While fans eagerly wait for the fifth season of The Crown, Netflix has revealed new images from the forthcoming season of the Emmy-winning drama.
Tenet star Elizabeth Debicki stuns in her spot-on look as Princess Diana, shown in one image with a cropped bob cut and looking forlorn at a public event. Another shows Diana all smiles and waving from a boat, with her young sons Harry (Teddy Hawley) and William (Timothee Sambor) and her eventual ex-husband, Prince Charles, played by Dominic West.
Imelda Staunton is pictured in another photo as Queen Elizabeth II at a state function beside her husband, Jonathan Pryce‘s Prince Phillip.
The streaming service teases, “As Queen Elizabeth approaches the 40th anniversary of her accession, she reflects on a reign that has encompassed nine prime ministers, the advent of mass television and the twilight of the British Empire. Yet new challenges are on the horizon … a seismic shift in the international order presenting both obstacles and opportunities. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing closer to home.”
The description continues, “Prince Charles pressures his mother to allow him to divorce Diana, presenting a constitutional crisis of the monarchy … [A]s media scrutiny intensifies, Diana decides to take control of her own narrative, breaking with family protocol to publish a book that undermines public support for Charles and exposes the cracks in the House of Windsor.”
The forthcoming season, which drops November 9, also shows the emergence of Khalid Abdalla‘s Dodi Al Fayed, Diana’s well-connected eventual romantic partner, who was killed with her in a car crash on August 31, 1997.
This season also stars Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne, Jonny Lee Miller as PM John Major and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.
Rival Sons have announced a new album called Darkfighter.
The seventh studio effort from the “Do Your Worst” rockers will arrive March 10. You can listen to lead single “Nobody Wants to Die” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.
“Records are a healthy form of escapism,” says guitarist Scott Holiday. “I hope this one takes you as far away as possible. Our intent was to create a cinematic body of work. As soon as the doors shut behind you, you’re enveloped on the ride.”
Darkfighter follows Rival Sons’ 2019 album, Feral Roots, which earned the band two Grammy nominations.
Here’s the Darkfighter track list:
“Mirrors”
“Nobody Wants to Die”
“Bird in the Hand”
“Bright Light”
“Rapture”
“Guillotine”
“Horses Breath”
“Darkside”
The 18-track collection was mixed for Dolby Atmos by the late Tom Petty‘s frequent studio collaborator Ryan Ulyate.
Greatest Hits is Petty and the Heartbreakers’ bestselling release, having been certified 12-times Platinum by the RIAA for album-equivalent sales of over 12 million copies in the U.S.
The album included many of the most popular and enduring tunes that Petty recorded with his band and as a solo artist.
These include the top-20 hits “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Refugee,” “The Waiting,” “You Got Lucky,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “I Won’t Back Down” and “Free Fallin’.”
The compilation also featured two then-new tracks — “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and a cover of Thunderclap Newman‘s 1969 classic “Something in the Air.” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” went on to reach #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“It was a joy listening to the tapes and discovering all the sonic elements that went into each song, and then presenting them in a new, compelling and immersive way,” says Ulyate about remixing Greatest Hits. “The goal with this Atmos mix is simple: get people closer to the music they love by putting them inside it!”
He adds, “Greatest Hits has so many iconic recordings that fans have lived with and loved over the years. Several great producers and engineers contributed to these classic tracks. I did my best with the Atmos mix to give the music the respect it deserves.”
Here’s the full Greatest Hits track list:
“American Girl”
“Breakdown”
“Listen to Her Heart”
“I Need to Know”
“Refugee”
“Don’t Do Me Like That”
“Even the Losers”
“Here Comes My Girl”
“The Waiting”
“You Got Lucky”
“Don’t Come Around Here No More”
“I Won’t Back Down”
“Runnin’ Down a Dream”
“Free Fallin'”
“Learning to Fly”
“Into the Great Wide Open”
“Mary Jane’s Last Dance”
“Something in the Air”
Hard to believe the popular mobile game Candy Crush Saga is turning 10. To celebrate, they teamed up with Meghan Trainor to go big during their birthday celebration.
Meghan has a new music video out for “Made You Look,” but you can only watch it on the Candy Crush app when it drops. The clip will remain exclusive on Candy Crush Saga for 24 hours starting Thursday, October 20, at 8 a.m. ET.
The music video also draws inspiration from the beloved puzzle game. It will follow Meghan’s day as she’s busy juggling multiple responsibilities. In addition, eagle-eyed fans better watch out for some promised surprise cameos, including TikTok personality Chris Olsen.
“I’m a big fan of Candy Crush Saga. I love playing when I have a bit of downtime in the studio so I’m looking forward to bringing the game to life for my fans within the music video,” she said in a statement. “Between the bright colors of the game and providing players with a fun escape from reality, Candy Crush Saga was the perfect inspiration.”
The video will appear in the Content Hub for 24 hours. In addition, Meghan will be “Candified” so she can swipe along with players on special missions. She will also help unlock special boosters and prizes — and, of course, she will be sharing words of encouragement along the way. The special in-game event will be accessible from level 25 and beyond.
Of course, this event serves as the perfect lead-up to Meghan’s new album, Takin’ It Back, which drops the following day — Friday, October 21.
Candy Crush Saga launched in 2012 and has since been downloaded over 3 billion times.
Filter has premiered a new single called “For the Beaten.”
The track marks the first fresh offering from the “Hey Man Nice Shot” outfit in two years. It’s the first single from the next Filter album, the follow-up to 2016’s Crazy Eyes.
“I spent a lot of time in the studio the last two years working on various projects and collaborations but at the core of it all, there is always Filter,” says frontman Richard Patrick. “We chose ‘For the Beaten’ as the first single because it’s dynamic, dark, and heavy, just like the moment we are in.”
You can listen to “For the Beaten” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying lyric video streaming now on YouTube.
The release of “For the Beaten” follows Patrick’s live reunion with Nine Inch Nails during the band’s hometown show in Cleveland last month. Patrick played in the Trent Reznor-led group during their Pretty Hate Machine tour before going on to form Filter.
(NEW YORK) — Two major U.S. supermarkets will combine forces after a unanimous all-cash merger agreement was reached between the boards of Kroger and Albertsons.
Kroger, the second largest grocery store chain, purchased the fourth largest, Albertsons, for an estimated total enterprise value of $24.6 billion, the company announced in a news release Friday.
“This combination will expand customer reach and improve proximity to deliver fresh and affordable food to approximately 85 million households with a premier omnichannel experience,” Kroger said.
Combined, the stores employ more than 700,000 people across 5,000 stores.
The companies said they plan to continue with their shared track record to lower prices, enhance customer experience and increase associate wages and benefits.
In a statement, Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said, “Albertsons Cos. brings a complementary footprint and operates in several parts of the country with very few or no Kroger stores. This merger advances our commitment to build a more equitable and sustainable food system by expanding our footprint into new geographies to serve more of America with fresh and affordable food and accelerates our position as a more compelling alternative to larger and non-union competitors.”
He added that “as a combined entity, we will be better positioned to advance Kroger’s successful go-to-market strategy” with respect to their seamless shopping experience, portfolio of brands, and personalized value and savings.
“Consistent with prior transactions, Kroger plans to invest in lowering prices for customers and expects to reinvest approximately half a billion dollars of cost savings from synergies to reduce prices for customers,” the company stated in its news release. “An incremental $1.3 billion will also be invested into Albertsons Cos. stores to enhance the customer experience.”
The newly merged company said it “expects to invest $1 billion to continue raising associate wages and comprehensive benefits after close.”
One of the main pillars highlighted as a way to accelerate Kroger’s go-to-market strategy is to create a broader selection of products with higher quality and better value.
“At a time when people are increasingly shopping for groceries and eating at home, Kroger and Albertsons Cos. will be better positioned to relieve the inflationary pressures facing shoppers with a combined portfolio of approximately 34,000 total private label products across premium, natural and organic, and opening price point brands,” the news release stated.
“Kroger and Albertsons Cos. have strong track records of providing quality products at great value. The combined company’s innovation capabilities, increased manufacturing footprint and expanded national reach will drive improved quality and efficiency allowing its Our Brands portfolio to accelerate growth and profitability while remaining affordable and accessible to customers,” the news release continued.
Additionally, Kroger said it expects this deal will enable the company to “serve America with fresher food, faster” with its “expanded network of stores and distribution centers, as well as a broader supplier base.”
“Utilizing Kroger’s End-to-End Fresh initiative across a broader network will enable the combined company to optimize its supply chain to deliver the freshest products from field to table to more customers more quickly,” the company stated. “By bringing together Kroger’s Fresh for Everyone strategy and Albertsons Cos.’ Customers for Life strategy, the combined company will expand its portfolio of fresh products, extend shelf lives and accelerate the penetration of its Fresh portfolio.”
The company said it also hopes to continue its shared progress towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
‘The addition of Albertsons Cos.’ sustainability program and resources will accelerate progress on Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan to create a more equitable and sustainable food system,” the release said.
The transaction is expected to close in early 2024, subject to required regulatory clearance and closing conditions, according to the company’s investor relations site.
As previously teased, Green Day has announced a Nimrod reissue in honor of the album’s 25th anniversary.
The package will be available as a three-disc CD and five-LP vinyl collection on January 27. In addition to the original album, the reissue includes a host of previously unreleased demos, as well as a full live recording from a 1997 concert in Philadelphia.
Among the demos is a recording of an unreleased Green Day song called “You Irritate Me,” which you can listen to now via digital outlets, and a cover of Elvis Costello‘s “Alison.”
Nimrod, Green Day’s fifth album, was originally released October 14, 1997 — 25 years ago today. The record has been certified double Platinum by the RIAA, and spawned the singles “Hitchin’ a Ride” and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
(BEIJING) — In Beijing this Sunday, China’s most consequential political gathering in a generation will open: the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
This year Chinese leader Xi Jinping is tipped be given a norm-breaking third five-year-term as General Secretary of the Communist Party, a more powerful position than the title of president which he is associated with abroad. Equally crucial, a whole contingent of China’s most experienced leaders, especially in the areas of the economy and foreign policy, are slated to retire and a new generation will be ushered in. Will any of them be positioned as Xi’s successor or will the top circle around Xi be stacked with his loyalists, leaving him even more unchallenged?
This is first congress since the pandemic and Xi is expected to use his zero-COVID strategy to cement to authority.
Since the last congress, U.S.-China relations have cratered with the two countries remaining at odds over Xi’s “without limits” friendship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in the western region of Xinjiang, the crackdown in Hong Kong, a tech competition over semiconductors and U.S. support for Taiwan.
What is the Party Congress?
The gathering, held every five years, brings together China’s top Communist Party members behind the closed doors of Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. This is the 20th nationwide congress since the party’s founding in 1921.
The Communist Party technically provides guidance and direction to China’s government, the State Council which is comprised almost completely of party members. The party uses these gatherings to discuss and approve the party’s long-term goals as well appoint the top leadership of the party and, by extension, the country.
This gathering will also drastically reshuffle the party’s leadership.
Out of 96 million Communist Party members, a select 2,296 delegates will converge on the Great Hall of The People to elect 205 of its members to the Central Committee and then the 25-seat Politburo. Due to an established retirement age limit of 68, the South China Morning Post tally found that nearly half of the Central Committee members are expected to be replaced.
These elite party members will also decide who gets to sit in the inner sanctum of party power, the Politburo Standing Committee — the top decision-making body in China. The current leadership has seven members with Xi at the very top.
This was the path Xi took himself. After much of his adult life in local-level politics, Xi was elevated to the national stage at the 16th Party Congress in 2002 and then was elected to the Standing Committee in 2007 during the 17th Party Congress, making him a viable successor. At the 18th Party Congress in 2012, he rose to the top in an opaque jockeying process.
While there was never a term limit for Xi’s position as General Secretary, there was a two-term limit for the presidency until 2018. The two positions are usually served concurrently along with a third position — the head of the military — so it became the norm in the 1980s to serve two terms as head of the party to fit the term limit for the presidency. This was put in place at the time to ensure collective leadership at the top of the party and prevent an extended cult of personality with one-man rule — as seen under Mao Zedong — along with an orderly transition of power. The previous congress in 2017 paved the way for the presidential term limit to be thrown out shortly afterwards.
Xi is 69 this year and the rules and norms are not expected to apply to him this time around.
What to expect this week
The Party Congress will run from Oct. 16 to roughly the 20th with much of the proceedings happening behind closed doors. Most of the media will be kept away in the media center in a separate part of town, ostensibly because of COVID protocols.
Xi will open the Congress on Sunday with a marathon speech recapping the achievements of the party under his leadership and his vision forward. Xi’s speech in 2017 lasted three-and-a-half hours.
State media this week say that the party will use Xi’s signature zero-COVID policy to bolster his rule.
“China has waged an all-out war against the COVID-19 pandemic which protected public health to the maximum extent,” the communique read, commending Xi for “putting people’s lives first.”
With only 5,226 official COVID deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, China’s death rate is far below many countries around the world. Xi often cites the low death rate as proof of China’s superiority over the West despite its impact this year on the economy. China remains the only major country still seeking to control the virus.
The communique also praised Xi on his Hong Kong crackdown and his strong response opposing “Taiwan Independence” alluding to the massive military drills Xi, as head of the PLA, unleashed around the island after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s August visit there.
China’s economy will be the most critical issue, especially if the party wants China on track to overtake the United States as the world biggest economy by the end of the decade. Observers are watching to see if Xi offers a road-map out of China’s COVID isolation to rejoin much of the world.
Xi will also have to the contend with what to do about the spiraling relationship with the United States.
The most important event will take place at the end, on the morning of Oct. 21 when the new lineup of the Politburo Standing Committee will be unveiled. These will be China’s top leaders working with Xi for the next five years.
Members of the committee will be unveiled to the public one by one as walk onto a red-carpeted dais, in order of seniority, starting with Xi. As of right now only Xi is expected to stay on.
Who will be Premier? Will Xi elevate a potential successor? And other pressing questions
Arguably the most important position will be who walks in after Xi. The second-in-line will usually end up as premier eventually, overseeing the day-to-day government and traditionally steering the economy. The current number two, Li Keqiang, indicated that he will retire as premier this coming March but at 67, he is still technically “young” enough to stay on. A trained economist, Li returned to prominence in recent months as the country’s economy slowed under Xi’s zero-COVID policies.
If Li steps aside, will his place be filled with a Xi loyalist or someone nurtured under previous Chinese leaders who still hold some sway behind the scenes? If the person doesn’t end up being a Xi loyalist it could possibly mean that some in the party still want to reign in Xi’s more conservative economic tendencies.
Also, would there be a potential successor amongst those chosen?
Xi was seen as the next leader-in-waiting when he was elevated to the Standing Committee in 2007 at the age of 54, five years before he reached the top spot. If, by the end of the Congress, there is no clear rising star among the top ranks, it may signal that Xi intends to rule securely into a fourth term.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are apparently trying to get their own story straight.
According to Page Six, Netflix and the filmmakers behind the pair’s upcoming streaming documentary “were confused” by apparent “discrepancies” between what they said on camera and Harry’s own words in his upcoming memoir.
A source familiar with the project told the publication, “A lot in the show contradicted what Harry has written, so that was an issue. Then Harry and Meghan made significant requests [to filmmakers] to walk back content they themselves have provided, for their own project.”
It seems the couple wanted to edit out comments they made about PrinceWilliam and his wife, Kate,and King Charles and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort.
Whoopi Goldberg and her ‘Sister Act’ co-star Kathy Najimi – ABC/Paula Lobo
Sister Act 3 is on the way.
Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in the original 1992 comedy film, dished the news while appearing on Thursday’s episode of Comedy Central’sHell of a Week with Charlamagne Tha God.
“Yes, it is happening,” she shared. “You know, it takes everything a very long time, but we should get the script by the end of this month.”
The actor, comedian and television personality went on to reveal who she’d like to cast in the film, naming Keke Palmer, Lizzo and Nicki Minaj.
“I want everybody,” Whoopi said. “I want as many people who want to have some fun, because I really, desperately need to have some fun.”
The news comes almost four years after a third installment was confirmed to be in the works to air on Disney+.
Sister Act burst on to the scene in 1992 and became one of the most successful comedies of the ’90s. Its sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, came a year later.
