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☆ Swedish singer Loreen wins Eurovision Song Contest for 2nd time at event feting Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Swedish singer Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with her power ballad "Tattoo," at a colorful, eclectic music competition clouded for a second year running by the war in Ukraine. Loreen, 39, previously won Eurovision in 2012 and is only the second performer to take the prize twice, after Ireland's Johnny Logan in the 1980s. Under the slogan "united by music," Eurovision final fused the soul of the English port city that birthed The Beatles with the spirit of war-battered Ukraine. Now in its 67th year, Eurovision bills itself as the world's biggest music contest — an Olympiad of party-friendly pop. "Now, the music industry, the world, knows that if you appear at Eurovision, you could be in for a great thing," said Steve Holden, host of the official Eurovision Song Contest podcast.

☆ The number of YouTubers making money from shorts has gone way up since it introduced ad-rev share, according to a new report. Here are 2 other key takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new report gathering data from 2,641 creators analyzes usage of YouTube shorts. More and more creators are making money through YouTube shorts, according to a new report released by the creator fintech company Mediacube. The amount of money they make for 1,000 views, however, is still much lower than on long-form videos. The number of creators earning money from shorts is up 485%The number of creators earning money from YouTube shorts went up from 129 in January to 730 in February and 755 in March. For example, 18% of the views for Mediacube creators come from Russia, which currently has no access to YouTube monetization.

BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - Turkey's elections on Sunday are a key moment not just for the country itself but also for its European neighbours. Its internationally recognised government, composed of Greek Cypriots, is an EU member, while the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state is recognised only by Ankara. However, EU officials see little sign that Kilicdaroglu would change much on Cyprus. EU leaders designated Turkey as a candidate to join the bloc in 2004 but the talks ground to a halt years ago. There is already a lot of European money that has made its way to Turkey," said a European diplomat.

☆ Factbox: Who qualified in the second Eurovision semi-final?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LIVERPOOL, England, May 11 (Reuters) - The second semi-final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Liverpool, northern England, on Thursday. Ten of the 16 countries performing went through to Saturday's Grand Final. They join 10 qualifiers from Tuesday's first semi-final, 2022 winner Ukraine, and the "big five" - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain - in the Grand Final. WHICH COUNTRIES QUALIFIED? Denmark, Romania, Iceland, Greece, Georgia and San MarinoReporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: When are the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals and final?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LIVERPOOL, England, May 9 (Reuters) - Eurovision 2023 has kicked off in Liverpool, northern England, where acts from 37 countries are competing to win the 67th edition of the song contest. There are 37 countries taking part with 31 competing in two semi-finals and 10 going through to the Grand Final. Ukraine, as the previous winner, automatically progresses to the Grand Final, along with the "big five", comprising the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Semi-final 1: viewers in the 15 countries taking part are eligible to vote, alongside France, Germany, and Italy. Semi-final 2: Viewers in the 16 countries taking part are eligible to vote, alongside Spain, Ukraine, and the UK.

☆ What's at stake in Turkey's landmark elections?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Modern Turkey's longest-serving leader, Erdogan has championed religious piety and low interest rates at home while asserting Turkish influence in the region and loosening the NATO member's ties with the West. The election takes place three months after earthquakes in southeast Turkey killed more than 50,000 people. WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR TURKEY ... The opposition has echoed Erdogan's plans to return some refugees to Syria, but neither has set out how that could safely take place. How the opposition will garner support among the Kurdish voters, accounting for 15% of the electorate, remains key.

☆ Explainer: What's at stake in Turkey's landmark elections?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The election takes place three months after earthquakes in southeast Turkey killed more than 50,000 people. WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR TURKEY ... They would also dismantle his executive presidency in favour of the previous parliamentary system, and send back Syrian refugees. The opposition has echoed Erdogan's plans to return some refugees to Syria, but neither has set out how that could safely take place. How the opposition will garner support among the Kurdish voters, accounting for 15% of the electorate, remains key.

☆ Erdogan's milestones before Turkey's election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

August 2001: He establishes the Justice and Development Party, or AK Party (AKP), and is elected chairman. In his early days, Erdogan tours Europe and the United States to promote his policies and advance Turkey's bid to join the European Union. May 2013: Protests against Erdogan's plans to redevelop Istanbul's Gezi Park accelerate into unprecedented nationwide demonstrations over what critics see as his authoritarianism. March 2019: Nationwide municipal elections produce Erdogan's first electoral defeat in nearly two decades. The lira hits all-time lows, inflation soars to its highest levels during Erdogan's rule, and his approval ratings sink.

☆ Surprise resort trips and empty hotel rooms reveal how Russia's plan for an easy victory in Ukraine fell apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

While Russian intelligence services ramped up operations, the US intelligence community started declassifying intelligence about Russian plans. In an unprecedented move, the US revealed Russia's intentions and informed Kyiv about the Russian intelligence operations inside Ukraine. Once Russia's military secured the city, its special-operations forces would begin what the report calls "repressive operations." The Kremlin even compiled a target deck full of unwanted people to be "liquidated" once the Russian forces were in control of the country. Preparing the battlefieldA member of the Ukrainian military in front of a destroyed Antonov An-225 at the airport in Hostomel in July 2022.

☆ Inside New York’s ‘Most Bizarre’ Secret Penthouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Dodai Stewart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, as the sun turned the stained-glass skylight of a Midtown penthouse into a dazzling display of jewel tones, Prosecco was poured into flutes. A saxophonist and a violinist who had met moments earlier decided to play a Charlie Parker tune together. Nearby, a pink-haired painter from Cyprus was explaining her most recent work, hung on the wall behind her. The penthouse once housed a pipe organ and a stuffed buffalo head. A shimmering fireplace made of onyx and crystals, over five feet tall, has survived to this day.

[1/5] A plane carrying British nationals, who were evacuated from Sudan, arrives at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 27, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouLARNACA, Cyprus, April 27 (Reuters) - Britain had evacuated around 900 of its citizens from Sudan through Cyprus as of early afternoon Thursday and urged those remaining in the conflict-riven country to grasp an opportunity to leave during the final hours of a cease fire. The airlift of British nationals began on Tuesday. By early afternoon, around 900 people had arrived at the Cypriot airport of Larnaca on British Royal Air Force flights, sources at the airport said. She said she had to leave her husband Ghassan, a non British passport holder, and other members of her family behind.

☆ Factbox: Countries rush to evacuate foreign citizens from Sudan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday some 16,000 people had crossed from Sudan to Egypt, including 14,000 Sudanese citizens. The foreign ministry said those evacuated included not only French nationals but also Britons, Americans, Canadians, Ethiopians, Dutch, Italians and Swedes. Cyprus said it had activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism at Britain's request to let third countries use it for reception and repatriation of foreign citizens evacuated from Sudan. NETHERLANDSAbout 100 Dutch nationals have been evacuated from Sudan since Sunday, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said. IRANIran's foreign minister said on Saturday 65 Iranian citizens had left from Port Sudan, through Jeddah, to Iran.

☆ A new long Covid treatment shows promise, but insurance won't cover it and some doctors are skeptical: Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Some long Covid patients swear by the treatment, with one describing it to CNBC Make It as a "total game changer." That's a huge stumbling block for many medical experts, who caution against viewing it as a universal remedy for long Covid. Most of the ones who do get treated have reported improved long Covid symptoms, the clinic adds. That's because a variety of underlying physiological conditions — like chronic lung issues, for example — can "drive different manifestations of long Covid," says Dr. Lucy Horton, an infectious disease physician who founded the long Covid clinic at UC San Diego Health. "For many [Covid] long haulers, including myself, financial freedom is gone because we can't work full-time."

April 20 (Reuters) - Cybersecurity company Group-IB has finalised its exit from Russia, the group said on Thursday, cutting ties with its original market in an effort to spur its global expansion ambitions. Already harbouring global ambitions, Group-IB moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2019. Volkov has sold his 10% stake in the Russian company, Group-IB said in a statement. The stand-alone Russian business has been sold to local management and will be operating under the new brand F.A.C.C.T. Group-IB said Sachkov had sold his 37.5% stake in the Singapore entity to members of top management there.

☆ Ukraine says it seized assets of billionaire accused of aiding Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has accused Novynskyi of "aiding" Russia, which invaded Ukraine last year. The representative, who did not want to be named, on Friday said the billionaire denies the charge. The SBU said it had seized assets including ownership deeds to 40 Ukrainian enterprises and 30 natural gas wells. "The property of pro-Russian oligarch Vadym Novynskyi, who is involved in aiding the aggressor country, was seized," the SBU said in a statement. The details of the accusations against him for aiding Russia have not been spelled out by the SBU.

☆ The 'Robinhood of passports' says it's a mistake to ban golden visas — make them fund affordable housing and refugee programs instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Portugal and Ireland recently announced they are shutting down their "golden visa" programs. Their less-advantageous siblings, "golden visas," provide temporary residence permits in exchange for investment, as opposed to permanent citizenship. A golden taxInstead of banning golden passports and visas outright, countries should adjust the investment requirements to match their current needs, Arton says. A scandalous historyBut golden passports don't only raise the issue of inequality, the European Commission argues, they also pose a threat to national security. Last year, 282 of Ireland's 306 golden visa applications came from Chinese citizens, The Irish Times reported.

☆ Signs that bank lending is decreasing amid rate hikes, ECB policymaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | 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 EmailSigns that bank lending is decreasing amid rate hikes, ECB policymaker saysConstantinos Herodotou, governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and European Central Bank policymaker, says there is evidence that bank lending is softening as a result of ongoing interest rate hikes. However, he adds that the terminal rate for ECB hikes remains data dependent.

☆ ECB may need to hike rates again in May - Lane
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, April 6 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will need to raise interest rates again in May if inflation develops along the path seen in the bank's March economic projections, ECB chief economist Philip Lane told the Cyprus News Agency. The ECB has raised rates by a combined 350 basis points since July but did not provide specific guidance for its May 4 meeting, arguing that turbulence in the financial sector required extra caution. "However, we need to be data-dependent about the assessment of whether that baseline still holds true at the time of our May meeting." Largely repeating his stance, Lane argued that the May decision will depend on the inflation outlook, the bank's assessment of underlying price dynamics and on how quickly past rate hikes are impacting the economy. Although bank shares are down by about a tenth over the past month, volatility has receded and underlying inflation, a key worry for policymakers, continues to accelerate, strengthening the case for rate hikes.

The most immediate part of the plan earmarked 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) to refund EU countries for sending urgently needed artillery shells from stockpiles to Ukraine. In announcing the package, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the munitions would come from "European industry and from Norway". Draft legislation agreed by ambassadors from EU countries, seen by Reuters, used the same formulation. Diplomats and officials expressed confidence that EU countries would finalise a deal after the Easter break. European financing must serve to buy European," the official said.

Italy's bond, which marks its third green bond and matures on 30 October 2031, was priced to yield 4.056%. Elsewhere, Cyprus raised 1 billion euros from its first sustainable bond, the country's debt office said, becoming the latest European government to enter the market. Sustainable bonds are a broader form ESG debt, proceeds from which can be spent on both green and social projects. Cyprus follows a number of smaller countries including Slovenia and Luxembourg opting for sustainable bonds as they often struggle to find enough projects to back standalone green bonds. Leonidou said Cyprus expects to sell sustainable bonds every two or three years going forward.

☆ Hello AInstein! Robot with ChatGPT shakes up Cyprus classrooms
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Yiannis Kourtoglou | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] High school students Konstantinos Timinis and Vladimir Baranov work on "Alnstein", a robot powered by ChatGPT, in Pascal school in Nicosia, Cyprus, March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouApril 4 (Reuters) - High school students and their tutors in Cyprus have developed a prototype robot powered with ChatGPT artificial intelligence technology to harness and improve teaching experiences in the classroom. Named AInstein, the squat robot created by three Pascal Schools in Cyprus stands roughly the size of a small adult and looks like a sculpted version of the Michelin Man. It is powered with ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by U.S. firm OpenAI and backed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O). Their experience with AInstein showed that AI is not anything to fear, project members said.

☆ ITF says World Tennis Tour events will return to China this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, April 3 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will conduct its World Tennis Tour tournaments in China this year, marking a return to the Asian nation after a gap of three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport's global governing body said on Monday. "We think it's important that the World Tennis Tour and international events take place in all the nations around the world," ITF President David Haggerty told Reuters in a video interview in February. In the last full season in 2019 before the pandemic, China had hosted 25 ITF women's and 15 men's events. World Tennis Tour events are professional tournaments below the elite level. The tour will also stage the first ever World Tennis Tour event in Ethiopia and the first in Burundi and Cyprus since 2013 and 2016, respectively.

☆ How to watch Joshua vs. Franklin: live stream boxing online
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Brendan Griffiths | Senior Commerce Director | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

No belts are on the line, but career prospects certainly are, so take a look at our global guide on how to watch a Joshua vs. Franklin live stream today. An Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin live stream might be the biggest professional heavyweight bout we see for a while. Where to watch Joshua vs. Franklin live stream (US)You can catch a US live stream of Joshua vs. Franklin today live on DAZN. How to watch Joshua vs. Franklin live stream (UK)UK boxing fans can also catch the Joshua vs. Franklin live stream from DAZN. How to watch Joshua vs. Franklin online with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one.

☆ Russia's military is being accused of stealing video game characters from 'Atomic Heart' to promote itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Russian army's clothing brand was spotted using posters with characters from the game "Atomic Heart." But the game's developers told Insider they never gave the Kremlin permission to use their work. Ukraine previously tried to boycott "Atomic Heart," accusing its developers of having Russian ties. The posters appear to show characters from "Atomic Heart" dressed in the store's clothing, with the apparel brand's name written at the top. However, the developers of "Atomic Heart," Mundfish, told Insider in a statement on Thursday that it never struck a deal with the Russian military.

☆ Factbox: The biggest financial crises of the last four decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Fears of banking contagion remain, and investors are worried that global economies will suffer if the effects of higher interest rates torpedo more lenders. Michael Milken had helped popularize the financial instrument, with many using it as a way of funding leveraged buyouts. The country ended up getting external financial support from the International Monetary Fund and a $50 billion bailout from the United States. GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008The biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression was rooted in risky loans to shaky borrowers, which started to lose value after central banks raised interest rates in the period leading up to the crisis. EUROPEAN DEBT CRISISSpurred by the 2008 financial crisis, surging debt at some of the major European economies led to a loss of confidence in the region's businesses.

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