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6+ min ago (355+ words) Iceland has become the latest country to withdraw from next year's Eurovision Song Contest over'Israel's participation. This makes Iceland the fifth country to withdraw after Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands all confirmed they would not participate in the competition. According to Iceland's broadcaster R'V, public discourse in Iceland in response to last week's EBU ruling demonstrated that there would be "neither joy nor peace" surrounding participation and that the competition could no longer fulfil its goal of bringing nations together. Pointing out past examples such as Russia's exclusion following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Icelandic broadcaster said it had formally requested that KAN be removed from the EBU. It claimed that the problem surrounding Israel's participation had already harmed the EBU's and Eurovision's reputations. According to the EBU, the revised regulations for 2026 are intended to "strengthen trust and…...

12+ min ago (46+ words) Real time news brief - Noa Kirel slams Eurovision boycotts: 'Music should remain a space for unity, not division' - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site Noa Kirel slams Eurovision boycotts: 'Music should remain a space for unity, not division'...

52+ min ago (258+ words) A Spanish woman has lost her job after repeatedly turning up to work far earlier than her scheduled shift, a habit that eventually escalated into a legal battle. The 22-year-old employee had been coming into office around 6.45 am despite her official 7.30 am start and had been warned for more than a year to stop doing so, the Daily Mail reported. However, she continued coming to the office at the same time even after her employer had made it clear that she was not allowed to come in early and had no assigned duties at that hour. Tired of her refusal to follow instructions led, the company classified her behaviour as serious misconduct. Managers argued that the issue wasn't enthusiasm, but defiance as she was repeatedly ignoring explicit orders rather than performing useful work. She was eventually dismissed. Upset over her…...

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (317+ words) LISBON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Train services ground to a halt across Portugal on Thursday, hundreds of flights were cancelled, and schools closed as unions launched a first general strike in more than a decade, in protest against proposed labour reforms. The minority centre-right government says the proposed changes - amending more than 100 labour-code articles - aim to boost productivity and spur economic growth. But unions accuse it of tilting power toward employers at the expense of workers" rights, despite a strong economy and low unemployment. The bill, yet to be submitted to parliament, is expected to pass with backing from the far-right Chega party. Some public transport operated due to minimum service requirements imposed by authorities, but Lisbon"s streets were noticeably quieter. While hospitals stayed open, most surgeries and appointments have been postponed as nursing staff walked out. Flag carrier TAP expected…...

1+ hour, 23+ min ago (502+ words) The walkout is expected to be Portugal's largest since June 2013 amid action against a bill to simplify the firing process. Portugal is bracing for a widespread impact nationally from its first general strike in 12 years, as unions urge action against the centre-right minority government's planned workers' rights reforms. Heavy disruption is expected for public transport, schools, courts and hospitals on Thursday, as workers protest against a draft law aiming to simplify firing procedures, extend the length of fixed-term contracts and expand the minimum services required during a strike. The walkout is likely to be Portugal's largest since June 2013, when the country was forced to gut public spending in exchange for international aid after being engulfed by a debt crisis that affected several European nations. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has insisted that the labour reforms, with more than 100 measures, were intended…...

1+ hour, 34+ min ago (548+ words) Widespread disruption hit Portuguese air travel and trains, hospitals and schools Thursday as the unions called the biggest nationwide strike action for more than a decade against government labour reforms. Lisbon's main train station was empty with most services cancelled and the TAP Air Portugal national airline called off about two thirds of its normal 250 flights. According to unions, refuse collection was at a standstill along with hospital departments handling non-urgent cases. Schools and courts were also affected. Unions have been infuriated by a law proposed by the right wing minority government that it says aims to simplify firing procedures, extend the length of fixed-term contracts and expand the minimum services required during a strike. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro insisted that the labour reforms, with more than 100 measures, were intended to "stimulate economic growth and pay better salaries. But the…...

1+ hour, 59+ min ago (517+ words) Iceland has become the fifth country to announce its withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The decision follows similar moves by Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands, all of whom announced boycotts after organisers confirmed the participation of Israel in next year's event in Vienna. In a statement reported by the BBC, Icelandic national broadcaster R'V director-general Stefan Eiriksson said, 'There is no peace or joy connected to this contest as things stand now. On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back while the situation is as it is.' R'V also said that Israel's participation in the contest had 'created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.' The executives of Ireland's broadcast network announced a boycott of the contest on Wednesday. 'The Song Contest and Eurovision have always had the aim…...

2+ hour, 27+ min ago (241+ words) Thursday, 11 Dec 2025 RABAT, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the collapse of two residential buildings in the Moroccan city of Fez has risen to 22, the public prosecutor said on Wednesday, revising an earlier figure of 19. The incident occurred late on Tuesday in the Al-Mustaqbal neighbourhood when an unoccupied building collapsed, triggering the collapse of an adjacent four-story structure, the prosecutor said. The second building was hosting a traditional Aqiqah celebration marking a birth. Women and children were among the victims. Sixteen other people were injured, with some in serious condition. Authorities said the toll could rise as rescue operations continue. Judicial police have opened an investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary findings show the two buildings were constructed in 2006. Local officials said the structures were built under so-called "self-construction" schemes…...

2+ hour, 28+ min ago (251+ words) A police officer negotiates with striking workers blocking the movement of trucks at the gate to warehouses of the Portuguese postal services company, at the start of a general strike to protest against a new labour package announced by the centre-right government, in Lisbon, early Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Striking workers block the entrance to warehouses of the Portuguese postal services company stopping trucks leaving, at the start of a general strike to protest against a new labour package announced by the centre-right government, in Lisbon, Wednesday night, Dec. 10, 2025. A screen shows departing flights, many cancelled, at Lisbon Airport, at the start of a general strike to protest against a new labour package announced by the centre-right government, in Lisbon, early Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Trucks sit idle at a garbage processing center in Lisbon at the start of a general strike on Wednesday…...

2+ hour, 37+ min ago (379+ words) Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of T'rkiye have signed a codeshare agreement with South African Airways, the national flag carrier of South Africa. The agreement, which will take effect on... Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of T'rkiye have signed a codeshare agreement with South African Airways, the national flag carrier of South Africa. The agreement, which will take effect on 1 March 2026, was signed in Geneva by Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat and South African Airways Prof. CEO John Lamola with the participation of senior executives from both companies. Under this new agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its TK flight code on South African Airways flights operating across its key African gateways including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls and Mauritius. On its part, South African Airways…...