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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

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Prime Minister Viktor Orbán compared Hungary's membership in the European Union to more than four decades of Soviet occupation of his country during a speech on Monday commemorating the anniversary of Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet revolution. Yes, it happens that history repeats itself,” Orbán said at the event, from which all media were excluded except Hungary's state media. “We had to dance to the tune that Moscow whistled,” Orbán said of Hungary's days in the Eastern Bloc. On Monday, Orbán said that while the Soviet Union had been “hopeless,” he believed that governance in the EU could be reformed through an European Parliament election scheduled for June 2024. “Moscow was irreparable, but Brussels and the European Union can still be fixed,” he said.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, “, ”, Vladimir Putin’s, Putin Organizations: —, European Union, “, Soviet, Red Army, Eastern Bloc, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Soviet, Veszprem, Brussels, Moscow, Hugnary's, Budapest, Ukraine, Beijing, United States, “ Hungary, Russia, Soviet Union, “ Moscow

☆ She fled Ukraine and found belonging with her Russian boxing coach in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Akimova found her footing in a boxing gym run by a Russian trainer who became a grounding force. A Ukrainian refugee named Anzelika Akimova enters her fighting stance at the Eastern Block Boxing gym in Los Angeles. At the Eastern Block Boxing gym in Los Angeles, Russians and Ukrainians alike come to train. Before their paths aligned at Eastern Block Boxing, Poddubnov fought as an amateur boxer in Russia. Salman Poddubnov opened the boxing gym after a stint in prison, where he trained fellow inmates.

Persons: Anzelika Akimova, Arina, Akimova, Joe Biden's, Stella Kalinina, Salman Poddubnov, —, hadn't, ached, didn't, LIRS, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, we've, Vignarajah, Poddubnov, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: Eastern, Karate, Lutheran Immigration, Refugee Service, Department of Homeland Security, TPS, Soviet Union Locations: Ukraine, Los Angeles, Russian, Ukrainian, California, Russians, Odesa, Kyiv, Akimova, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, That's, Moldovan, Romania, Czech, Prague, Mexico, Tijuana, Mexicali, Calexico, Russia, Volzhsky, Stalingrad, Eastern, Poddubnov, Soviet, Soviet Union

☆ Never ‘insult Poles again,’ Poland’s prime minister tells Ukraine’s Zelensky
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Maija Ehlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has told Volodymyr Zelensky never to “insult Poles again” after the Ukrainian president suggested his neighbor was putting on a show over their disputes on grain exports. “I want to tell President Zelensky never to insult Poles again, as he did recently during his speech at the UN,” he said. “The Polish people will never allow this to happen, and defending the good name of Poland is not only my duty and honor, but also the most important task of the Polish government,” the Polish prime minister added. Most Western military equipment and other supplies get to Ukraine through Poland and the country is hosting 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees, according to the United Nations. According to the Kiel Institute’s tracker on how much nations have donated to Ukraine, Poland has pledged 4.27 billion euros (about $4.54 billion), in a combination of military, financial and humanitarian aid.

Persons: CNN —, Mateusz Morawiecki, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Morawiecki, Zelensky, “, Slovakia –, Zelensky’s, Andrzej Duda, Ukraine’s, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Poland’s, United Nations, UN, EU, Eastern, Ukrainian, Kiel Locations: Polish, Zelensky, Poland, Europe, Swidnik, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukrainian, Warsaw, United States, Soviet

CNN —Poland said Wednesday it will stop providing weapons to Ukraine amid a growing dispute between the two countries over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports. “We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on social media. The ban on Ukrainian grain was initially put in place earlier this year by several European Union nations, to protect the livelihood of local farmers worried about being undercut by low prices of Ukrainian grain. But three nations – Poland, Hungary and Slovakia – said they intended to defy the change and keep the restrictions in place. Polish President Andrzej Duda also urged greater unity and action on Wednesday at a meeting of the UN Security Council, of which Russia is a permanent member.

Persons: CNN —, Mateusz Morawiecki, Ukraine’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Slovakia –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Gleb Garanich, ” Zelensky’s, Pawel Jablonski, Morawiecki, ” Morawiecki, “, Andrzej Duda, ”, ” Duda Organizations: CNN, Eastern, European Union, EU, UN, Assembly, NATO, Ukrainian, United Nations, Kiel, UN Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Polish, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary, Slovakia, Europe, Bilohiria, Moscow, Ukrainian, United States, Soviet, Russia

☆ Craig Karmin — Editor at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Craig Karmin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Craig KarminCraig Karmin is the real estate bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that he was the markets editor for the Journal’s finance group. Craig earlier worked as a reporter at the Journal, where he covered the hospitality industry and real estate. Craig holds political science and journalism degrees from University of California, Berkeley, and he won a National Association of Real Estate Editors award for his story about prisons that were converted into hotels. His book, “Biography of the Dollar,” was a best-seller and has been translated into several languages.

Persons: Craig Karmin Craig Karmin, Craig, ” Organizations: The Wall Street, Hill, Washington , D.C, Soviet Union, Eastern Bloc, University of California, National Association of Real Estate Locations: Washington ,, Prague, Soviet, Berkeley

☆ Paris 2024: The war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending. That leaves a dark cloud over the Olympic Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Kharlan’s disqualification threw into sharp relief the political and organizational jeopardy that France and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing ahead of the Games. So far, no decision has been taken on Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The opening ceremony is already uniquely French in nature with the Games set to be centered around the Seine, the river running through the city. Organizers also say that the Paris Games “finance themselves,” claiming that 96% of the budget comes from private investment. Next year’s Olympic Games are set to start on July 26 and run until August 11.

Persons: Olga Kharlan, Anna Smirnova, Kharlan’s, Thomas Bach, Russia’s, Smirnova, Russian Anna Smirnova, Ukraine's Olga Kharlan, Tibor Illyes, ” Bach, “, ” Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Jimmy Carter, ”, Moses, AP El, Emmanuel Macron, Geoffroy Van Der, Tony Estanguet, CNN’s Melissa Bell, “ It’s, Denis the, aren’t, Jimmy Gressier, Tullio M, Estanguet, Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, ” Fraser, Fabrice Coffrini, Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh Organizations: CNN, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Belarusian Olympic, Olympic, US Olympic, USA, US State Department, United, AP, AP El Moutawakel, Games, Eastern Bloc, Getty, Paris, FIFA, Stade de France, UEFA, League, Stade de France –, de Police, BFMTV, RMC Sport, CNN Sport, Paris Games, Paralympic, Paralympic Games Locations: Paris, Ukrainian, France, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russia, Milan, Russian, Soviet, Afghanistan, Morocco, United States, Soviet Union, Los Angeles , California, –, Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Saint, Puglia, Lausanne, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Seine

☆ Budapest: The beautiful city with the darkest of pasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Richard Quest | Joe Minihane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Carved through and framed by the mighty River Danube, Budapest and its beautiful skyline make it one of Europe’s finest and most compelling cities. The Ruin Bar District has seen its success spread too, with other bars appearing in ruined buildings across the city. CNNIt’s a sobering fact that, just 35 years ago, Budapest had a much different feel compared with its current vibrant air. That’s not to say, however, that the country, and Budapest in particular, does not have a strong independent streak. If Bakancsos Piac is imbued with the spirit of Budapest, then so too is the game of button football.

Persons: Katinka Orosz, ”, Fuge, Andrassy, Imre Horvath, Bakancsos Piac, He’s, Horvath, Mark Pataki, “ Organizations: CNN, Bars, Bar, Nazi, Soviet, Eastern Bloc, Park, Button, CNN Today’s, European Union, NATO, brac, Football, Budapest Pinball Locations: Budapest, Buda, Pest, Austro, Hungarian, VII, Hungary, Soviet, Soviet Union, CNN Today’s Hungary

☆ Russia to launch Friendship Games after 40-year gap, sports minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Russia plans to relaunch the multi-sport Friendship Games next year, 40 years after its first edition, Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has told President Vladimir Putin. Matytsin said the event would be held after the Paris Olympics, which will run from July 26-Aug. 11 next year. "We continue to fulfil your (Putin's) instruction to organise the World Friendship Games in the autumn of 2024. FRIENDLY TIESLast year, Russia held a competition called the Solidarity Games with the aim of "strengthening of international friendly ties between states". The Friendship Games were first organised in 1984 in the Soviet Union and eight other socialist states which boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

☆ 5 key takeaways from Xi’s trip to Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Here are five key takeaways from Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Press Agency//ReutersDuring Xi’s visit, Saudi Arabia and China released a nearly 4,000-word joint statement outlining their alignment on a swathe of political issues, and promising deeper cooperation on scores of others. China is the world’s biggest buyer of oil, with Saudi Arabia being its top supplier. China is also keen to cooperate with Saudi Arabia on security and defense, an important field once reserved for the kingdom’s American ally. Saudi Arabia was, however, keen to reject notions of polarization, deeming it unhelpful.

☆ Putin's war in Ukraine looks more and more like a failure. Past Russian leaders haven't survived similar mistakes.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Joy Neumeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Instead, Russia's failing war effort has raised doubts about Putin's hold on power. For now, Putin looks secure, but past Russian leaders have suffered at home for blunders abroad. By the following summer, the Germans had taken huge swathes of Russian-controlled territory and a million Russian soldiers were dead. Captured Russian soldiers after the defeat at Tannenberg, in present-day Poland, on August 30, 1914. After an ineffectual troop surge, Gorbachev gave up on trying to improve the situation, and the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989.

☆ Explainer: How NATO's defense obligations could be triggered by Ukraine conflict
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The explosion, which firefighters said killed two people, raised concerns of Russia's war in Ukraine becoming a wider conflict. HOW COULD THE UKRAINE WAR TRIGGER IT? Since Ukraine is not part of NATO, Russia’s invasion in February did not trigger Article 5, though the United States and other member states rushed to provide military and diplomatic assistance to Kyiv. Such action by Russia, either intentional or accidental, has raised the risk of widening the war by drawing other countries directly into the conflict. Article 5 has been activated once before – on behalf of the United States, in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked-plane attacks on New York and Washington.

☆ Poland expected to buy S.Korean rocket launchers after tank, howitzer sales
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Poland is set to buy rocket launchers in its latest arms deal with South Korea, following shipments of tanks and howitzers, as it ramps up arms imports after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, South Korean officials said on Wednesday. Poland is expected to sign a deal with Hanwha Defense, the defence unit of South Korea's Hanwha Corp (000880.KS) this week, to buy K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, officials said. Under the contract, South Korea will supply 288 multiple rocket launchers worth $6 billion, the Yonhap news agency reported. The expected agreement comes as South Korean companies shipped the first batch of tanks and howitzers to Poland. Poland has also agreed to buy 48 FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea.

☆ Some Czechs sending 1,968 crowns to Ukraine in memory of 1968 Soviet invasion
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PRAGUE, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Czech nationals have been sending exactly 1,968 crowns ($80) to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia and to commemorate the 1968 invasion of then Czechoslovakia by Soviet-led troops, the Ukrainian embassy said on Sunday. Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands, forced millions to flee and caused damage worth billions of dollars, enters its seventh month next week. read moreThe Czechs were using a special payment code to donate 1,968 crowns ($80) to an already existing account set up by Ukraine's embassy in the Czech Republic to collect funds. "Even at the weekend, dozens and dozens of payments in the value of 1,968 crowns are arriving to our account, thank you so much, Czech friends!" The troops killed dozens of civilians and the subsequent occupation pushed tens of thousands into exile.

☆ 10 oldest airlines in the world
▼ + stars: | 2019-03-04 | by ( Miquel Ros | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Here are 10 of the oldest airlines in the world still in operation. Pan American World Airways subsequently acquired a controlling stake in the company. Qantas was nationalized by the Australian government after World War II and reprivatized in the ’90s. After World War II, Aeroflot became the largest airline in the world, as air travel was often the only means of transportation available to bridge the vast expanses of the Soviet Union. Czech Airlines (CSA)Czech Airlines, the national airline of the Czech Republic.

Persons: Avianca, JUAN MABROMATA, SCADTA, Stanislav Sergeev, MICHAL CIZEK, Finnair, DANIEL SLIM, ANDREJ ISAKOVIC, Jat, Jasper Juinen, Dan Kitwood Organizations: CNN, Finnair, Czech Airlines, KLM, Passengers, Dutch, Havilland DH, Croydon Airport, Junkers F13, Pan American World Airways, SCADTA, Servicio, Qantas, Northern Territory Aerial Services, Avro, Aeroflot Aeroflot, Junkers, Aeroflot, Concorde, Communist, BOAC, CSA, Eastern Bloc, Prague City Air, DC, Delta Air Lines, AFP, Delta, Pan, Northwest Airlines, Air Serbia Air Serbia, Aeroput, Jat Airways, Etihad, Air Serbia, British Airways, Qatar Airways, International Airlines Group, British Airways British Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, Cambrian Airways, Northeast Airlines Locations: Finnish, Czech, Amsterdam, Batavia, Jakarta, New York, Colombia, AFP, Barranquilla, Germany, Colombian, SACO, Latin America, Australia, Queensland, Northern Australia, Asia, Pacific, Soviet, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian, Soviet Union, Cuba, Murmansk, Russia, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, CSA, Prague, Americas, Africa, East, West Germany, Finland, Tokyo, Europe, China, East Coast, Middle, Serbia, Yugoslavia, Serbian, Air, Iberia, Madrid, Barcelona, South America, London, Paris, Devonshire

☆ North Korea needs nukes because of its religion
▼ + stars: | 2017-07-08 | by ( Paul French | Foreign Policy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But even engagement strategies can't stop the relentless move toward a deliverable North Korea nuclear arsenal. President Bill Clinton essentially attempted this in 1994 when he approved $4 billion in "energy aid" to North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses with participants during the 8th Congress of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) in Pyongyang, North Korea. A vendor waits for customers at the shop inside the international airport in Pyongyang, North Korea May 3, 2016. But if the world accepts a nuclear North Korea (and it accepted a nuclear Pakistan, as North Koreans have reminded me), then the second half of Kim's theory might just give the kind of pressure that can be used.

☆ Life in Philadelphia in 1973
▼ + stars: | 2012-08-17 | by ( Kamelia Angelova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Dick Swanson / U.S. National ArchiveDick Swanson is an award-winning photojournalist, whose career spans some 35 years, and whose work has brought him to about 40 countries. AdvertisementHe was a Life Magazine photographer in Vietnam and Washington, DC, and he has covered events in Asia, Central America, Europe, the Eastern Bloc countries, the Caribbean, the Middle East and South Africa. In the summer of 1973, Swanson photographed daily life in Philadelphia for the Environmental Protection Agency's Documerica project. Swanson captured scenes from the city center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the row houses of the suburbs to the junk yards, and we are featuring a selection of this project here.

Persons: Dick Swanson, Swanson Organizations: National, Eastern Bloc, Philadelphia Museum of Art Locations: Vietnam, Washington, Asia, Central America, Europe, Caribbean, East, South Africa, Philadelphia

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