Italy wins 2021 Eurovision Song Contest following tight race

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Eurovision organizers have rejected a song entry from Belarus due to its lyrics mocking demonstrations against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Critics say the song legitimizes Lukashenko's regime.

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Eurovision performers who qualified for the grand final after Thursday's second semi-final shared their excitement during a press conference in Rotterdam. US Rapper Flo Rida who supported San Marino's Senhit said on this occasion, "I love the energy. And also be up there was just amazing, man, the whole set-up is like over the top."

The singer for Italy's Eurovision Song Contest winning rockers Maneskin will take a voluntary drug test after denying speculation that he was snorting cocaine during the broadcast.

"We just want to say, to the whole of Europe, to the whole world, rock 'n' roll never dies," Maneskin's frontman Damiano David has said after winning.

Victoria Salcedo, a young girl without arms and only on legs, is taking on her next challenge by participating in the Miss Ecuador contest, as filmed in Guayaquil. Salcedo lost her limbs in an accident when she was five years old after being electrocuted by a high voltage cable.