with 9 countries expressing their intention to participate in the competition.

• Lacey Turner, best known for playing Stacey Slater in the BBC soap 'EastEnders', has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Turner is a highly decorated actress who has won multiple awards for her soap role and has appeared in various TV dramas and stage productions, including the series 'Our Girl'. • This announcement marks the beginning of the casting reveal for the 2026 competition, with Turner expressing that she is "so excited" to join the dance contest.

• Actress Lacey Turner, best known for her long-running role as Stacey Slater on the BBC One soap EastEnders, has been confirmed as the first celebrity contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Turner joined EastEnders in 2004 and has since earned both a British Soap Award and a National Television Award for her performance. • Beyond her soap opera success, she has appeared in various television dramas, including the BBC series Our Girl.

Prime minister is ‘hellbent’ on fighting any contest - including sacking ministers who support BurnhamUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s closest aides are “war-gaming” how to win a leadership contest ahead of Andy Burnham’s much-anticipated return to Westminster if he wins the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian understands.Downing Street sources said the prime minister had taken the last fortnight to think seriously about his future but was now “hellbent” on fighting any contest. His team is working through various scenarios, including sacking ministers who publicly supported Burnham. Continue reading...

• The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has confirmed a significant decline in viewership, losing 35 million viewers compared to the previous year. • The ratings drop follows a competition mired in controversy, which led to widespread boycotts of the event. • This decline highlights a growing tension between the contest's traditional appeal and the political or social disputes surrounding its recent iterations.

• The 70th Eurovision Song Contest has achieved significant success, particularly among younger audiences, as it celebrates seven decades of the event. • The group Bangaranga dominated the charts following the competition, reaching Number 1 on Spotify Daily Charts in 11 countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine. • The group also secured Top 5 positions in five additional nations, such as Greece and Poland, and entered the Top 10 in the United Kingdom and Norway.

Downing Street responded after Andy Burnham publicly admitted that he would consider launching a bid to become Labour leader‘I wouldn’t flinch’: Burnham on social care, markets, Brexit – and the prospect of a general electionHello and welcome to our UK politics blog.David Lammy has come out in support of the prime minister, saying Keir Starmer would fight in a leadership contest after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP. Continue reading...