shows

Meghan Trainor shows off dramatic weight loss on red carpet as fans say ‘I didn’t recognize her’

MEGHAN Trainor showed off her dramatic weight loss while stepping out at an event over the weekend.

Fans of the 31-year-old All About That Bass singer were left stunned by her new look, with some even saying how they didn’t recognize her at first.

Meghan Trainor attended the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
She looked sensational as she appeared at the event in a white gown, though fans were quick to commentCredit: Reuters
Meghan was always known for her curvy figureCredit: Getty

Stepping out at the Baby2Baby Gala on Sunday night, the Made You Look hitmaker looked very different.

Transforming into a Disney princess for the event, Meghan wore her blonde locks in an up-do which was reminiscent of Cinderella, along with a stunning white gown.

With a sparkly corset style upper and tulle skirt at the bottom, Meghan looked every bit the princess as she walked the red carpet.

Though she looked amazing, fans thought she looked different from how she is known and remembered.

Reacting to Meghan’s slimmed down look, fans have rushed to Instagram, Reddit and X to share their thoughts.

One person said on social media, “Didn’t even recognize her, she’s all treble now.”

“Literally! My brain refused to accept it, like i can’t believe that’s her,” said another.

“Didn’t even realize that was Meghan until your comment ??????” penned a third.

“This is Meghan Trainor? Omg,” said a fourth.

A fifth added, “Omg that doesn’t look like her at all what.”

MEGHAN’S WEIGHT LOSS

Meghan addressed her weight loss back in March of this year when she told Entertainment Tonight she was “trying all the things” and how “science is the secret” to her slimmed down figure.

“I learned a lot of tricks that I had no idea [about],” the singer told Entertainment Tonight in the spring.

She said, “I was working out so incorrectly for so long. I was running and doing cardio and my body was inflamed, always.”

Meghan showed off her weight loss after confessing to using fat jabs earlier this yearCredit: Getty
She posed with her husband on the red carpetCredit: Getty

Mentioning a “biohack” she went on to say, “So anything that’ll help me age backward, I’m into it.

“I just learned about the NADs [food supplement capsules].] I was like, ‘make me Hailey Bieber, I’ll do it, I’ll take it’.

“I’m trying all the things. I love a doctor explaining stuff to me.”

Then, one month later she confessed to having used fat jabs in her quest to slim down.

She wrote on Instagram at the time, “I’ve worked with a dietitian, made huge lifestyle changes, started exercising with a trainer, and yes, I used science and support (shout out to Mounjaro!) to help me after my 2nd pregnancy.

“And I’m so glad I did because I feel great.”

BOTCHED BOTOX ADMISSION

At the end of 2024, Meghan shared that she had got “too much Botox“, with the botched filler leaving her unable to smile. 

Speaking out in her podcast Workin’ On It with Meghan Trainor & Ryan Trainor, Meghan shared how she had “too much Botox”.

She confessed “I need help”, after addressing women in their 30s and urging them to keep listening.”

She added: “I messed up. I’ve had Botox a handful of times … just my forehead.

“Someone convinced me with my little lips that if you did a lip flip, you put filler right above your upper lip, that you could have a beautiful flip on your upper lip.

“And I could have one for the first time in my whole 30 years of living — it was not true.”

WIFE’S AGONY

Husband’s heart attack was start our of nightmare – vital mistake lost me £20k


MADDIE SCAM

I looked into the eyes of Maddie fraudster…Chilling move proved she was a sham

She then confessed that she is now unable to smile properly.

“I cannot smile anymore,” she admitted while looking into the camera and showing viewers how wide she could grin.

She made a name for herself within the realms of body positivityCredit: Getty



Source link

Zara McDermott stuns as she shows off outfit for ‘date night’ with Louis Tomlinson in Los Angeles

ZARA McDermott looked incredible as she showed off outfit for ‘date night’ with Louis Tomlinson in Los Angeles.

The Love Island alum, 28, shared a duo of snaps on Instagram from her GRWM process, showing off her simple yet stunning outfit.

Zara shared some snaps post-date night and looked absolutely stunningCredit: Instagram/zara_mcdermott
Her simple date night outfit featured a figure-hugging vest top and high waisted jeansCredit: Instagram/zara_mcdermott

Zara opted to wear a pair of high waisted denim jeans with embroidered navy patterns on each knee.

She finished off the outfit with a plain black tank top that hugs her waist to perfection.

Her beauty spoke for itself as she posed for two mirror selfies, in one fully facing the mirror and in the other using a hand to playfully touch her hair.

Zara elevated the look with a soft glam makeup look featuring a natural pink overlined lip, clean brows, and a flick of eyeliner.

GAGA FOR ZARA

Louis Tomlinson breaks silence on Zara romance saying he’s ‘so in love’


FINAL GOODBYE

Zara McDermott cuts last ties with ex Sam as she moves in 1D’s with Louis

Her freshly styled hair falls down her shoulders in a gorgeous balayage of blonde and brown tones.

“date night vibes, ft my new jeans,” Zara penned in the caption.

The star loves a good casual-come-cute outfit, as shown in her other Insta posts, and fans adored this one just as much as any other.

“Oh wow, glowingggg girly,” gushed one user in her post’s comment’s section.

Others followed suit, adding: “Gorgeous,” “Where are you jeans from!!!,” “I hope you and Louis have fun on your date.”

Zara and Louis, 33, were first seen out together back in March of this year, though it wasn’t clear whether the pair were dating.

It was only in July that Zara and Louis made their relationship public, where Louis posted a subtle pic of them handing out.

Zara hardlaunched the romance on Instagram the following month though by posting a snap of them kissing.

The pair have kept a relatively low profile, though last month Louis couldn’t help but gush about his stunning girl on Steven Bartlett‘s The Diary of a CEO podcast, hinting at how much she’s inspired his new music.

“I’m a deeply, deeply romantic person,” began the musician.

“It’s easy to be romantic when you are a creative… [but] I really struggle to write in a fictional sense, I really struggle.

“For me, I have to have been living it, it has to be real to me.

“So, if I wasn’t feeling so good, like right now, I wasn’t feeling so in love… the record probably would have a slightly different feel to it.”

Before sparking up romance with Louis, Zara dated Made in Chelsea star, Sam Thompson.

The former flames dated for five tumultuous years before calling it quits in 2024.

Whereas Louis last girlfriend was Danish model Sofie Nyvang who he dated for a couple of months at the beginning of 2023.

WIFE’S AGONY

Husband’s heart attack was start our of nightmare – vital mistake lost me £20k


MADDIE SCAM

I looked into the eyes of Maddie fraudster…Chilling move proved she was a sham

She’s been seeing Louis since August officially, but their romance has been blossoming since early in the yearCredit: Instagram/Zara_Mcdermott
The pair seem smittenCredit: Instagram/@louist91



Source link

I went onboard the UK cruise launching its first Caribbean holidays with West End style shows and island hopping

AS I walked down the gangplank, I felt green – no not seasick, ENVY!

I’m taking a look at the latest vessel to join the Ambassador fleet, its first fly-cruise ship.

The cruise ship Renaissance sailing on the water.
Renaissance has been French owned and recently renovated and it showsCredit: Supplied

Renaissance was setting off from London Tilbury on a cold afternoon to spend the winter cruising the Caribbean – sadly, without me.

The first guests were already having fun at Le Lido with its lovely swimming pool and two whirlpools, under an impressive retractable roof.

There is another outdoor pool at the stern.

Renaissance is British-French owned and recently renovated – and it shows. Not glitzy, not modern, just effortlessly chic.

DAY TRIPPPER

Luxury cruise package to Caribbean and Nascar Daytona 500 for just £2,399


MIAMI PRICE

Book an 11-night Caribbean cruise plus Miami Dolphins tickets from £2,399

Top-notch dining

It can carry 1,100 guests who will fly/cruise from Barbados on 14-night itineraries, which include visits to St Kitts, Martinique, Antigua, St Maarten and Curacao.

The cruise line has chartered Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow or Manchester to fly you in style to join Renaissance for the winter season, with four choices of seating class.

Renaissance will then head to Blighty for the summer to join sister ships Ambience and Ambition with exciting new itineraries.

A peek at the choice of cabins impressed me. Even the inside one is spacious, light and airy, with serious amounts of storage – and enough hangers!

This is not a super- luxurious expensive cruise line, but it offers a great-value opportunity to escape the British winter.

The inside cabins were the best I have ever seen. The suites? Well, with a super-spacious private balcony, I would have had to drag myself away to enjoy the onboard entertainment. They were very good value.

There are of course porthole and window cabins, some balcony, and even cabins with sliding doors onto the outside deck.

The theatre was gorgeous – elegant and comfortable, West End glamour – without the queue for the Ladies!

A large gym, and free access to the spa suite promised opportunities to keep fit. Lots of lounge and library space too.

And there are plenty of top-notch dining options.

Shirley,Heights,,Antigua,View.
Renaissance can carry 1,100 guests who will fly/cruise from Barbados on 14-night itineraries that include calls at ports including AntiguaCredit: Shutterstock

The impressive Valet main dining restaurant covers two decks and offers great sea views.

The Belle Vue buffet restaurant is great for casual dining and there are three speciality venues at a small extra cost plus a signature Chef’s Table seven-course dining experience.

JUNGLE READY

I’m A Celeb full line-up revealed with soap legends and TV pin up


JAB TRICK

I lost 13st on Mounjaro and needed a new passport – you must check your ‘TDEE’

Kreole will serve up a vibrant menu reflecting Caribbean culinary traditions, Lotus has Pan-Asian options and Terre et Mer will feature a six-course extravaganza.

I was sad Renaissance sailed without me this time but you don’t have to miss the boat, there are Christmas and New Year cruises as well as lots more dates to discover the delights of Ambassadors’ Renaissance in the Caribbean in 2026.

GO: CRUISE CARIBBEAN

GETTING/SAILING THERE: Ambassador Cruise Lines’ Renaissance 14-night full-board sailings are from £1,099pp including flights from Heathrow.

Sailings for winter 2026/27 are also available to book. See ambassadorcruiseline.com.

Source link

Mel C, 51, shows off impressive abs in revealing workout gear as she films sexy new music video

SPICE Girl Mel C has cranked up the heat and put her rock hard abs on display during a shoot for her new music video – Sweat.

The toned 51-year-old star gave fans a glimpse at work behind-the-scenes of her latest musical offering.

Still proving she’s every inch Sporty, Mel C gave a glimpse inside her shootCredit: YouTube / Mel C
Sporty Spice showed off her gym-honed figure in the videoCredit: YouTube / Mel C

She told followers alongside the footage: “Little SWEAT shoot BTS clip now live on YouTube.”

Jumping around on an exercise bike, the sports-lover showed off her enviable muscles in a variety of show-stopping outfits and shades.

She looked pumped in a selection of wardrobe changes including a string-tied bra top and cut-out bikini-style cover up with black trousers.

Proving she still lives up to her Sporty Spice persona, the singer looked incredibly toned, while exuding girl power in her ab-flashing workout gear.

SPICING UP

How ‘diva’ Geri’s ‘embarrassing’ saga with Christian reignited Spice Girls rift


TOO MUCH CHAT

Mel B reveals she’s been kicked out of Spice Girls group chat AGAIN

The mum-of-one’s new track Sweat is an electro-house single that samples Diana Ross’s iconic hit Work That Body.

It’s set to feature on Mel’s upcoming ninth studio album due to drop on May 1, 2026.

Speaking of her dance single Sweat, she wrote: “I’m so happy this track is finally all yours. Dance to it. Run to it. Lift to it. SWEAT to it.”

Although the singer missed her fellow bandmate’s wedding in July, Mel C issued a sweet message to her friend Mel B.

The popstar was absent from Mel’s happy day at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, which saw Emma Bunton, 49, the sole other girl group member in attendance.

The Sun revealed earlier in the year how the Spice Girls are planning a massive tour in 2026 to celebrate 30 years since debut single Wannabe was released.

Sporty Spice had her say, revealing certain members needed more “convincing” than others, with Victoria Beckham currently not set to take part.

She is expected to keep out of it just like she did with their sell-out 2019 reunion tour, while Geri Halliwell-Horner may also need some persuading.

The Liverpudlian previously appeared on the No Filter with Kate Langbroek podcast and Mel said: “Next year is a big year for us and we have to acknowledge it in some way.

“So we are talking about what that’s going to look like and for me, Melanie, I know for sure, and Emma [Bunton], we’d be back on stage. But sometimes other people need a little bit more convincing.”

On the prospect of all five members being back on stage together for the first time since 2012, she said: “It would be the best thing ever, ever, ever. And sometimes it feels like a duty to the world.

“When we did the shows in 2019, it brought so much joy to so many people. Not everybody likes the Spice Girls but loads of people do.

JUNGLE READY

I’m A Celeb full line-up revealed with soap legends and TV pin up


JAB TRICK

I lost 13st on Mounjaro and needed a new passport – you must check your ‘TDEE’

“We’re living in this weird world right now. There’s so much negativity and mad s**t going on. Let’s all spice up our lives.”

And talking about Mel B, she added, ironically: “We’ve decided now we’re not going to tell Mel anything because she can’t keep her mouth shut.

The singer has showcased her impressive absCredit: YouTube / Mel C
The toned Spice Girl wore a cut-out bra top to help launch her new musicCredit: YouTube / Mel C
Mel C is set to release her album in 2026Credit: Refer to source
The Spice Girls could be making a return for their 30th anniversaryCredit: Getty

Source link

Nancy Pelosi retirement shows her political savvy to the end

When Nancy Pelosi first ran for Congress, she was one of 14 candidates, the front-runner and a target.

At the time, Pelosi was little known to San Francisco voters. But she was already a fixture in national politics. She was a major Democratic fundraiser, who helped lure the party’s 1984 national convention to her adopted home town. She served as head of California’s Democratic Party and hosted a salon that was a must-stop for any politician passing through.

She was the chosen successor of Rep. Sala Burton, a short-timer who took over the House seat held for decades by her late husband, Philip, and who delivered a personal benediction from her deathbed.

But at age 49, Pelosi had never held public office — she was too busy raising five kids, on top of all that political moving and shaking — and opponents made light of role as hostess. “The party girl for the party,” they dubbed her, a taunt that blared from billboards around town.

She obviously showed them.

Pelosi not only made history, becoming the nation’s first female speaker of the House. She became the party’s spine and its sinew, holding together the Democrat’s many warring factions and standing firm at times the more timorous were prepared to back down.

The Affordable Care Act — President Obama’s signature achievement — would never have passed if Pelosi had not insisted on pressing on when many, including some in the White House, wished to surrender.

She played a significant role in twice helping rescue the country from economic collapse — the first time in 2009 amid the Great Recession, then in 2020 during the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — mustering recalcitrant Democrats to ensure House passage.

“She will go down in history as one of the most important speakers,” James Thurber, a congressional expert at Washington’s American University, said. “She knew the rules, she knew the process, she knew the personalities of the key players, and she knew how to work the system.”

Pelosi’s announcement Thursday that she will not seek reelection — at age 85, after 38 years in Congress — came as no surprise. She saw firsthand the ravages that consumed her friend and former neighbor, Dianne Feinstein. (Pelosi’s eldest daughter, Nancy, was a last caretaker for the late senator.)

She was not about to repeat that final, sad act.

Pelosi, who was first elected in 1987, once said she never expected to serve in Congress more than 10 years. She recalled seeing a geriatric House member hobbling on a cane and telling a colleague, “It’s never going to be me. I’m not staying around that long.”

(She never used a cane, but did give up her trademark stiletto heels for a time after suffering a fall last December and undergoing hip replacement surgery.)

Pelosi had intended to retire sooner, anticipating Hillary Clinton would be elected president in 2016 and seeing that as a logical, and fitting, end point to her trailblazing political career. “I have things to do. Books to write; places to go; grandchildren, first and foremost, to love,” she said in a 2018 interview.

However, she was determined to stymie President Trump in his first term and stuck around, emerging as one of his chief nemeses. After Joe Biden was elected, Pelosi finally yielded the speaker’s gavel in November 2022.

But she remained a substantive figure, still wielding enormous power behind the scenes. Among other quiet maneuvers, she was instrumental in helping ease aside Biden after his disastrous debate performance sent Democrats into a panic. He was a personal friend, and long-ago guest at her political salon, but Pelosi anticipated a down-ticket disaster if Biden remained the party’s nominee. So, in her estimation, he had to go.

It was the kind of ruthlessness that gave Pelosi great pride; she boasted of a reptilian cold-bloodedness and, indeed, though she shared the liberal leanings of her hometown, Pelosi was no ideologue. That’s what made her a superb deal-maker and legislative tactician, along with the personal touch she brought to her leadership.

“She had a will of steel, but she also had a lot of grace and warmth,” said Thurber, “and that’s not always the case with speakers.”

History-making aside, Pelosi left an enduring mark on San Francisco, the place she moved to from Baltimore as a young mother with her husband, Paul, a financier and real estate investor. She brought home billions of dollars for earthquake safety, re-purposing old military facilities — the former Presidio Army base is a spectacular park — funding AIDS research and treatment, expanding public transit and countless other programs.

Her work in the 1980s and 1990s on AIDS funding was crucial in helping move discussion of the disease from the shadows — where it was viewed as a plague that mainly struck gay men and drug users — to a pressing national concern.

In the process, she become a San Francisco institution, as venerated as the Golden Gate Bridge and beloved as the city’s tangy sourdough bread.

“She’s an icon,” said Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco County supervisor and 2024 candidate for mayor. “She walks into a room, people left, right and center, old, young, white, Black, Chinese stand on their feet. She’s one of the greatest speakers we have ever had and this town understands that.”

Pelosi grew up in Baltimore in a political family. He father, Tommy D’Alesandro, was a Democratic New Deal congressman, who went on to serve three terms as mayor. “Little Nancy” stuffed envelopes — as her own children would — passed out ballots and often traveled by her father’s side to campaign events. (D’Alesandro went on to serve three terms as mayor; Pelosi’s brother, Tommy III, held the job for a single term.)

David Axelrod, who saw Pelosi up close while serving as a top aide in the Obama White House, said he once asked her what she learned growing up in such a political household. “She didn’t skip a beat,” Axelrod said. “She said, ‘I learned how to count.’ ”

Meaning when to call the roll on a key legislative vote and when to cut her losses in the face of inevitable defeat.

Pelosi is still so popular in San Francisco she could well have eked out yet another reelection victory in 2026, despite facing the first serious challenge since that first run for Congress. But the campaign would have been brutal and potentially quite ugly.

More than just about anyone, Pelosi knows how to read a political situation with dispassion, detachment and cold-eyed calculation.

She knew it was time.

Source link

Can peace return to Sudan after thousands killed in el-Fasher? | TV Shows

The secretary-general of the United Nations has described the latest wave of atrocities reportedly committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s city of el-Fasher as “a nightmare of violence and a horrifying crisis”.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, and many more displaced, after the paramilitary group took over the army headquarters and other key installations in el-Fasher last month.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

The United States says that Sudan’s warring sides have agreed, in principle, to work towards a three-month humanitarian truce.

But with violence spreading to other areas beyond North Darfur, can Washington’s plan succeed?

Presenter:

Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Amgad Fareid – executive director, Fikra for Studies and Development

Mathilde Vu – advocacy manager for Sudan, Norwegian Refugee Council

Susan Page – former assistant of the US special envoy for Sudan

Source link

‘Star Wars: Visions’: 11 anime shows to watch next

After going global for its second volume, “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 3 brings the anthology series back to its roots with a new slate of shorts all created by Japanese anime studios.

Each season of the Disney+ series, which launched in 2021, has infused fresh creative energy into the galaxy far, far away by giving international animation houses the freedom to explore ideas about the Force, the factions of the Galactic War and brand new planets and cultures outside of the constraints of the long-running franchise’s canon.

And while Volume 3, which premiered last week, revisits some characters that were introduced in Volume 1, it also shows how anime is a medium with range. From the gritty installment that explores the complexity of the dark sides of the Force through a battle between former Sith and Jedi (“The Duel: Payback”) to a more heartwarming story about a pair of resourceful orphans who decide to become family (“Yuko’s Treasure”), there are different types of anime for everyone.

a woman holding a lightsaber with a red blade

Anée-san in “The Duel: Payback,” one of the shorts in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 3.

(Lucasfilm Ltd.)

With movies like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” and “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc” making waves at the box office, anime’s growing popularity is undeniable and its availability on major streamers has also made anime series and movies more accessible than ever. So for those whose curiosity about the medium has been piqued by “Star Wars: Visions,” here are some titles to check out based on the themes and stories of the nine shorts that comprise Volume 3.

Stunning fights (with some moral ambiguity)

a woman holds a sword at a person's neck

Sagiri in an episode of “Hell’s Paradise.”

(©Yuji Kaku/Shueisha, Twin Engine, Mappa / Crunchyroll)

Let’s be honest: Lightsaber duels are awesome. So it’s no surprise that a number of shorts in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 3 leaned into stories involving Jedi and/or the Sith, including “The Duel: Payback,” “The Lost Ones” and “The Bird of Paradise.”

For those who are looking for anime featuring stylish and stunning sword-fighting scenes, the ever popular “Demon Slayer” (Netflix, Disney+/Hulu, Crunchyroll), featuring a secret organization fighting to protect humans from demons, is an obvious choice. Another show featuring stylish combat between skilled warriors and supernatural monsters is “Hell’s Paradise” (Netflix, Disney+/Hulu, Crunchyroll). The series follows a ninja who is recruited by an executioner to join a party of death row inmates on a quest to find the elixir of life on a mythical island populated with mysterious deadly threats. The successful convict will be pardoned for all of their past crimes. The premise may remind some of the supervillain team-up “The Suicide Squad,” but the fighting scenes — and the island’s inhabitants — stand alone.

Master and apprentice dynamics

two women reading a book

Frieren, left, and Fern from “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.”

(Crunchyroll)

Speaking of Jedi, “The Lost Ones” and “The Bird of Paradise” also touch on the relationship between a Jedi master and their padawan apprentice. If a story involving a lineage of student-teacher dynamics that’s about friendship, human connection, memory, mortality and legacy sounds intriguing, consider checking out “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” (Netflix, Disney+/Hulu, Crunchyroll). The fantasy series follows an elven mage, her young human apprentice and others they pick up along their years-long journey to visit the spirits of old friends. The show is part travelogue, part adventure quest with monsters, magic battles and dungeon exploration.

Lovable scoundrels

a young girl flanked by two men in a waiting room

Kazuki, left, Miri and Rei in an episode of “Buddy Daddies.”

(©KRM’s Home / Buddy Daddies Committee / Crunchyroll)

The world of “Star Wars” is full of scoundrels that fans can’t help but love for their swagger and independent moral code, and “Visions” installments “The Smuggler” and “The Bounty Hunters” add to that legacy.

Well-known classics like “Cowboy Bebop” (Crunchyroll) and “Lupin the Third” (Tubi, Crunchyroll) and the long-running “One Piece” (Netflix, Disney+/Hulu, Crunchyroll) are good starting points for those first dipping their toes into anime and are interested in the adventures of a ragtag group of bounty hunters, thieves and/or pirates. For those looking for something new, consider “Buddy Daddies” (Crunchyroll), which follows a pair of assassin roommates who form a makeshift family after taking in a 4-year-old they encounter while out on a job. Think of it like “The Mandalorian,” if Mando had a recluse gamer co-parent and Grogu was a picky eater.

Political space wars and mech suits

a girl in a spacesuit

Suletta Mercury in an episode of “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.”

(©Sotsu, Sunrise, MBS / Crunchyroll)

Some film and TV shows set in the galaxy far, far away are more political than others, but aspects of the conflict involving the Galactic Empire, Rebel forces and stray Jedi are touched on in a few of the shorts in “Visions” Volume 3 like “The Lost Ones,” “The Smuggler,” “Black” and “The Song of Four Wings,” with the latter featuring a young protagonist that dons a snazzy flying mech suit.

The mecha franchise “Gundam” is best known for its giant robots, but it’s a sprawling space opera that touches on political themes including the horrors of corruption, inequity and war. A recent standout is newcomer-friendly “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury” (Crunchyroll). The show follows a shy new transfer student at a corporate military school where recruits train and settle disputes in giant mech suit combat. The series uses school drama and a budding teen romance as a backdrop to touch on themes such as class strife and prejudice, corporate greed and personal vengeance.

Emotionally resonant robots

a boy looking into a box

Atom in an episode of “Pluto.”

(Netflix)

From the Skywalkers’ fussy protocol droid C-3PO to Hera Syndulla’s cranky astromech Chopper, lovable androids are a “Star Wars” signature. “Visions” Volume 3 installments “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” and “Yuko’s Treasure” each introduce loyal droids that tug viewers’ heartstrings.

The title androids in “Astro Boy” (also known as Atom) and “Doraemon” are kid-friendly household names in Japan akin to Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, but a more mature option is “Pluto” (Netflix). The gritty, sci-fi murder mystery series is based on a reimagining of a story arc from the “Astro Boy” manga, and is set in a world where humans live alongside robots — though the dynamic is a bit different than in “Star Wars.” The story follows a robot detective who is investigating a string of robot and human killings, and, like many sci-fi stories about androids and artificial intelligence, touches on themes like what makes humans human.

a large teddy-bear-like droid walking around town

A scene from “Yuko’s Treasure,” one of the shorts in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 3.

(Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Rambunctious kids

Plenty of “Star Wars” media is made with younger audiences in mind, but not many are about the adventures of children in the galaxy far, far away. “Vision” Volume 3’s “Yuko’s Treasure” puts a couple of orphan kids in the forefront — along with an adorable bear-like droid.

There’s no shortage of anime series about the (mis)adventures of rambunctious kids and one of the more heartwarming involves a “fake” family. “Spy x Family” (Disney+/Hulu, Crunchyroll) follows a secret agent working to maintain the fragile peace between neighboring nations and the faux happy family he constructed for his latest undercover mission. Unbeknownst to him, his adopted daughter is secretly a telepath and his fake wife is an assassin. As one might expect, a telepathic first grader with a wild imagination who lives with a spy and an assassin can get caught up in plenty of shenanigans. Bonus: The family also adopts a cute massive dog.

a young child holding a rolling suitcase

Kotaro in an episode of “Kotaro Lives Alone.”

(Netflix)

On the opposite end of the spectrum is “Kotaro Lives Alone” (Netflix), a more grounded show with just as outlandish a premise. The series follows a 4-year-old who moves into a rundown apartment complex alone — for reasons that are eventually revealed as his neighbors get to know him. The boy is unusually self-reliant and mature but also childish and understandably vulnerable. As viewers might assume, there are not many happy circumstances that could possibly lead to a 4-year-old child living on his own, but there’s more warmth than tragedy.

Musical, visual spectacle

One of the standouts in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 3 is “Black,” a jazz-fueled, mind-bending fever dream of a Stormtrooper during a battle. The bold, music-driven 13-minute short is a visual spectacle that challenges viewers and there’s not much else out there that compares. Though it has a more structured narrative, the anime film “Inu-Oh” (Netflix) is a psychedelic rock opera that might scratch the same itch. Set in 14th century Japan, the film follows two young artists who forge a friendship because they are both outcasts — the musician is blind, and the dancer was born with monstrous deformities — and their dazzling performances drive the story.

Source link

David Bowie and The Simpsons named among top icons and shows that predicted the future

DAVID Bowie and Kate Bush have been named among the top cultural icons who most accurately predicted how we live today, according to research.

A poll of 2,000 adults found George Orwell, Roald Dahl, and even Ross from Friends – who in 1999 predicted AI would be smarter than us by 2030 – made the top 10 list.

The Simpsons is known for eerily predicting future eventsCredit: Alamy
David Bowie performing at Boston Garden, Massachusetts, in 1978Credit: Alamy

Other cultural icons included Captain Kirk – who used to talk to computers, foldable communicators, and tablets as far back as the 1960s – and Ridley Scott.

The director’s seminal 1982 film Blade Runner is still hailed today as a masterclass in technological foresight.

Meanwhile the sitcom, The Simpsons has a history of uncanny predictions, including Donald Trump‘s presidency, the Pandemic, a FIFA scandal, and the development of smartwatches.

The research was commissioned by Samsung for its ‘Visionary Hall of Fame’ and rounding off the top 10 are musicians Prince and Bjork – with the former predicting online dating and virtual relationships in his album 1999, released over 40 years ago.

STARGIRL

Moment Hollywood star shocks with claim she TIME TRAVELLED to see David Bowie


STAR GONE

Iconic Radio DJ known as ‘Jed The Fish’ who worked with Bowie & Sting dies at 69

While Bjork foresaw the rise of social media in the 1990s and 2000s, predicting that technology wouldn’t just be functional, it would become deeply personal.

Fearne Cotton has teamed up with the brand, as part of their Can Your Phone Do This campaign which highlights the capabilities of Galaxy AI, to go back to her chart show roots, in a brand-new countdown video which reveals the visionaries who feature on the list.

The broadcaster and author said: “These ten icons didn’t just dream about the future; they made it a reality. It’s incredible to see that the future they envisioned is already here, right at our fingertips.

The research also found self-driving cars (39 per cent) topped the list of real-world innovations people remember seeing in pop culture before they became a reality.

This was followed by artificial intelligence (39 per cent) and video calling (33 per cent), along with voice assistants (28 per cent) and smart watches (22 per cent).

Those polled were also quizzed on their use of AI apps or assistants, with 24 per cent using these on their phones daily.

Many use them to ask factual questions (43 per cent), compose messages or emails (22 per cent), and edit photos and videos (22 per cent).

For 23 per cent, they are even translating speech or text among the most used AI functions.

In fact, almost seven in ten (68 per cent) also agreed that today’s AI-powered smartphones feel as though you are carrying the future in your pocket.

Annika Bizon, from Samsung, added: “68 per cent of Brits are amazed that these once-futuristic predictions are now part of everyday life, with over half crediting AI for boosting general knowledge and creativity.

“With Galaxy AI, we’re not just keeping pace with the predictions of modern-day visionaries, we’re actively shaping what comes next.

“We’re turning tomorrow’s possibilities into today’s realities, because when you hold the future in your hand, you’re not just ahead of the curve—you’re defining it.”

Fearne Cotton unveils the Visionary Hall of FameCredit: Michael Leckie/PinPep

Top ten cultural icons who saw the future

1. George Orwell
2. The Simpsons
3. David Bowie
4. Captain Kirk from Star Trek
5. Ridley Scott
6. Kate Bush
7. Roald Dahl
8. Ross from Friends
9. Prince
10. Bjork

Source link

Gemma Collins shows off her three stone weight loss as she transforms into Wicked’s Glinda for Halloween

GEMMA Collins stunned fans as she showed off her impressive three-stone weight loss in a gorgeous dress for Halloween.

The former TOWIE star, 44, transformed into Ariana Grande‘s Glinda, displaying her much slimmer frame on her Instagram.

Gemma transformed into Glinda from Wicked for HalloweenCredit: Instagram
She looked stunning in a bright purple, bedazzled ball gownCredit: Instagram
Gemma showed off the gorgeous new look on her social mediaCredit: Instagram

“We’re doing a look today for Halloween,” Gemma explained, revealing her sparkling, bedazzled, bright purple ball gown.

Wearing a matching tiara and clutching a magic wand, she sang, “Popular, I’m going to be popular. I love, love, love Wicked.

“Like beyond. I’m obsessed.

“I know the premiere is coming to London, but for Halloween, I thought I’d do Glinda.

read more on gemma collins

new look

Gemma Collins reveals she’s lost another 18lbs on fat jabs after 3st slim down


ROYAL TEA

Gemma Collins reveals her ambitions to become a Dame

“We was going to do Elphaba as well but… what was the reason we didn’t do Elphaba?

“Just because it’s going to be loads of green paint and I’ve got to be in about 20 places within the next three hours.

“So yeah, we’re having fun today behind the scenes and I can’t wait for you to see the final look,” the reality TV favourite explained.

In another video, Gemma joked that after Halloween was over, she would be racing to put up her Christmas tree.

Her famous friends and followers loved the Wicked look, with pals Jedward saying she looked like “Ariana Grande‘s sister”.

Another fan wrote, “Our gorgeous Essex glinda”

While a second said, “Absolutely stunning Gemma!!!️ hope your having a lovely weekend, love the Glinda look.”

“I wish I was this pretty,” wrote a third.

A fourth penned: “The GC always brightens up our day.”

Her dramatic transformation comes after Gemma dropped from a size 26 to a size 20 after becoming the latest celebrity on fat jabs.

She started the NHS-approved Mounjaro weight loss jabs in November 2024.

Gemma previously told The Sun: “For me, taking the jab is more about helping me not to fixate on food, so I actually only eat once a day now and don’t snack.

“I used to fascinate about food all day, but now it’s not a major player in my life anymore, I’ve forgotten all about it.

COST CUTTER

John Lewis launches early Black Friday sale a MONTH early with up to £300 off


SPY STORY

Telltale clues CHEATERS use to spot you secretly reading their dodgy texts & pics

“If I get a bit hungry, I’ll have something to eat, but it’s just about making smarter choices.

“The jabs aren’t for everyone but it’s a life changing drug for some people if it’s taken correctly and not abused. It has helped me a lot.”

Gemma has been open and honest about her weight lossCredit: Instagram
She started using NHS approved fat jabs last NovemberCredit: Getty
She has now dropped from a size 26 to a size 20Credit: Getty
Gemma told The Sun that fat jabs have changed her lifeCredit: Getty

Source link