USA Update

A TWO-year-old boy has been killed in a horror hit-and-run after a stolen Porsche crashed into a car.

Cops are desperately hunting for the sports car driver after they smashed into a Toyota carrying four adults and the tragic tot.

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The driver fled the scene, say police[/caption]

The fatal crash happened on Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, West Mids., shortly before 11pm on Saturday.

Everyone, including the young boy, was rushed to hospital following the collision.

Despite medics’ best efforts, the two-year-old could not be saved and was pronounced dead.

A woman, 29, and a 30-year-old man remain in hospital in a serious condition.

Another man and woman, both 30, are both said to be stable.

West Midlands Police say the driver of a grey Porsche Cayenne fled the scene.

The car is said to have been stolen earlier in December.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of the little boy at this extremely difficult time.

“I would urge the driver of the Porsche to do the right thing and come and talk to us.”

Anyone with information can contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on email at SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk.

Or, call 101 quoting log 4421 14 December.

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Dartmouth Road in Smethwick where a two-year-old has sadly died[/caption]

WATCHING Elf might be a regular holiday tradition, but the Christmas comedy has a trove of behind-the-scenes secrets that may surprise even its most devoted fans.

From Will Ferrell’s dedication to Buddy’s sugary diet to the Hollywood heavyweight who nearly starred in the film, here are some fascinating facts about the making of Elf.

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There are some little known facts about the making of Elf[/caption]

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Will Ferrell was not originally pegged for the role[/caption]

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The actor suffered from health problems on set[/caption]

Will Ferrell’s Sweet Sacrifice

Will Ferrell didn’t fake Buddy’s love for sugary treats — he actually consumed all those maple syrup-drenched spaghetti meals and candy-covered breakfasts.

While it added authenticity to the role, it came at a cost.

Will admitted he suffered severe sugar highs and pounding headaches during filming.

“I ingested a lot of sugar in this movie and didn’t get much sleep,” he joked. “But anything for the movie!”

Another A-lister as Buddy?

It’s hard to picture anyone but Ferrell in the role of Buddy, but Jim Carrey was originally meant to star as Santa’s little helper.

The script for Elf circulated in Hollywood for over a decade, and in the early 1990s, Jim was the comedy king thanks to hits like Ace Ventura and The Mask.

But by the time Elf entered production in the 2000s, Jim had moved on from the Christmas scene after starring in festive blockbusters like The Grinch and A Christmas Carol.

The 12-Second Burp Truth

Buddy’s epic 12-second burp at the dinner table is a standout moment in the film — but it wasn’t Will Ferrell behind the sound.

The infamous belch was performed by voice actor Maurice LaMarche, best known as the voice of Brain in Pinky and the Brain.

Maurice’s uncredited contribution created a hilarious scene that kids and adults alike have replayed for years.

Baby Drama

Buddy’s childhood scenes may look heartwarming on screen, but they came with a unique set of challenges.

The production had to fire its first set of baby actors — twin boys — because they wouldn’t stop crying when they were supposed to smile and crawl.

Producers ultimately replaced them with a trio of cheerful triplet girls, who nailed their brief but pivotal roles.

No Sequel for Buddy

Despite the film’s massive success and ongoing popularity, Elf fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a sequel.

Will Ferrell reportedly turned down a staggering £21 million offer to reprise his role in Elf 2.

His reason? Ferrell felt that a second movie might tarnish the charm of the original.

He told the Hollywood Reporter: “I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money.’

“I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.’”

PRIVATE labels, or generic brands, are rising in popularity as the cost of groceries remains high due to inflation.

A retail expert touched on why these private labels are so popular among retailers and consumers alike, giving name-brand products a run for their money.

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Shoppers are increasingly turning toward private label brands as a cheaper alternative to name-brand products[/caption]

Kaity Fuja, OMG Photography

The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with retail expert Mitchell Olsen on the history and popularity of private label products[/caption]

A private label is a product line that a retailer owns and sells under its own brand name, rather than an independent brand.

From Costco’s Kirkland Signature line to Walmart’s flagship brand Great Value, these products have become increasingly more relevant in recent years.

Their rise in popularity is mainly driven by factors such as inflation and an expanding emphasis on value-based shopping.

BY THE NUMBERS

Almost every household in the US buys at least one private-label grocery item instead of a name-brand product, per a new report by data analytics firm Numerator.

Nearly half of consumers admitted to purchasing private-label products this year to save money.

The report also found that Walmart’s Bettergoods and Target’s Dealworthy were the two fastest-growing private label brands in 2024.

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Target’s Dealworthy and Walmart’s Bettergoods were two of the fastest-growing off-brand labels in 2024[/caption]

Both brands were launched this year and saw their sales volume increase by over 200%.

Target’s Bullseye’s Playground was next in line at 109%, followed by Aldi’s Choceur at 83%, and Dollar Tree’s B Pure at 75%.

The Numerator report also discovered that Aldi holds the largest private label presence, with generic products comprising 80% of its overall sales volume.

Aldi was followed by Trader Joe’s at 70% and Costco at 35%.

Although these off-brand products are flying off the shelves, some consumers believe they are not on par with name-brand products in terms of quality.

While 59% of shoppers feel private label brands provide “above-average value for their price,” only 27% said they are as good as name-brand competitors.

EXPERT OPINION

To delve more into the history and success of private label products, The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with Mitchell Olsen, a marketing professor at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who specializes in retail.

The expert first noted that despite their recent rise in popularity, these off-brand products are “as old as retailing itself.”

Olsen pointed towards several examples, including the private label whiskey Macy’s sold in the 1800s as well as the Craftsman brand of tools that Sears launched in the 1920s.

The retail expert shared how the generic private labels spread extensively in the 1970s, offering a lower-quality version of national brand alternatives at a lower price point.

These brands are spiking in popularity now because retailers are putting more resources behind them, according to Olsen.

“Instead of mimicking a leading national brand, they are creating their own premium store brands that offer shoppers something unique and of relatively high quality,” he said.

“Compared to generic private labels, premium store brands provide retailers with greater levels of differentiation, profitability, and shopper loyalty.”

Olsen further explored each reason why retailers are placing a greater emphasis on their private label brands.

In terms of differentiation and shopper loyalty, the expert pointed out that private labels are unique to each retailer and cannot be found anywhere else.

Because of this, off-brand items are a differentiating factor between retailers and can generate more shopper loyalty to a certain store than a national brand.

“Take Costco for instance – the ability to buy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at Costco probably isn’t going to make me do more of my shopping at Costco, because I can buy Ben & Jerry’s at many different stores,” said Olsen.

“However, if I love Kirkland Signature’s vanilla ice cream, then I’m locked into Costco, because that’s the only place I can buy it.”

The expert also explained how private brands provide retailers with greater flexibility to create the products they want, “which can result in offerings that better align with the idiosyncratic needs of the retailer’s shopper base.”

This can also boost customer loyalty to certain retailers.

In terms of profitability, Olsen explained that private labels are typically more fruitful than name-brand items.

“In a low-margin industry like retail, it makes a big difference to the bottom line when you’re able to cut out a channel intermediary and have more direct control over your cost of goods sold,” he said.

The U.S. Sun previously spoke with Olsen on other topics, including how popular candy brands are at risk of elimination if Hershey is bought by Oreo and Cadbury-owner Mondelez.

The expert also discussed how restaurant chains are going under as consumers are starting to “push back” against the high cost of eating out.

THE popularity of tiny homes has grown hugely as the cost of living continues to rise and house prices soar.

Home Depot has a range of tiny homes available, and we’ve found a great option for under $72,000 that can be used as a guest home, office space, or your main dwelling.

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Home Depot is selling the 800 sq. ft home for $71752[/caption]

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A super easy assembly for DIY enthusiasts[/caption]

Home Depot 800 sq. ft. Tiny Home, from $71,752

Tiny home ownership is becoming easier and more accessible for anyone looking for a simpler way of living.

Whether you’re looking to create a home office, guest suite, or rental property, this kit offers a modern, cost-effective solution.

Combining premium design with durable construction, the shell kit ensures easy assembly.

THE PERFECT TINY HOME

Offering an impressive 800 square feet of living space, the Summit 800B is perfect for various uses.

A generous layout accommodates multiple needs, making it an invaluable addition to any space.

It’s constructed using high-quality, residential-grade materials, and is engineered to withstand substantial wind, seismic, and snow loads.

For full peace of mind, the robust design ensures your tiny home will remain secure and reliable for years to come, no matter the climate.

The shell kit comes with everything you need to build a functional structure, including walls, a roof, windows, and doors.

Compared to traditional home additions or standalone constructions, it offers a budget-friendly way to significantly increase your living space.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY

Beyond functionality and affordability, adding this tiny home to your space can significantly increase property value, making it a smart investment for homeowners.

Whether you’re using it to generate rental income or to provide guests and family members with a private and independent space, it’s unmatched in versatility.

Its spacious design ensures ample room for your needs.

With the addition of speedy delivery, it’s never been simpler to turn your tiny home dreams into a reality.

Alternatively, why not check out retail giant Amazon for your tiny home needs?

Amazon shoppers can find a $39,400 tiny home with two bedrooms and a kitchen online.

AN urgent warning has been issued to iPhone owners over a bug that could leak all of your passwords.

Apple users are being urged to check their settings and update their devices right away to ensure personal data isn’t at risk of being accessed.

If you’ve recently installed iOS 18 you might have spotted an app automatically downloaded to your home screen called ‘Passwords’.

It allows all the logins and passwords, that you’ve ever asked your phone to remember, to be stored in one place.

And while that seems like a handy tool to have, a glitch in the system was discovered soon after its launch.

Developer and security researcher Tommy Mysk found the app was using “unencrypted” HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

HTTP is a set of rules which allows data to be communicated to the internet and is used to load webpages.

The iOS expert expert explained malicious networks can easily intercept and manipulate insecure HTTP.

Meaning, if you allowed the Passwords app to ‘fill’ in your login on a webpage, your details could be compromised.

However, the bug has since been fixed – but iPhone users need to update their devices to ensure their details are secure.

Mysk said this week: “Since iOS 18 launched, the new Passwords app has been using unencrypted HTTP to download icons for password entries – a potential security risk.

“We reported this bug to Apple in September, and it’s finally fixed in iOS 18.2.” 

A spokesperson from Apple said of the fix: “This issue was addressed by using HTTPS when sending information over the network.”

The Passwords fix is now available for all devices if they’re upgraded to the latest version – iOS 18.2.

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A glitch was detected with an Apple app introduced through iOS 18[/caption]

YOUR telly has a number of little-known settings that can instantly improve the picture quality whether you’re watching a Christmas movie or a football match.

But with so many settings, it can sometimes be confusing knowing which ones are right for you.

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There are plenty of hidden settings to explore[/caption]

Samsung is one of the world’s popular TV brands.

Their TVs have a number of picture quality settings to improve your viewing experience.

Here are three worth checking out to boost yours in seconds.

Eco mode

Eco mode is super handy for saving electricity and thereby reducing your energy bills.

But eco mode on any TV is going to reduce some of the picture quality features and elements like brightness.

Eco mode is sometimes switched on by default – So, you might want to go ahead and switch it off to see if you notice a difference.

Follow these instructions to turn eco mode off:

• Press the Home button on your remote
• Go to Settings
• Select General
• Click on Power and Energy Saving
• Choose the Off setting

Motion smoothing

Motion smoothing is designed to reduce blurring that can occur when there’s fast moving images, such as during a football match.

But it’s not to everyone’s taste in some viewing situations, such as when you’re watching a movie.

It’s set to auto on Samsung TVs by default but even then you might not like the results.

To switch it off:

• Press the Home button on your remote
• Go to Settings
• Select Picture
• Expert Settings
• Auto Motion Plus Settings (Picture Clarity Settings)
• Select Off

Local dimming

Local dimming controls the brightness of different parts of your screen as needed, so blacks appear deeper and whites are brighter.

But the feature is not to everyone’s taste.

To adjust local dimming on a Samsung TV, you can:

• Press the Home button on your remote
• Go to Settings
• Select Picture
• Expert Settings
• Local Dimming
• Change to Off

IT’S the ultimate playground for high society, where horses and hunks collide in a whirlwind of glamour and drama.

But polo isn’t just about horsemanship, with hefty egos and even heftier bank balances, and dashing players earning “rock star” status among swooning, Chanel-clad admirers.

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Polo has long been a favourite sport of the royals[/caption]

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Prince Harry’s Netflix documentary about the sport was released this week[/caption]

Lee Thompson - The Sun

Harry and Prince William playing polo together[/caption]

But it’s not just the athletes stealing hearts –  there are whispers of crafty stable boys posing as players to bed lusty, gullible fans, too.

Prince Harry’s new Netflix documentary POLO – which has been dubbed “boring” by critics – focuses on the sport’s traditions, but Montecito socialite Kiki Astor has revealed the raunchy real-life antics that didn’t make the cut.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun from Montecito, California, she says: “Polo is a hyper-sexual sport. Everyone is having affairs.

“There is a lot of sex.

“You have macho men, many of whom are gorgeous and Argentinian, thundering around on horseback holding big mallets playing a game which is fast and dangerous.”

Kiki, author of the polo-themed bonkbuster Stick & Ball, draws inspiration from the scandalous experiences she witnessed in her formative years while traveling the globe, following polo matches.

Her book simmers with “sexual shenanigans”, blending high society allure with off-field drama.

“I grew up obsessed with polo,” she continues. “I had crushes on all of the players – including Adolfo Cambiaso.”

Kiki developed a “geographically-confused” accent from living in various places, blending French, English, and American influences.

Her early exposure to Greenwich Polo Club shaped her life-long love for the sport – and its players.

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The ladies get dressed up to the nines to watch the sport[/caption]

The 51-year-old writer – who currently spends polo season Sundays at the Santa Barbara club, which costs $10,000 (£7,904) to join and charges $200 (£158) a month – describes the lifestyle as a mixture of glamour and guardedness.

“Every woman fantasises about snagging a polo player,” she continues. “Beautiful women fly in from all over the world dressed up to the nines to try and get one but their glamorous wives and girlfriends watch them like hawks.

“Stable boys can be very enterprising, some pretend to be polo players so they can bed glamorous fans – I have heard bawdy whispers of that happening a lot with women who are from out of town and aren’t privy to this world.

“No one really looks at what goes on behind the scenes. But it’s quite fascinating.

“You’ve got all these beautiful barns, trailers, clubhouses, stands, and even the scoreboards, where I have heard of hanky panky going on.”

Family rivalries

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Charles, Harry and William watch on[/caption]

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William and Harry competing in a polo match together[/caption]

Prince Harry’s documentary focuses on Wellington, Florida, the new polo capital of the US, where elite players like rising star Timmy Dutta compete in high-stake tournaments in the winter.

Known for its prestigious equestrian culture, Wellington offers a unique backdrop for the five-part series, contrasting Harry’s usual venue, the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.

Kiki recently visited Wellington where she saw extravagant polo barns, including that of Timmy Dutta, valued at around $25 million (£19.8m).

“The attraction to polo players isn’t just about how sexy they are,” she continues. “But the sheer wealth they represent.”

It can turn into Ascot with glamorous women in the toilets with polo players – or their filthy rich fathers

Kiki Astor

The series has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions as part of their reported £80 million deal with Netflix.

Another prominent storyline in the series is a father-son polo rivalry, but Kiki says this is a common dynamic in the sport.

She explains that polo dynasties often see family members competing against each other, with the sport’s fluid team structure making such rivalries less dramatic compared to football.

“The fluidity also translates to the personal lives of younger players changing teams and sexual partners frequently as part of the high-society polo world.

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King Charles has always been a fan of polo[/caption]

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William has been too[/caption]

“But once they are established, many become well-known breeders of pricey ponies and will protect their image of family men raising a dynasty of players.

“It’s quite normal for these dynasties of polo players and their cousins,” she reveals. “And then they’ll also have all the different dramas going on in the family feud.”

‘Undeniably sex gods’

Kiki, a married mum of two, says polo players stand out in equestrianism due to their combination of control over large animals, fearlessness, and physical prowess.

“They’re these big, centaur-like creatures who have control over massive beasts, and keep going, even after dramatic falls,” she says. “Some have even lost an eye but remain irresistibly sexy.”

She adds: “Years of riding give them a bow-legged swagger that oozes sex appeal. And in those tight white jeans, they’re utterly irresistible.”

While other sports focus on precision, Kiki reveals polo is all about speed and fearlessness, doing whatever it takes with the thing between their legs to “get it in” – sparking fantasies of off-field skill.

Women are drawn to polo players who are undeniably sex gods…but the stable boys are probably more giving, shall we say

Kiki Astor

“These men are going at it really fast,” she laughs, adding that women can’t help but imagine how those talents would translate in the bedroom.

However, like most fantasies, the reality often falls short.

“Women are drawn to polo players who are undeniably sex gods,” she continues. “But their inflated egos often leave women wishing for more effort when it comes to their personal performance in the bedroom.

“The stable boys are probably more giving, shall we say.”

Kiki tells how women are also attracted to the luxury trappings which come with snagging a polo player.

“Many of these families are super rich,” she continues. “Breeding the horses themselves. They’ve got these huge estancias-properties.

“I mean. Imagine you’ve got this god on the polo field coming to you and saying, ‘Come to my giant ranch in Argentina.’

“Who could resist that?”

Affairs are rife

While affairs are rife in the polo world, the tight-knit community keeps things discreet – unless one’s had a little too much to drink.

“Many are having affairs but they’re subtle about it,” she continues. “They are careful in front of their wives and girlfriends.

“Although if there’s a special party at the polo club and one’s been downing a lot of champers, it can turn into Ascot with glamorous women in the toilets with polo players – or their filthy rich fathers.”

At a recent polo match in Montecito, Kiki overheard Argentine wives and girlfriends mocking LA Instagram girls who tried to flirt with their men.

They laughed at how desperate the women appeared, noting that there’s an unspoken code within the polo world.

Kiki points out that the wives are fiercely competitive, both on and off the field, and that crossing them would be a “bad idea”.

“These wives are formidable,” she continues. “Many of them are, you know, champions themselves, or wealthy themselves.”

Despite the glamour around the sport, Kiki is not convinced the show will be an enduring success.

“It feels like Harry is clutching at straws,” she adds. “If he doesn’t focus on the sex side of things, then you’re left with a show about privileged people playing an elitist sport, which few people are interested in.”

Kiki Astor’s book Stick and Ball is out now

UP Fighting maroons celebrate after winning the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball title at the Smart Araneta Arena on December 15, 2024.

Dinarayo ang carnival sa Marikina kung saan pwedeng mag-enjoy sa mga rides at tampok rin ang museo ng daan-daang belen mula pa sa iba-ibang bansa.

Maagang pinilahan ang mga tindahan ng hamon sa Maynila. Pero ang mga tindahan ng lechon, dinaragsa na kaya?