Austria's JJ wins Eurovision with pop-opera song Wasted Love
Israel's Yuval Raphael came second at a competition overshadowed by the war in Gaza.
The world's largest live music event reached its glitter-drenched conclusion with a grand final in Basel, Switzerland, that offered pounding electropop, quirky rock and outrageous divas, at a celebration of music and unity ruffled by discord over Israel's participation.
JJ beat 25 other competitors during Saturday's grand final.
Estonia's Tommy Cash finished third with Espresso Macchiato, and Swedish entry KAJ, who had been favoured to win with jaunty sauna ode Bara Bada Bastu, came fourth.
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CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Swiss village cashes in as tourists pay to visit dock featured in hit K-drama ‘Crash Landing On You'
Korean visitors take pictures at the pier at Lake Brienz in Iseltwald, Switzerland, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP) GENEVA — A Swiss village has cashed in on a pay-for-entry turnstile used by avid tourists who flock each day to a lakeside dock featured in the hit South Korean Netflix series 'Crash Landing On You,' often to snap souvenir photos. Local leaders in Iseltwald and tourism officials insist the village's 406 inhabitants aren't getting rich off the influx of visitors, who pay 5 Swiss francs ($6.30) to access the dock. In 2024, entries brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000), while a one-franc public pay toilet collected about 58,000 francs more, said village clerk Gabriela Blatter. Proceeds have gone mostly to garbage disposal, restroom cleaning, additional work hours and custodial staff hires, she said. Titia Weiland, manager of the Bönigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, said the funds go right back to village upkeep: 'It's not correct to read it as 'the community gets rich',' alluding to some comments along those lines in the media and online. The village, situated along a small peninsula that juts out into Lake Brienz, features majestic views of Alpine peaks over the water. An episode in early 2020 of the cross-border Korean love story spotlighted the dock as a romantic getaway. That sparked online hype among fans of the series across Asia and beyond, which hasn't let up, fueling the rush of tourism to Iseltwald. The continued influx has exposed growing pains for the Swiss village, like those faced by other tourist hotspots that get too much of a good thing. Part of the problem is infrastructure: Iseltwald has three hotels and four restaurants, not enough for about 1,000 visitors who arrive by tour bus, public bus and car each day on average, according to Blatter. The village is revamping a parking lot to help cope with the strain, and the only village store now operates 7 days a week. Previously, it was open Monday to Friday. 'There were always tourists in Iseltwald. We are happy with them. The problem is that the tourists don't understand what's private and what's public,' Blatter said, adding that some traipse through private yards and gardens. 'They go everywhere.' For months, fans of the series could visit the dock for free until the turnstile was put up in 2023 to help offset costs incurred by the local government. Not long ago, Weiland said, 'we were wishing for more tourists in Iseltwald: In some ways, we are thankful ... but it can be extreme.' Villagers who hosted the crews for on-site filming at the dock had no idea the series would become such a runaway success, she said. The village has a website devoted to the 'filming location' of the series that lists transportation options and entreats visitors to respect the dock, refrain from littering, and consider the 'quiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village' by keeping noise down and avoiding private property. 'Enjoy your stay in beautiful Iseltwald and take with you memories to your home country!' the site says. Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press
Globe and Mail
07-07-2025
- Globe and Mail
PuzzleFree.Game to Launch Web-Based Jigsaw Puzzle Platform in July 2025
Vienna, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - July 7, 2025) - a new browser-based digital puzzle platform, will officially go live in late July 2025. Developed by an independent international team, the service promises an engaging online puzzle experience with personalized and AI-generated content. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The platform is designed to provide an immersive and visually appealing experience. Among its features are puzzle creation from personal photos, AI-generated puzzle content, background music, and progress tracking. A competitive ranking system will also be available for registered users. Mobile applications for both iOS and Android are currently in development and expected to follow shortly after the web version becomes available. " Our aim is to bring a modern and accessible puzzle experience to a wide audience," said Ivan L., founder of PuzzleFree. "We believe that puzzles remain a timeless form of relaxation and focus, and we've built this platform around that philosophy." About PuzzleFree is an independently developed digital puzzle platform focused on offering creative puzzle assembly tools through a browser-based interface. The project is headquartered in Austria and developed by a small international team of game and UI enthusiasts. Try it first: To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Media Contact Lukas L. Founder, PuzzleFree Email: contact@ Tel: +43 800 300809 Austria, VIENNA To view the source version of this press release, please visit
CTV News
02-07-2025
- CTV News
Westwinds Music Society prepares for European trip
Sean Emery gets a little rehearsal time in before heading to Germany and Austria to perform with the Westwinds Music Society A group of Calgary musicians and singers are getting ready to perform across the ocean, in part of the world that birthed some of the greatest classical music ever composed. Close to 70 performers made up of choir and band members from Westwinds Music Society are getting ready to head to Germany and Austria for a number of performances. The two-week tour kicks off in Bottendorf, Germany where they'll be hosted by Thomas Mandel and the Bottendorf Possaunencour (Trombone Choir). 'One of the cool things about this trip is we're reconnecting with the group that we originally met in 2002 when they came to Canada,' said Westwinds Music Society director Kevin Willms. 'We're going to perform in Bottenorf at the church they're based in, then we're going to perform in Eisenach which is the birth place of Johann Sebastian Bach, we're going to perform in the church where he was baptized.' The trip also includes stops in Munich, Salzburg, and closes in Vienna. Willms says society members come from all walks of life who possess a number of skills vocally or on an instrument. 'There are doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, you name it -- as long as they're an adult and have a passion to make music and learn, they're welcome in our organization,' he said. 'It's not only to keep active, but to keep the brain moving and your passion alive. '(It's also) a place to go for kids who are coming out of high school and want to keep playing and singing and performing.' Sean Emery is a clarinet player who also sings in the choir. The 27-year-old has been a member for 10 years and joined up after graduating high school. '(Kevin) Willms--who is leading this trip--was my high school band director,' Emery said. 'So, at the last year of high school we finished our last concert and I was really sad, I didn't know what to do and Kevin was like well, let me tell you about Westwinds.' Emery is an electrician by day and says being part of the society is a hobby for him where he gets to spend time with his friend. This will be his first trip with the group -- which has done a lot of traveling since it launched in 1988, with trips to the Czech Republic, Spain, Cuba, China and New Orleans -- and he's excited about the organization's upcoming journey to the land of Bach, Mozart and all the rest of those classical music legends. 'It's one of those things I haven't thought about enough to get nervous about, but I'm excited,' he said. 'It's going to be a good time and we're just going to see what happens. 'I respect professional musicians greatly,' he added. 'I don't practice that much, that's not what I do, I do this for fun.' Choir director Anne Gray said the group has selected Canadian music to perform for the European audiences. 'We're taking a big map of Canada and we have a few costumes such as scarves from our 'Four Strong Winds' from Alberta,' she said. 'We started rehearsing in January and we go all the way through until we leave and put something together that's fun but meaningful -- and something we can feel really good about.' The group arrives in Germany on July 13th but before they go, they're hosting a free tour kick off concert Saturday July 5th at 2 p.m. at Calgary Opera, 1315 7th street, SW. Learn more about Westwinds here.
