Features

By Sonia Salfity,

Desperate Dieter

You would make sure to clear your schedule when your best friend calls you even if it isn’t convenient on your busy calendar.

This should be the case as we welcome our boundaries with open arms not begrudgingly, but because life is better when they’re around! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Be very specific when setting your boundaries so there’s no confusion as to what they mean.

For example instead of saying “Stay clear of unhealthy foods.” you might specify “Stay clear of white flour and sugar”.

You might even go further and define what “Stay Clear” means. For some of us it might mean zero amounts for others it might mean minimal amounts. Boundaries only work if you work them! You can set the best boundaries anyone ever heard of, but if you never abide by them, then what’s the use of having them?

Make a list of what life is like without boundaries and be specific about how you feel without them. For example, without boundaries I overeat, oversleep and don’t move enough. This causes me to feel physically sluggish not to mention the impending mental brain fog. Add depression to the list and it’s a downward spiral from there.

Make a list of what life is like with boundaries and how you feel when you stick to them. When I commit to following my boundaries I have more energy, more self esteem, mental clarity and a desire to do things with my friends and family. Decide ahead of time that you’ll stick to your boundaries even when you don’t feel like it. This will take practice because each of us Desperate Dieters is in the position we’re in due to ignoring our boundaries.

We have become experts at making all sorts of excuses as to why we’re veering off track. It’s either someone’s birthday or someone’s ‘special recipe’ or disappointing news we just received.

Well, I have news for you: Every day is someone’s birthday and everyday there’s a special occasion and everyday you will hear some disappointing news.

If you can’t train yourself how to better deal with these occasions in ways other than food, then you might as well start digging your grave.

I’m sorry to be so blunt, but this the reality we all must face. Boundaries are your guardrails that keep you on target to accomplish your goals. When our children were young, we always asked for guardrails to be used in our lane when we went bowling.

They were boundaries that were placed to help force the bowling ball to reach the pins which was our goal.

Once our children improved their bowling skills, we were able to remove the rails. The more you stick to your boundaries the more your guardrails will remain firm in place ready to help you reach your health and wellness goals.

The only difference for us is that we will have to accept the fact that we’ll always need these boundaries for the rest of our lives. Otherwise we risk getting back to where we started.

Don’t compare your boundaries with someone else’s.

We are all unique and differ in so many ways including the temptations we struggle with.

My weakness might be my favourite chocolate bar or a slice of hot, fresh pizza. Another friend can resist those but falls prey whenever she’s near ice cream.

Therefore, beware of wishing you could switch places with someone else because they could be fighting another battle that you’re not aware of. Some of these include anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

The grass may look greener on the other side but don’t be fooled by appearances!

Setting healthy boundaries doesn’t always have to be food related. Sometimes it’s setting boundaries that guard our time. If we don’t know how to say ‘No’ to some things then we will never be able to say ‘Yes’ to life-giving experiences.

Taking care of ourselves will demand more of our time which means we’ll have to let go of things that fill our calendars and which zap our emotional and mental energy.

Don’t be afraid to look at your calendar and decide ahead of time what you can remove. Start with the things that deplete you and don’t bring you joy.

I would like to urge you to take the time to figure out what healthy boundaries you need to set for yourself both in the food and time department.

Here’s to focusing on the joy of wellness one boundary at a time, one day at a time!

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

CANNES, France — Exploitative contracts that force young female Japanese pop stars to forego relationships and sex are at the heart of director Koji Fukada's latest film, which has premiered in Cannes.

The 45-year-old director said he was inspired by a news report about a Japanese "idol", as the starlets are known, who was sued by her management agency after breaking a "no dating" clause.

Fukada cast former idol Saito Kyoko in the lead role of his feature "Love on Trial" which tells the story of a young performer who undergoes a similar ordeal.

"I felt a deep discomfort, a real unease when I found out, and that's what made me want to look into the subject a bit and then turn it into a screenplay," he told AFP in Cannes.

The film highlights the unequal relationship between management agencies and the idols, who are usually teenagers trained to become a mixture of pop star, online influencer and advertising prop.

But the core of the film examines the more unusual demand that the women remain unattached and chaste -- in order for their older, male fanbase to project their fantasies.

As the lyrics to the songs of Fukada's fictional five-member group "Happy Fanfare" make clear, the performers spend their time singing about the idea of falling in love.

"The industry really encourages this kind of artificial love between fans and their idols," the director of "The Real Thing" and "Harmonium" explained.

"As soon as an idol appears to have a romantic relationship with someone, it's well known that they lose a lot of popularity."

As well as selling merchandise, the women also offer their time for meet-and-greet events -- for a price -- at which fans can come to talk to them, hold hands, and take selfies.

'Unusual job' 

The activist director, who has previously spoken out about sexual harassment and the Japanese film industry's over-reliance on manga adaptations, believes the J-pop industry reflects the prejudices of Japanese society.

"There is a lot of prejudice and gender discrimination towards women in our patriarchal system," he said. "We tend to believe that women must be pure, untouched and submissive."

As his film makes clear, many of the stars themselves are happy to encourage this image in pursuit of fame and wealth.

"I met idols who are still active. Some believe that the ban on romantic relationships is a problem. Others think it's normal because it's a very unusual kind of job," he said.

He hopes his film, which is set for release from May, will spark debate in Japan.

"I tried to make a film that could bring out each person's perception of gender, love, freedom, and issues of discrimination," he said.

"And that every viewer, whether they agree or disagree with the choices made by the heroine, could take part in a discussion around these questions."

BANGUI, Central African Republic — Under a mango tree in a residential area of Bangui, the filming of "Problem Booth" is under way, a series of skits imagined by Lemuel Luther-King Godonam and a few fellow comedians.

Filming, then uploading the videos to build a following is an uphill struggle in the Central African Republic (CAR), a war-scarred country that is one of the world's poorest and where Internet penetration is just 15.5 per cent.

But Godonam, a 19-year-old high school student, is undeterred. As "Luther LG" he leads the troupe, playing the harassed owner of a shop dealing with problem customers and the girl selling peanuts next door.

He just wants to make a name for himself.

"It's a new thing for us," he said, explaining the lack of scripts and dialogue, and the use of a simple sign as scenery.

"You can count comedians here on the fingers of one hand," he added.

'People need this'

A few curious locals stopped to see how it was all done.

"I thought they just did this on the phone but there's real effort behind it," said 21-year-old student Kharl Malibangar, marvelling at the booms, mics and cameras.

"I want to encourage them, like their channels, subscribe and give them likes," he added.

"Humour helps a lot of people. We've been through war and people need this to escape and relax."

Godonam said he wants to take comedy from the CAR "to another level" and win fame outside the country.

That is why the young performers, aged between 19 and 24, speak in French rather than Sango, one of the country's official languages.

"It's not just Central Africans who follow me," said Godonam, who dreams of being as popular as Cameroonians, Ivorians or Beninese on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

"Foreigners also need to understand what's being said, so I have to do it in French."

Posting the videos online however is a challenge.

"There isn't good internet connection here, which stops me from posting on certain networks," said one of the other comedians, Jessie Pavelle.

"It stops me from getting noticed."

Sometimes, the 2,000 CFA francs ($3.40) that 19-year-old Pavelle puts on her phone as credit is used up even before her video is online.

Such problems mean they cannot rely on an online presence alone.

Professionalise -

But the Central African capital is sorely lacking in the kind of comedy venues or events that Ivory Coast, a launchpad for comedians, enjoys.

Niger's Mamane, whose "very, very democratic Republic of Gondwana" mocks dictatorial tendencies in Africa, has run the "Abidjan: capital of laughter" festival for the last 10 years.

Ivory Coast's economic capital also boasts filming locations, where production companies create comedy shows, bars where stand-up nights are held regularly -- and even, in recent years, comedy schools.

"Ivory Coast is the country of comedy," Mamane told AFP as he recorded his "Parliament of Laughter" show, broadcast on French channel Canal+.

"You've just got to arrive at the airport in Abidjan and get off the plane... the Ivorian sense of humour is everywhere, it's become legendary and spread across west Africa and all of central Africa."

Mamane said he could have spent his career in France. But he wanted to come back to help develop professional comedy in Africa.

Next generation

The Central African Republic is not quite there yet, said Gervais Symphorien Kpignon, from the famous Bangui Parrots troupe.

Comedy spots are often limited to official political ceremonies or events organised by NGOs where the aim is to "raise awareness, sensitise and educate the population" through humour, he said.

That's a far cry from the new wave, which is focused on more lightweight topics such as romantic relationships.

To bridge a gap and ensure the future of Central African comedy, Yvon Cyrille Gone -- also known as Dr Mandjeke -- created the "Bangui Laughs" festival seven years ago.

He also trains a new generation of young Central African comedians.

"The young people who are coming up are good but they don't have enough experience so I decided to give them a hand," he said.

That night, he added Jessie Pavelle's name at the last minute to perform alongside more experienced comedians. It was only her second time in front of an audience.

The white plastic chairs at the Missy-Momo cultural space in Bangui were all taken and the audience burst out laughing when she joked about big guys being generous and skinny ones being stingy.

"I really want to become the best-known Central African comedian in the world," she said after finishing her set. 

CANNES, France — US director Spike Lee says music artists today are not as politically active as they were in the 1970s, because doing so is going to "hurt your pocketbook".

"With so much money being made by artists, their record company or their management, if you speak out, it's going to hurt your pocketbook," he said Tuesday at the Cannes Festival after the premiere of his film "Highest 2 Lowest" out of competition.

In his new film, veteran star Denzel Washington plays a music mogul who faces a moral dilemma.

It is a loose adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 "High and Low", a classic following a wealthy businessman who believes his son has been kidnapped.

Cinema bible Variety has called Lee's version "a soul-searching genre movie that entertains while also sounding the alarm about where culture could be headed".

"I'm 68. And I grew up during the Vietnam War era. Artists spoke out and commented on what is going on in the world," said the two-time Oscar winner, who received the prize for his career's work and 2018 "BlacKkKlansman".

"I think that was prevalent more back in the era growing up," he said, though quickly making an exception for US rock star Bruce Springsteen.

"Springsteen's been on it," he said.

Springsteen last week told a British concert audience his homeland was now ruled by a "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration", causing US President Donald Trump to lash out that the rock idol was an "obnoxious J…".

Several cinema figures at Cannes this year have warned about Trump's administration, with screen legend Robert De Niro saying his country was "fighting like hell" for democracy and director Todd Haynes calling his presidency "barbaric".

At the festival in 2018, Lee raged against the Republican president during his first term, after Trump refused to denounce violent far-right protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Lee, whose latest film will be released on Apple TV + on September 5, said he grew up with music.

"I grew up in a music household," he said, explaining his father Bill Lee worked with Bob Dylan.

"If you go to that Bob Dylan album, it's all over, Baby Blue. That's my father on bass," he added.

"But Bob Dylan went electric. Everybody went electric. And my father refused to play Fender bass."

So his mother had to work to support Lee and his four younger siblings.

"In my early days, I was wondering, you know, Daddy, can't you just play electric bass? Mommy's working herself to death," he said.

"Later on, I understood why. All money ain't good money."

CANNES, France — Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" powers into the Cannes film festival for its premiere Wednesday on a steamroller of hype, with fans asking if this will be the final curtain for secret agent Ethan Hunt.

With some fretting that the $400-million epic -- the eighth in the high-octane franchise -- could be the last, Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have been teasing up the tension by dropping contradictory clues about its future.

What we do know is that British actor Simon Pegg, who has played field agent Benji Dunn in six of the films, is definitely hanging up his Impossible Missions Force badge.

But hours before the premiere, McQuarrie revealed that Cruise -- who does his own stunts -- nearly took his risk-taking too far during the shoot.

The crew feared the 62-year-old star had passed out after climbing out on the wing of a stunt biplane he was piloting alone, he said.

"Tom had pushed himself to the point that he was so physically exhausted" after spending 22 minutes being blasted by the propeller -- more than twice the time safety guidelines allowed.

"He was laying on the wing of the plane, his arms were hanging over the front of the wing. We could not tell if he was conscious or not," said the American filmmaker, who has shot the four last movies of the franchise.

Cruise, a trained acrobatics pilot, had agreed a hand signal to show if he was in trouble, McQuarrie said.

"You can't do this when you're unconscious," the director told an audience at Cannes.

For his part, Cruise has been sharing other heart-stopping behind-the-scenes footage of other stunts he did for the movie on social media, including a freefall jump from a helicopter at 3,000 metres.

He is seen jumping from the chopper high over a South African mountain range and putting himself into a high-speed spin with a camera strapped to his stomach.

The blockbuster is set to ramp up adrenaline levels and promises to lighten the tone at Cannes.

Shadow of tariffs 

The festival's highly political opening day began with accusations that Hollywood was ignoring "genocide" in Gaza, while the conviction of French screen legend Gerard Depardieu for sexual assault in a Paris court on day one also dampened the mood.

Even Cruise's iron-clad optimism has come under stress with the industry shaken by President Donald Trump's threat to stick tariffs on movies "produced in foreign lands".

With "Mission: Impossible" among Hollywood's most globalised franchises, shot on a dizzying roster of exotic locations from the Arctic to Shanghai, Cruise shut down questions about the issue at a promotional event in South Korea last week.

Asked about tariffs and the franchise's globetrotting shoots, Cruise said tersely: "We'd rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you."

In one glimmer of hope, Trump has said he will make an exception for the James Bond movies -- which are mostly shot in the UK -- because the late 007 Sean Connery once helped him get planning permission for his Scottish golf course.

Cruise's franchise also leans heavily on London studios.

Highly charged 

Yet, it is likely to be all smiles when the indomitable star bounds up the red carpet at Cannes at 6:45 pm (16:45 GMT) on Wednesday for the premiere.

A band will be waiting to serenade him with Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme tune from the original Mission: Impossible TV series -- a rather subdued welcome compared to the last time Cruise came to Cannes.

In 2022, he was greeted by a flyover of eight French fighter jets billowing red, white and blue smoke to promote "Top Gun: Maverick".

Fans will find out if this really is the end of the road for secret agent Ethan Hunt when "The Final Reckoning" is released in Europe and the Middle East from May 21. The US and several other countries will have to wait two or three days longer.

However, Indian, Australian and Korean cinemagoers will be able to see it from this weekend.

Veteran US star Robert De Niro is also giving a masterclass at Cannes Wednesday about his long, illustrious career after being awarded a lifetime achievement at Tuesday's often highly-charged opening ceremony.

The outspoken Trump critic took the chance to blast the US leader as "America's philistine president".

By Rania Sa’adi
Rapid Transformational Therapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist

At its extreme, narcissism can be classified as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), a condition that negatively affects both the individual and those around them.

Understanding Narcissism Narcissism is not just about arrogance or selfimportance — it is not simply a personality flaw but a deep-rooted psychological wound that stems from early childhood experiences.

It is a mask covering up deep insecurities and unmet emotional needs. Most narcissists experienced childhood neglect, emotional abandonment, or an environment where love was conditional.

They may have been excessively praised for achievements, but not valued for who they are, leading

to an internal belief that they must constantly prove their worth.

Many narcissists have a core belief of “I am not enough.” 

To compensate, they develop a grandiose self-image to seek external validation.

Their behaviour, whether manipulative, controlling, or dismissive of others, is a defence mechanism designed to protect them from facing deep-rooted feelings of unworthiness.

In a Relationship with A Narcissist One of the most significant impacts of narcissism is on relationships. Narcissists often struggle with forming genuine, emotionally fulfilling connections because they lack the ability to truly empathise.

They view relationships primarily as a way to gain admiration, validation, or control, rather than as mutual partnerships based on reciprocity.

People in relationships with narcissists, whether romantic partners, family members, or colleagues, often experience emotional exhaustion, self-doubt and a loss of self-worth.

The narcissist’s constant need for attention and their inability to handle criticism can create a toxic cycle where the other person is gaslighted into questioning their abilities.

People who attract narcissistic partners often have their own unresolved childhood wounds. Many have grown up in environments where love was inconsistent, making them subconsciously drawn to relationships that feel familiar.

RTT helps individuals recognize these patterns and reprogramme their subconscious beliefs to establish healthier relationships, and attract more balanced partners.

“They view relationships primarily as a way to gain admiration, validation, or control, rather than as mutual partnerships based on reciprocity.”

The Impact of Narcissism on Mental Health

The effects of narcissistic relationships extend beyond emotional distress; they can significantly impact mental health.

Victims often experience anxiety, depression, and even symptoms of PTSD due to prolonged exposure to manipulation and emotional abuse.

The narcissist’s behaviour can lead the victim to continuous self-doubt and a diminished sense of self-worth.

Healing from narcissistic abuse involves understanding that the narcissist’s behavior is not about the victim but rather a reflection of their own deep insecurities.

By uncovering the subconscious beliefs that make individuals susceptible to toxic relationships and replacing them with empowering beliefs.

Can a Narcissist Change?

One of the most debated questions is whether a narcissist can change. I believe that transformation is possible, but only if the narcissist recognises their own pain and takes responsibility for healing.

Since narcissists often resist acknowledging that they need help, change is rare unless they actively seek therapy and commit to self-awareness.

RTT can help narcissists by uncovering the root of their insecurities and reframing their core beliefs. However, because most narcissists lack the self-reflection necessary for change, therapy is often more beneficial for those who have been affected by them.

Healing and Moving Forward

Those recovering from narcissistic relationships, should advocate for self-love, boundary-setting, and rewiring subconscious beliefs.

Victims of a narcissistic relationship need to rebuild their self-worth and create a mindset that no longer attracts or tolerates narcissistic behaviour. The key to healing is recognising that true love and validation come from within, not from external approval.

By shifting their mindset, individuals can break free from toxic cycles and develop healthier, more fulfilling relationships. A mantra that says “I am enough,” that can help empower people, so that they can truly step into a life of emotional freedom.

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

BASEL, Switzerland — Just hours before Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest grand final, organisers were tight-lipped about whether ailing superstar Celine Dion might make an emotional appearance, 37 years after winning the competition.

"Father Christmas exists, and you'll have to wait and see," Eurovision director Martin Green told a press conference, when asked directly if Dion might show up.

At both of Friday's dress rehearsals for the final, as at Tuesday's semi-final, a video message from Dion was played, with the presenters announcing that she could not be with them in Basel, Switzerland for the world's biggest televised live music event.

But Eurovision 2025 co-executive producer Moritz Stadler said on Saturday that the show was still being adapted.

"There are constant changes. Our team has been working overnight until very late," he said. "We continue changing it for the grand final."

BBC television reported that Dion's private plane was in Basel, but did not know if she was on it.

And Swiss newspaper Blick said that selected staff with printed schedules for the final "can see that the recorded greeting from the rehearsals and the first Eurovision semi-final is no longer included".

"This indicates that the clip played during rehearsals has been replaced," the tabloid added.

Dion's health 'top priority'

Dion, 57, is now a global music icon. But she has never forgotten the role the song contest played in launching her on the international stage.

Dion was 20 and little-known outside her native French-speaking Quebec province in Canada when she won Eurovision in 1988, representing Switzerland with the song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi".

Switzerland duly hosted Eurovision 1989, where Dion opened the TV extravaganza with her winning French-language song.

She then premiered the single "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" -- heralding her career switch into English, which set her on the path to global chart domination.

With Eurovision 2025 returning to Switzerland, organisers reached out to Dion.

However, the singer is now battling a debilitating health condition and rarely appears in public.

"We are still in contact with Celine Dion. As always, her health remains our top priority," a Eurovision 2025 spokeswoman told AFP on Friday.

'Music unites us'

Dion first disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a painful autoimmune disorder which is progressive and for which there is no cure.

She was forced to cancel a string of shows scheduled for 2023 and 2024, saying she was not strong enough to tour.

But she gave a surprise, show-stopping performance from the Eiffel Tower at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.

"I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now," Dion said in her video clip.

"Winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988 was a life-changing moment for me.

"Music unites us -- not only tonight, not only in this wonderful moment. It is our strength, our support, and our accompaniment in times of need."

NEW YORK — Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs on Thursday tried to chip away at the credibility of Casandra Ventura, the music mogul's former girlfriend, after two days of her grueling testimony in his trial on sex trafficking charges.

Ventura, the singer widely known as Cassie, told jurors that Combs raped, beat and forced her into drug-fueled sex parties during their more than 10 years together — excruciating accounts that now open her up to a grilling from defense lawyers.

Early in the hearing, Combs attorney Anna Estevao focused on aspects of their relationship that were tender, admitting into evidence numerous emails and text exchanges that include Combs and Ventura expressing love for each other.

When asked why she would look forward to seeing Combs after he had traveled, the 38-year-old Ventura replied: "Because I had fallen in love with him and cared about him very much."

One of the messages, dated 2009, shown to jurors from Ventura to Combs read: "I'm always ready to freak off lolol."

That refers to the so-called "freak-offs" with Combs and male escorts -- sex performances directed by the music mogul and including male escorts that sometimes lasted for days, according to Ventura.

In her third day on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court, Ventura -- who is heavily pregnant with her third child -- was soft-spoken and matter-of-fact, answering many questions with a simple "yes".

Combs, 55, was once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, but is now incarcerated on charges of sex trafficking and leading an illegal sex ring that enforced its power with crimes including arson, kidnapping and bribery.

Combs -- known during his career as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Diddy -- has rejected all charges against him and pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Ventura is the case's star witness: on Tuesday and Wednesday, she described Combs as controlling and willing to wield his wealth and influence to fulfill his desires.

She gave vivid accounts of coercive sex parties -- she participated in hundreds, she testified -- and brutal beatings.

That testimony will underpin much of the prosecution's case against Combs, who is alleged to have used violence and blackmail to manipulate women over many years.

However, the defense contended in opening statements, while Ventura's relationship with Combs was complicated and included domestic abuse, it did not amount to sex trafficking.

"Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking," said defense lawyer Teny Geragos earlier this week.

They have indicated they will seek to emphasize that Ventura took drugs of her own free will, and behaved erratically and even violently herself.

'Humiliating' 

On Wednesday, Ventura alleged that in 2018, as she and Combs were breaking up, he raped her in her living room.

And she testified that her time with the artist -- often credited with helping to usher hip-hop into the mainstream -- left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.

The drugs were a "buffer" to withstand the "humiliating" and often filmed sexual encounters, she said.

In a graphic hotel surveillance clip from March 2016 shown to jurors Monday, Tuesday and again Wednesday, Combs is seen brutally beating and dragging Ventura down a hallway.

The prosecution played portions of the footage while Ventura was on the stand.

When asked why she did not fight back or get up, Ventura answered simply that curled up on the ground "felt like the safest place to be".

Following the hotel assault, Ventura was forced to attend the premiere of her movie "The Perfect Match" days later while covered in bruises, the jury heard. She said she wore sunglasses to conceal a black eye.

Ventura's testimony is expected to last at least until the end of the week and trial proceedings are anticipated to continue well into the summer.

BASEL, Switzerland-- The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off on Tuesday with a semifinal filled with pyrotechnics, colour and a dramatic sweep of music, from Portuguese guitar ballads to Estonian comedy.

After months of preparation, contestants from across the continent took to the state-of-the-art stage in Basel in search of Eurovision glory.

After performing action-packed, three-minute set-pieces, their fate was decided not by the 6,500 Eurovision fans packing the St. Jakobshalle arena, but by millions of television viewers.

Fifteen acts battled for votes, with 10 going through to Saturday's grand final, when 160 million to 200 million viewers are expected to tune in.

Comedy trio KAJ -- who are from Finland but represent Sweden -- are the bookmakers' hot favourites to win Eurovision this year with their "Bara Bada Bastu" song, based on the joys of having a sauna.

They made it through to the final, as did Estonia's Tommy Cash.

He brought a light touch with his wobbly-legged dancing in "Espresso Macchiato" -- a homage to coffee in a song bursting with Italian references.

There was an upset when Belgium's Red Sebastian -- who had been the third-favourite with several bookmakers -- was eliminated on his 26th birthday.

"We were robbed," shocked fan Ruben Verdonck said after, with the Belgian flag draped around his shoulders. "I don't understand it," he told AFP.

Records, sparkle and sentiment

Eurovision revels in kitsch and a Swiss opening blast of alphorns and yodelling, accompanied by dancers in traditional costumes, got the party started.

Dressed in sparkling silver costumes and dazzling sunglasses, Icelandic duo Vaeb -- brothers Matthias and Halfdan Matthiasson -- were the first contestants on stage with their rowing-inspired song "Roa".

Next came Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, 52, who took part in Eurovision 1995 -- the longest-ever time between two appearances -- with a gothic performance.

Lilting through languages including French, Albanian and Ukrainian, the show swung from upbeat to comic to tear-jerking.

Slovenia's Klemen was joined on stage by his wife for the self-penned ballad "How Much Time Do We Have Left" -- written about the bombshell of her cancer diagnosis.

Iceland, Portugal upset odds

Besides Sweden, Estonia and The Netherlands -- who are considered among the front-runners -- acts from Albania, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Ukraine Iceland and Portugal made it to Saturday's showdown.

There was heartache for Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Slovenia and last year's runners-up Croatia, who were eliminated alongside Belgium's Red Sebastian.

The spectacular stage in Basel is different for the 69th edition of Eurovision, stretching deep into the arena, with fans on three sides.

Pyrotechnic blasts, 4,500 pulsing lights and lasers, and ever-changing giant screens set the mood for each song.

Lighting designer Tim Routledge said the stage set meant he could create a "three-dimensional frame of light".

Following Thursday's second semi, 26 countries will take part in Saturday's glitzy final, which, as ever, is set to be a light-hearted celebration of European popular music.

Though 10 go through from each semi, the scores are only revealed after Saturday's final, maintaining the drama by making it hard for acts and fans alike to gauge momentum.

SOWETO, South Africa — In the shade of a tree on a sunny day, Isac Matate set up a rickety bookstand in a ragged square that was once a beacon for the struggle that ended apartheid in South Africa.

Some of the books that Matate packed into the shelves held together with rope touched on the themes of the landmark: Political history, black consciousness, the Bible.

The site in Kliptown outside Johannesburg commemorates the Freedom Charter of principles that guided the decades-long fight that ended white-minority rule in 1994.

Around 3,000 people of all races gathered here in a historic act of defiance 70 years ago to draw up the charter, which inspired the liberation movement and lives in the text of the post-apartheid constitution.

Its principles, such as "The People Shall Govern", "All Shall Enjoy Equal Human Rights" and "There Shall be Work and Security", are written out around what was meant to be an eternal flame.

But the flame has long been dead and the memorial -- included last year in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites of "outstanding universal value" -- is today in a state of neglect, vandalism and filth.

"Kliptown square is in a horrible, decaying state. It is getting worse by the day," said local resident Sphamandla Matyeni, who was perusing the titles on Matate's bookstand.

"It speaks of the fact that we do not treasure and protect what is deeply special to us as South Africans," he said.

Congress of the People

When Matate opened his bookshop after the memorial was inaugurated in 2005 by President Thabo Mbeki, his store was in a business complex built around a brick tower that once housed the "flame of freedom".

It was a busy time with busloads of foreign tourists arriving every day, eager to learn about the struggle that ended apartheid just years before and see where its guiding text was adopted in June 1955 at the "Congress of the People".

Business boomed, Matate said. There was a hotel, an eatery and a conference centre.

"I sold books to people who attended events during the day and night," Matate said.

"Now the square has disappeared to a point of no return."

The business centre is stripped of its roof, electricity and plumbing. When the businesses moved out, the homeless moved in.

Matate moved his bookstore outdoors, under a tree and reduced to just some shelves. Sales plummeted. "My wife left when she saw I couldn't provide for my family," he told AFP.

Known officially as the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in honour of a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle, the monument is listed by UNESCO as one of 14 "Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites" of "human rights, liberation and reconciliation".

Downhill

Post-apartheid South Africa has battled to realise some of the aspirations of the Freedom Charter, with the legacy of racial inequality keeping the country's levels of economic disparity among the highest in the world.

As people weaved between taxis beeping for customers on a bustling street nearby, resident Smangele Mashiya said the Kliptown memorial's fortunes were hurt by the international shutdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Then in 2021 local political unrest "pushed it further downhill", he said.

As locals bemoan the lost opportunities of having a key landmark in their neighbourhood, a spokesman for the Johannesburg Property Company, which manages the site, told AFP it was appointing a team to oversee its "adaptive reuse and regeneration".

"This place played an important role in our lives as young people," said tour guide Jabulani Nzimande.

"I started doing my walking tours here a long time ago and through that I was able to get the opportunity to do the training course," he said.

"But visitors are not coming here like they did before," he said, citing fears of mugging as one of the problems.

"We work voluntarily with the local police to keep the square safe," he said. "We want to see the place regaining its status."