With this year’s Eurovision streamed live on YouTube into the wee hours of Sunday morning, Saeed Saeed stayed up during the epic four-hour broadcast so you didn’t have to.
11pm: Good evening, Vienna, from Khalidiya. I got my coffee flask beside me, salted nuts and top-notch headphones to hear this year's Eurovision cheese in all its glory. Only thing is, the evening begins with an elegant strings piece from the ORF Radio Symphony followed by the celestial voices of the Vienna Boys Choir. This is making me cry for all the wrong reasons.
11.21pm: After 20 minutes of truly awful scripted banter by the three hosts, including last year's winner Conchita Wurst, the competition finally begins with Slovenia's Maraaya. Her doo-wop inspired track Here for You is enjoyable with the exception of her backing dancer: Air violin? Really?
11.26pm: Memo to the French: Eurovision is supposed to be fun. What's with the black robes and war-torn background?
11.38pm: I initially thought the British press were too harsh. But they are right, Electro Velvet's Still in Love With You is beyond awful. It's a car crash of horns, overly theatrical vocals and scatting. I am sorry Englebert Humperdinck, all is forgiven sir.
11.50pm: Yes! After nearly an hour finally some cheesy euro pop. Lithuania's Monika Linkytėand Vaidas Baumila bring some colour after this drab start. Bright outfits, some smooching, a euphoric chorus and woeful lyrics: "Im feeling love round and round in my heart"
12.01am: Neary 50 seconds in and the Swedes are in with a big chance. It's pure Eurovision: joyous, giddy and a catchy chorus any three-year-old can sing. No matter that it sounds like a rejected Aviici tune.
12.07am: Welcome Australia. Pop star Guy Sebastian easily has the best voice of the competition so far. But off course he wont win because it sounds too much like a proper tune.
12.15am: Austria, what did you do? After the edgy selection of Conchita Wurst last year to get you the gong, you choose defend it by choosing a saccharine piano ballad? Shame on you.
12.26am: And this year's I Don't Care prize goes to Montenegro's Knez. He doesn't give a hoot that his polka-esque song, Adio, only appeals to himself.
12.33am: In the Name of Love by Poland's Monika Kuszyska is ultra cheesy and the video screens portrays billowing curtains. I take this as a reminder to make myself a midnight snack and to do my laundry first thing tomorrow.
12.45am: I am so sorry Romania. I was really enjoying the native piano ballad till the shocking realisation came that the bald singer was actually crooning in what he thought was English.
12.50am: Oh no! Hungary deliver another message song, something about stopping war. This is Eurovision guys, not the UN.
12.55am: Whoa! Best outfit of the night goes to Nina Sublatti. The Georgian black feathered outfit resembles the aftermath of a fight between an ostrich and a crow.
1.03am: Lots of message songs are littering this Eurovision and Russian Polina Gagarina's A Million Voices is the best, simple reason being is the melody remained. The emotional performance seems too much for the young singer, who bursts out in tears after the song.
1.10am: A show of force from Italy. Their entry, the Il Divo copy-cats Il Volo, sing a grand pop-opera song with majestic images of Roman statues and arches.
1.20am: Finally all 27 songs have been heard and, judging by the Twitter feedback, it's a three way tussle between Sweden, Russia and Italy.
1.30am: Apparently all this voting takes time. So it's a half-hour of Eurovision history, including montages of winners and a small feature on the history of The Green Room. Must ... stay ... awake.
2.15am: The voting is underway and it is indeed neck-and-neck between Russia, Italy and Sweden. All are consistently wracking up the big 10 and 12 points from judges from the 40 participating countries, all of whom read their results from a studio in their respective capitals. The bemused Azerbaijani judge looks like the grime reaper himself.
2.34am: It's Latvia who is spoiling the party; Aminata's horribly titled Love Injected is taking valuable points away from the Russians and Italians, while the Swedes are gaining ground.
2.45am: Sweden is the winner for the seventh time, with verdicts from three countries left to go, after their lead became impossible for the second place Russians to regain.
2.55am: The final votes have come through and the Austrians, despite being generous hosts, can't hide their shell shock. They come joint last with Germany with no points.
3.00am: It's over and I already need a shave. Good night.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
