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By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – U.S. pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday demanded that the White House stop using her music after the Trump administration featured one of her songs on a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending people. The video, shared by the White House on Monday, features Carpenter's 2024 hit song "Juno." It showed federal immigration enforcement officers chasing people and detaining them while bystanders recorded the activity on their cell phones. The caption reads, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye" – in a nod to lyrics in the song – decorated with emoticons. "This video is evil and disgusting," Carpenter, 25, wrote on X. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?" Carpenter, a Grammy Award-winning singer, joins the list of more than two dozen musicians, including Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, who have objected to President Donald Trump's use of their music. Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, has an active social media presence. Members of his communications team often post short videos that feature popular songs to illustrate the president's efforts to deliver on his campaign promises. Monday's video appeared to promote the aggressive campaign that the administration has pursued to crack down on illegal immigration since his second term began in January. Critics, including Pope Leo, have taken issue with the way in which the Trump administration has sought to carry out its immigration agenda, including arrests at courthouses, on street corners of Hispanic neighborhoods and raids of apartment buildings where those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally live. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Frank McGurty and Deepa Babington)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – U.S. pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday demanded that the White House stop using her music after the Trump administration featured one of her songs on a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending people. The video, shared by the White House on Monday, features Carpenter's 2024 hit song "Juno." It showed federal immigration enforcement officers chasing people and detaining them while bystanders recorded the activity on their cell phones. The caption reads, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye" – in a nod to lyrics in the song – decorated with emoticons. "This video is evil and disgusting," Carpenter, 25, wrote on X. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?" Carpenter, a Grammy Award-winning singer, joins the list of more than two dozen musicians, including Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, who have objected to President Donald Trump's use of their music. Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, has an active social media presence. Members of his communications team often post short videos that feature popular songs to illustrate the president's efforts to deliver on his campaign promises. Monday's video appeared to promote the aggressive campaign that the administration has pursued to crack down on illegal immigration since his second term began in January. Critics, including Pope Leo, have taken issue with the way in which the Trump administration has sought to carry out its immigration agenda, including arrests at courthouses, on street corners of Hispanic neighborhoods and raids of apartment buildings where those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally live. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Frank McGurty and Deepa Babington)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 1 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery has received a second round of bids, including a mostly cash offer from Netflix, in an auction that could conclude in the coming days or weeks, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Bankers for Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix worked over the weekend on improved offers for all or part of Warner Bros, the source added. The bids are binding, giving the board scope to approve a deal quickly if terms are met, though they have not been described as final, the person said. Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development. Last week, Warner Bros asked bidders to submit improved offers by December 1 after receiving preliminary buyout bids from Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board had rejected Paramount's mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion, and publicly announced it would evaluate strategic options for the studio. The parent of HBO and CNN in October said it was exploring its options for sale. Any potential deal involving Warner Bros Discovery would further consolidate the media industry after the $8.4 billion merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, which capped a drawn-out process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. The studio behind the "Harry Potter" and DC Comics film franchises announced plans in June to split into studio-centric and cable-focused units by next year to separate its growing streaming business from its lagging cable network unit. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)