Sat, May 16 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria, following JJ’s victory for the country in 2025. While it marks a major milestone for the longest-running annual international televised music competition, the 2026 event is defined by profound geopolitical crises, sweeping rule changes, and intense musical competition. Continue reading
Tom Felle, University of Galway
Media freedom has long been essential to healthy democracy. It is the oxygen that fuels informed debate, exposes corruption and holds power to account. But around the world, that freedom is under sustained attack.
Kristian Gustafson, Brunel University London; Dan Lomas, Brunel University London; Neveen S Abdalla, Brunel University London, and Steven Wagner, Brunel University London
After more than a week of intense fighting between Sudanese government troops and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, many western countries – including the US and UK – are evacuating their nationals from the strife-torn city.
While the conflict has been billed as a clash between rival warlords, there are questions about the role played by the private Russian mercenary company, the Wagner Group. This group, allegedly associated with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s ally Yevgeny Prigozhin – although he has denied any involvement – is heavily engaged in several African countries, exacerbating regional instability.