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Eurovision 2022 – when music meets politics
Here to break all the war tension comes the world’s largest music competition Eurovision with its comical bangers and political performances
Taking place in Italy’s northwestern city of Turin, millions of viewers usually tune in to watch 40 countries battle for the winning trophy of Eurovision.
The usually non-political song contest is politically charged this year with Russia and Belarus banished from the show and a Ukrainian band passing through to the finals.
Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra stands as an audience favourite with an energetic performance of their song Stefania.
Written by the group’s lead singer, the song has become a powerful anthem in the wake of war with lyrics like ‘I will always walk to you by broken roads’ touching the hearts of many.
The band received a standing ovation midway and a long applause afterwards as the founding member thanked everyone for supporting Ukraine towards the end of the performance.
The Kyiv government gave the band special permission to leave the war-ravaged Ukraine and perform at the competition.
If Kalush Orchestra were to win on Saturday, it would be Ukraine’s third victory after it won in 2004 and 2016.
Ukraine is among the top 10 to reach the final with other countries like Switzerland, Portugal and Norway also making the cut.
Norway’s Subwoolfer brought the right amount of absurdness to the competition with their giant yellow wolf masks and banana based song, Give That Wolf A Banana.
In contrast to the comical Subwoolfer was Portugal’s Maro who sang Saudade, Saudade, a ballad full of grief dedicated to her late grandfather.
Rijul Baath contributed to this report
Crude oil prices jumped over 3% on Wednesday as U.S.-Iran nuclear talks showed signs of faltering, pushing WTI futures above $65 per barrel. Axios reported disagreements over the venue and scope of Friday’s talks, while President Trump warned Iran’s supreme leader to “be very worried,” stoking fears of military escalation.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf added to the volatility. A U.S. F-35C shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Iranian vessels threatened a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The USS McFaul escorted the tanker to safety, highlighting the region’s fragile oil supply routes.
Despite the clashes, nuclear talks will go ahead on Friday in Oman, but uncertainty continues to drive oil market volatility, with traders closely watching both diplomatic and military developments.
#OilPrices #IranUS #NuclearTalks #PersianGulf #WTI #EnergyMarket #Geopolitics #OilSupply
The Washington Post has laid off hundreds of employees, marking what former executive editor Martin Baron calls “one of the darkest days” in the paper’s history. Approximately one-third of the newsroom staff were affected, as the company undertakes a so-called “strategic reset” to compete in a crowded media landscape.
The cuts hit key areas, including the sports desk, local coverage, international reporting, the books desk, and the flagship daily news podcast. Editor-in-Chief Matt Murray said the changes aim to prioritise national security, politics, science, health, technology, climate, and business coverage while positioning the Post for the future.
Critics have called out owner Jeff Bezos for his silence during the layoffs and alleged efforts to influence the paper’s political stance. Former editor Baron warned that the newspaper’s ambitions would be sharply diminished and its credibility could suffer.
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Amazon launches AI tools to change film and television production
Amazon MGM Studios tests AI to streamline production, reduce costs, enhancing but not replacing human creativity, says AI Studio team.
Amazon MGM Studios tests AI to streamline production, reduce costs, enhancing but not replacing human creativity, says AI Studio team.
Amazon MGM Studios is stepping into the future of entertainment by developing artificial intelligence tools designed to reduce production costs and streamline filmmaking processes. This closed beta, launching in March, will let industry partners test how AI can enhance creativity and efficiency on set.
Amy Cheng, leading the AI Studio team, emphasises that while AI can accelerate workflows, it will never replace the unique contributions of human creativity. The initiative represents Amazon’s push to innovate in content creation while maintaining the art of storytelling.
The use of AI in Hollywood is expanding rapidly, sparking discussions about its impact on jobs and the future of the industry. As studios explore automation, the balance between efficiency and human artistry remains a central concern.
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