Israel’s contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has become a hot topic – not only for its performance, but also for the record-high number of votes from the audience. Now, suspicions are growing that organized campaigns may have influenced the result.
According to the Schibsted newspaper SvD, both experts and Eurovision fans have reacted to Israel receiving so many votes from TV viewers. Israel’s representative Yuval Raphael won the public vote by a large margin, but Austria took home the final victory thanks to higher scores from the jury groups.
As in Malmö last year, Israel’s entry was controversial even before the final, mainly because of the ongoing war in Gaza.
It is worth noting that Yuval Raphael survived the Hamas attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and she says that the experience has shaped her and her entry, “New Day Will Rise”, which she believes carries a strong message of hope and reconstruction.
According to SvD, there are suspicions of coordinated efforts on platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, and X, where users have shared instructions on how to vote from different countries and use VPN services to circumvent geographical restrictions.
Similar patterns have been seen in previous years, but this year’s mobilization is described as unusually extensive. There have also been reports of automated bots and paid advertisements targeting the Eurovision audience.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, has confirmed that it is following up on the information and analyzing voting patterns. In a statement, the EBU says it has advanced systems to detect and stop cheating, but that it always reviews its procedures after the contest.
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Would we feel better if we broadened our view of death? Can we live a richer life of higher presence by seeing death in a more natural way – without fear?
Could it be that we actually lack fundamental knowledge of life? Birth, life and death are life processes that everyone goes through. But although these being common to everyone, our attitudes towards these processes can differ considerably. Man’s view on life and death is influenced by both upbringing, cultural environment, acquired life knowledge, individuality and level of development. His attitude towards death becomes particularly apparent when faced with difficult situations. When death is perceived by man as the definitive end of existence, it naturally becomes something to fear. Faced with imminent danger and without understanding of the nature of death, he seeks to avoid it at all costs. But can the price be too high? These are subjects for individual reflection.
The preservation of the physical form of life is what is valued most by most people, indicating that something noble is developing. It is in physical life that we learn to love and care for each other. This nobility needs to be achieved before trust in life, discernment, and true common sense can awaken, and we with higher mental consciousness and with increased knowledge of human evolution can look upon life from a higher perspective. If the higher emotional qualities of the heart were not developed first, man would be in danger of becoming of a cold and inhuman nature, inclined to go astray in life.
Good qualities such as compassion and humility grow more easily under difficult circumstances, which often give rise to reflection on held values. By man being placed in crisis situations and by learning to handle them, that “’prepares the ground” within them and enables the development of consciousness.
Common crises in a society have the potential to raise collective consciousness. The processed life experiences offer a more fertile soil for the seeds of knowledge sown in the human kingdom by individuals of higher natural kingdoms. The normally slow development of consciousness is accelerated when we take advantage of the opportunities given to us during the course of life and when we reflect on and process our experiences. An open and inquiring attitude prevents emotional illusions and mental fictions from crystallizing in our thinking. An important step is taken when man begins to seek understanding of the higher meaning of life. This enables an incipient understanding of the path of human development and a changed approach to both life and death.
The Western illusion of only-one-life
Of all the human inhabitants of the earth, a majority seem to have the insight that this earthly life is only one of countless others. It is in the more secularized societies of the Western world that this knowledge has been ignored in favor of material development, with the exception of the great thinkers of the ages, who have realized the fact of reincarnation.
To be born and to die are to the individual like activity and rest, both equally necessary from the point of view of the real self. We go into and out of incarnation, again and again, with widely varying periods of rest. It is only the lowest of our envelopes, the physical organism, which we leave behind us on earth. Existence continues, and just as real as we perceive our ordinary life, existence is perceived after so-called death. The real sacrifice or “death” from the point of view of the self is being born into the physical world – with all its limitations. Yet it is in the physical world that we have to make the life experiences that take us forward on the path of evolution.
Physical death comes to us all sooner or later. When the organism is too decayed and diseased, one thing or another will cause the withdrawal of the inner man, what may be called natural death. This is inevitable, and from the point of view of the real self something necessary and good. A physical instrument that can no longer serve its function must be released from man’s grasp, and the self thus liberated for higher existence. Man’s fear of losing loved ones may of course be great, because in our ignorance we believe that we really lose them, and in physical form this is of course true. But the truth is that we have met and loved each other in so many shapes that we should be grateful that the memories of our partings in the past are beyond our reach. Despite this, earthly love can naturally give rise to great sorrow and loss when a loved one dies, but with the insights we have the opportunity to attain through higher knowledge of life we can evade being perished by sorrow. We meet again, and the bonds are strengthened. Death is nothing to fear but is a liberating transition and joy as we move on to finer worlds of existence.
Many have testified to the experiences they have had during so-called near-death experiences – NDEs – which, however, merely show the first stop after death – the only one from which man can return. Much more remains for the self to experience in these higher worlds as it gradually emancipates itself from the emotional envelope and later the mental envelope, that enabled its emotional and thought life during incarnation.
Photo: Pixabay
Consequences of denial
In modern society, new technology in healthcare has multiplied the capacity to save human lives, for better or for worse. The goal of prolonging and saving life at all costs may be laudable and right, but this is not always the case. When the eventual consequences of alleged preventive and life-sustaining measures are not taken into account, these can have even more serious consequences for the individual. Sometimes life-sustaining measures prolong the life of an organism that no longer serves its purpose and where the higher self is just waiting for an appropriate way to pass. If we could see this from a higher perspective, we might smile indulgently at people’s persistent attempts to “save lives”. Many times these efforts do more harm than good.
If, in difficult and life-threatening conditions, where the possibility of recovery is excluded, we could instead accept our condition as a preparation for transition, trusting that the incarnation is coming to an end, we could instead choose to die safely at home in a calm and familiar environment. With our loved ones gathered, this can become a peaceful and beautiful transition, a fine farewell, while still having the possibility of assistance from palliative care if needed.
In addition to the limitation of the physical organism in terms of lifespan, the law of reaping also has its effect, not only individually but also collectively. That people are “taken out of incarnation” is no coincidence but always has a cause, even if it may be distant and impossible for us to understand. The death of a loved one also has a significant impact on the development of relatives, which from a higher perspective and under certain circumstances could be seen as an act of sacrifice. In addition, each individual always has a life debt account that is relieved by what can be perceived as “premature” death, as may be the case in accidental or tragic circumstances. Regardless of the reasons, incomprehensible to us, we must never hesitate to provide the care our fellow human beings need. This care is not only pure humanity but also the good reaping of others, a compensation for old debts and good sowing through a new causal act. The long-term perspective is always a reality even if it is exceedingly rarely taken into account. An emerging understanding of the law of cause and effect inevitably leads to greater humility about life.
Photo: Pixabay
From the higher perspective
The larger perspectives include humanity as a collective, the rise and fall of civilizations, the development of consciousness of beings and the evolution of the planet, all of which are subject to higher laws. From the higher perspective, incarnation is a necessity for growth through life experiences, lessons and insights, which can only be gained in the physical world. When the purpose of the individual incarnation has been achieved (something we are not able to fully understand), no more opportunities for instructive experiences can be offered or the human organism has been rendered unserviceable, Augoeides, man´s guardian angel, calls man out of incarnation for continued existence in finer material worlds. Augoeides provides man with a causal envelope during the passage through the human kingdom. All this is a completely natural process according to knowledge conveyed to humanity from individuals of higher kingdoms.
All these repeated incarnations serve to develop twelve essential qualities in man, the attainment of which is necessary for the next stage of evolution, his transition to the fifth kingdom of nature. These fundamental qualities for man are trust in life, trust in self, obedience to law, uprightness, impersonality, will to sacrifice, faithfulness, reticence, joy in life, purposefulness, wisdom and unity. All of these contain many related qualities. This next kingdom of nature – the essential world or the world of unity – exists in finer matter than the physical, and there everything that is not unity, love and wisdom must be overcome once and for all. Until then, the common goal in the kingdom of man is to achieve unity and brotherhood, reflected in a community building of an entirely new quality. Then humanity can, through its radiance of light, love and power, fulfill its true role and be a blessing to the lower kingdoms of nature.
In our time, this knowledge of reality is presented through the hylozoic mental system, conveyed anew by the Swedish esoteric philosopher Henry T. Laurency (1882-1971) and especially adapted for Western minds.
Frederick Forsyth, the author behind timeless classics such as The Day of the Jackal and The Dogs of War, has passed away at the age of 86 after a short illness. He died on June 9 at his home in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, surrounded by his family.
Frederick Forsyth began his professional career as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, then became a foreign correspondent for Reuters and the BBC, and during the Cold War was an informal asset to MI6 during conflicts such as the Biafran War.
These life experiences laid the foundation for his journalistic and fact-based narrative style. He went on to become one of the greatest thriller writers of modern times.
His debut novel, The Day of the Jackal (1971), was written in just 35 days when Forsyth was under financial pressure. The book was a huge success thanks to its realistic portrayal of a professional assassin hired to kill the then French president Charles De Gaulle.
– The point was not whodunit, but how, and how close would he get?[to de Gaulle].
Among his most notable works are The Odessa File (1972), The Dogs of War (1974), and The Fourth Protocol (1984).
Frederick Forsyth’s writing was characterized by a fact-based and documentary style, where the complexity of reality always took center stage.
Very sad to report the passing of award winning novelist Frederick Forsyth. His books have sold more than 80 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into spy movies like The Day Of The Jackal, The Odessa File and The Fourth Protocol.
— SpyHards – A Spy Movie Podcast (@SpyHards) June 9, 2025
Successful films and a title of nobility
During his career spanning more than fifty years, Forsyth wrote over 25 books, which together sold over 75 million copies worldwide.
Many of these were successful film adaptations – from The Day of the Jackal (1973) and The Dogs of War (1981) to later productions such as The Fourth Protocol (1987).
For his life’s work, he was awarded the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1997 and the Diamond Dagger Award, the Crime Writers’ Association’s highest honor, in 2012.
Despite his success, Forsyth remained a low-key, research-driven writer who often emphasized how his own background – from military service to investigative journalism – gave his stories a distinct credibility.
Now the world mourns a true master storyteller – but his stories, as captivating as they are incisive, will live on and inspire generations to come.
Name: Frederick McCarthy Forsyth
Born: August 25, 1938, Ashford, Kent, England
Death: June 9, 2025, Jordans, Buckinghamshire
Occupations: RAF pilot, foreign correspondent, author
Debut novel: The Day of the Jackal (1971)
Other known works:
The Odessa File (1972) - Untitled Odessa
The Dogs of War (1974) - The Dogs of War
The Devil's Alternative (1979) - The Devil's Alternative
The Fourth Protocol (1984) - The Fourth Protocol
The Fist of God (1994) - The Fist of God
The Afghan (2006) - The Afghan
The Cobra (2010) - The Cobra
The Kill List (2013) - The Kill List
The Fox (2018) - The Fox
Awards:
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1997
- Diamond Dagger, Crime Writers' Association, 2012
Style: Documentary, research-driven and fact-based thriller
Books sold: Over 75 million copies worldwide
Film adaptations: The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Odessa File (1974), The Dogs of War (1981), The Fourth Protocol (1987) – and more
Eighty years after the Moomins first saw the light of day, Tove Jansson’s book is being given a new lease of life in the gaming world. Winter’s Warmth is based on Troll’s Winter – a story about loneliness, maturity, and liberation, both for the Moomins and their creator.
Troll’s Winter, the sixth book about the Moomins, is often considered one of Tove Jansson’s most personal works. It revolves around Moomintroll, who wakes up during winter hibernation and sets out alone into the winter landscape. There he discovers himself and matures on a personal level. The author wrote the book during a turbulent time in her life, when she decided to go against her family’s values and move in with her female partner.
– For the first time, she took the plunge and started living with another woman. She freed herself from her family and became an adult. After this, her stories became deeper and more philosophical, dealing more with existential questions, her niece Sophia, who manages her aunt’s artistic legacy, told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
Winter’s Warmth is being developed by Norwegian game developer Hyper Games. Like the book, the game is characterized by strong emotions and loneliness.
– The book isn’t afraid to tackle themes such as loneliness, death, and isolation, and neither should the game, says CEO Are Sundnes.
“Continuing the traumatization”
Furthermore, they want to incorporate the more frightening elements that Jansson also includes in her books. Sundnes points to The Groke (Swedish: Mårran, Finnish: Mörkö), for example, who he believes has “traumatized four or five generations of Scandinavians”.
– And we are continuing that traumatization through the games, he says, continuing:
– I think it’s nice if we can stir up some emotions. I don’t think you should be afraid of people getting sad or scared. It’s part of the gaming medium to cover emotions.
The game will be released next year and will initially be available for PC. It will also be released on consoles, but it is unclear which ones. The game developer also released a Moomin game in 2024 called Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, which is available on PC and Switch.
One of nature’s true wonders is the Icelandic volcano Snæfellsjökull. It is best known from Jules Verne’s novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, but even in modern times it is a very popular tourist destination.
Icelandic folklore emphasizes the importance of visitors showing respect for the hidden people who live there, otherwise things could go very badly.
The Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland is lined with glistening glaciers, waterfalls, and high cliffs. Small picturesque villages make up the population of the peninsula, which is often referred to locally as “Iceland in miniature”. Even from the murmuring urban buzz of Reykjavik, you can glimpse the glacier-covered volcano Snæfellsjökull. The peak measures 1,446 meters above sea level and is the central part of the national park that was established around the area in 2001. The national park has a dizzying and unusual variety of nature, including moss-covered lava fields and pebble beaches. The 700,000-year-old volcano is considered active, despite not having erupted for around 1,800 years.
To the center of the Earth
The place is perhaps best known in literature. In 1864, French author Jules Verne published his adventure novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, or “Voyage au centre de la Terre”. in which German professor Lidenbrock finds old Icelandic documents describing how to reach the center of the Earth. Together with his nephew Axel and their guide Hans, they travel to Snæfellsjökull, where the journey to the center of the Earth begins. The book is considered a classic and one of the most popular adventure books of all time.
Gatklettur. Photo: iStock/Irina Danilova
High peaks and deep caves
Unfortunately, there is no path to the center of the Earth in the volcano (as far as we know…). However, it is perfectly possible to hike to the top. It takes about eight hours there and back. In the fishing village of Hellnar, there is information about the hiking trail to the top and also a large number of other trails you can follow around the outstanding natural surroundings.
The combination of volcanic terrain, glacial influence, and proximity to the sea creates a unique ecosystem that is home to a variety of life forms. On the hiking trails, you may encounter seals, puffins, or mountain foxes. It is also not uncommon to see dolphins and killer whales in the sea. The volcanic climate is harsh, especially near the volcano, but it also demonstrates nature’s incredible ability to adapt. Closer to the volcano, mosses and lichens dominate, as they can withstand the cold. At lower altitudes, Arctic wildflowers grow, such as Icelandic thyme and blue sea lavender.
The area also has a number of beautiful waterfalls that set the tone for the landscape. One example is the Svöðufoss waterfall, located near the glacier. It is ten meters high and, thanks to the surrounding glaciers, has a rich water flow all year round.
At Djúpalónssandur, you enter a real lava landscape. There are various rock formations created by lava long ago. If you follow Nautastígur, the bull’s path, you will come to the odd rock Gatklettur, which has a large hole in it, and through the hole you can see the volcano in the background. The area also has a bunch of lagoons with fresh water, and if you go down to Black Lava Pearl Beach, you’ll see a bunch of smooth black stones. These are called Djúpalónsperlur, which means pearls from Djúpalón. The lava stones have been smoothed out by the sea.
Near the volcano is also the lava cave Vatnshellir. The 200-meter-long cave was formed about 8,000 years ago by an eruption. Inside, you can learn about Iceland’s geology and what kind of trolls lurk down there. At the deepest point, you can experience total darkness when the lights are turned off.
Among elves and trolls
Speaking of trolls, both Snæfellsnes and Snæfellsjökull are linked to many Icelandic folk tales. According to the saga of Bård Snæfellsas, in Icelandic Bárðar saga snæfellsáss, it was the half-giant Bárður Snæfellsás who founded the peninsula and gave it its name. He is described as being from a royal line of giants and trolls, but also half human.
Bárðar’s father, King Dumbar, was half titan and half giant, who kidnapped the human Mjöll to be his wife. In Norway in the year 900, Bárðar was born, the eldest of the siblings. He was a handsome man and was often told that he resembled his beautiful mother Mjöll. In Iceland, it is said that the most beautiful, whitest snow was named after his mother’s skin color – Mjöll. According to legend, the word “Mjöll” is still used to describe beautiful white snow falling in calm weather.
Statue of Bárður Snæfellsás. Photo: Theo Crazzolara/CC BY 2.0
Bárðar settled on the peninsula with his wife, his nine daughters, his half-brother Þorkell, and his two sons. According to legend, the nephews, named Rauðfeldr and Sölvi, and the daughters often played together, but one day things went wrong. Both nephews were playing with his daughter Helga when Rauðfeldr pushed her hard. She fell against an iceberg that was drifting toward the pack ice in the strong wind. Then she disappeared into the fog. When Bárðar heard about the incident, he rushed to his half-brother’s home and grabbed both nephews, who were eleven and twelve years old, by the arms. He then threw Rauðfeldr down a large ravine, killing the young boy. Then he threw Sölvi off a cliff, where the boy died when his skull was crushed. To this day, the ravine is called Rauðfeldsgjá and the cliff Sölvahamar. Þorkell now sought revenge on his brother and they fought. Bárðar broke his half-brother’s leg, who then decided to leave Snæfellsnes and the people for good. After this family tragedy, Bárðar disappeared into the Snæfellsjökull glacier and became the protector of the area. Even today, he is said to only come out to help people in need, for example against trolls and other creatures. What Bárðar did not know was that his daughter Helga had actually survived and ended up in Greenland, where she had her own adventures. She later returned to visit her father in the glacier.
Much of the peninsula is named after Bárðar, and the entire area is strongly linked to the tragic saga of his life. In the fishing village of Arnarstapi, there is a statue of the half-giant. If you visit the fishing village, we also recommend taking a look at the spectacular works of art on the coast, namely the basalt cliffs that were created entirely by the force of the sea. Basalt is a type of lava rock that is formed when lava cools.
There are also other creatures associated with the place. Like the rest of the Nordic countries, Iceland is strongly influenced by folklore, which is still an important part of the culture today. These creatures are strongly connected to nature and are often seen as its protectors. Many stories tell of how they can influence people who visit the place, both by protecting and warning them, but also by punishing those who do not show respect.
Giants and trolls are said to live around and inside the mountain. There are also said to be plenty of huldufolk, who are said to live alongside humans and are often described as elves. They are often called “the hidden people” because they are invisible to the ordinary human eye. They are said to resemble humans in appearance, but are more beautiful, taller, and slimmer. Huldufolk are described as superhuman but live completely normal lives in their own sphere, just like humans.
The red-colored, gigantic rock Söngklettur, which translates to “the singing stone”, at Djúpalónssandur is said to be the elves’ church. According to legend, this is where Bárður and his men first arrived, and it got its name because the cave seemed to respond to everything they said with an echo. As long as you remember to ask the elves for permission, it is perfectly fine to stay around and enter the cave. Respect is strongly emphasized in Icelandic folklore, where it is warned that things can go very badly if you do not show respect for the invisible.
Inside, there are numerous carvings, some over 500 years old. Many people have used the cave as shelter over the years and have carved small messages or their initials into the walls. However, it is forbidden to carve new messages.
Photo: Eric Kilby/CC BY-SA 2.0
One of the most powerful places
Some believe that the Earth is divided into seven major energy centers, or “chakra points”. In New Age circles, Snæfellsjökull is often described as the heart chakra, and for this reason, many spiritual practitioners and others are drawn to the volcano – to gather strength, promote healing, perform ceremonies, or simply meditate.
Stones like Djúpalónsperlur are common all along the coast and are often called “orkusteinar”, or power stones, which many people collect and take home with them. Some believe that they are protected and should not be taken from the site. For example, it is said that huldufolk live around Djúpalónssandur, as described above, and that the black stones found around the site should therefore not be taken. Some tell of how they took a stone home and were then struck by misfortune.
It is also common to take your own crystals with you and charge them around the volcano, as the energy is said to be extremely powerful.
Many visitors say they find it difficult to sleep on the peninsula. Some believe this may be due to the magnetic energy emanating from the volcano. The volcano is also said to have a power that makes people want to return there again.
Djúpalónsperlur. Photo: Tim Hodson/CC BY 2.0
Aliens visiting
Due to the powerful energies of the place, many have speculated that Snæfellsjökull is where aliens would visit if they came to Earth. At least hundreds of people were convinced of this during the winter of November 5, 1993, when people from all over the world traveled to the volcano to witness a visit from aliens, according to Reykjavik Grapevine. According to reports, telepathic individuals had been in contact with other planets and received this specific date and location in their minds. Five hundred people from different parts of the world were so convinced that they made their way there on this cold winter evening, but no aliens came to visit, at least as far as we know. In a spirit of goodwill, fireworks were set off as a symbol of intergalactic friendship. The question is, however, whether the bangs in the air really gave a particularly friendly impression…
Shipwrecks
When visiting the area around Djúpalónssandur, you can also see pieces of iron lying on the beach. These are from the British trawler Epine GY7, which sank on March 13, 1948. On that fateful night, a terrible snowstorm caused the ship to lose control and many fell overboard. Residents from nearby villages managed to pull a rope to the sunken ship and rescued five men. However, 14 of the men on board did not survive, and several of them are still lost at sea.
The remains of the trawler have since remained on the beach as a memorial and are protected, which means that they cannot be moved or touched.
