Eurovision

Basel will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after the Swiss border city was chosen on Aug. 30 to stage the 69th edition of the glitzy annual TV extravaganza.

Swiss singer Nemo's 2024 Eurovision victory gave Switzerland the right to host next year's event, with a huge global audience guaranteed.

Basel has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025, winning out over Geneva for the honor of staging the 69th edition of the event, according to AFP. The choice follows Swiss singer Nemo's victory in 2024, which granted Switzerland the right to host the next contest on May 17.

Israel can compete in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, organizers said on Feb. 15, despite calls for it to be excluded over the Gaza war like Russia was after invading Ukraine.

The southern Swedish city of Malmo has been chosen to host the 2024 Eurovision Song contest on May 7-11, Swedish public broadcaster STV has said.

"Malmo is a creative city with a rich cultural life that can provide a music festival for the whole of Europe," said STV director general Hanne Stjarne.

Eurovision has a huge following in Sweden.

Ukraine on June 17 condemned the European Broadcasting Union's decision to strip it of the right to host next year's Eurovision song contest on security grounds after Russia's invasion.

Forty-one countries will compete in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, up two from this year, the European Broadcasting Union announced on Oct. 20.

Damiano David, the flamboyant singer for Italy's Eurovision-winning rockers Maneskin, tested negative for drugs, the contest organisers said May 24, following a furore over speculation he snorted cocaine at the final.

The red lederhosen-clad vocalist was tested after footage of him leaning over a table in the hospitality area of the competition in Rotterdam went viral.

Eurovision winners Måneskin have been cleared of allegations that they were taking drugs in the song contest's green room after a suspect video of the Italian band went viral.

Italian rock foursome Maneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam on May 22 in a glammed-up message of hope for a world emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.

As the tournament returned after a year off because of the virus, the high-kicking, lederhosen-wearing Italians beat off stiff competition from France and Switzerland with their song "Zitti e Buoni".

Eurovision 2020 organizers have announced they are canceling the event due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Independent reports.

The news was reported to Eurovision's official Twitter account and page.

"It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.