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10 More Countries Advance To Eurovision Final


Jamala Condemns Latest Crimea Detentions
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Ten countries, including Ukraine, advanced from the second of two semifinals completing the final line-up for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest's grand finale this week in Stockholm.

Ukraine's Jamala, a 32-year-old Crimean Tatar, is a top contender judging by online betting sites.

She qualified for the final with her heart-rending song, titled 1944, which recalls how Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ordered the mass deportation of her entire nation to Central Asia in 1944.

Also qualified for the final is Israel, a country that has won the Eurovision prize three times.

Other spots in the final were awarded to Latvia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, and Belgium.

Australia, making a second appearance in the contest, also qualified and is considered one of the favorites to win the final on May 14.

Ten other acts, including Russia with one of the top contenders Sergei Lazarev, qualified from the first semi-final on May 10.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP

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