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Israel Intends to Participate in Eurovision Despite Boycott Threats

A logo of the Eurovision Song Contest is seen in front of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. (Reuters)
A logo of the Eurovision Song Contest is seen in front of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Intends to Participate in Eurovision Despite Boycott Threats

A logo of the Eurovision Song Contest is seen in front of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. (Reuters)
A logo of the Eurovision Song Contest is seen in front of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. (Reuters)

Despite boycott threats from several countries, Israel still intends to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

“There is no reason why Israel should not continue to be a significant part of this cultural event, which cannot become political,” said Golan Jochpaz, the chief executive of the Israeli broadcaster Kan participating in the Eurovision, several Israeli media outlets reported on Monday.

This is the first reaction to announcements from several countries that they will not participate in Eurovision next year if Israel is involved.

Broadcasters from Ireland and the Netherlands recently threatened a boycott. They indicated that they would participate if Israel stayed away from the competition. Slovenia also hinted that the country would not participate if Israel were involved.

Eurovision is due to take place next year from May 12 to 16 in the Austrian capital Vienna as Austria provided the winning act earlier this year.

Israeli singer Yuval Raphael took second place in the competition due to the audience vote.

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Entertainment

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' at Number One in N. America for 5th Straight Week

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Neytiri, performed by Zoe Saldaña, left, and Jake Sully, performed by Sam Worthington, in a scene from "Avatar: Fire and Ash." (20th Century Studios via AP)
This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Neytiri, performed by Zoe Saldaña, left, and Jake Sully, performed by Sam Worthington, in a scene from "Avatar: Fire and Ash." (20th Century Studios via AP)
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'Avatar: Fire and Ash' at Number One in N. America for 5th Straight Week

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Neytiri, performed by Zoe Saldaña, left, and Jake Sully, performed by Sam Worthington, in a scene from "Avatar: Fire and Ash." (20th Century Studios via AP)
This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Neytiri, performed by Zoe Saldaña, left, and Jake Sully, performed by Sam Worthington, in a scene from "Avatar: Fire and Ash." (20th Century Studios via AP)

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" showed no signs of slowing down, topping the North American box office for the fifth consecutive week over the long holiday weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The third installment in director James Cameron's blockbuster fantasy series took in another $17.2 million from Friday to Monday, when Americans mark Martin Luther King Jr Day.

That put its US and Canadian haul at $367.4 million, and its worldwide total at more than $1.3 billion, according to Exhibitor Relations.

"Fire and Ash" stars Zoe Saldana as Na'vi warrior Neytiri and Sam Worthington as ex-Marine Jake Sully, who must battle a new foe threatening their family's life on the planet Pandora.

It is the fourth Cameron film to pass the $1 billion mark, along with the first two "Avatar" films and "Titanic."

Debuting in second place with a disappointing $15 million was "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," the fourth installment in the zombie horror series, which comes less than a year after the last film.

"Returning after 7 months is quick -- it's too quick, and it's hurting the numbers," said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

Disney's feel-good animated film "Zootopia 2" showed its staying power, moving up to third place at $12 million over the four-day weekend.

In fourth place at $10.2 million was "The Housemaid," an adaptation of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel about a young woman who is hired by a wealthy couple with dark secrets. Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in the Lionsgate release.

"Marty Supreme," starring Oscars frontrunner Timothee Chalamet as a conniving 1950s table tennis player with big dreams, finished in fifth place at $6.7 million.

Entertainment

Jennifer Lawrence Says She Lost Role to Margot Robbie After Critics Called Her Ugly

 American Actress Jennifer Lawrence (AFP) 
 American Actress Jennifer Lawrence (AFP) 
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Jennifer Lawrence Says She Lost Role to Margot Robbie After Critics Called Her Ugly

 American Actress Jennifer Lawrence (AFP) 
 American Actress Jennifer Lawrence (AFP) 

Jennifer Lawrence has revealed she lost an acting role to Margot Robbie after critics called her ugly.

The American actress, 35, said she was denied a part in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood because she was deemed not “pretty enough,” according to The Telegraph newspaper.

Robbie was cast in her place in the Quentin Tarantino blockbuster, which also starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.

Lawrence told the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Tarantino had expressed interest in her playing Sharon Tate, the actress and wife of Roman Polanski, who was murdered by members of the Manson Family cult in 1969.
“Well, he did, and then everybody was like, ‘She’s not pretty enough to play Sharon Tate’,” she said.

“I’m pretty sure it is true, or it’s that thing where I’ve been telling the story this way for so long that I believe it. No, but I’m pretty sure that happened. Or he just was never considering me for the part, and the internet just, like, went out of their way to call me ugly,” Lawrence said.

Ahead of the 2019 film, Debra Tate, the sister of Sharon, said Robbie should take the part because Lawrence was “not pretty enough.”

“They are both extremely accomplished actresses, but I would have to say my pick would be Margot, simply because of her physical beauty and the way she carries herself – it’s similar to that of Sharon,” she said.

“I don’t think as much about Jennifer Lawrence – not that I have anything against her. She’s just, I don’t know, she’s not pretty enough to play Sharon. That’s a horrible thing to say, but I have my standards,” she added.

Tarantino said in 2021 that he had also considered Lawrence for the part of Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a member of the Manson Family.

“Early on, I investigated the idea of Jennifer Lawrence playing Squeaky,” he said. “So she read it, and afterward we talked about it a little bit... something didn’t work out... But she’s a very nice person, and I respect her as an actress,” he said.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood won three Golden Globes and two Oscars after its release in 2019.

 

 

 

Entertainment

Green Day to Open 60th Super Bowl with Anniversary Ceremony Celebrating Generations of MVPs

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Indio, Calif. (AP)
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Indio, Calif. (AP)
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Green Day to Open 60th Super Bowl with Anniversary Ceremony Celebrating Generations of MVPs

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Indio, Calif. (AP)
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Indio, Calif. (AP)

The NFL is marking the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl with a hometown opening act.

Green Day will kick off the big game with an opening ceremony Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the league announced Sunday. The performance will celebrate six decades of the championship's history, with the band helping usher generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field.

The trio, who formed in the East Bay subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area and are made up of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, are expected to perform a selection of their best-known anthems as part of the tribute.

“We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard!” lead singer Armstrong said. “We are honored to welcome the MVPs who’ve shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let’s have fun! Let’s get loud!”

“Celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history with Green Day as a hometown band, while honoring the NFL legends who’ve helped define this sport, is an incredibly powerful way to kick off Super Bowl LX,” said Tim Tubito, the league's senior director of event and game presentation. “As we work alongside NBC Sports for this opening ceremony, we look forward to creating a collective celebration for fans in the stadium and around the world.”

The opening ceremony will take place ahead of the pregame entertainment, in which Charlie Puth is to perform the national anthem, Brandi Carlile will sing “America the Beautiful” and Coco Jones will deliver “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”