Eurovision broadcasters call for probe after Israeli singer's near-win
Eurovision is facing accusations of encouraging "manipulation" through its public voting system after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael nearly won the competition.
Spain and Belgium's public broadcasters have lodged complaints with the European Broadcasting Union, demanding an investigation into the televoting system, which allows up to 20 votes per person.
The complaints stem from Israel winning the public vote by a significant margin, despite being overlooked by both countries' juries. Raphael came second in the competition, runner-up to Austria's JJ.
The EBU said that the voting process is rigorously checked and verified, but takes the concerns seriously.
This controversy follows protests surrounding Israel's participation, including one during the final where paint was thrown. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be banned from future contests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Deco on Barca's future, challenging Real and Yamal
Barcelona sporting director Deco denies the club have financial problems and says they do not need to sell players - despite La Liga's restrictive financial 47, has overseen a revival of Barcelona since his appointment in 2023, culminating in a domestic treble while also reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Catalans have renewed the contracts of superstar teenager Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and manager Hansi Flick, while they were cleared by Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) to register midfielder Dani Olmo amid a dispute with La Liga. When asked whether the world should see Barcelona as a well-run club in 2025, Deco told BBC Sport: "Barcelona is my club, I love Barcelona. I saw what happened from the outside and always thought I could help put Barca at the same high level. "I knew it would be difficult when I joined with the financial rules - it is not a financial problem, but the financial fair play rules in Spain are more difficult than the Premier League and in other countries. "It is a problem for a lot of clubs, you just hear about Barca because we are a big club. You need to work with it, see how you can improve the team and the combination of La Masia [academy] players and experienced players has been important."The former Portugal midfielder, who played for the Catalans - as well as Chelsea and Porto - stresses Barcelona are happy working with La Liga but have faith the rules will continue to improve. Even if they do not, Barcelona are excited to have "one of the biggest contracts in history" with Nike, and the newly renovated 100,000-seater Nou Camp will be the biggest stadium in Europe and improve insists Barcelona will "not sell our best players", adding the team's recent success means they can "grow with many of the same players". But he says they are in looking for "two, three or four signings", without needing to enter the market "like crazy" thanks to the stability at the core of the asked if it includes the option of signing Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, thought to be available for £40m, or Liverpool's Luis Diaz, he added: "We have been focusing on renewing contracts, after that, we'll discuss players to come. "Of course, these two players, like you mentioned, they are good but have contracts in their clubs, so we won't speak because it's not fair. But when you decide to go to the market, for sure, we find some names. In my opinion, we don't need to bring many players."He added: "When I speak with the agents of the players, everyone wants to come or stay. So this is important. The image of the club is still good. We are proud because Barcelona is still such a big club, and the way we are playing football makes players want to come."Deco is aware of the constant threat of Real Madrid, who will look to improve under new head coach Xabi have also agreed deals for right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Liverpool, and Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras is understood to be next on the club's shortlist."Next season is not going to be easy, because I know that first Real Madrid has a lot of top players," he said. "In my opinion they have a big team. They have a lot of fantastic players. Of course they want to improve."It's very important to have a strong Madrid. It's very important to have strong players, top players, players that the people want to see. I think Madrid has these kinds of players, like us."Now it's important to keep the top players in La Liga. So for us it's important that Madrid are strong, that Atletico is strong, and we need to be there." 'Yamal can make history like Messi' Barcelona have already signed perhaps their most important deal of the summer, keeping 17-year-old Spanish sensation Yamal at the club on a new six-year deal until made his debut at 15 and has already made 106 appearances for the club. He was part of Spain's European Championship-winning team, is the reigning Golden Boy and Kopa winner - awards given to the best young player in the world - and was heavily involved in Barcelona's four El Clasico wins against Madrid this season. All this success has led him to be compared to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, widely regarded as among the world's greatest ever players. Deco continued: "Lamine is Lamine. Leo is Leo. Leo was the best player in the history of this club, for me, the best player in history. "Everyone becomes crazy when they see Lamine playing football, you would pay to go watch him in the stadium, he's special and he wanted to stay because he believes in the project. He deserves an improved salary. "He's going to be one of the best players in the world. We need to respect him as a player, but not forget he is 17 years old."Deco added: "It's not easy to compare, but Lamine, in terms of quality, can make history like Leo. But of course, to make history, he needs to have a good team behind him."Barcelona managed Messi mania and would know how to give Yamal the degree of protection he needs to shine."We try to not let him do everything, because, you know, sometimes the sponsors, and everyone wants his shirt or time," Deco continued. "Sometimes we can't control everything, but people see his magic, on and off the pitch. "They want to have a piece of him and we need to help him manage that."
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Boulder attack: 6 people injured after an event for Israeli hostages
Four victims were taken to Boulder Community Hospital, and two others were airlifted to a hospital in the Denver metropolitan area, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. He added that at least one victim was "very seriously" injured and other victims received "more minor injuries." Sunday's attack falls on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and comes over a week after the slaying of two Israeli Embassy aides outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. The attack occurred at a "regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event," according to Michalek. He said witnesses reported seeing the suspect use a makeshift flamethrower and throw an incendiary device into the crowd. Earlies on Sunday, Boulder dispatch received several calls to the county courthouse on Pearl Street at around 1:26 p.m. local time, Redfearn said at an afternoon news conference. Initial reports indicated that there was a man with a weapon, and people were being set on fire at the scene. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement that the attack appeared to be a "hate crime given the group that was targeted." Weiser said the group meets weekly at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder to "call for the release of the hostages in Gaza." "Hate has no place in Colorado," Weiser added. "We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts -- which are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to home -- must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account." President Donald Trump has been briefed on the attack in Boulder, a senior White House official told USA TODAY. Michalek said the FBI is processing the crime scene and the subject vehicle as well as interviewing key witnesses. "As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," Michalek said. "Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country. This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation." Several blocks remained closed off in downtown Boulder surrounding the county courthouse, according to Redfearn. Multiple teams, including canine, bomb squad, and hazmat, were in the area, Redfearn said. Authorities were still working on clearing the area for devices. Hours before the attack in Boulder, 18 to 20 buildings on the University of Denver campus were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti. The vandalism took place either late Friday or early Saturday, said Adam Rovner, director of the university's Center for Judaic Studies. Rovner said the graffiti was spread among buildings across the campus, including dormitories. It was not immediately clear whether the graffiti was tied to the attack in Boulder, which is about half an hour northwest of Denver. "In the wake of the murders in DC at the Jewish Museum and in the wake of this horrific attack on a peaceful vigil in Boulder, this kind of thing is what globalize the Intifada means," Rovner said. "It means attacks on innocent people." It's 'the definition of antisemitism': People react to Israeli embassy shooting In a statement on social media, the Boulder Jewish Community Center said it was in touch with law enforcement about the Jewish community in the city and noted that safety is its "highest priority." "We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza," the Boulder Jewish Community Center said. Run for Their Lives is an organization that facilitates global running or walking events calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to the organization's website. The website states that local communities meet once a week for a 1-kilometer walk or run while wearing matching t-shirts and carrying flags of the countries where the hostages are from. The events are shared on social media by local organizers. "The term 'Run' is symbolic, emphasizing that the hostages cannot run for their lives," according to the website. "We run or walk on their behalf, because they can't--and to act before it's too late." An organization that works to fight antisemitism and bias said in a statement that it has reviewed videos of the suspect believed to have thrown the Molotov cocktails. "We believe he can be heard saying, 'How many children have you killed?' 'We need to end Zionists,'" the ADL said. The organization said the man also gestured toward what appeared to be victims of the attack and proclaimed: "They are killers." At 2:08 p.m. local time, the Boulder Police Department said in a post on X that they responded to a report of several victims near the Boulder mall, about 30 miles northwest of Denver. Pearl Street is a four-block pedestrian mall that stretches from 11th Street to 15th Street. Multiple businesses and restaurants, as well as the Boulder County Courthouse, are located in the area. About an hour later, the police department said it was evacuating several blocks around the area between Walnut and Pine streets as they continued "to investigate this active incident." "There was a lot of people out -- a very beautiful day," Redfearn said, adding that there was a group of people that were conducting a peaceful demonstration in support of Israel. The police chief said he believed the demonstration occurred frequently in the area. Redfearn called the incident "unacceptable," noting that it was too early for police to speculate on a motive. Civil rights and advocacy groups have reported a surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. According to Israeli tallies, the attack killed about 1,200 people, and 251 Israelis were taken hostage into Gaza. Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and has destroyed much of the enclave, said Gaza health officials. The attack also occurred after two Israeli embassy employees were fatally shot in Washington, D.C., on May 21. The victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect opened fire, killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The suspect shouted, "Free, free Palestine" while in custody, authorities said. Israeli embassies immediately increased security measures following the incident, USA TODAY previously reported. Just days after the shooting, federal authorities announced that a dual U.S. and German citizen was arrested in New York for allegedly attempting to firebomb a branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. DC shooting: Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Dan Bongino, the FBI's deputy director, said on X that the agency's leadership team was on the ground in Boulder and would soon have an update on the attack. "This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts," Bongino said. "We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it." -- Charles Ventura and Joseph Garrison Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said on X that the state was working with local and federal law enforcement to support the investigation. "I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror," Polis said in the post. "Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable." The Anti-Defamation League said it was monitoring the situation "as we approach the holiday of Shavuot." "We are aware of reports of an attack at today's Boulder Run for Their Lives event - a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to run/walk in support of the hostages kidnapped on 10/7," the organization said on X. According to Jewishcolorado, a Denver-based non-profit that is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, the Run for Their Lives walk is a repeating event in downtown Boulder. "We have been walking in Boulder, CO since Thanksgiving 2023 to show solidarity for the plight of the hostages still being held in Gaza," according to the organization's website. "We will continue to walk until all hostages are released." (This story was updated to add new information.)
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Why getting married abroad could land you with a HUGE bill from the taxman
Couples marrying abroad could be landed with a huge inheritance tax bill if their foreign wedding is not legally binding, a couple has warned. Antonia Medlicott, 49, and Tim Pindar, 44, tied the knot in 2009 in the wedding of their dreams in Spain. The couples families flew out for a 'big Catholic wedding' on the continent, but were unaware that they had 14 days to register their marriage at the town hall, they told The Telegraph. The priest who officiated the wedding had tried to warn the couple that their marriage would be null and void, but the couple did not understand Spanish and the priest did not speak any English. The couple found out their marriage was not legally binding some months later, but decided to ignore it for the next 13 years. However in 2023 the couple were forced to remarry, after discovering they could be set to lose a huge amount of money if one of them passed away. The spousal exemption allows married couples to avoid paying inheritance tax when passing assets to their wife or husband when they die. Unmarried couples however, do not have the same privilege and those who leave assets worth over £325,000 have to pay 40 per cent inheritance tax on the amount over the allowance. Unmarried couples may soon lose out on pension savings too if their partner dies, under new plans by Rachel Reeves. Pension savings can currently be left to an unmarried partner without any inheritance tax being paid, but this is set to end in 2027. Ms Medlicott and her husband discovered that they could be set to lose thousands after speaking to a lawyer about their wills. She said: 'He pointed out that if something happens to either one of us, there's a massive inheritance tax bill coming our way. So we decided we would have to just get on with it.' The couple estimated they would have had an £80,000 inheritance tax bill on their house alone. With potentially more coming from pensions, savings and a business owned by Ms Medlicott. If the worst had happened, the surviving spouse would have been forced to sell their family home to cover the bill. Far from their extravagant Spanish wedding in 2009, the couple opted for a quieter affair in 2023. They described their second wedding as 'bare bones' costing around £1,000 all in - including a bottomless bunch with six friends. Ms Medlicott wore a brown dress and borrowed boots from a friend as the couple finally officially tied the knot at a civil wedding in their local registry office. Claire Trott, head of advice at St James's Place, said: 'Getting married for tax purposes isn't a new concept, particularly in the world of pensions. Many defined benefit schemes have restrictions on who death benefits can be paid to, sometimes depending on when a couple marries. 'My own father married my stepmother just before his defined benefit pension came into payment, because under the scheme rules, death benefits were only payable to the spouse at the date of retirement. Had they married after that point, even after 30 years together, she wouldn't have been entitled to anything.' She said that marriage could soon become an even more valuable planning tool to deal with inheritance tax, particularly with pensions being brought into the scope for the levy. Ms Medlicott said she felt 'resentful' about having to remarry just to save thousands of pounds. She said that marriage 'isn't for everyone' and felt it was 'ridiculous' that a piece of paper could be the difference between huge sums of money for couples.
