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☆ Opinion: Eurovision’s slogan is ‘United by Music.’ The reality turned out very different
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Opinion Louis Staples | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Eurovision Song Contest is a glittery and eccentric spectacle that rivals the Super Bowl for its attraction to audiences. When combined with the jury vote, Israel’s impressive public vote tally saw Golan finish in fifth place overall. Despite this, the EBU has always insisted that Eurovision is an apolitical music competition between broadcasters, rather than a political competition between governments. The 2023 contest in Liverpool was a moving display of unity — so much that Liverpool’s slogan, “United By Music,” was adopted by Eurovision for all future contests. On Saturday, there was very little sense that Eurovision was “united by music.” Some fans boycotted, while others mobilized online to vote for Israel.

Persons: Louis Staples, Celine Dion, Louis Staples Louis Staples, Greta Thunberg, Eden Golan, Israel, —, Lasagna, Golan, Nemo, Russia —, ”, Turkey, Isaac Herzog, Bambie, Joost Klein, AVROTROS, Martin Österdahl Organizations: Guardian, Rolling Stone, Wired, CNN, Super Bowl, Hamas, European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision, EBU, “ United, Music, Israel, Ukraine, Twitter, Facebook Locations: London, Slate, Switzerland, Swedish, Malmö, Gaza, Europe, Turkey, Israel, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Dutch

☆ Switzerland wins Eurovision after politically charged song contest upstaged by Israel controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Switzerland’s Nemo won a chaotic and politically fraught Eurovision Song Contest, triumphing in a competition in Sweden that was upstaged by controversy over the presence of Israel. But organizers the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) sharply defended Israel’s presence, and insisted the contest is non-political – a line that became increasingly untenable as artists, broadcasters and fans clashed over the presence of Israel’s singer Eden Golan. Ultimately a competitor was disqualified, just hours before the event – the Dutch contestant Joost Klein, who was kicked out of the final after an “incident” backstage. Ireland’s Bambie Thug told CNN in the build-up to the event that it was “the wrong decision” not to exclude Israel, as Russia had been two years ago. But for all the celebratory scenes that closed the show, the EBU will be relieved to see a rocky week conclude.

Persons: Switzerland’s Nemo, Eden Golan, Joost Klein, Ireland’s Bambie Thug, ”, … Organizations: CNN, Israel’s, Malmo, Eurovision, Protesters, European Broadcasting Union Locations: Sweden, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Swedish

☆ It's 50 years since Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest — and you can still see their concert in London
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Yes, the Swedish popsters who split up in 1982 and took about four decades to decide to make a new album, have the Abba Arena in London. The 3,000-capacity venue is home to Abba Voyage, which put the foursome back on stage when it opened in May 2022. Abba Voyage has been playing in London since May 2022. It's hard to convey exactly what the Voyage experience is like, but it's mainly a deeply weird mix of time travel and technology crossed with amazing pop. Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and Benny Andersson at the opening night of Abba Voyage in London in May 2022.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, — Abba, Abba, It's, Benny, Bjorn, Anni, frid, Frida, Conchita Wurst, Chris Johnston, you've, Mia, Ludvig, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Frid, Benny Andersson, Ian West, Mike Prior Organizations: Service, —, Olympic Games, Business, London, Bloomberg, Pophouse Entertainment, Wembley Arena Locations: Swedish, London, Malmo, Sweden

☆ Eurovision is back, but will Baby Lasagne or Nemo triumph? Your complete guide
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“People are like ‘OK, Sweden is the spiritual home of Eurovision’ – I see Eurovision as this moving entity,” she tells CNN. “The whole product, ABBA, is a vibe, isn’t it?”ABBA sing "Waterloo" at Eurovision 50 years ago. But ABBA are the past; Baby Lasagne, Windows95Man and Nemo – a person, not a fish – are very much the present. This year’s slim favorite is Baby Lasagne, whose arena-pounding anthem “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” describes a brain drain affecting Croatian towns. He credits his fiancée with helping him launch his career – “She’s the lasagne, and I’m just the baby,” he tells CNN.

Persons: Paul Anka, Abba –, Loreen, –, “, Loreen –, they’ve, ” Loreen, Olle Lindeborg, Lasagne, Nemo, Sarah Bonnici, aga, you’d, Music ”, Dominic Lipinski, Marcus, Martinus, ”, – “, I’m, Switzerland’s Nemo, ” Nemo, ” Joost Klein's, Jens Büttner, Joost Klein, Teemu Keisteri, he’s, Windows95Man, it’s, Belgium’s Mustii, Bonnie Tyler’s, Sanjin, Marina Satti, Hera Bjork, ” Saba, Slimane, who’s, ” Poland’s Luna, Jeff Spicer, ” we’re, Luna “, doesn’t, we’re, ” Portugal’s, … “, Alyona Alyona, Jerry Heil, Jens Bittner, ” Joost Klein, bro, airdropped, Angelina, Greta Thunberg, Eden Golan, audibly, they’ll, oddballs gunning Organizations: CNN, Waterloo, Malmo, Eurovision, Getty, Pulitzer, aga … aaa, aaa, United, Music, MAG, San, ” “ Hurricanes, Israel, European Broadcasting Union Locations: Sweden, AFP, Malmo, Europe, Armenia, wail, Gaza, Israel

☆ I Didn’t Truly Know My Mother Until I Cooked With Her
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Priya Krishna | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

We are opposites, my mother and I. Where she is poised, classy and no-nonsense, I am goofy, outgoing, a people pleaser. My whole childhood, we struggled to find common ground. My mother was an immigrant from India; I was an American kid trying to navigate the world without a language to understand my identity. Image The author celebrating her birthday with a cake prepared with her mother — an annual tradition.

Persons: Abba, Strunz, Farah Locations: India, American

☆ A catchy propaganda song praising North Korea's authoritarian leader is enchanting TikTok and being compared to ABBA, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Kim Jong Un's latest propaganda song, "Friendly Father," is trending on TikTok. The song is part of North Korea's strategy to embed ideological messages in catchy pop tunes. AdvertisementNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un dropped his latest propaganda song a fortnight ago, and the synth-pop track is seemingly winning over TikTokers, BBC News reported. With its upbeat tempo and catchy melody, "Friendly Father" is reminiscent of an ABBA track — but with a Soviet-sounding twist. While experts say the song is a calculated attempt to feed state propaganda to the masses, TikTokers are just enjoying the tune.

Persons: Kim Jong, —, Kim Jong Un Organizations: Service, TikTokers, BBC News, Business Locations: North, Chinese, Soviet

☆ Analysis-West Africa's 'Brexit' Moment Spells Trouble for the Region
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Ivory Coast alone is home to more than 5 million people from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Earlier this month, Russia and Niger, ruled by a junta since a coup last year, agreed to develop military ties. Russian military personnel flew into Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou last week to ensure the safety of the country's military leader. EMPTY THREATECOWAS has responded to a wave of coups in the region since 2020 with sanctions that the juntas have called "illegal and inhumane." "The departure from ECOWAS will have catastrophic consequences for the ability to respond to the many security challenges facing this region," said Abba.

Persons: Bate Felix, David Lewis, Giulia Paravicini, Seidik Abba, Russia's Wagner, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk Maplecroft, Charlie Robertson, Kwesi Aning, Gilles Yabi, Adama Coulibaly, Nagnouma Keita, Abba, Tiemoko Diallo, Boureima, Silvia Aloisi, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Giulia Paravicini DAKAR, West, West African States, Reuters, Islamic, FIM Partners, European Union, ECOWAS, CFA Locations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Russia, Ivory Coast, Niger . Niger, Nigeria, Paris, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, United States, Burkina Faso's, Ouagadougou, West Africa, United, London, Bamako, Guinea, China

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) — Downhill racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is having a second operation Thursday five days after his shocking crash and airlifted exit from Switzerland’s signature World Cup event. The first surgery Saturday in the Swiss capital Bern was urgent to repair a severe cut and nerve damage in his right calf. “Considering the impact of the crash and the fact that I went into the net at 120 (kmh, 75 mph) I am doing surprisingly well,” Kilde wrote. “It’s tough, but these opportunities show us what we’re made of,” said Kilde, a two-time Olympic medalist and winner of the season-long World Cup downhill title for the past two years. Kilde will miss skiing’s most feared and prized downhill Saturday at Kitzbühel, Austria, which he won in each of the past two years.

Persons: Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Mikaela Shiffrin, ” Kilde, “, we’re, ”, Kilde, Abba, ” Shiffrin Locations: INNSBRUCK, Austria, Wengen, Switzerland, Swiss, Bern, Innsbruck, Flachau, Kitzbühel

☆ KISS says their future concerts will be performed by 'forever young' digital avatars
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

KISS ended the last live show of their 50-year career by revealing their digital avatars. The digital avatars drew a mixed reception from fans online. But it wasn't an official curtain call, as the band announced their act would live on through "forever young" digital avatars. "We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we've never dreamed of before," said KISS bassist Gene Simmons, 74, in a separate announcement video published Saturday. The two companies were also behind ABBA's virtual concert, which put digital avatars of the band onstage in May 2022.

Persons: Per, —, we've, Gene Simmons, Paul, George Lucas, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, Khudwx7cud Organizations: KISS, Service, Madison, Industrial, Pophouse Entertainment, Associated Press, Twitter, Bloomberg Locations: New York

The two companies recently teamed up for the “ABBA Voyage” show in London, in which fans could attend a full concert by the Swedish band — as performed by their digital avatars. He says the band won't be on stage during the virtual performance because “that’s the key thing,” of the future-seeking technology. That’s what you could do with this.”Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesIn order to create their digital avatars, who are depicted as a kind of superhero version of the band, Kiss performed in motion capture suits. Aespa, the K-pop girl group, frequently perform alongside their digital avatars — the quartet is meant to be viewed as an octet with digital twins. The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are,” Kiss frontman Paul Stanley said in roundtable interview.

Persons: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer —, George Lucas ’, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, —, “, Kiss, Mark Tuan, ”, Tuan, we’ve, Paul Organizations: New York, Kiss, Industrial, Pophouse Entertainment, Machines Locations: New, Madison, London, Swedish

In 2019, a non-governmental organization set up the camp's health post where Aliyu's ninth child, Hauwa, was delivered in 2021. "There are no special arrangements for pregnant women in IDP and refugee camps [in Nigeria]. But for most of the 64 women recorded in the camp's birth register this year, these costs are prohibitive. Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health oversees health for the country (including provisions provided by the Commission). He tells CNN: "Women's Health services were prioritized and featured strongly in the programs designed to the needs of internally displaced women."

Persons: Aisha Aliyu, Abba, Aliyu, Aisha, Liyatu Ayuba, Ayuba, Fatima Mahmood Jibirilla, Isa Umar, Umar, they've, doesn't, Dr Charles Nzelu, Dolapo Fasawe, Fasawe, Nzelu, Iko Ibanga, Osagie, Ehanire, Ibanga Organizations: CNN, Walden University, Camp, Camp Management, Aliyu, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health, Commission for Refugees, Migrants, Commission, antenatal, Capital Territory, Territory's, Environmental Services, FCT Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry, Pro Health, Federal Capital Territory, Health, Pro Health International, Union, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Health, National Assembly Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Wala, Borno State, Maiduguri, Haram, Durumi, Africa, Nigerian, Borno, Adamawa

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Arab and Muslim ministers called on Monday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as their delegation visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour to push for an end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian enclave. Saudi Arabia has sought to press the United States and Israel for an end to hostilities in Gaza, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce that message. Gaza's Hamas-run government said at least 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments since then, including at least 5,500 children. 'BROTHER AND FRIEND'China's Wang said Beijing was a "good friend and brother of Arab and Muslim countries," adding it has "always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and interests." Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Edmund Klamann & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Yi, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Israel, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sameh Shoukry, Beijing Irit Ben, Abba, China's Wang, COVID lockdowns, Xi, Wang, Zhai Jun, Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: . Security, of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Foreign, Court, Hamas, Western, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Gaza, Beijing, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, Riyadh, Palestinian, United States, Israel, China, China's

☆ Think You Don’t Like Something? Try Listening Closer - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jeff Tweedy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

And at the time that “Dancing Queen” came out, it wasn’t hard to hate a disco song, anyway — disco was despised by practically everyone I knew (with the exception of the kids who liked to roller skate). To this day, whenever I think I dislike a piece of music, I think about “Dancing Queen” and am humbled. And even then, if I don’t like something, I make a mental note to try it again in 10 years. Melodies as pure and evocative as the one in “Dancing Queen” don’t come along every day, and I mourn every single moment I missed loving this song. Playing it again as I write this, making up for lost spins, I feel overcome with gratitude for its existence.

Persons: Abba, didn’t, ”, I’d, — Neil Young, Young, “, Benny, Anni, it’s, ” don’t

☆ Music streaming was 2022's top moneymaker for songwriters, composers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man watches the sunset while wearing a headphone and listening to music, in Colombo, Sri Lanka February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Streaming became the largest source of income for composers and songwriters in 2022 and helped boost their collections by more than a quarter to 10.83 billion euros ($11.44 billion), a report showed on Thursday. After a boom during the pandemic, streaming collections have doubled from their pre-COVID levels and account for 35% of total collections for music creators, surpassing TV and radio. "It may not affect the graph lines of creators' collections in 2023, but it will in years ahead. CISAC is a network of authors' societies, protecting rights and representing interests of over four million creators of music, audio-visual, drama, literature and visual arts.

Persons: Dinuka, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Ulvaeus, CISAC, Juby Babu, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, International Confederation of, Authors, Composers, Thomson Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Bengaluru

☆ China's Middle East Envoy Expected to Speak to Israel on Thursday Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - China's special envoy on Middle East issues is expected to have a telephone conversation with Israeli officials on Thursday, Israel's Ambassador to China, Irit Ben-Abba, told Bloomberg News. The planned talks come after Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip. China will likely talk about the meeting later in the afternoon, during a regular briefing held by the foreign ministry, Bloomberg reported. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. China's special envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, earlier this week said the country condemns acts that harm civilians and called for an immediate ceasefire.

Persons: Irit Ben, Abba, Zhai Jun, Gursimran Kaur, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, Israel's, Bloomberg News, Hamas, Bloomberg, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations Locations: Middle, China, Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Bengaluru

☆ Hovland and Aberg maraud their way to record Ryder Cup win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Incredibly, Hovland and Aberg were up against two of the biggest names in Zach Johnson's American team, with Scheffler ranked world number one and Koepka a five-time major winner. The 23-year-old Aberg only turned professional in June, has played only a handful of tour events and is the first Ryder Cup player not to have contested a major. Hovland, 26, had a Ryder Cup baptism of fire in 2021 when he was part of the team that was trounced 19-9 but two years later he is exacting sweet revenge. I don't think we could have done better," Hovland said of his partnership with Aberg that could become a key component of multiple Ryder Cups. The only bigger Ryder Cup wins in foursomes were 10&9 victories achieved in the 1930s and 40s over 36 holes.

Persons: Ryder, Marco Simone Golf, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Phil Noble, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Rome's Marco Simone, Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Zach Johnson's, Scheffler, Aberg, Europe's, Abba, Luke Donald, Hovland, Max Homa, Brian Harman, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Spieth, Justin Thomas, Friday's, Martyn Herman, William Maclean Organizations: Country Club, REUTERS, Rights, Ryder, Vikings, Scheffler, Nordic, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Scandinavian, Europe, foursomes

☆ Nigerian state declares curfew after election tribunal sacks governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's newly declared winner of 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu speaks at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKANO, Nigeria, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria's northern Kano state declared a 24-hour curfew on Wednesday after a tribunal overturned the election of an opposition candidate as governor and declared a member of President Bola Tinubu's party the rightful winner. Ahead of the election tribunal ruling, security forces occupied major roads in the capital of Kano, which shares the same name. The March gubernatorial vote had seen Abba Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, a regional party, defeating ruling All Progressives Congress party candidate Nasiru Gawuna, who alleged fraud. It is not unusual for governorship election results to be overturned in Nigeria, which has 36 states that are presided over by state governments.

Persons: Nigeria's, Bola Tinubu, Esa Alexander, Bola Tinubu's, Wednesday's, Abba Yusuf, Nasiru Gawuna, Yusuf, Hamza Ibrahim, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, New Nigerian Peoples Party, Progressives Congress, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights KANO, Kano

☆ Agnetha Fältskog: ABBA legend releases new single
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Agnetha Fältskog of legendary Swedish pop group ABBA has relaunched her solo career with a new single. Speaking with BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball before the track was played on Thursday, Fältskog said the single was made with “a good feeling.”Benny Andersson (left), Agnetha Fältskog (center-left), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (center-right) and Bjorn Ulvaeus (right) of ABBA. Benny Andersson (left), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (center-left), Agnetha Fältskog (center-right) and Bjorn Ulvaeus (right) in 1974. I live and I sleep with music,” Fältskog said. Asked how it felt to hear the single on the radio, Fältskog said: “It feels good.

Persons: ”, Zoe Ball, Fältskog, “, ” Benny Andersson, Agnetha, Anni, Frid, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Dave J Hogan, ” Fältskog, Jörgen Elofsson, Benny Andersson, Olle Lindeborg, It’s, I’m, Ball, Mamma Mia, Frida ” Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus – Organizations: CNN, BBC Radio, ABBA, BBC, Getty Locations: Swedish, AFP, Sweden

☆ ABBA's Agnetha to release new single 'Where Do We Go From Here?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Agnetha Faltskog of the Swedish music band ABBA arrives for the opening performance of the "ABBA Voyage" concert in London, Britain May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Aug 30 (Reuters) - ABBA star Agnetha Faltskog said she will release a new single on Thursday, relaunching her solo career at the age of 73. Faltskog, lead singer alongside Anni-Frid Lyngstad of the hugely successful Swedish pop band which formed in 1972, released her last solo album a decade ago. on @bbcradio2 with @zoetheball - tune in on Thursday 31st August from 8:30am (BST)," she said on the social media platform late on Tuesday. ABBA won legions of fans around the world with enduring hits such as "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando" and triumphed at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with their performance of "Waterloo".

Persons: Agnetha Faltskog, ABBA, Henry Nicholls, relaunching, Faltskog, Anni, Frid, Fernando, Anna Ringstrom, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Swedish, London, Britain, Rights STOCKHOLM, Waterloo

☆ YouTube starts Music AI incubator with Universal Music as partner
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A smartphone with a displayed YouTube logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 21 (Reuters) - YouTube is launching an incubator to work with artistes and musicians to explore the use of artificial intelligence in music, according to its blogpost on Monday. The Alphabet (GOOGL.O) unit has signed up Universal Music (UMG.AS) as its first partner for the Incubator, and will work with artistes including Anitta, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, and Max Ricther. The group "will help gather insights on generative AI experiments and research that are being developed at YouTube," said Mohan, adding that YouTube would bring on board more partners. YouTube said it will further invest in AI-powered technology, including evolving its copyright management tool, Content ID, to protect viewers and creators.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, Max Ricther, YouTube's, Neal Mohan, Mohan, Yuvraj Malik, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, YouTube, Universal, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Swedes come up short again as Spain head for World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

During the chaotic final frame, Spain broke the deadlock in the 81st minute before the Swedes equalised, but Spain struck again in the 90th minute from a short corner to extend Sweden's wait to lift the World Cup trophy by at least another four years. Sweden, who at world number three were the highest-ranked nation in the last four, were appearing at their fifth World Cup semi-final. They have played in all nine editions but only reached the final once, when they lost to Germany in 2003. Their defending throughout the 2023 tournament had been tremendous, and they often forced set pieces from which they profited handsomely. But after a fourth World Cup semi-final defeat, it will be cold comfort for a team that is forever coming up short at a time when nations like Spain have caught up and are already passing them by.

Persons: Sweden's Magdalena Eriksson, Amanda Ilestedt, Molly, Read, Peter Gerhardsson, Olga Carmona, Philip O'Connor Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, World, England, Japan, Sweden, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Eden, Auckland , New Zealand, Australia, USA, Spanish, Germany

I couldn't afford the Iceland trip and I knew it. See Insider's picks for the best credit cards with primary rental car insurance »I wasn't ready for the billBut wait, didn't we buy car insurance? I had already spent close to $2,000 on the Iceland trip between airfare, Airbnb, the car rental and general food and fun costs. I called my car insurance company, Ariel's car insurance company, and Budget's head office. I even bought a calling card so I could ring up Budget Iceland and try to negotiate with them!

Persons: Ariel, I, I've Organizations: Service, Budget Locations: Iceland, Wall, Silicon, Reykjavík, Halifax, airfare

☆ Megan Rapinoe's World Cup career comes to tearful end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Renowned for her reliability as a penalty taker, Rapinoe said missing one in the final moment of her career felt like "a sick joke". 'THE PLATFORM'Rapinoe plans to finish her club season with National Women's Soccer League side OL Reign before retiring and shows no signs of retreating from public life after a career spent championing social causes. Looking back at the 2019 tournament, Rapinoe saw her on-field achievements as being inextricably entwined with her advocacy. Without the winning, you don't get the media, you don't get the eyes, you don't get the fans." In 2022, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest United States' civilian honour, alongside gymnastics Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Rapinoe, I've, It's, Abby Wambach, Donald Trump's, Colin Kaepernick, Simone Biles, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, REUTERS, Swedes, Fox Sports, d'Or, U.S, National Women's Soccer League, Republican, Soccer, NFL, United States, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Sweden, United States, Melbourne, Australia, Auckland, Brazil

☆ Paul McCartney says A.I. got John Lennon's voice on 'last Beatles record'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Beatles star told the BBC he has finished a new song using AI to recreate John Lennon's voice. LONDON — Beatles singer-songwriter Paul McCartney told the BBC that artificial intelligence was used to "extricate" and clean up the vocals of former bandmate John Lennon from an old recording, allowing them to feature in an upcoming track. It's something we're all sort of tackling at the moment and trying to deal with," McCartney told the BBC's "Today" program when asked about AI. AI was used to identify Lennon's vocals as distinct from instrumentals and background interference. "There's a good side to it and then a scary side, and we'll just have to see where that leads," McCartney told the BBC.

Persons: Paul McCartney, John Lennon's, John Lennon, McCartney, Peter Jackson —, —, John, Lennon, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, we'll Organizations: Glastonbury Festival, Beatles, BBC, Industry, CNBC Locations: Pilton, Glastonbury , England, Glastonbury

☆ Oxford Metrics discusses its role in Abba Voyage and developments in VR
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOxford Metrics discusses its role in Abba Voyage and developments in VRNick Bolton, CEO of Oxford Metrics, the company behind the Abba Voyage holograms, discusses its earnings and the growth in augmented and virtual reality.

Persons: Abba, Nick Bolton Organizations: Oxford, Oxford Metrics

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