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Er was wind, er was vuur, en er was het opmerkelijke bereik in de hoge regionen van Goodrem – wat resulteerde in een verfrissend zelfverzekerde act vanuit Australië. ‘Gezongen door een zilveren robot uit 1984!’ De 11 grootste bangers in Eurovisie 2026. Staand voor een glinsterende halve maan en versierd met meer dan 7.000 Swarovski-kristallen, leverde de Australische Eurovisie-hoopvol van 2026, Delta Goodrem, een krachtige prestatie op de 70e verjaardag van het wereldwijde songfestival – en werd daarmee de eerste Australische act die zich sinds 2023 voor de grote finale heeft gekwalificeerd. Goodrem, die als vroege favoriet aan de competitie deelnam achter Eurovisie-zwaargewichten Denemarken en Finland, leverde een foutloze interpretatie van haar powerballad-entry, Eclipse. Het nummer is indrukwekkend, al is het wat clichématig – en van de 35 deelnemende landen worden er 15 vertegenwoordigd door solo vrouwelijke artiesten, waardoor Goodrem een manier moest vinden om op te vallen in een druk veld. Lees verder...

Bloc’s leaders to hold first summit with Armenia on Tuesday at it ramps up efforts to combat Kremlin’s influenceThe EU is sending a team of experts specialised in combating Russian propaganda and interference to Armenia, as it increases its support to the former Soviet republic in a tense political period.In a highly symbolic sequence of events, EU leaders will hold their first summit with Armenia on Tuesday, after a pan-European gathering of about 45 leaders at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan. Continue reading...

Unclear whether Iran will take part in talks as US president repeats threat to destroy Iranian infrastructureMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump’s representatives will return to Pakistan on Monday for another possible round of talks aimed at ending the US-Israeli war in Iran, as the US president repeated his threats to Iranian infrastructure unless Iran agrees to a deal.The return of a US delegation to Islamabad, led by vice-president JD Vance, along with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, comes after Iran on Saturday reimposed tight restrictions on the transit of commercial shipping in the strait of Hormuz, reversing an agreement made hours before to reopen the strategic waterway, over the US’s refusal to lift its naval blockade. Continue reading...

• President Trump stated US objectives in the Iran conflict are nearly achieved yet simultaneously threatened even more intense strikes in the weeks ahead, creating confusion about American strategy. • With no declared exit strategy and rising fears of Iranian retaliation, analysts question whether the military campaign is winding down or entering a more dangerous phase. • UK-led talks planned for next week in London will include plans for possible military actions to clear the Strait of Hormuz, with the US not involved in these negotiations.

John Healey says extra deployment is response to ‘expanding threat’ from IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK is sending more military support to the Gulf taking the total deployment to 1,000 troops, amid more jibes from Donald Trump about Britain’s refusal to get involved in offensive operations against Iran.Speaking from Qatar where he met UK troops, the defence secretary, John Healey, said the extra deployment was in response to an “expanding threat” from Iran. Continue reading...

Étienne Davignon is charged with participation in war crimes in relation to killing of then PM Patrice LumumbaA former Belgian diplomat , 93, should stand trial over alleged complicity in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what was then the newly independent Congolese state, a Brussels court has ruled.Étienne Davignon, the only person still alive among 10 Belgians the Lumumba family accuses of involvement in the killing, is charged with participation in war crimes. Continue reading...