Established 1961 11 Lifestyle Features Sunday, May 23, 2021

Tix from Norway performs the song “Fallen Angel” during the dress rehearsal of the final of Go_ A from Ukraine performs the song “Shum” during the dress rehearsal of the final of the Manizha from Russia performs with the song ‘Russian the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. — AFP photos Eurovision Song Contest. Woman’.

Jeangu Macrooy from the Netherlands performs the song “Birth Of A New Age” The Roop from Lithuania performs the song “Discoteque”. Jendrik from Germany performs with the song ‘I Don’t Feel Hate’. during the dress rehearsal of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.

he Eurovision Song Contest final take part via a recorded performance included Cyprus’ entry “El Diablo” Treturns in Rotterdam yesterday after instead. A similar fate has befallen 2019’s (Spanish for “The Devil”) , which has a year off, bringing giant angel Dutch winner Duncan Laurence, who been accused of blasphemy and wings, cheesy lyrics and a message of came down with coronavirus symptoms satanism by the Cyprus Orthodox Church hope in the time of coronavirus. Italy, during rehearsals this week. and religious groups. Russia’s contestant France and Malta are the favorites to win Manizha has angered conservatives with a unique version of the love-it or hate-it ‘Impatience and joy’ her song “Russian Woman”-even as she kitschfest, which is defiantly going ahead However the focus during yesterday’s wowed audiences with a huge Russian in the Dutch port city under pandemic final-one of the world’s most watched tel- doll-style dress that burst open to reveal rules. evision events with an audience of nearly the singer in a red boiler suit. This year’s theme is “Open Up”, and 200 million people-will be on the music “I’ve hit a nerve,” the Tajik-born measures including limited fan numbers and the flamboyant costumes worn by refugee and feminist activist told AFP in and compulsory testing could be a model the 26 finalists. Italian punk rockers March. Norway’s contestant Tix, who took for events like Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Maneskin are the bookmakers’ favorites, to the stage in huge white angel wings, Olympics as the world emerges from but French chanteuse Barbara Pravi is takes his stage name from the tics that lockdown. hoping to end her country’s 44-year los- he suffers as a result of having Tourette’s Organizers insist that the relentlessly ing streak with her song “Voila”. Often Syndrome. And tiny San Marino pulled off upbeat contest, cancelled last year for the compared to legendary singer Edith Piaf, Daoi & Gagnamagnio from Iceland perform with the song ‘10 Years’. one of the surprises of the competition first time since it was created 65 years Pravi said it was “not pressure I feel, it’s with a cameo from US rapper Flo Rida, ago to unite war-blighted Europe through impatience and joy”, despite a nation’s ernous Ahoy Arena, only around one fifth the result linked to their entry pass. The helping them qualify from Thursday’s sec- song, is more relevant than ever. “These hopes for a first win since 1977 riding on of its full capacity. Audience members Dutch government allowed a live audi- ond semi-final. At the other end of the are times where we are debating each her shoulders. Malta’s 18-year-old sensa- will have to wear masks when they move ence as part of its FieldLab programme, scale, Spain and Germany look set to other, fighting a pandemic. Now it’s also tion Destiny Chukunyere has also attract- around but not while in their seats. which has also carried out concerts and battle it out to avoid the dreaded “nul time to have some fun,” Eurovision proj- ed attention for her stunning voice and Performers meanwhile have spent the other events as it tries to open up social points”-when countries fall foul of good ect manager Dave Geensen told AFP this bold wardrobe choices, and is third week in a biosecure bubble and are life. taste and national rivalries and end up week. favorite for her song “Je Me Casse” strictly separated from members of the without scoring.—AFP ‘Nul points’ They say the show must go on despite (French for “I’m outta here”). press and other staff at the venue. a number of scares, with Iceland ruled They will all be performing to an audi- Everyone entering the site must be tested Some 3,500 fans were also allowed out of yesterday’s live show after a band ence of just 3,500 fans who are allowed for coronavirus every 48 hours with a rap- into each of this week’s two semi-finals, member tested positive, forcing them to in the live audience at Rotterdam’s cav- id breath test-and if that fails to produce a which offered a glimpse of the weird and proper result with a nasal PCR swab-with wonderful offerings in store. Highlights

Stefania from Greece James Newman from San Marino’s Senhit (center) performs with the the United Kingdom and US rapper Flo Rida perform song “Last Dance”. performs with the “the song Adrenalina”. song ‘Embers’.

suming huge quantities of meat on a scale that is just not sustainable for our planet,” a Animal rights protester in Coventry said in a video post- ed on Twitter. McDonald’s confirmed that its distribution centers were currently facing group blocks UK disruption. “We are assessing the impact on deliveries to our restaurants and to menu items. tudents in Alabama can now learn notic states, guided imagery, and namaste Alabama’s schools. The new law requires McDonald’s sites We apologize to our customers for any Syoga at school-but they still can’t greetings shall be expressly prohibited,” parents to sign a permission letter to allow disappointment caused,” said a spokesper- deliver the traditional “namaste” meaning meditation, Hindu/Buddhist style, their children to learn yoga at school. “I son. Coventry police said they “recognize greeting to their teacher. The southern is out. The state, dominated by conserva- understand that yoga is part of the nimal rights protesters yesterday the right to a peaceful protest, however state’s governor, Kay Ivey, revoked a 30- tive Protestants, banned yoga in public Hinduism religion,” the letter must say. Ablockaded four British distribution there are safety concerns as the sole year-old law Friday that banned the popular schools three decades ago, saying it could Moreover, local school boards will have the centers for fast-food chain entrance and exit point to the distribution practice, letting public schools teach and not be separated from its Hindu beliefs. choice of permitting yoga or opting out. McDonald’s, demanding they become fully site has been blocked and this is causing practice yoga, though stripped clean its cul- Albert Mohler, theologian and president of The effort to permit yoga in schools was plant-based by 2025. The Animal Rebellion significant disruption to businesses, which tural, spiritual and religious elements. “All the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, led by a young African-American state law- group said they intended to block the distri- we are taking seriously.”— AFP instruction in yoga shall be limited exclu- had written that yoga was innately Hindu maker, Jeremy Gray. The new law “priori- bution sites in Hemel Hempstead, sively to poses, exercises, and stretching and that contradicted the teachings of the tizes our children’s health and wellness and Basingstoke, Coventry and Greater techniques,” the new law says. Those pos- Christian church. brings Alabama schools into the 21st centu- Manchester — all in England — for at least es have to use the English names, like the “The embrace of yoga is a symptom of ry,” the state Democratic party said in a 24 hours. “downward dog” and “the warrior.” our postmodern spiritual confusion, and, to statement. — AFP “We are in the middle of a climate and Meanwhile, it says, “Chanting, mantras, our shame, this confusion reaches into the ecological emergency and we are still con- mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hyp- church,” he wrote. That view has still not left