Eurovision 2023: UK will host on Ukraine’s behalf

Published

4 years ago

July 26, 2022

The United Kingdom will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 on behalf of 2022 winner Ukraine

The UK will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 after organisers decided it could not be held in Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1fl60ypdLs

UKRAINian group “Kalush Orchestra” won the 2022 eurovision song contest with a song calleD “STEFANIA”

Ukraine won the competition earlier this year

Under normal circumstances, winning the contest means your home country hosts the competition the following year.

But with Ukraine in a state of war, organisers said Ukraine would not be able to ensure a safe venue or event.

https://twitter.com/SamRyderMusic/status/1551634748996567042?s=20&t=rmYsDzKypGH3NAXsaOBXGg

The United Kingdom, which was the runner up – will instead host the event.

UK’s 2022 Eurovision contestant Sam Ryder tweeted his solidarity with Ukraine following the announcement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ0hqX_92zI

UK Contestant SAM RYDER was the runner up in the 2022 Eurovision song contest with “space man”

Just like each year’s winner, Ukraine will automatically qualify for the Grand Final in 2023, instead of having to go through several qualifying rounds.

The “Big five” – UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain automatically qualify for the Grand Final every year – as they are the nations that contribute the largest amount of funds to the competition.

Last week President @ZelenskyyUa and I agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine.

As we are now hosts, the UK will honour that pledge directly – and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 25, 2022

UK cities will now bid to host the event.

Glasgow in Scotland was one of the first to announce they would bid to host it.

London may seem like an intuitive choice for some, though it might be difficult to justify the capital being awarded yet another large scale event.

Other cities in the UK that have the necessary infrastructure and venues large enough include Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

Russia bans WhatsApp and promotes state-backed messaging app

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

The Kremlin has officially blocked WhatsApp, urging Russians to switch to MAX, a state-backed messaging app. This move comes after Meta refused to comply with local regulations, sparking debates over digital freedom in the country.

Critics warn that MAX could be used for government surveillance, though authorities deny these claims. The ban highlights Russia’s growing control over foreign tech platforms and its push for locally regulated alternatives.

Activists in Moscow have staged protests calling for an open and unregulated internet, while the public reacts with a mix of concern and resignation.

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News

U.S. secretly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran after protests

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

U.S. officials report that the Trump administration covertly sent around 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following widespread protests. The move was designed to bypass strict internet blackouts imposed by authorities in Tehran.

The terminals reportedly enabled activists and dissidents to reconnect with the outside world during periods of severe digital restriction, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement and cyber strategy.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the revelation underscores how connectivity has become a powerful tool in modern conflict.

#Iran #Starlink #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #GlobalPolitics #TechNews #InternetFreedom #BreakingNews

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News

Anthropic secures 30 billion in fresh funding as valuation surges

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Anthropic has secured a staggering $30 billion in fresh funding, catapulting its valuation to $380 billion and cementing its place among the most valuable AI companies in the world. The raise marks the second-largest private technology funding round ever, trailing only OpenAI’s $40 billion deal.

Major backers in this latest round include Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management, alongside existing heavyweight partners Microsoft and Nvidia. The scale of the investment underscores intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence as capital continues to flood into the sector.

Anthropic’s valuation has more than doubled in just five months, fuelled by rapid enterprise growth. The company now works with eight of the Fortune 10 and boasts more than 500 customers spending over $1 million annually, highlighting surging demand for advanced AI tools across corporate America.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Anthropic #TechNews #VentureCapital #BigTech #Innovation #Startups