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☆ Jamala: Russia adds Eurovision-winning Ukrainian singer to wanted list
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Jack Guy | Mariya Knight | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Russia has put a Ukrainian singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 on a wanted criminal list, according to state media. Jamala, whose full name is Susana Jamaladynova, is “on the wanted list for criminal charges,” Russian state media outlet TASS reported on Monday. Russian state media called it anti-Russian and Moscow said it violated Eurovision rules. In 2022, Ukraine won Eurovision again thanks to folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra’s song “Stefania,” which was written about the frontman’s mother. While the winning nation normally hosts the following year’s contest, Ukraine was unable to do so due to the Russian full-scale invasion.

Persons: Susana Jamaladynova, Jonathan Nackstrand, Jamala, ”, Vladimir Putin’s, Stefania, Sweden’s Loreen Organizations: CNN, TASS, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Russian Federation, Getty, Ukraine, Eurovision, Liverpool Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, AFP, Crimea, Ukraine, Moscow, United Kingdom, Spain, Italian, Turin

☆ She Once Won Eurovision. Now She’s on Russia’s Wanted List.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ivan Nechepurenko | More About Ivan Nechepurenko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 after a popular uprising ousted a Russia-leaning president in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Jamala won the Eurovision song contest in 2016 with a song dedicated to the Crimean Tatars who were deported in the 1940s after they were accused of cooperating with Nazi Germany. Her ancestors were deported to Central Asia, where she was born. “It happened in 1944, and then in 2014, and now again,” she said. In 1954, the peninsula was transferred from Russian to Ukrainian authority within the Soviet Union.

Persons: Jamala, ” Jamala, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Organizations: Tatars, Soviet Union, Ukraine — Locations: Ukrainian, Crimean, Soviet Union, Russia, Crimea, Ukraine, Kyiv, Nazi Germany, Central Asia, Russian, Soviet, Moscow

Hannah Waddingham's friends weren't exactly ready to celebrate Christmas when they received an invitation to attend a live taping of her holiday special last May at the London Coliseum. If I’m going to be sweating, so can you.’”“ Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas," debuting Wednesday (along with an accompanying soundtrack), is a dream come true for the performer, an Emmy Award-winner and three-time Olivier Award nominee. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer and Waddingham says she essentially spent her childhood at the Coliseum. Some of her pals from “Ted Lasso” also appear. Besides “Ted Lasso” airing its fourth season, and taping “Home for Christmas,” she hosted the Olivier Awards, and also co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest and the Earthshot Prize in Singapore alongside Prince William and actor Sterling K. Brown.

Persons: Hannah Waddingham's, weren't, ”, Waddingham, Hannah Waddingham, Olivier, Melodie Kelly, Ted Lasso ’, Leslie Odom Jr, Luke Evans, Sam Ryder, Ted Lasso ”, ‘ Hannah, “ Ted Lasso, Prince William, Sterling K, Brown Organizations: London, Waddingham Locations: London, Singapore

☆ Former prime minister advises Israelis to catch Hamas fighters posing as the IDF by asking them about Israel's Eurovision entry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Hamas militants are posing as IDF soldiers. He said Israelis should ask a code question: who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest. AdvertisementAdvertisementIsrael's former prime minister, Naftali Bennett, gave an unconventional piece of advice to help Israelis scared of being tricked by Hamas militants posing as Israel Defense Force soldiers. The code question, he said, is "who represented Israel in the Eurovision." AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to the IDF, Hamas militants also went to towns on the border of Gaza and took hostages.

Persons: Naftali Bennett, —, Bennett, Noa Kirel, Richard Hecht Organizations: Israeli, Service, Israel Defense Force, News Israel, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, Residents, News Locations: Israel, Israeli, IDF, Gaza, Kibbutz Be'eri

NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Broadcast services provider NEP Group Inc, owned by private equity firm Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O), is exploring a sale of its live events business that could fetch nearly $2 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The live events unit provides audiovisual solutions at concerts, corporate events, and music tours. NEP operates another events business that focuses on online and television broadcast services, which the sources said it plans to keep. The unit offers production services that enable the broadcasting of live sports, festivals and other events. NEP also offers outdoor broadcast services, studio production, audio and lighting solutions, and media management services.

Persons: Carlyle, Milana Vinn, Anirban Sen, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Inc, Carlyle Group Inc, National Football League, Crestview Partners, Thomson Locations: Pittsburg , Pennsylvania, New York

For years, low interest rates fuelled a global boom, igniting interest in German property, seen as safe and stable as the country. The health of Germany's property sector - Europe's biggest property investment market outside of Britain - is critical, making up roughly a fifth of output and providing one in 10 jobs. Late last year, Hoeglmaier put his penthouse on the market, and Euroboden closed its Frankfurt office. In 2020, as the property market heated up, the Bundesbank warned the country's banks, for whom property accounted for about 70% of all domestic loans, of the risks. The 380-square meter (4,090 square foot) penthouse, which occupies the fifth through seventh floors and includes a rooftop terrace, originally listed for just under 13 million euros.

Persons: Leonhard Simon, Stefan Hoeglmaier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Tillmann Peeters, Hoeglmaier, Oscar Loya –, –, Euroboden, Daniel Bauer ,, Oliver Schartl, Loya, Christoph Niering, Matthias Inverardi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, FalkenSteg, European Central Bank, Reuters, Facebook, Garden, Graphics, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Europe's, Britain, Berlin, Frankfurt, Ukraine, Sweden, Europe, homebuilders, China, Evergrande

☆ 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

☆ Toto Cutugno, Italian singer famous for smash-hit single ‘L’Italiano,’ dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Salvatore “Toto” Cutugno, the Italian singer-songwriter best known for his 1983 hit “L’Italiano,” has died at age 80, local media reported Tuesday. Cutugno was also a regular at Italy’s Sanremo song contest, which he won in 1980 with “Solo Noi,” and was runner-up multiple times. But he was most famous for his 1983 smash hit, “L’Italiano,” a pop song that celebrated the nation’s identity and culture. Though it didn’t make an impression in the United States or United Kingdom, it shot him to stardom across Europe. In Zagreb in 1990, Cutugno won Italy its second Eurovision Song Contest victory, with his song “Insieme: 1992” (“Together: 1992”), which he composed and wrote himself.

Persons: CNN — Salvatore “ Toto ” Cutugno, “, ”, Cutugno’s, Danilo Mancuso, Hospital “, Giorgia Meloni, Cutugno, Johnny Hallyday, Dalida, senza, sotto gli, Toto Cutugno, Gigliola, Carla, Nicolo Organizations: CNN, Hospital, Italian, Sanremo, European Union, Eurovision Locations: Italian, Milan’s San, United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Zagreb, Italy, Rome

☆ Fact Check-Photo shows Conchita Wurst and manager, not U.S. ambassador to Jamaica and wife
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An image being shared online shows Austrian singer Conchita Wurst with her business manager, not the U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica with his wife. The image was shared on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption, “This is the new US ambassador to Jamaica and his wife. The photograph, however, shows Austrian singer Conchita Wurst, famous for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014, at the Vienna Opera Ball in February 2019. It shows Conchita Wurst and her manager at the 2019 Vienna Opera Ball.

Persons: Conchita Wurst, Conchita, Andre Karsai, Nickolas Perry, Joyce, nee Mahabeer, Perry, Read Organizations: Facebook, Vienna, Ball, White, Reuters Locations: Austrian, U.S, Jamaica, Luxembourg

☆ Thousands of French Swifties have bad blood with Ticketmaster after it abruptly halted, then rescheduled the sale of the Eras Tour tickets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Swifties in France are furious after Ticketmaster abruptly halted Eras Tour ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Paris shows. The company abruptly suspended ticket sales for the star's Eras Tour in Paris and Lyon shortly after presales started on Tuesday, leaving thousands of fans hanging. "The Taylor Swift sale | The 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eras Tour for Paris La Défense Arena has been put on hold. The Eras Tour ticketing situation got so bad that it even prompted a group of Swifties to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. In March, the Ticketmaster platform also crashed during the ticket sales for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Persons: Taylor, Taylor Swift, presales Organizations: Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift's, Lyon, Paris, Twitter, Paris La Défense, Federal Trade Commission, Eurovision, Coldplay Locations: France, Taylor Swift's Paris, Paris, Lyon, Mexico City, Singapore

☆ Ticketmaster halts tickets for Taylor Swift’s French concerts after another snafu
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —Ticketmaster has created more bad blood with Taylor Swift fans after its website glitched Tuesday, preventing thousands of Swifties from buying tickets for the singer’s upcoming concerts in France. Ticketmaster said on Twitter Tuesday that it had “put on hold” ticket sales for four dates of Swift’s hugely popular Eras Tour in Paris, including two dates in Lyon, both scheduled for spring next year. Responding to Ticketmaster’s tweet, one Twitter user said she had been “waiting hours.”“Will the ticket sales commence again today? It’s a problem Swift fans know all too well: The ticketing site crashed in November after millions of people flocked to the platform to try to snag Eras Tour tickets. In March, Ticketmaster ran into trouble again when some fans of the Eurovision Song Contest found they were unable to access the platform.

Persons: Taylor Swift, “, ” “, ”, Swift Organizations: London CNN, Ticketmaster, Twitter, CNN Locations: France, Paris, Lyon

☆ Ticketmaster issued more than 1 million queue numbers for Coldplay's Singapore concert. Rumbles of fury at the platform are rolling through Twitter as people say they got frozen out of purchases.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Amanda Goh | Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ticketmaster issued more than 1 million virtual queue numbers for Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres" concert in Singapore. This is not the first time Ticketmaster has fumbled the ticketing experience for a big concert. Pre-sales for the concert started on Monday at 10 a.m. SGT, per a tweet from the concert organizer, Live Nation Singapore. About 1 million virtual Ticketmaster queue numbers were issued in total, local newspaper The Straits Times reported. Coldplay and Ticketmaster Singapore did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

Persons: — bev ng, Taylor, Swift stans, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Ticketmaster, Twitter, Morning, Coldplay, National, of Singapore, Live Nation, The Straits Times, Nation Singapore, New York Rep, Eurovision, BTS Army, Ticketmaster Singapore Locations: Singapore, Live Nation Singapore, Alexandria

☆ How to create with AI, including art, music, and writing, according to people who've written songs, stories, and letters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Jack Sommers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These five people used the tools to make content including a song and a commercial. A song for EurovisionInsider's Chloe Pantazi was underwhelmed by this year's Eurovision song contest. But ChatGPT gave him the space to experiment with the writing in a way he didn't feel comfortable with before. Insider produced a step-by-step guide of how to use it and Craiyon, another free tool that uses AI to generate images. Read more: I used Lensa, the chart-topping app, to make myself a masterpiece digital work of art — here's how it works

Persons: —, ChatGPT, Chloe Pantazi, Sweden's, Pantazi, Spriha Srivastava, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Matt Huculak, Huculak, Read, Elon Musk, . DALL, OpenAI, Lensa, Bethany Biron, Elizabeth Holmes, Biron Organizations: Service, Eurovision, University of Victoria, University of Cambridge Locations: British Columbia, Canada, Cambridge

☆ ABBA's Bjorn and Benny dismiss Eurovision reunion in Sweden next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 25 (Reuters) - ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have dismissed a reunion at next year's Eurovision Song Contest in their native Sweden, which will also mark the 50th anniversary of when the supergroup won the competition with "Waterloo". Sweden's Loreen won Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, northern England, this month, meaning the Nordic country will host next year's contest. "We can celebrate 50 years of ABBA without us being on stage," Ulvaeus added. Formed in 1972, ABBA won legions of fans around the world after triumphing at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, with their enduring hits such as "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando". Last year they launched a London concert residency as digital avatars - versions of themselves from their 1970s heyday thanks to motion-capture technology.

☆ In pictures: Sweden wins Eurovision song contest
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Hundreds of migrants from around the world seeking a better life in the United States have instead found themselves trapped in squalid conditions near the Mexican border, tantalizingly close to their destination, and desperate.

☆ 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.

☆ Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Zelenskiy in Germany after meeting pope
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 14 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Germany early on Sunday as he seeks to shore up support from key allies against Russia's invasion of his country. FIGHTING* Ukrainian troops are advancing in two directions in the eastern city of Bakhmut, but the situation in the city centre is more complicated, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said on Saturday. * Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that Ukrainian aircraft had struck two industrial sites in the Russian-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles supplied by Britain. * Germany on Saturday announced 2.7 billion euro ($3.0 billion) of military aid to Ukraine, its biggest such package since Russia's invasion, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary. * The head of Russia's federal crime agency suggested on Saturday that key sectors of the economy should be returned to state ownership to support Moscow's war in Ukraine.

☆ Eurovision final draws largest UK TV audience in its history - BBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Loreen from Sweden appears on stage after winning the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Britain, May 14, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File PhotoLIVERPOOL, May 14 (Reuters) - The final of the Eurovision song contest drew the largest British television audience in the history of the event with a peak of 11 million viewers, the BBC said in a statement on Sunday. Sweden's Loreen won Eurovision 2023, on Saturday. The BBC said the final saw a peak of 11 million viewers, an average of 9.9 million, and an audience share of 63%. British viewers saw their entrant, Mae Muller, finish 25th out of 26th.

☆ Eurovision 2023: Seven to look out for in the Grand Final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Teya & Salena from Austria perform during the second semi-final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Britain, May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Phil NobleLIVERPOOL, England, May 13 (Reuters) - The Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, northern England, on Saturday, with acts representing 26 countries competing. The song's lyrics address originality in music, while the line "Zero dot zero zero three" refers to the royalty rate of $0.003 per stream which Spotify is said to pay. FRANCEFrance - one of the "Big Five" that has automatic entry to the Grand Final - has not won the contest since 1977. FINLANDKäärijä, a rapper and singer sporting bright green bolero-sleeves and a bare chest, was a huge hit in the arena in Tuesday's semi-final with "Cha Cha Cha", a celebration of cutting loose after a week of hard work.

LIVERPOOL, England, May 13 (Reuters) - The grand final of Eurovision 2023 kicked off on Saturday with last year's winner Kalush Orchestra performing on video in Ukraine and live in Liverpool, the northern English city hosting on behalf of the country that is fighting Russia's invasion. The 26 acts that qualified for the grand final span musical styles from ballads to heavy rock to rap, starting with Austria's Teya & Salena performing "Who The Hell is Edgar? [1/6] Mimicat from Portugal performs during the grand final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Britain, May 13, 2023. Pam Minto, a 37-year-old support worker from Liverpool, said she was proud of her city and hoped it was doing Ukraine proud. Ukrainian Anastasiia Iovova, a 31-year-old teacher who is currently living in Leeds, northern England, said Liverpool felt like home abroad.

☆ Sweden Wins a Eurovision Song Contest That Showed Solidarity With Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Alex Marshall | Maria Varenikova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Eurovision Song Contest grand final, held in Liverpool, England, on Saturday, was meant to be Ukraine’s party. After Ukraine won last year’s edition of the beloved, campy singing competition, the country won the right to host this year’s spectacle. But with Russia’s invasion showing no sign of ending, the event was relocated to Liverpool. In the midst of a war, and with millions watching live, Ukraine’s entrant, Tvorchi, was among the favorites to win this year’s edition of the glamorous and, often, oddball event — a sign of the European public’s ongoing solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.

☆ Sweden’s Loreen wins historic second Eurovision, after emotional show in Britain that celebrated Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Liverpool, United Kingdom CNN —Sweden’s Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time, earning a historic triumph at an extravagant and crowd-pleasing show held in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on behalf of Ukraine. Loreen of Sweden celebrates with the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Ukraine entrant TVORCHI performing in the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest final. Eurovision fans enjoy the party atmosphere as they gather in Liverpool to watch the Eurovision Song Contest final. Cameron Smith/Getty ImagesAround the host city of Liverpool, Eurovision fans without tickets rammed into venues to watch the show on big screens, many of them waving Ukrainian flags.

☆ Russian missiles hit home town of Ukraine's Eurovision contestants
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 13 (Reuters) - As the Eurovision song contest was underway in Britain late on Saturday, Russian missiles hit the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, which is home to the electro-pop duo Tvorchi, this year's contestants from Ukraine. Local authorities, writing on Telegram, said the strike had hit warehouses owned by commercial enterprises and a religious organization, injuring two people. Melinda Simmons, Britain's ambassador to Kyiv, praised Tvorchi for their Eurovision 2023 entry. And poignant as their university home town of Ternopil was targeted by Russian missiles this evening," she tweeted. Tvorchi said this week they hoped to shine a spotlight on their country's fight for freedom.

Speaking to reporters in Rome after meetings with his Italian counterpart and Italy’s prime minister, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were “preparing very seriously.”“There will definitely be very serious steps. Earlier, Zelensky met with Pope Francis, who has been outspoken in his support for an end to the war in Ukraine. Vatican News/APZelensky said last week that his country still needs “a bit more time” before it launches the counteroffensive, in order to allow some more of the promised Western military aid to arrive in country. Russian attacksAs Zelensky toured Europe, Russia’s assault on Ukraine continued. In western Ukraine, at least 21 people were injured following Russian strikes on the city of Khmelnytskyi in the early hours of Saturday, Ukrainian authorities said.

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