DANTE Barnett stumbled upon football when he was a teenager growing up in England’s midlands – and now he’s off to chase an NFL dream.

Barnett, 21, was selected for the league’s International Player Pathway program after his insane size and speed were scouted.

NFL

NFL

The defensive tackle bulked up to 280lbs while learning the game.

And he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.6 seconds.

Now he’ll head to the US in a bid to try and win a roster spot for next season.

“I remember the first time we went to Texas for camps,” he told The Sun. “It’s completely different to Birmingham.

“I think they are willing to talk more and seemed a bit more friendly – it might just be because I have this accent.

“The people and the weather are very nice so I’d love to stay over there.”

Barnett joined the NFL Academy in Loughborough, England when he was 16.

He played all sports growing up before a friend introduced him to American football.

The physicality of the game is what grabbed his attention the most.

“It’s a very technical game so that took a while to learn,” he said.

“But in terms of it being physical, I always enjoyed that and it became an outlet for me so there wasn’t anything I was shy of.

“I’ve always been pretty quick – I first ran a 4.78 in my first year but the development at the Academy was astronomical.

“I came in at around 260lbs, and then with the lifting and impact of the hits, you start to figure out what your body needs.

“I have always been pretty big so it’s wasn’t too difficult to put the weight on.”

The NFL’s International Player Pathway was established in 2017 to give athletes from around the world a chance to win a spot on a team.

Scouts select a number of players to take part in camps in the United States.

There are 18 IPP players currently on NFL rosters and five of them have reached the active team – including Efe Obada at the Washington Commanders.

“Efe has got a lot but he also gives a lot,” Barnett said.

“The advice he’s given me, sometimes I’ve been able to just call him and sit down and talk for hours.

“He’s been a big part of my football journey and I’m very grateful for him – there’s not enough words I can give for him.”

MAD Vladimir Putin has freed a murderer who strangled his girlfriend and kept her corpse inside a barrel so he can fight in the war against Ukraine.

Evil Alexander Golubev, 24, was only three months into his sentence when he was freed by desperate Putin to fight after it was revealed the dictator had lost around 700,000 soldiers.

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Alexander Golubev, 24 (right), strangled his girlfriend Viktoria Kurman, 23 (left)[/caption]

East2West

Alexander Golubev hid her body in a plastic barrel[/caption]

East2West

Golubev horrifically covered her body with baking soda to mask the odour[/caption]

The convicted murderer has boasted he is working as a military pen pusher and “having fun” far from the bloody action on the frontline.

Footage shows Golubev at a crime reenactment demonstrating how he killed his long-term girlfriend Viktoria Kurman, 23, who was a computer graphics designer.

When she vanished, the killer pretended to be her, texting messages to her mum Olga Lishefay.

He partied at his flat with friends, informing all of them Viktoria had walked out on him.

But after more than a month, Golubev went missing and stopped messaging.

Viktoria’s mum Olga then became deeply worried and suspicious.

She went to the flat in Veliky Novgorod along with evil Golubev’s mum Marina, and a male friend of the couple.

They found it a mess – with an odour that made them wretch, coming from the green plastic barrel on the balcony which had been glazed to provide more living space as part of the flat.

Sickening footage shows Olga using a knife to open the barrel, cutting through many yards of sticky tape used to tightly  seal the lid.

Olga said: “I looked inside and I saw a black plastic bag covered with white [baking powder].

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The cold-blooded murderer used the strap of her bag to strangle her[/caption]

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Golubev confessed to killing Viktoria[/caption]

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Mad Vladimir Putin has freed the murderer to fight in his war[/caption]

“I rang the police and explained that my daughter went missing and that a barrel was found on the balcony.”

After this, operatives arrived who removed the lid and opened the plastic bag.

Olga recalled the trauma, saying how she was stood nearby and “saw hair“.

She continued: “It was clear that it was Vika [Viktoria], because she had tips of her hair highlighted.

“It was her hair, I recognised it.”

Cops took away the barrel, and the body was confirmed as hers.

Unemployed Golubev was found and arrested five days later, and at his trial in April was sentenced to nine and half years in a strict-regime penal colony.

This is after he fully confessed to killing Viktoria.

He told investigators: “I was afraid she would find out that I was cheating on her and at that moment I just didn’t know what to do.”

The cold-blooded murderer used the strap of her bag to strangle her, and wedged a sock in her mouth to “get rid of the wheezing”.

Then he bound her with electrical tape to make her body a more “convenient” shape to fit in a barrel used to store food or drink, he confessed.

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Golubev partied at his flat with friends, informing all of them Viktoria had walked out on him when he actually killed her[/caption]

East2West

Golubev put Viktoria in a plastic barrel which her mother horrifically found[/caption]

Three months later, Viktoria’s mother was shocked to be told he was no longer in jail and  his whereabouts were now a “state secret”.

But it soon became clear that he had been sent to the war under a mad Vlad scheme to release prisoners to fight.

He messaged Viktoria’s friend Alexandra saying that he was “hoping he’d be killed by a missile”, which she thinks was him pretending to be sorry about killing the young woman.

Alexandra said: “Honestly, at first I almost felt sorry for him.

“And then he wrote to his friend saying how he doesn’t care, how much fun he’s having [in the army], how he was in a safe and quiet spot doing paperwork.”

If he remains alive, Golubev will be released after completing military service with his murder conviction expunged from the criminal record.

Golubev is not the only horrific criminal to be released by Putin, as the tyrant is desperate for more soldiers to fight in his bloody and illegal war.

It comes after Nato chief Mark Rutte said that every week there are “over 10,000 killed or wounded on all sides in Ukriane,” with “over 1 million casualties since February 2022.”

The figure suggests Ukraine has lost around 300,000 soldiers as Britain estimates Russia’s losses are 700,000.

Rutte announced the grim milestone as he warned the 32 national alliance was unprepared for war.

The straight-talking ex-Dutch Prime Minister said: “We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years.


“Danger is moving towards us at full speed. 
 We must not look the other way.

“We must face it. What is happening in Ukraine could happen here too.”

CHRISTMAS shoppers looking to get some last-minute gifts via delivery may want to check Target’s updated schedule this season.

The retailer looks to make last-minute holiday shopping easy and affordable with this new delivery policy.

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Target has made a ‘last-minute’ change to delivery policy[/caption]

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The retailer looks to make last-minute holiday shopping easy (stock image)[/caption]

Target shoppers can have their gifts delivered on Christmas Eve with same-day delivery orders placed by 3pm.

Members of Target Circle 360, the retailer’s paid membership program, enjoy unlimited same-day delivery on orders over $35.

For nonmembers, same-day delivery is available for $9.99 per order.

Meanwhile Drive Up and Order Pickup orders place by 6pm will also incredibly be available the same day.

Most of the retailer’s nearly 2,000 stores are open for generous extended hours of 7am to midnight through to December 23 – but remember to check your local store hours.

Target are doing this so guests can shop the season’s must-have finds and thousands of low-priced options just in time for the holidays.

Meanwhile on Christmas Eve, stores will be open from 7am until 8pm.

And it’s important to remember that all Target stores are closed on Christmas Day.

Michael Fiddelke, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Target, said: “At Target, we understand that life can get busy, which is why we’re committed to making last-minute holiday shopping easy and affordable with delivery options and deals that fit every schedule and budget.

“Whether you’re picking up one final gift or making a quick grocery run, our team is ready to help you wrap up your to-do list and save money in multiple ways so you can enjoy the magic of the season.”

It also should be noted for Target shoppers that the retailer has updated its holiday return policy.

Target are offering an extended window for electronics and entertainment items purchased during the gift-giving period.

However, the exact refund deadlines depend on what you’re buying, and they’re stricter for certain products.

Target’s revised policy applies to items purchased between November 7 and December 24, with the return window officially beginning December 26.

For most electronics and entertainment products, the return period has been extended, but high-demand items like Apple and Beats products and mobile phones have shorter deadlines.

Shoppers have 30 days from December 26 to return non-Apple electronics and entertainment items, giving them until January 24, 2025.

For Apple and Beats Products, as well as mobile phones, a more limited 14-day return period applies, with a deadline of January 8, 2025.

Target says the policy is designed to provide flexibility while maintaining clear timelines for holiday returns.

The extended return window aligns with the retailer’s goal to make post-holiday exchanges and refunds easier.

But shoppers are urged to review their receipts and confirm specific dates to avoid surprises.

More details about the updated return policy are available on Target’s website or through its customer service channels.

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More details about the updated return policy are available on Target’s website or through its customer service channels[/caption]

IT’S more difficult than ever these days to get a foot on the property ladder and saving for a deposit can take an age.

So this tiny home from Amazon is a welcome addition to any would-be homeowner’s options.

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This tiny home from Amazon costs under $10,000 and is customizable[/caption]

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The interior of the tiny home can be designed to suit the individual[/caption]

It’s on sale for just $9,599 and is ideal as a permanent residence, holiday home or guest house.

Plus, it’s affordable so buyers won’t need a mortgage to move in.

The contemporary cabin-style house is customizable and at its most basic comes with a living room, bedroom and bathroom.

Opt for a larger size – it’s available as 20, 30 and 40ft versions – and you could have an open-plan living and dining space, three bedrooms and a bathroom.

A minimalist exterior opens through double doors to an open-plan space that can be designed to your wishes.

Ample windows across each side of the building create an airy feel – and whatever way you configure the interior rooms, they will all benefit from natural daylight.

The tiny home is ready to move into, with a functional kitchen and modern bathroom.

Wooden floors add to the clean aesthetic, while aluminium windows keep out cold and draughts, enhancing the contemporary vibe.

Built to withstand different climates, the prefab is robust and constructed with weather-resistant materials, fireproof board and sandwich panels.

According to the manufacturer the house offers “all the comforts of a traditional home in a smaller, more efficient package, making it perfect for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint”.

They say it is: “Super easy and fast to install”, even without a crane, adding that it would take a team of six just one hour to assemble.

They also state it can be easily relocated, thanks to its portable design, so if you decide to move you can move your house with you.

HOME OR HOLIDAY HOME

As well as being perfect as a first home or as an answer for homeowners looking to downsize, the house could provide extra accommodation for guests or grown-up kids, especially if you have a large yard in which to locate it.

Alternatively it would make a great weekend getaway for owners and for landlords looking for holiday rentals, depending of course on where the building is situated.

Tiny homes are becoming increasingly popular as Americans look for alternatives to expensive housing costs.

Some states – such as Florida, Georgia, Texans, Minnesota, California and North Carolina – welcome them, however that’s not the case everywhere.

In some places, including Iowa, New Jersey, New York and Louisiana permanent tiny homes are illegal.

There’s more than 10,000 such homes in the US and the fact they are so affordable, costing a fraction of the price of traditional dwellings, means they’re likely here to stay.

They’re a great solution for people wanting a more sustainable way of life – they’re usually smaller and generally well insulated, so utility costs are less.

Incorporating recycled materials into the customization of the buildings could also make them more environmentally friendly.

One couple moved from their 3,000 square-foot home into a tiny home in Virginia Beach then built a tiny home village.

Meanwhile, two brothers built their tiny home for just $6,000, saving money by doing all of the work themselves.

A KROGER shopper raged at the chain after she claimed an issue had left her without a prescription.

The customer fumed and blamed the chain’s app for keeping her waiting.

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A Kroger shopper raged at the chain after she supposedly had an issue with her app[/caption]

Saphira (@Saphiragaga) called on Kroger to make a change to its system to prevent the issue she has supposedly encountered.

“@kroger you guys need to get your app together,” Saphira wrote on X.

“It is never working properly and so frustrating.”

She then explained how the app issue had apparently not allowed her to order medication.

“Can’t even get to order prescriptions. Come on Kroger……get it together please.

“Tired of installing and uninstalling which never works.”

Kroger quickly apologized to their customer and promised to escalate the problem.

“Hi, there! We’re sorry to hear this, and we would love to help!” Kroger wrote.

The chain asked the shopper to call them so they could “troubleshoot” the issue with their digital team.

NOT APPY

Saphira has not been the only Kroger shopper to complain about the chain’s app, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.

The grocery retailer apologized to another shopper who claimed they were treated “like a criminal” when they attempted to leave the store.

This shopper said they were “done” with the chain after they claimed they experienced an issue using the receipt on their app to leave the store.

“@kroger why can’t I use my receipt in your app to get past the ridiculous security guard?” the disgruntled customer wrote on X.

“Your stupid sign claims you can ask me for a receipt, why isn’t the one in your app good enough?

“Being treated like a criminal because I shopped is BS. F***ing done with your business.”

Kroger was quick to respond, writing, “We apologize for any inconvenience.

“Please send us a PM with your phone number, email address, and the zip code of store address you are referring to so we can forward your feedback to our leadership.”

Another customer complained about an app change that meant they had problems redeeming coupons.

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