3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame viewers slam Dua Lipa as ‘pitchy’ in live duet with Cher – but fans point out reason
ROCK and Roll Hall of Fame viewers have slammed Dua Lipa as ‘pitchy’ following her live duet with Cher – but other fans have pointed out the possibly reason why.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame viewers have slammed Dua Lipa as ‘pitchy’ following her live duet with Cher[/caption]
Some branded Dua’s performance “pitchy” and “underwhelming”[/caption]
However, their duet of Cher’s 1998 hit Believe received mix reactions online, with some branding Dua’s performance “pitchy” and “underwhelming.”
However, others pointed out that she may have been “under-singing” on purpose while her collaborator went full steam ahead.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one wrote: “Geez…Dua Lipa sounds terrible. If this was some singing competition, she would be out immediately.”
Another added: “Dua Lipa is quite literally singing live too that’s why we hear how awful most of it was.”
Someone else agreed: “Dua Lipa is me singing along with the radio.”
A fourth stated: “Anyone other than Cher singing this songs always sounds like bad karaoke, and that includes Dua Lipa unfortunately. Cher’s voice totally blew her out of the water.”
But a fifth rushed to her defence, asking: “Am I the only one who thinks Dua Lipa was under singing on purpose. Real Dua fans know she did not sing at full potential.”
And a sixth pointed out: “don’t forget that dua performed the day before for two hours in the royal Albert Hall.”
Cher, herself, has admitted to using autotune on the track, admitting on The Jennifer Hudson Show this year: “My record Believe was the first time auto-tune was ever used.
“It was called pitch machine, and it happened because of an argument that I had with my producer.”
The Turn Back Time songstress revealed she “walked out” on a studio session after being asked to “sing it better” over and over.
She added: “But then he called me the next day, and he said, ‘Cher, I just got this thing in, it’s called a pitch machine. And I’m doing some things and give me a couple hours and then come in ‘cause I think I’ve got something really interesting.’”
After hearing the final product, the Grammy winner said, “We both jumped up and high-fived. It was just the emotion of it.”
Others pointed out that she may have been “under-singing” on purpose[/caption]
The pair took to the stage for a belting performance in Cleveland, Ohio[/caption]
Dua looked stunning on the red carpet[/caption]
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Nintendo Switch players can grab three games completely free but they only have a week
NINTENDO Switch’s subscription service works a bit differently from Xbox’s and PlayStation’s.
While all of them allow you to play multiplayer games online, depending on your tier, the free games they offer are very different.
Minecraft Dungeons is up for grabs on NSO[/caption]
A Little to the Left’s charming puzzles are also available[/caption]
Cursed to Golf is also available but only for one week[/caption]
All of the games in the Nintendo Switch Online library are for Nintendo’s older consoles, whereas Xbox and PlayStation give away newer games.
However, that’s about to change as Nintendo has announced Game Trials, a Switch Online perk that allows you to grab newer games.
From October 23 until October 30, people can pick up and play three popular recently released games.
One of the bigger games in the selection is Minecraft Dungeons, a smaller spin-off game based on Minecraft.
This is a dungeon crawler, with procedurally generated levels, so it’s different every time you play.
The other two games are smaller indie titles that have received a great reception from fans.
Cursed to Golf is an 80-rated golf roguelike, where you have to complete a randomly selected 18-hole golf course in order to escape purgatory.
A Little to the Left is also up for grabs, and is a puzzle game where you organise objects into pleasing arrangements.
All three games are available for free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, but they can only be picked up during that week.
However, they are all short games, and if you’re a gaming fanatic, you can probably finish all three within the time frame.
You can also pick the game that most closely aligns with your taste and focus on that for a week.
Xbox and PS do what Nintendon’t
While Nintendo doesn’t usually offer recent releases with its online subscription, it is much cheaper than its competitors.
One year of Nintendo Switch Online costs the same as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and that price difference is shocking.
Personally, I think Nintendo Switch Online is the best value out of all three gaming services, but I rarely play modern online games.
Nintendo’s older library of games includes classics like Super Metroid and A Link to the Past, which are still amazing to play even today.
Nintendo’s subscription also offers games you can’t play on other consoles, making for a great value package.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Maxx Crosby drops major hint over shock Las Vegas Raiders trade exit and could be set to replace injured superstar
LAS Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has dropped a major hint about his NFL future.
With the Raiders struggling for wins and the trade deadline coming up, Crosby is expected to be a hot commodity this fall.
Rumors are swirling of a potential Maxx Crosby trade[/caption]
Crosby posted a message about a trade to the Lions on Instagram[/caption]
Among the biggest rumors this season is the Detroit Lions attempting to swing a trade for the superstar pass-rusher.
The Lions lost their young star, Aiden Hutchinson, to a broken leg last week, and they are expected to be in the market for defensive talent.
Detroit already has an extremely talented roster, but a player like Crosby would likely push them over the ledge into Super Bowl favorites.
Crosby is adding some fuel to the rumors lately, by posting messages to his Instagram Story that hint at a trade.
The Raiders defensive end played his college ball at Eastern Michigan, giving him ties to the city of Detroit, and one fan called on him to return to the state.
“Homecoming at the Factory and Maxx Crosby field,” the reposted picture read.
“Time to come home and win a (ring emoji) @maxxcrosby.”
Fans went wild for the message from Crosby and quickly shared their theories on social media.
“OHHHH S***,” one fan said.
“I mean really what else could this mean?” another fan said.
“The news of Maxx Crosby getting traded to the lions on Wednesday is gonna hit,” a third fan said.
“It’ll happen,” a fourth fan said.
While fans are begging for a Crosby trade, the executives in Las Vegas have maintained that he isn’t going anywhere.
“It’s unfortunate today, but there’s so much outside chatter that is not true,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said.
“It’s not coming from any sources. It’s not coming from anything.
NFL important dates
August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
“My basic thing is never to answer all that stuff because, otherwise, you get trapped in this black hole.
“It’s just not happening.”
While Davis is ensuring Raiders fans that Crosby won’t be moved, anything can happen while the team continues to get worse.
They sit at 2-5 on the season and have little chance of making the playoffs. The team already traded away star wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets and will likely move other pieces.
The Raiders are going to have a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so they might as well load up on more picks to help their upcoming rebuild.
November 5 marks the 2024 NFL trade deadline, so fans will know within a few weeks if Crosby will be traded.
Crosby is one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL[/caption]
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Putin’s ‘indestructible soldier’ survives EIGHT kamikaze drone strikes as he calmly walks down the road in shock footage
SHOCKING footage has shown the moment one of Vladimir Putin’s soldiers seemed to tempt death as he dodged eight drone strikes.
The video showed how this Russian survived the near-deadly kamikaze attack carried out by remote Ukrainian pilots.
Footage captured the moment a Russian soldier (circled) dodged a Ukrainian drone attack[/caption]
The Russian fighter (circled) narrowly missed eight kamikaze drone attacks[/caption]
This Russian soldier (circled) missed death as he walked along a desolate field and road[/caption]
This shocking video, caught by drone cameras, showed the fighter crossing through a desolate field alone while under attack.
The soldier, from the 15th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Alexandria Brigade, was targeted twice by drones on the field.
He continued onto an empty road where footage showed four more FPV drones narrowly missing him.
The soldier reportedly dodged two more drone attacks, not shown on video.
This Terminator-esc fighter reportedly walked away with little more than minor injuries.
Despite this Ukrainian drone attack failure, the army conducted a successful operation on a Russian explosives plant overnight on October 20.
A series of loud eruptions were reported at the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhins, in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.
Shocking images showed clouds of smoke and bright flashes coming from the site as it was pummeled by kamikaze drones.
This plant was one of Russia’s biggest producers of industrial explosives and other military equipment, like artillery shells and warheads for air defence systems.
Latest on the Ukraine war
Despite this blow, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has shared hope that his country will soon defeat Putin and end Russia’s war.
Two and a half years after his country was invaded, Zelensky stood infront of Ukraine’s parliament and revealed his “victory plan,” The Sun has previously reported.
The Ukrainian leader detailed his five-step proposal to strengthen Ukraine’s ties with the West and deter future attacks from its neighbour.
Specific ideas included securing an invite to join NATO, and getting permission from allies to use long-range weapons, that have been provided, deep inside Russia.
Other steps include a joint effort from the US and EU to protect Ukraine’s natural resources and hosting non-nuclear weapons on its soil to deter Russia.
Finally, Zelensky said he wanted to provide Ukrainian soldiers in Europe as part of the bloc’s defence against Russia, after the war ends.
The Kremlin dismissed Zelensky’s plans as a spokesman said Kyiv had to “sober up.”
The Russian parliament has also come out to deny claims that Putin’s health has deteriorated.
This unprecedented move came after the Russian president, 72, admitted on TV that he had received regular medical examinations at one of Moscow’s top hospitals.
“Doctors at the Central Clinical Hospital, where I undergo all sorts of regular examinations, also recommend getting vaccinated with domestically produced drugs,” Putin said in the televised meeting.
Putin’s men last month suffered their biggest death toll since the invasion started.
The Russian army faced an average of 1,270 dead troops each day in September, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Shock pics ‘show violent acts’ carried out by Yung Filly during rape ‘that go beyond consent’, prosecutor says
SHOCKING pictures from the Yung Filly court case allegedly show the aftermath of “violent acts” carried out by the YouTuber, prosecutors claim.
The 29-year-old has been charged with rape and sexual assault with investigators claiming to have “extremely strong” evidence against the social media star.
Shocking pictures from the Yung Filly court case allegedly show the aftermath of ‘violent acts’ carried out by the YouTuber, say prosecutors[/caption]
Filly being arrested in Australia and moved across the country for his court hearing earlier this month[/caption]
Western AustraliaPolice Prosecutor Julius Depetro is leading the case and claims prosecutors have photographs of the alleged victim which show a “history of what we say is violent acts”.
Mr Depetro told the court during Filly’s first hearing this month that “no ordinary person could consent” to what the images allegedly show.
The prosecutor added: “We say those photos and what is alleged in the allegation is effectively beyond the pale.
“Beyond the norm of what could be considered or entertained to be a consensual act.”
Prosecutors also say they have seen CCTV footage that confirms Filly was with the woman on September 28 when she alleges the assault took place.
The court heard that the 20-year-old woman was seen leaving a venue with Filly as investigators try to pinpoint the exact location of the pair.
Initial reports say it is likely to be outside the Bar1 Nightclub where Filly was performing and his accuser was partying with a friend.
Additional footage goes on to show the woman leaving another building alone which may be the hotel where the alleged offences took place.
Mr Depetro also claims that another witness is being actively looked at by police.
Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, has been charged with four counts of rape and three counts of assault causing bodily harm.
With an additional count of impeding a woman’s normal breathing or circulation by applying pressure to her neck also included.
Filly was charged with the eight serious counts earlier this month and was granted bail on strict conditions by magistrate Tanya Watt.
He stumped up $100,000AUD (£51,000) and is banned from leaving the state, can’t contact the alleged victim and has to report to Perth Police Station everyday.
His second hearing isn’t due to get underway until December with a potential trial set to take up to two years to finally begin.
The UK musician’s lawyer Seamus Rafferty, has confirmed that Filly has managed to find a home in Perth which he is set to stay in for the next six months until the second hearing.
Mr Rafferty said his client “will need to lead a fairly quiet existence for a while”.
Court documents from the trial have also revealed the timeline cops are using to investigate the alleged hotel attack.
The 20-year-old woman is said to have been partying at the Bar1 Nightclub in Perth on September 27, according to the Perth Magistrates Court docs revealed by MailOnline.
The university student was with a friend in the VIP section until the early hours of the following day.
She was said to have been drinking throughout the night, say the documents.
Once the rapper had stopped performing the young woman is believed to have met up with him.
Prosecutors then say the pair went back to a hotel room together.
The alleged victim then claims she was sexually assaulted and raped inside the room on September 28.
The woman phoned her friend at around 5:31am after leaving the Perth hotel, according to the docs.
Detectives believe this was immediately afterwards the alleged assault.
Barrister Rafferty claims that the woman doesn’t mention any form of sexual misconduct in the short phone conversation.
It comes as The Sun spoke to a mum who has accused Yung Filly of breaking her terminally ill son’s heart after he failed to keep a promise he made to the youngster.
The YouTuber told Mason Greaves, 12, he was there to “support him” and challenged him to a game of Fortnite in a video.
But mum Kelly Greaves claims the rapper instead ghosted her poorly son and even at one point told him to “shut up”.
Who is Yung Filly?
YUNG Filly’s rise to fame saw him start out as a social media star.
The influencer got his big break on YouTube before moving into mainstream TV.
Although he goes by Yung Filly, his real name is Andres Felipé Barrientos.
He was born on August 6, 1995, and moved to the UK from Colombia when he was two years old.
Filly then relocated to southeast London during his childhood.
When asked what it was like growing up in the capital, he told Indy100: “I come from the bottom of the barrel…and that’s why I’m so grateful for the position I’m in now.
“My mum definitely shaped me with the lessons she taught me.
“She’s a single mum with three kids, my dad was a s*** dad so she just had to make it happen.
“She did loads of cleaning jobs. My mum worked at Poundland at the time I had some mad BBC series…just getting my mum out of the position she was in was just the biggest motivation.”
Filly is best known for being a member of the comedy group known as The Wall of Comedy.
He is affiliated with fellow YouTuber Chunkz and the pair have collaborated on many videos and tracks.
Over the years, Filly has also taken part in The Sidemen‘s Charity Football Match, organised by members Josh Bradley, Simon Minter, Tobi Brown, KSI, Ethan Payne, Vikram Barn and Harry Lewis.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Parents urged ‘book NOW’ to protect children as UK faces deadly ‘tripledemic’ this winter
PARENTS of young kids are being urged to use the half-term break to catch up on their flu vaccinations.
Families are also being asked to make sure their children have had all their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations.
The warning comes as the UK faces a “tripledemic” of flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter.
If parents missed the in-school flu vaccinations, they can be booked through GP surgeries or at pharmacies, using the NHS website.
Kate Langford, chief medical officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said: “Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children, causing fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints and extreme tiredness.
“It is important that parents make sure children are protected as they can easily spread the illness among their friends and family.”
Dr Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council director of public health, added: “School holidays are a really good time to catch children up on any vaccinations they’ve missed.
“There’s lots of ways to book and local centres to attend so we hope parents and carers can find an option that fits in with busy family life.”
Children aged two and three are usually given the flu vaccine through a quick and painless spray up the nose.
But anyone who cannot have porcine gelatine in medical products is offered an injection instead.
The first MMR dose is usually given at 12 months old, while the second jab is administered at about three years and four months before children start primary school
Schoolchildren and other groups such as pregnant women, older people and those with health conditions are also able to get a flu vaccine ahead of winter when cases spike.
Flu tends to peak in December and January and people are advised to have a vaccine before then.
It can be serious and can lead to hospital admission, even in young children.
Respiratory infections like Covid, flu, RSV and whooping cough will strike many this winter as people spend more time indoors, the NHS has warned.
But some people are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from catching these common bugs.
For the first time, the NHS is also offering an RSV vaccine this autumn.
It is available to women from the 28th week of pregnancy to protect their newborns, as well as older people aged 75 to 79.
If you are not sure if your child is up to date with their immunisations or have questions, you can contact your GP surgery to check and to book in any outstanding immunisations.
It is never too late to catch up with your child’s immunisations and you can book appointments for missed vaccinations at any time.
COVID: Children aged six months to four years old if they are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from Covid.
Adults who are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from Covid due to a health condition or age will be contacted by the NHS this autumn for a booster.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Hobby Lobby rival with 250 stores across the US is closing location – as company sets final date doors shut for good
A BELOVED home decor retailer and rival to Hobby Lobby has confirmed the closure of a staple location.
Shoppers must act fast to make last-minute holiday homeware purchases before its doors shut for good.
At Home is shuttering an Alabama store[/caption]
In Montgomery, Alabama, a store for At Home will be axed at Eastdale Mall.
It opened in 2017 for local customers inside where Sears used to be before mass closures and a bankruptcy filing of Sears’ parent company the following year.
While there isn’t a firm date for the final day of operation for the At Home in Eastside Mall, a spokesperson said it would be by the end of 2024, per local CBS affiliate WACA 8.
Liquidation sales will likely be underway soon, and there’s no confirmed reasoning behind the shutdown.
After the closure, At Home customers in Montgomery will have to travel a bit further to get their favorite merchandise at nearby locations in either Hoover, Mobile, or Trussville.
At Home still has over 250 locations nationwide across 40 states, per its website.
It’s been around since 1979, when it opened its first store in Dallas, Texas.
From there, At Home rapidly grew for 45 years to what it is now.
CONSISTENT TREND?
It’s unclear if customers can expect more At Home closures soon, but another location has already shuttered this year.
Going-out-of-business sale signs were spotted at the home goods retailer’s location within the Destiny USA mall in New York this spring.
The Destiny USA store was massive, taking up 88,000 square feet on the first floor of the building.
It officially closed in August, with no reason provided by At Home.
In 2022, At Home stores closed in California, Illinois, New York, and Texas.
Just over a year ago, in August 2023, a location in Iowa was also axed.
At Home Store Locations
At Home has over 250 stores across 40 states for customers. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of those states below by those with the most store locations to the least:
Texas
Ohio
Georgia
Florida
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Indiana
Virginia
Arizona
Illinois
New York
Missouri
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Utah
Alabama
Washington
Louisiana
Kentucky
Colorado
Maryland
New Jersey
California
Oklahoma
Mississippi
Iowa
Massachussets
Kansas
Minnesota
Arkansas
South Carolina
Nebraska
South Dakota
Rhode Island
Nevada
Connecticut
Idaho
New Mexico
Montana
TAKING HITS
Other home goods retailers have taken more significant hits.
Conn’s Home Plus, which has over 100 years of history in the United States, filed for bankruptcy in July.
The company cited financial struggles after the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and owed about $50 million to creditors at the time of the Chapter 11 filing, per Retail Dive.
Preparations are being made in October for the closing of all its 170 stores.
Department store giants like Macy’s are also making similar moves.
It confirmed 150 locations would shutter over the next three years.
In 2020, Macy’s had already detailed plans for 125 closures, making for a nearly 300-store wipeout in the coming years.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Parents’ outrage as soft play centre hides realistic life size ‘BODY BAGS’ for kids’ to find on Halloween
PARENTS are up in arms after a soft play centre hid realistic life size body bags for kids to find.
Rugrats and Halfpints in Cirencester, Gloucestershire has since apologised for the Halloween-themed stunt following concerns from “shocked” parents.
Rugrats and Half Pints was slammed by parents after a Halloween-themed detail attracted criticism[/caption]
The soft play centre in Gloucestershire hung up lifelike body bags[/caption]
Rugrats have since apologised and removed the body bags[/caption]
One mum admitted doing a “double take” when she locked eyes with the blood-curdling decorations.
Images reveal how the props uncannily resemble human bodies covered in black plastic.
The mum, who wished to remain anonymous, told Sky News: “I went inside with my daughter.
“The body bags were at the back which can’t be seen from the cafe area, only by kids inside.
“When I saw them I did a double take – surely that can’t be what I think it is? I just didn’t want to have to explain to my kid what they were.
“I spoke to some other parents after who were as shocked as I was that it was deemed appropriate. It’s a great soft play, but that did shock me a bit!”
Rugrats and Halfpints, which charges as high as £11.75 per child, assures parents it is “committed to providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment, with the emphasis on fun”.
A spokesperson told Sky News: “This is the first time someone has brought it to our attention so of course due to this we will take them down immediately.
“It wasn’t to cause distress and we apologise this is how they have felt.”
According to the centre’s website, the Cirencester inside play park offers parents “a variety of different play areas and entertainment for your kids to get stuck in while you can enjoy our onsite cafe”.
“Winner of the Travellers Choice Award 2022, Rugrats is committed to providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment, with the emphasis on fun,” it says.
“In essence, Rugrats and Half Pints is the soft play centre you have been waiting for.”
The Sun Online has reached out to Rugrats for comment.
HALLO-NO
Meanwhile, one expert has revealed the hidden dangers of kids’ Halloween costumes, including nits and lurgy.
With Halloween fast approaching, many of our little ones will be excitedly planning which of their favourite film characters or spooky creatures to dress up with.
However, Tom Golubovich, a Halloween & design expert from Ninja Transfers, highlighted that masks can actually pose a number of dangers to children, especially those under five.
He said: “While masks might seem like an easy way to complete a costume, they can actually cause hidden safety concerns for young children.
“From breathing issues to hygiene concerns involving germs and nits, there are better and safer alternatives for kids this Halloween.”
Halloween masks are often made with thick materials, and have small breathing holes, meaning that they can restrict airflow.
Tom said: “The physical exertion of walking from house to house, combined with the excitement of the night, may exacerbate breathing difficulties when wearing a mask.”
Instead of masks, Tom recommends using face paint and makeup instead.
This is a great way to get creative, but make sure to use hypoallergenic products, to protect sensitive skin.
He added that younger children have smaller airways, meaning that Halloween masks could turn a fun night into a dangerous experience for little ones.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Will Be “More In-Depth” Than The Films, Says Warner Bros. Boss
Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, also gave an update on 'Ted Lasso' season four during her keynote at MIPCOM Cannes.