Russia-Ukraine Eurovision row rumbles on after olive branch rejected

[tfcrew]

A compromise aimed at defusing a row between Russia and Ukraine over this year’s Eurovision contest has been rejected.
Ukraine, who will host the singing contest in May, banned Russia’s contestant over a visit she made to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which founded Eurovision, said Yulia Samoilova could instead perform via satellite.
But this olive branch has now been rejected by Russian television channel Pervyi Kanal.
“We find it strange the offer to participate remotely and we refuse because it goes against the essence of the event,” said Pervyi Kanal, according to AFP.
“One of the rules (of Eurovision) is that the song must be interpreted live on stage.
“We think the EBU should not invent new rules for the Russian candidate in 2017.”
The channel added Ukraine was under obligation to give an entry visa to each participant in the competition.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/24/russia-ukraine-eurovision-row-rumbles-on-after-olive-branch-rejected

ALSO.......W/VIDEO..................................

Some 20,000 people were being evacuated on Thursday after explosions at a massive arms depot in eastern Ukraine, in what is being treated as an act of sabotage.
The fire and blasts engulfed the base in Balakleya, creating apocalyptic scenes. There are no reports of injuries.
The base is just 100km from the frontline of Ukraine’s conflict. The nearly 140,000 tonnes of ammunition stored there is reportedly used to supply Ukrainian troops fighting pro-Russia rebels.
An investigation for sabotage is underway amid suspicions that an explosive device could have been dropped by a drone, after reports of a previous attempt to destroy the base this way two years ago.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/23/ukraine-mass-evacuations-after-weapons-depot-blast