Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Vienna ahead of the Eurovision 2026 grand final, protesting against Israel’s participation in the contest as tensions linked to the war in Gaza continued to surround the event.

The Eurovision Song Contest suffered a sharp decline in television audiences during Tuesday’s first semi-final as boycott calls intensified over Israel’s participation in the competition.

The more than 85 percent turnout in Tamil Nadu represents an exceptional level of democratic participation and indicates heightened political awareness among voters.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended his visit to an international conference in Turkmenistan, saying the trip is essential for strengthening ties with Central Asian states and maintaining dialogue with neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“Armenia has not yet made a final decision regarding its participation in the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Agreement on Climate Change (COP29) to be held in Baku,” Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan told journalists, News.Az reports citing Sputnik Armenia.

Armenia has frozen its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) because it poses a threat to its sovereignty, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said this at the World Armenian Summit, News.Az reports.

The World Bank has approved a four-million U.S. dollar grant to support the participation of local communities in climate action in Ghana, according to a release issued on Friday.

Negotiations on the participation of overseas countries in COP29 are underway, the head of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov said at a press conference in the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan, News.az reports.

Azerbaijan is interested in attracting Dutch companies to modernization projects of local greenhouses, said Shahla Balakishiyeva, Chief Counselor of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Azerbaijan.