Russian troops continue to move through Ukraine and taking multiple locations around the country, with the capital city Kyiv under attack. Around the world, protests are taking place against the military actions in Ukraine. Eurovision News Events is offering live positions in various locations to help you cover this major news story including in Kyiv, Moscow, New York City, Washington DC, Brussels and along the Polish border. 

The Czech Republic will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July until 31 Dcember 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

The European Space Agency’s new medium-lift Vega-C rocket blasted off for its inaugural launch from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana on 13 July 2022. Vega-C is a single body rocket about 35 m high, able to place about 2200 kg in a reference 700 km polar orbit. For VV21, Vega-C’s principal payload is LARES-2, a scientific mission of the Italian space agency ASI. 

Pope Francis will preside over a consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals on 27 August. A meeting of the world’s cardinals in Rome will follow on 29 and 30 to study and reflect on the new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, Praedicate Evangelium, promulgated the Pontiff in March this year.

The Informal meeting of  Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers will take place in Prague from 30-31 August 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

The informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers will take place in Prague from 9-10 September 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

The 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77) will open on Tuesday, 13 September 2022. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 20 September 2022.  A high-level meeting is expected on Monday, 19 September.    

Italy will hold national elections on September 25, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi who resigned after the collapse of his national unity government.

The Informal EU summit will take place at the Prague Castle on 6 and 7 October 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy council meeting wil take place in Prague on 12 October 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

The Foreign Affairs council will take place in Prague on 30-31 October 2022. More information on the Czech Presidency website

This years UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh 7-18 November. Many attending nations have recognised a shortfall in reducing emission targets since COP26 and a have vowed to review this before the new conference. The decision to hold the conference has raised some concerns from protesters, with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi overseeing a hard-line crackdown on civil rights and outlawing dissent.  

The US midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.  During this election 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested.  The election will be an informal referendum of the Biden presidency with Republicans looking to take over both the Senate and the House. Eurovision will offer live standup positions overlooking the U.S. Capitol. 

The 17th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit will take place 15 and 16 November in Bali. Indonesia's new ambassador to Australia announced a plan to invite Russian President Putin to the meeting, but some western leaders, including Joe Biden and Scott Morrison, have called for Russia to be expelled from the G20 over its invasion of Ukraine. The summit could face boycotts and backlash if Putin does attend in November.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar, from 21 November to 18 December 2022. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab World and will be the last to involve 32 teams. It will be also the first World Cup of football in winter because of the weather; traditionnaly it unfolds in summer.