News

Eurovision 2022: fans celebrate a momentous victory

Published

3 years ago

May 15, 2022

Costa Haritos

Torino was filled with fire, flare, and fans who packed the Pala Alpitour Arena for Eurovision 2022

WARNING: This story contains spoilers about the winner.

In a spectacular finish, Ukraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

The winning entry, ‘Stefania’, was performed by the Kalush Orchestra. The song is an ode to a mother and takes a nostalgic look at the hardships and challenges, and touches on positive memories.

After the rap group performed their song, they addressed millions of viewers watching the final. “Save Mariupol, save Ukraine and help Azovstal,” they said, as they rallied support for their war-torn nation.

The victory is the nation’s second in eight years, after Jamala’s ‘1944’ controversially beat Russia. The song was about Joseph Stalin’s mass deportation of an ethnic group in Crimea.

‘Stefania’ is also the second Eurovision entry to be performed entirely in Ukrainian.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says he believed in the group to win.

“Europe, vote for Kalush Orchestra. Let’s support our fellow countrymen! Let’s support Ukraine.”
UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY

While the U.K. won the jury vote, it was not enough to topple Ukraine’s 439 points from public voters. They finished with 631 points—the second highest in Eurovision history.

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1525612263490859008?s=20&t=kVf0hSHZNa1zFcVeDOlAWg

Around 200 million are believed to have seen this year’s contest.

Martin Österdahl is the European Broadcasting Union’s Executive Supervisor. He says “the Eurovision Song Contest is the only cultural event that truly unites Europe.”

“This year it’s been more important than ever to bring millions together through our common values and love of music.”
MARTIN ÖSTERDAHL, EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

The U.K., Spain, Sweden and Serbia rounded out the top five. It is the U.K.‘s best result since 1998, and follows a dismal performance last year in which they finished last with zero points.

“On a fantastic stage in front of hundreds of millions watching across the world, every artist and songwriter has brought something unique to the Contest and embodied what this competition is about—diversity, universality and uniting Europe on one stage,” Österdahl says.

The Kalush Orchestra celebrate Ukraine’s second Eurovision win in eight years.

The Kalush Orchestra was formed in 2019. One of the group’s members travelled to Rotterdam last year to compete with his other band, ‘Go_A’, which finished in fifth place.

Eurovision is the world’s largest live music event and one of the most ambitious live TV moments each year.

This year’s theme, ‘The Sound of Beauty’, featured 24 cameras, 78 microphones and over 2,800 lighting fixtures. There were also 727 square metres of LED screens and 440 speakers.

Russia was banned from this year’s event as the war in Ukraine continues.

Around 500 journalists were also in the host city of Turin, Italy to cover the event. It’s believed over 1,000 journalists covered the event from their own countries.

Forty European countries took part in the event, as organisers cast their eyes towards 2023, where the Eurovision Song Contest will head to Ukraine.

News

Police accidentally kill worshipper during Manchester terror attack

Manchester police accidentally kill worshipper during terror attack response at synagogue, as two victims die from knife assault

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Ahron Young

Manchester police accidentally kill worshipper during terror attack response at synagogue, as two victims die from knife assault

In Short:
– One victim was accidentally shot by police during a synagogue attack in Manchester on Yom Kippur.
– The assailant, Jihad Al Shamie, used a vehicle and stabbing in the attack, later killed by police.

One of the victims in the recent terror attack at a UK synagogue was accidentally killed by police during efforts to subdue the attacker.

The incident occurred on Yom Kippur outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, resulting in the deaths of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.

The assailant, identified as Jihad Al Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, used his vehicle to strike pedestrians before launching a stabbing assault.Authorities revealed that police mistakenly shot one of the victims as they responded to the threat posed by Al Shamie, who was believed to be wearing a fake suicide vest.

Greater Manchester Police chief Stephen Watson noted that the victims were likely attempting to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue. Reports indicate that a third victim hospitalized also sustained gunshot wounds during the police response.

Jihad Al Shamie was killed by police approximately seven minutes after he began the attack.

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, stated that the attacker was not previously known to authorities. Police continue to investigate whether Al Shamie acted alone or as part of a terrorist cell, with three individuals arrested in connection to the incident.

Family Statement

The family of the attacker has publicly condemned the violence, expressing shock and sorrow over the tragic events. They stated their intentions to distance themselves from the actions of Jihad Al Shamie and offered condolences to the victims and their families.

News

L.A. entertainment industry struggles amid mass job losses

L.A.’s entertainment industry faces severe crisis as thousands of jobs vanish and creatives struggle to survive

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Ahron Young

L.A.’s entertainment industry faces severe crisis as thousands of jobs vanish and creatives struggle to survive

In Short:
– Hollywood’s entertainment industry faces a severe job decline, impacting many professionals like Brian Mainolfi.
– Proposed federal measures to revive local production have been insufficient, leaving the industry’s future uncertain.

Hollywood’s entertainment industry faces a significant downturn, with work evaporating and many creative professionals searching for new avenues to survive.

The industry has seen a sharp decline in jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Los Angeles County employment in motion picture production fell from 142,000 to 100,000 in two years due to reduced movie and TV productions.

Fewer projects are moving to Los Angeles because of high costs and a lack of tax incentives compared to other regions.

The impact on local businesses dependent on production workers has been severe, contributing to a broader economic challenge in the area.

Industry Decline

The absence of steady work has led some professionals to leave the industry entirely.

Many workers, including Thomas Curley, who won an Oscar for “Whiplash,” have struggled with the loss of purpose, and job scarcity remains pervasive.

Federal measures have been proposed, including a possible tax credit to stimulate local production, but efforts have thus far been insufficient.

With the continuing effects of recent strikes and a potential shift away from traditional content consumption, the outlook for Hollywood’s future remains uncertain.