Eurovision 2023: Grand final underway with Ukraine in spotlight

LIVERPOOL, UK — The final of the Eurovision Song Contest brought pop and patriotism to Liverpool on Saturday, with a Swedish diva and a party-loving Finnish rapper among favorites to win a joyous music competition clouded, for a second year running, by the war in Ukraine.

Britain is hosting on behalf of Ukraine, which won last year but can’t take up its right to hold the contest because of the war. Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine as the contest was underway, and Ukrainian media reported a strike in Ternopil, home town of Ukraine’s Eurovision entry, Tvorchi.

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