All posts tagged: Grand

The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final : NPR

The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Delta Goodrem from Australia performs the song “Eclipse” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. Martin Meissner/AP hide caption toggle caption Martin Meissner/AP VIENNA — The final of the Eurovision Song Contest arrives Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn’t be invited to the party. After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries will take to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event. The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over …

Eurovision 2026: The 25 countries competing in the grand final

Eurovision 2026: The 25 countries competing in the grand final

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The line-up for this year’s 2026 Eurovision final has been confirmed after the first semi-final on Tuesday and the second on Thursday. Acts representing Israel, Finland and Greece were among the first 10 voted through after performing live in Vienna, Austria, earlier in the week. The second heat then saw the likes of Cyprus, Australia and Denmark qualify. The line-up is completed by the hosts Austria, who go through automatically alongside the ‘Big Four’, aka the nations whose broadcasters make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision. These are the UK, Italy, Germany and France. Spain is usually the fifth country on this list, but its broadcaster is among those boycotting the 2026 song contest due to Israel’s continued participation. Greek contestant Akylas made it through the final (Getty) The 10 countries voted through from the first semi-final are as follows: 1. …

Eurovision 2026: The 25 countries competing in the grand final

Eurovision 2026: All the countries through to the song contest’s grand final

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The line-up for this year’s 2026 Eurovision final has been confirmed after the first semi-final on Tuesday and the second on Thursday. Acts representing Israel, Finland and Greece were among the first 10 voted through after performing live in Vienna, Austria, earlier in the week. The second heat then saw the likes of Cyprus, Australia and Denmark qualify. The line-up is completed by the hosts Austria, who go through automatically alongside the ‘Big Four’, aka the nations whose broadcasters make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision. These are the UK, Italy, Germany and France. Spain is usually the fifth country on this list, but its broadcaster is among those boycotting the 2026 song contest due to Israel’s continued participation. Greek contestant Akylas made it through the final (Getty) The 10 countries voted through from the first semi-final are as follows: 1. …

What countries have qualified for the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final?

What countries have qualified for the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final?

Published by Daniella Wilson

With just 25 places available for Saturday night’s big event in Vienna, Austria, sadly 10 countries were knocked out of the running after two brutal semi-finals to cut down the acts, as voted for by the public. Those who got through will now join last year’s winners, Austria, as well as the ‘Big Four’ in the Grand Final – France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Spain usually makes up the ‘Big Five’ and has competed in the singing competition 64 times, every year since it first entered in 1961. However 2026 will mark the first year Spain will not be not be participating in Eurovision as it chose to boycott the competition. Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland also decided not to take part. But who else can we expect to see performing un Saturday’s live finale? Here’s what the line-up looks like. Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Which countries have qualified for the Grand Final? Look Mum No Computer, aka Sam Battle. BBC/Michael Leckie The Eurovision Song Contest finale will be made up of 25 …

Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus Review: Rich Colors, Gemini Support

Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus Review: Rich Colors, Gemini Support

Published by skeptic

Ultrashort-throw (UST) projectors offer more flexibility than traditional (long-throw) models. No one can ever step in front of one and block the projection, since the unit doesn’t require distance and can sit up close to the screen rather than at the back of the room. This also lets all your streaming gear, a soundbar, and a game console connect close to the screen. At $3,800, the Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus (LS970) short-throw projector has a higher price tag than the Epson Lifestudio Grand released last year. The Grand Plus specs are a big leap forward over that model as well: a 150-inch image instead of 120 inches, and 4,000 lumens of brightness instead of 3,600. Minus a few quirks, it’s a strong home cinema projector, but Epson also makes a better option, the long-throw Pro Cinema LS9000, that costs only $200 more and is easier to configure. Also, the Leica Cine Play 1, another long-throw projector, outputs even more vibrant colors. Ultimately, it comes down to a choice between short-throw and long-throw, and the Grand …

Jorge Martin wins his first Aprilia Grand Prix at French MotoGP | Motorsports News

Jorge Martin wins his first Aprilia Grand Prix at French MotoGP | Motorsports News

Published by Sam Flores

Ex-MotoGP world champion is now only a single point behind Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the riders’ standings. Published On 10 May 202610 May 2026 Jorge Martin charged from seventh on the grid to win the French Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming his first MotoGP victory in 588 days, while moving within striking distance of his Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the championship battle. The Spaniard, who endured a forgettable 2025 season plagued by crashes and injuries, overtook race leader Bezzecchi with three laps remaining to secure his first win since winning the 2024 title. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “It’s unbelievable. I still can’t say it enough times, because I’m so, so grateful to all the fans,” an emotional Martin said. “But for sure I have to remember my family, my team, my girlfriend, my dog – all the people that were with me all this time. I don’t have words!” The victory moved Martin to within one point of championship leader Bezzecchi after five rounds. Ogura makes history for Japan …

Christian Lundgaard Wins the Indianapolis Grand Prix and Hopes to Carry Momentum Into Indy 500

Christian Lundgaard Wins the Indianapolis Grand Prix and Hopes to Carry Momentum Into Indy 500

Published by Sam Flores

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Christian Lundgaard made all the right moves Saturday. He waited for the perfect moment to set up a daring outside move with 18 laps to go, then nudged his way past David Malukas through three sweeping turns on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course and sped away from the field to win the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Now he’s going to find out if it helps him in the Indianapolis 500. The Danish driver snapped a 47-race winless streak, beating Malukas to the yard of bricks by 4.763 seconds for the second win of his career and first in nearly three years. It gives the Arrow McLaren team a boost of confidence heading into IndyCar’s biggest race of the season. “At the end of the day, I had nothing to lose,” Lundgaard said. “I had so much unfinished business here. For me, it wasn’t that I wanted to win. I have enough second places in the past year and a half, I wanted to win and I was kind of willing to do whatever …

Aprilia’s Martin wins French Grand Prix sprint from eighth on grid

Aprilia’s Martin wins French Grand Prix sprint from eighth on grid

Published by Sam Flores

LE MANS, France, May 9 : Aprilia’s Jorge Martin pulled off a stunning charge from eighth on the grid to win Saturday’s French Grand Prix sprint, closing the gap on championship leader and teammate Marco Bezzecchi while world champion Marc Marquez crashed out spectacularly. Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, who started from pole position, finished second and Bezzecchi claimed third for his first sprint podium of the season. Martin’s victory, a record 18th sprint success for the 2024 champion, moved the Spaniard to within six points of Bezzecchi in the standings ahead of Sunday’s main race. Martin’s remarkable comeback began with a blistering start as he sliced through the field before overtaking a group of riders on the outside with surgical precision. “I love this track. Today, I struggled a bit in qualifying, but I knew my potential was much higher,” a beaming Martin said. “I just put all my determination into the start. I didn’t expect to be (in) first position in the second corner, but from that point, I just pushed like in the past, …

Marco Rubio Seems to Be Having a Grand Time

Marco Rubio Seems to Be Having a Grand Time

Published by José Betancourt

It’s a low bar, perhaps, but no one in the Trump administration seems to be having more fun at the moment than Marco Rubio. Last weekend, he was acting as a DJ at a family wedding, headphones to his ear with head and hand pumping to the beat. Midweek, the secretary of state was at the podium in the White House briefing room, spitting rap lyrics and cracking jokes. (“Two more questions!” he said, before entertaining seven more.) And toward the end of the week, he was in Vatican City, being escorted through marble hallways by members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard for an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who has been criticized by the president and vice president. Rubio comes across as the happy warrior, not the angry one—the one offering lighthearted jokes more than brash confrontation. In a more normal time, he would seem like just another glad-handing politician. But consider the moment: Gas prices are rising, the GOP midterm outlook is dimming, and the war that President Trump launched against Iran continues …