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LONDON (Reuters) - Peter Baston has attended eight out of the last 10 Eurovision song contests in person. This year, coronavirus restrictions will prevent the Malmo resident from travelling to host city Rotterdam but that does not mean he can’t join the celebrations.
FILE PHOTO: Presenters Edsilia Rombley, Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager are seen on the stage during the second semi-final of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands, May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo
“We’ve really missed it since Tel Aviv so everybody’s doubly excited this year that the contest can actually be held at all in any form,” Baston, who is in his 70s, told Reuters.
Catalan parliament vows to keep up fight for independence from Spain The new government’s goals include self-determination for Catalonia Associated Press Reporters 21 May, 2021 12:44
The parliament of Catalonia has vowed no let-up in the fight for independence from Spain after electing a new regional leader and government on Friday.
Three Catalan separatist parties set aside their policy differences and united behind their common desire for secession, voting for Pere Aragones as the next chief in Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million that has Barcelona as its capital.
Aragones, a 38-year-old lawyer who has been involved in Catalan politics for almost 20 years, studied at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and has previously held posts in the regional government.
Apple chief executive to appear in court in defence of app store Apple chief executive Tim Cook (Apple/PA) Michael Liedtke, Associated Press 21 May, 2021 06:18
Apple chief executive Tim Cook will appear in court today to defend the company’s iPhone app store against charges that it has grown into an illegal monopoly – one far more profitable than his predecessor Steve Jobs envisioned when it opened up 13 years ago.
The technology company is counting on Mr Cook’s appearance to put the finishing touches to Apple’s defence against a case brought by Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite.
Much of South Asia has been left scrambling for Covid-19 vaccines after India halted export of doses to re-start its own inoculation drive, which ran into the ground after an explosive surge in infec…
Netanyahu warns Hamas of ‘new level of force if Gaza ceasefire is broken Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Fares Akram and Joseph Krauss, AP 21 May, 2021 11:20
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers against any further rocket attacks following a ceasefire.
In a speech hours after the truce took effect on Friday, he said: “If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a drizzle of rockets, it is wrong.”
He vowed to respond with “a new level of force against any expression of aggression against communities around Gaza and any other part of Israel.”
Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war, their fourth since the Islamic militant group seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.