Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
Bulgaria’s entrant Dara won with the upbeat dance track “Bangaranga”, securing a dramatic win in a competition marked by political tension, audience division and unusually subdued participation.
The winning performance avoided political themes, instead focusing on what Dara described as a message of “energy” and “harmony”.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t even know what’s going on right now,” she said after the win.
“Bangaranga is a feeling that everybody gets in themselves. It’s the moment that you choose to be in love and not fear,” she added explaining the meaning of her song.
The annual contest, now in its 70th year, was shaken by a dispute over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October, 2023.
Public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted the event in protest.
Despite the controversy, Israel again performed strongly in the public vote, propelling its entry “Michelle” to second place for the second consecutive year.
Some boos were heard in the arena as Israel’s points were announced, though the final was less disrupted than earlier rounds.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN had previously received a warning from organisers over promotional videos linked to its entry, which were later removed. The broadcaster said it complied with contest rules.
Organisers said the boycott reduced the number of participating countries to 35, the lowest since 2003, potentially affecting global viewership.
Protests in the host city of Vienna remained limited, despite earlier disruptions during a semi-final where demonstrators briefly chanted pro-Palestinian slogans before being removed.
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Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are aiming to establish a railway connection linking the two countries through Syria and Jordan within the next three to four years, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
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Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
British artist David Hockney, one of the most influential figures in contemporary art, has died at age 88, his publicist said on Friday (12 June). He died peacefully at his home in London one month before his 89th birthday.
Thousands of revellers packed Berga's main square as fire-devil performers showered the crowd with sparks during Catalonia's UNESCO-listed La Patum festival.
The 79th Annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday (7 June) at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the strongest performances of the Broadway season, with singer-songwriter P!nk hosting and delivering the opening performance alongside a host of musical guests.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French artist, filmmaker and author best known for the acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis, has died at the age of 56, the French presidency announced on Thursday.
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