By JERUSALEM POST STAFFmiri bohadana 88 298(photo credit: )Eurovision kicks off tonight
A record-breaking number of countries will face off Thursday evening at the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals in Helsinki, where veteran Israeli pop band Tea Packs will perform "Push the Button," an anti-war number that almost got the group banned earlier this year by the contest's Finnish hosts because of its "political" content. The European Broadcasting Union, the body that oversees Eurovision, confirmed in March that the song would compete, but the announcement hasn't eliminated tensions between Israel's representatives and the organizers of the 2007 competition. Tea Packs lead singer Kobi Oz said over the weekend that the band might walk out of the contest because of changes made by the competition's director to video art accompanying the group's stage act.
Tea Packs is scheduled to square off against 27 other countries in Thursday's semi-final, with the top 10 joining 14 other countries that have already qualified for Saturday night's final. Rankings in both the semi-final and final rounds of the competition will be determined in traditional Eurovision style, with TV viewers across Europe voting by telephone - and, as in more recent years, by text message - for their favorite submissions. The Eurovision semi-finals air tonight on Channel 1 beginning at 10 p.m. - Nathan Burstein
Baby Bohadana born in Beilinson
Israeli actress and model Miri Bohadana welcomed her firstborn, a 3.4 kg. boy, on Tuesday at 8 a.m. at the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva. The new mother called the experience "easy and quick" (she did have an epidural). Bohadana's boyfriend and the baby's father, billionaire Babo Kobo, is a 55-year-old London resident who is married (though separated) with three kids. The couple were quick to name the child Ben, and informed the press the day he was born. - Miriam A. Shaviv
Megadeth to 'thrash' in Tel Aviv
Megadeth is the latest band to add Israel to its concert touring lineup. The American heavy metal band will perform one show in Tel Aviv on July 2 at Hangar 11. Formed in 1983, Megadeth is famous for its complex and distinctive guitar style. It is one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands of all time, having sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. The band was founded by and is still led by Dave Mustaine. Megadeth has had 18 official members over the years with Mustaine remaining as the sole original member. Megadeth is considered as one of the "big four" thrash metal bands, along with Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica. Tickets to the show can be bought through the Hadran ticket agency. - Viva Sarah Press
