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Hollywood A-lister forced to find new hotel after blundering staff double booked her £25k a night suite with Beyonce

BEYONCE hired all of the suites of one of London’s poshest hotels for her Cowboy Carter tour – leaving Sydney Sweeney and Julienne Moore out in the cold. 

An insider said Sydney, 27, and Julienne, 66, were supposed to have two of the £25,000-a-night pads when they flew into London this week to promote their new film Echo Valley. 

Beyoncé performing on stage in a white cowboy outfit.
Shutterstock Editorial
Beyonce hired all of the suites of one of London’s poshest hotels for her Cowboy Carter tour – leaving two Hollywood stars out in the cold[/caption]
Sydney Sweeney at the Armani beauty party during the Berlinale.
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Sydney Sweeney was supposed to have one of the £25,000-a-night suites when she flew into London this week[/caption]
Julianne Moore in a gold sequined gown at the Venice Film Festival.
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Actress Julienne Moore was also left without a suite after the blunder[/caption]

But an error at the hotel, which we are not naming, meant it clashed with Beyonce’s 12-night stay – with bosses fumbling to find the Hollywood actresses a place to stay. 

A source said: “Sydney and Julienne were supposed to be staying in the suites but Beyonce had booked out every single one. 

“Her whole family and team have taken over the penthouse suites and she moved in last week for her Cowboy Carter tour

“It was only when Sydney and Julienne were on their way that the error was picked up. 

“It was the talk of the hotel because they had to cancel on Sydney and Julienne and find them somewhere else to stay. 

“Sydney ended up in the Peninsula 15 minutes away, while Julienne was put up in Raffles – which is close to where she was booked in originally. 

“Beyonce was totally unaware all of this was happening but it caused a meltdown at the hotel because someone dropped the ball at their end. 

“It was a total nightmare.” 

Sydney and Julienne were seen together at the Echo Valley premiere which was held at the BFI on London’s Southbank on Tuesday. 

Julienne later flew to New York and yesterday was seen promoting the film alone in the Big Apple

Beyonce, 43, will play her penultimate show in London’s Tottenham stadium tonight before her final show on the UK leg of her Cowboy Carter tour on Monday. 

She will then fly across the channel to play three shows in the Stade de France before heading to the US for the final leg, including two massive shows in her hometown Houston, Texas

Her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, turned eight yesterday and on Thursday night Beyonce asked the 50,000 strong crowd to wish them happy birthday. 

As Rumi joined her on stage alongside her other daughter Blue Ivy, 13, Beyonce said: “Mummy loves you.” 

The Peninsula Hotel entrance in London, with staff and lion statues.
Sydney ended up in the Peninsula Hotel 15 minutes away
Rex
Raffles London at the Old War Office building in Whitehall, London.
Alamy
Julienne was put up in Raffles – which is close to where she was booked in originally[/caption]

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

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Dua Lipa lines up two HUGE Brit pop stars to support her at ‘monumental’ Wembley Stadium gigs

CHARLI XCX and RAYE have found the perfect warm up for Glastonbury – supporting Dua Lipa in London.

I’m told Dua has approached Charli and Raye to open her two huge Wembley Stadium shows next weekend.

Dua Lipa performing on stage.
Dua Lipa has lined up two top acts to support her at her Wembley Stadium gigs
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Raye performing at Brighton Pride.
Dua’s team approached Raye and an agreement is close to being finalised for the upcoming gigs
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Charli XCX performing at Roskilde Festival.
Charli XCX is also in talks to support Dua
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And it’s looking promising as insiders tell me the deals were close to being confirmed last night.

A source said: “These two Wembley shows are monumental for Dua and she wants to give her fans an extra treat.

“Her team has approached Raye to open Friday’s show, while Charli is in talks to perform on Saturday.

“Dua, Raye and Charli are all super supportive of each other and it would be amazing to have these three British female powerhouses playing Wembley.

“With Glastonbury the week after, this is the perfect warm-up for Raye and Charli too as they’ll be playing to almost 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

“The deals are still being thrashed out but fans off to see Dua should expect to see these two on the stage.”

It’s a coup for us music fans, we’re being spoilt for choice when it comes to huge gigs this summer.

And while the Brit Awards is moving to Manchester, London is proving to be the hottest city in the country when it comes to music this summer.

Our capital is the only place fans can catch Coldplay, Oasis, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Billie Eilish.

And the stats speak for themselves, with more than 3.6million fans heading to the city this summer to watch their favourite acts.

‘Best in the world’

I’m told 40 per cent of stadium ticket sales this summer were for artists who all started their careers in venues that held less than 1,000 people, acts such as Dua, Kendrick, Lana del Rey, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone.

And ladies are doing it for themselves as female-led stadium shows account for 40 per cent of sales.

Mayor of London, and self confessed Taylor Swift superfan, Sadiq Khan told me: “Our capital’s music scene is the very best in the world and this summer we have another incredible line-up of performances featuring some of the globe’s biggest artists.

“From headlining acts at stadiums and festivals to upcoming stars at grassroots venues, London’s music scene has so much for fans to enjoy, and we’ll continue to do all we can to support our venues.”

Sophie dazzled at the Hall

Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing on stage.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says she gets excited about making pop music above any other genre
Getty

IT WAS murder on a very fancy dancefloor for Sophie Ellis-Bextor as she performed a huge sold-out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The concert was Sophie’s biggest ever headline show in the capital, with the singer performing her new single Taste from upcoming album Perimenopop, which is out on September 12.

This year marks Sophie’s 25th anniversary as a solo star, and she said: “I’ve been singing for 30 years now and throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to happily play with many music genres, but my heart beats the fastest for pop.”

Of her eighth record, Sophie added: “This album is a celebration of that relationship.

“In fact, it’s a celebration of lots of things, including being the age I’m at and still having so many adventures and so much fun.”

Paddy’s duet dream for Soccer Aid party

Paddy McGuinness diving to save a soccer ball during a training session.
Paddy McGuinness has his eye on the Soccer Aid after party, not just the game itself
PA

THEY defeated the World XI last year after a five-year losing streak – but Paddy McGuinness hasn’t got his mind on taking home the trophy again ahead of Soccer Aid tomorrow.

The Radio 2 DJ tells me he’s got bigger fish to fry, like convincing football legend Wayne Rooney to have a go on the karaoke machine he’s bringing to the after-party.

Paddy, who has been part of the England XI line-up for 15 years for the charity match, which will be broadcast live on ITV tomorrow at 7:30pm, said: “Obviously, I’d sing Islands In The Stream with Wayne – it’s a classic.

“There are singers on the team – we’ve had some A-list stars over the years and everyone gets involved.

“But, to be honest, when the karaoke machine comes out, that’s when the professional singers have to step aside and let the rest of us have our moment.”

Wayne Rooney in England jersey celebrating.
Paddy is aiming to convince Wayne Rooney to let loose on the karaoke machine
©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures

Paddy is joining Dragons’ Den’s Steven Bartlett, former Olympian Sir Mo Farah, adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls, and former footballers Gary Neville and Joe Hart in the England XI team.

They will be up against a team that includes boxer Tony Bellew, Strictly’s Gorka Marquez and Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd.

This year, Paddy revealed that the training schedule had been cut down from five days to two, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been taking it seriously at home in preparation for his moment in goal.

He said: “I keep myself fit and healthy.

“I’m going to be back in goal, so I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and stretching, and I’ve always loved combat training. I do karate.

“One year, I stopped Usain Bolt from scoring a goal with a karate roundhouse kick to the ball.

“He was already celebrating with his arms in the air, it was a real close one.

“It was like, ‘I didn’t know Paddy could put his leg over his head!’”


WILL SMITH has admitted he needed some A-list encouragement to write his new album Based On A True Story.

On Capital XTRA Breakfast, he said: “Jay Z said, ‘Don’t even make music if you’re not going to be honest.’

“That was the deep push for me.”

Jord’s hair of importance

Jordan North outside Global Radio Studios.
Jordan North is a bigger diva than Mariah Carey, claims Summertime Ball co-host Sian Welby
Getty

MARIAH CAREY has been demanding loads of dressing rooms for Capital’s Summertime Ball tomorrow but there will be an even bigger diva at Wembley Stadium for the sold-out show – Jordan North.

The Capital Breakfast show host is even more of a primadonna than the Fantasy singer, according to his hilarious co-host Sian Welby, with Jordan.

In an exclusive chat, she said: “Jordan is the biggest diva.

“He’s got his makeup and, in an interview, he’s so busy looking at the cameras, checking his hair out that he gets lost in the interview.

“He has his own barber come into the studio and he wears a cape. And then two days later, he wants a fresh trim.

“He would have a barber following him around if he could.

“He’d have special lighting.

“He’d have a tanning booth.”

Sian said that working with her male co-hosts is amazing, adding: “It’s like having brothers – we can rip the p**s out of each other.”

And she reckons they have hit their stride as a trio, with their show broadcast nationally.

She added: “I’m usually self-deprecating but the combo of me, Chris Stark, and Jordan is just the right timing and the right mix of personalities.

“I feel like we’re in some sort of golden era of radio.”

Tim’s a fall guy

James band singer Tim Booth falling from a small stage after greeting fans.
James singer Tim Booth carried on performing after taking a tumble during a live performance
FPS Images - 2025 - All rights reserved.

JAMES frontman Tim Booth took their 1990 hit Sit Down to heart at the Summer Sessions festival after falling off the stage.

The Manchester born singer took a tumble while performing at the event at Plymouth Hoe.

Ever the professional, Tim carried on singing – much to the amusement of the crowd.

One fan told me: “One moment Tim was singing and greeting fans, the next he’d gone ar*e over tit.

“He had jumped down from the main stage onto a smaller platform towards the barriers.

“As he jumped to the floor he looked like he rolled his ankle and dropped straight to the ground.

“It took him a couple of attempts to get off the floor, but he continued singing the whole time.”

What a trooper.

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Tens of thousands on benefits to receive free payment worth over £290 this summer

TENS of thousands of carers will get a benefit cash boost of £293.50 next week.

Some 90,000 will get the one-off extra payment between 18 and 19 June, but it’s only available to those claiming either Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

A hand taking coins from a purse.
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Person takes coins out of the purse[/caption]

The Scottish Government hands out these extra payments, called Carer’s Support Allowance, to unpaid carers twice a year.

It gives extra financial support to people who are taking care of someone who is unwell or vulnerable.

Carer’s Allowance has replaced Carer Support Payment. Both are worth £83.30 a week, and you normally get paid every four weeks.

The extra money is automatically paid into the same bank account as the one you normally get your benefit paid into.

You should be sent a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made.

If you haven’t got a letter, or haven’t been paid, by 30 June, call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. 

The next Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid in December.

You are eligible for the help if you were claiming either one of the two benefits on 14 April, 2025.

To be eligible for Carer Support Payment, you must:

  • Be 16 or over
  • Usually live in Scotland
  • Provide care for 35 hours or more a week for someone who gets certain disability benefits
  • Not earn more than £196 a week or £10,912 per year

What if I don’t live in Scotland?

You can still claim Carer’s Allowance if you don’t live in Scotland – you just won’t get the Carer Support Payment element.

The benefit is paid to those caring for someone else (who is on benefits) for at least 35 hours a week.

You don’t have to be related to the person you care for, or live with them, to be eligible.

If you claim Carer’s Allowance you also receive National Insurance credits, which contribute to your NI record.

This is a really important, as your NI record is used by the government to calculate how much state pension you can get.

You need 35 full years of NI contributions to get the maximum amount, which is £230.25 a week.

What if I’m not a carer?

If you’re not a carer but are struggling, check if you qualify for any benefits.

You can use a benefits calculator to help check you are not missing out on money you are entitled to.

Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.

Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.

Your local council may have a Household Support Fund scheme for low income households.

The government has supplied a £742million pool of cash to  councils in England to dish out to struggling families.

Depending on the help that your council is offering, you could get free cash and even supermarket vouchers.

If you’re struggling with your energy bills, see if there are any grants to help you clear any arrears.

British Gas and Octopus Energy offer financial assistance to customers in difficulty, with some schemes wiping as much as £2,000 off unpaid energy debts — depending on your situation.

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Moment idiot tourist SHATTERS crystal-studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair after sitting on it as pal took a photo

THIS is the embarrassing moment a man sits down on a crystal-studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair for a picture – only for it to buckle beneath him.

The two senseless visitors caused “serious damage” to the valuable artwork, the Italian art gallery revealed.

High-angle view of two people in an art gallery near a damaged art installation.
Facebook
Aman and woman can be seen waiting for security to leave the room at Maffei Palace in Verona[/caption]
A person breaks a crystal-studded chair in an art gallery.
Facebook
The chair instantly breaks apart, with the man left reaching his arms back towards the walls for support[/caption]

The chair, designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, is adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals making it “extremely fragile and delicate”, according to local media.

In the shocking CCTV footage, a man and woman can be seen waiting for security to leave the room at Maffei Palace in Verona, before posing for the snap that ended in disaster.

The two senseless visitors caused “serious damage” to the valuable artwork

While the woman appears to hover over the chair to avoid placing her weight on it, the man daringly decides to take a seat.

The chair instantly breaks apart, with the man left reaching his arms back towards the walls for support.

The pair then surreptitiously scurry out of the room, leaving the artwork in a crooked state.

Following the incident, the museum released a statement on its social media accounts.

It read: “Every museum’s nightmare has become reality, even in Palazzo Maffei.

“Waiting for the surveillance officers to come out, some visitors took an “in effect” photo. 

“The result? An irresponsible gesture caused serious damage to Nicola Bolla’s “Van Gogh” chair, a very delicate work, covered entirely with hundreds of Swarovski crystals.”

The museum explained that thanks to “restorers who did a fantastic job”, along with Italian law enforcement, “the piece is shining once again”.

It added: “We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting, but to start a real campaign to raise awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves.

“A heartfelt thank you goes to the police, our security department and the restaurateurs, whose valuable work allowed the recovery of the work.

“And a special thank you to all of you who walk through the museum halls every day with care, attention and wonder.

“Because art is not just for seeing. It is to be loved. It is to be protected.”

It comes as a tourist recently smashed two priceless statues after jumping a railing around the Terracotta Army in the Chinese city of Xi’An.

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NFL legend Barry Sanders suffers heart attack in major health scare and issues worrying warning

BARRY Sanders has revealed he suffered a terrifying health scare.

The legendary NFL running back had a heart attack last June.

FILE - Former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders stands on the field before the NFC Championship NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Jan. 28, 2024. Sanders says he “experienced a health scare related to my heart” last weekend. “It was unexpected and served as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about our physical well-being, even when we are feeling fine,” Sanders said in a statement posted Friday, June 21, on social media. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker, File)
AP
Barry Sanders revealed that he suffered a heart attack last year[/caption]
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eangles during an NFL football game September 15, 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-98.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Sanders is considered by many to be the greatest running back of all time[/caption]

The Hall of Fame Detroit Lions player publicly announced the health scare when it happened, but only detailed it as heart-related.

However, he further revealed that his “health scare” was a heart attack.

“I couldn’t believe it, honestly,” Sanders said in The Making of a Heart Attack.

“I thought it was like heartburn, but it just kind of persisted.” 

Sanders explained that he woke up with a burning feeling in his chest on the day of his heart attack.

He was on a recruiting visit with his son and decided to leave the visit early and go to the emergency room.

It was there that he learned his enzyme levels were “really high and getting higher.”

Sanders then got a heart catheter procedure, which revealed he had a heart attack.

“Of all things, I don’t know why, that just never entered my mind,” Sanders told CBS.

“I’m learning through this process that there aren’t necessarily any warning signs, unless you do what we’re encouraging people to do, which is to go the doctor, get tested for LDLC levels, or bad cholesterol.

“That’s the only way to find out if you have high cholesterol. It’s not something you’re going to be able to feel.

“You don’t have to fit a certain physical profile.” 

Sanders shares more about his experience in his upcoming documentary while sitting down with four others who suffered from heart attacks or strokes.

“It’s really been an education, for me, learning about how frequent this happens all over the US,” Sanders said.

“Conversing with these other individuals who are part of this documentary who have very insightful, gripping stories about the journey that they’ve been on.

“It’s just really amazing. I think it will get a lot of people’s attention.” 

NFL important dates 2025 season

March 12 - Free Agency begins

April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin

September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)

November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header

January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season

February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California

It has been a year since Sanders’ heart attack, and thanks to medications, dieting, and exercise, his health has improved.

“It’s definitely made me healthier and happier,” Sanders said.

“Being the kind of athlete that I was, I would see people walking and I would wonder, like, ‘What kind of workout is that?’

“But there’s a thing called a heart healthy workout, where you’re just getting your heart rate up a little bit over a certain period of time, and that’s just really good for your heart.

“There was just a certain ignorance that I had about things like that. But all of it has been a learning process.”

Sanders is encouraging people to visit attackheartdisease.com/test to make sure their hearts are healthy.

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Mexican chain that’s ‘better than Taco Bell’ to open first ‘full service’ restaurant next week

A BELOVED Mexican chain restaurant and Taco Bell rival is making a major change to its operations that will be rolled out in just days.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is deviating from its usual model, launching its first ever full-service restaurant next week.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop van parked in front of its restaurant.
Alamy
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a Texas-based fast casual chain[/caption]
Happy Latin American woman eating tacos at a Mexican restaurant.
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Fuzzy’s is making a major change, launching its first full-service location in days[/caption]

Founded in 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a fast casual chain with a focus on Baja-style Mexican cuisine.

Well-known for its tacos, burritos, and margaritas, the restaurant chain operates over 100 locations across the country, primarily in The Lone Star State.

The chain’s traditional spots feature a walk-up format where guests order at the counter and pick up their food at a designated window once it’s ready.

Fuzzy’s is taking strides to depart from its traditional restaurant format, piloting a full-service model where diners are seated and order from a server, dubbed a “Tacotender.”

The new location will be called Fuzzy’s Tacos and Margs.

Not only will it offer a tableside experience for guests, but also a revamped menu with dishes like the Texas Brisket Taco, Cali-Style Steak Taco, Ultimate Nachos, and Sonora Relleno.

States with Fuzzy's Taco Shop

Fuzzy's has restaurant locations across a handful of US states:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas
  • Wyoming

Source: Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Guests will see new margaritas like the Paloma ‘Rita and Watermelon ’Rita, as well as frozen alcoholic drinks such as the Fuzz Driver and Double Rum Daiquiri. 

The new full-service location will debut in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas, and is expected to open on Monday, June 16.

Fuzzy’s will hand out free tacos for a whole year to the first 50 customers in line on opening day, and the first 100 will receive a free Fuzzy’s Taco Shop shirt.

“We’re excited to pilot this new model that puts hospitality front and center while simplifying the overall experience for our guests,” Fuzzy’s president Patrick Kirk said in a statement, per National Restaurant News.

“Sugar Land is helping us find that sweet spot between fast casual and full-service, with a streamlined menu, bold new taco creations, and a margarita lineup that puts our bar front and center.”

The new spot is owned by the NGA Group and operated by brothers Andrew and Miro Nazarian, who signed an agreement to open three full-service Fuzzy’s locations by the end of 2025.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will evaluate how these locations perform before scaling the full-service model.

TACO TRANSFORMATION

Fuzzy’s was acquired in 2022 by Dine Brands Global, the parent company behind Applebee’s and IHOP.

The Mexican chain has struggled in recent years, experiencing a 12% sales decline across all its restaurants in the first quarter, per an earnings release, as well as a drop in its store count.

Restaurant closures in 2025

Denny’s – Denny’s has confirmed that up to 150 locations are set to close in the US by the end of the year as many of them are no longer profitable.

Red Lobster – The chain has said that it plans to close over 100 stores across the country this year as new CEO Damola Adamolekun takes over.

TGI Friday’s – TGI Friday’s is still being forced to shutter locations thanks to a bankruptcy filing, including 30 in April alone.

Applebee’s – This chain is projecting a loss of 20 to 35 Applebee’s spots in 2025 but is teaming up with IHOP to introduce dual-branded locations with a curated menu of the two’s best items.

Noodles & Company – This emporium is set to close between 17 and 21 locations in 2025 following a difficult 2024.

The chain finished the first quarter with 115 locations, compared to 128 during the same time in 2024.

Fuzzy’s has also faced challenges with intensifying competition in such a saturated food market, although the chain has a loyal fan base to back it up.

“Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is by far better than Taco Bell,” praised one fan on X, as another called it a “better version” of the latter chain.

The move to roll out the new full-service restaurant model is an effort to accomodate consumers’ shifting preferences and comes amid several other initiatives to boost Fuzzy’s performance. 

For example, Fuzzy’s rolled out a happy hour promotion at all of its locations in May, featuring options $5 and under, including a $4 house margarita.

The beloved chain also upgraded its online ordering site and partnered with third-party delivery services “to increase market visibility and reach our guests where they are and how they want to order,” Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said in an earnings call.

Dine Brands Global’s other chains are similarly rolling out changes.

For example, Applebee’s confirmed a huge change to how you pay for your meal in a major shakeup to 460 locations.

Plus, Applebee’s and IHOP previously revealed a massive collaboration with “exclusive items” – and 15 more restaurants are on the way.

Exterior of a Taco Bell restaurant.
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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is frequently pitted against Taco Bell[/caption]

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Aaron Rodgers makes major retirement declaration just days after joining Pittsburgh Steelers on $13.6 million contract

AARON Rodgers made an eye-opening retirement declaration when speaking about his eventual decision to sign a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 41-year-old Rodgers penned a one-year, $13.6 million deal with the Steelers last weekend.

Aaron Rodgers at a press conference.
Pittsburgh Steelers - X
Aaron Rodgers spoke to reporters about his decision to join the Pittsburgh Steelers during Tuesday’s media availability after a mandatory minicamp session[/caption]
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, throws grass to test the wind.
Rodgers tosses the grass to test the wind at the practice
Alamy

Rodgers joined the Steelers after being linked with the team for several months.

The four-time NFL MVP was cut by the New York Jets in March and contemplated retirement or playing a 21st season in the NFL in 2025.

While the Steelers expressed interest in Rodgers, other NFL teams, including the New York Giants, were suitors for the veteran quarterback.

However, it seems that Rodgers was never going to sign with the Giants, or any other team, for that matter, and chose retirement instead.

During the Steelers’ first day of mandatory minicamp, Rodgers told the media that “it was here [to play in Pittsburgh] or not play.”

The comment was eye-opening since Rodgers did have free-agent discussions with the Giants.

And he heaped praise for Giants head coach Brian Daboll during the offseason.

The Giants, however, are coming off a disaster 3-14 campaign.

But Rodgers’ retirement declaration could just be nothing more than pleasing the Steelers and their fans over his confidence about being a player for the team.

The Giants instead signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to short-term contracts and drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Wilson started 11 games for the Steelers last season and led the team to the playoffs.

But Pittsburgh was one-and-done in the postseason and chose not to retain Wilson.

Rodgers signed a one-year, deal worth a maximum amount of $19.6 million.

He will lead a Steelers quarterback room of veterans Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie Will Howard.

Rodgers has already taken a liking to the sixth-round pick Howard.

Aaron Rodgers, wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, throws a football.
Rodgers throws the football at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex
Getty

“Will’s a good kid. We’ve got to talk a little bit. I thought he did really well today,” Rodgers said during Tuesday’s post-practice media availability.

“You know, he seems pretty bright.

“Not too big for him.

“Going through the progressions really well.”

NFL important dates 2025 season

March 12 - Free Agency begins

April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin

September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)

November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header

January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season

February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California

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Chipotle giving away free item in a ‘flash’ one hour deal today – but you have to have specific feature to claim

CHIPOTLE is giving away a free item for just one hour on Friday, but you have to have to have a special feature to claim it.

The popular fast food chain is marking Friday 13 with a free flash giveaway, and is bringing out its first-ever collection of a novelty ite to celebrate.

Employee preparing a burrito bowl at Chipotle.
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Chipotle is giving away a free item for just one hour on Friday, but you have to have to be tattooed to claim it[/caption]

Chipotle is celebrating Friday 13 in tatted style, and is holding a special buy-one-get-one-free deal for a very small window of time.

The deal allows you to get buy-one-get-one-free on Chipotle items.

The deal is being held at select Chipotle locations between 3pm and 4pm for people who have permanent tattoos.

The deal also stands for those with temporary tats and drawn-on designs.

This exclusive giveaway is happening at 13 Chipotle restaurants across the country.

In the tattoo community, Friday June 13 is considered a special day, where lots of shops sell a  “flash sheet” of small, pre-designed affordable tattoos.

THANKS TO A MEME

Chipotle is celebrating the art of tattoos, and is borrowing from a popular online meme about itself to do so.

The internet joke that someone is “tatted like a Chipotle bag” has made its way into real life.

The joke refers to people having tattoos that are mainly text-based.

This is said to make their arms look like a Chipotle bag, with lots of images close together.

It first came to prominence during the 2019 men’s professional football‘s championship game.

This was when a singer’s tattoos were compared to the artwork found on a Chipotle bag.

On top of this, Chipotle has launched its first-ever range of temporary tattoo designs.

The company will drop the brand new collection featuring elements of the iconic brand.

The 13 tattoo collection will feature designs like black forks, Chipotle ingredients, and a slogan that reads “Chipotle is my life”.

The 13 Chipotle locations doing the BOGO deal

  • Atlanta: 3424 Piedmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305
  • Austin: 801 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
  • Chicago: 316 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
  • Columbus: 1726 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
  • Denver: 1644 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210
  • La Jolla: 8657 Villa La Jolla Dr Ste 209, La Jolla, CA 92037
  • Las Vegas: 2540 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
  • Los Angeles: 301 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
  • Miami: 891 South Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130
  • New York: 864 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
  • Portland: 240 SW Yamhill St, Portland, OR 97204
  • Philadelphia: 1000 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
  • San Francisco:3251 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132
  • Scottsdale: 15425 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

ACCESSIBLE BONUS

Even if you don’t have any type of tattoo, there is still something free to be enjoyed from the deal.

During the allotted time window, you can show up to one of the participating Chipotle restaurants and try out one of the new temporary tattoos.

Trying one out with get you a free BOGO entrée.

It is important to note that the temporary tattoo sheets will only be given out to orders -laced at the drive-thru window.

Stephanie Perdue, Vice President, Brand Marketing said: “On the biggest day of the year for tattoos, we are honoring our bold superfans who have artwork reminiscent of the designs on Chipotle’s takeout bags.

“Fans who aren’t ready to embark on their permanent tattoo journey can try out our 13 new temporary designs and enjoy a BOGO entrée.”

Young woman with extensive tattoos on her arms and back.
Getty
Chipotle is celebrating Friday 13 in tatted style, and is holding a special buy-one-get-one-free deal for a very small window of time[/caption]
Close-up of a tattoo artist applying a tattoo.
Getty
On top of this, Chipotle has launched its first-ever range of temporary tattoo designs[/caption]

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Inside TikTok star Avery Woods’ $3.7m Calabasas mansion featuring city views and patio garden as she begins renovation

TIKTOK star Avery Woods has dropped $3,675,000 on a stunning Calabasas, California mansion that features city views and a private patio.

Avery, 30, rose to fame from blogging her life as a wife, mother and nurse on TikTok and YouTube.

Woman in brown dress on balcony overlooking city.
Instagram/averyywoods
Avery Woods showing off the stunning view of her $3.7 million home[/caption]
Woman standing in a large room with hardwood floors, arms outstretched.
Tiktok/averyywoods
The house has hardwood floors and a wood-beamed ceiling[/caption]
Couple discussing kitchen renovation plans.
Tiktok/averyywoods
Avery and her husband, David, inside their kitchen[/caption]

She has shared updates on her family’s move from Mesa, Arizona to Calabasas, California.

The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal Avery and her husband, David, purchased the four bedroom, six bathroom mansion for $3,675,000.

According to the Mortgage Deed obtained by The U.S. Sun, the couple took out a mortgage in the amount of $2,940,000 to be paid by June 1, 2055.

Both of their names are listed on the deed.

HOME SWEET HOME

According to the real estate listing, the single family home is 4,116 square feet.

The stunning home has hardwood floors, vaulted wood-beamed ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout.

The living room features a fireplace, while the kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, an island with seating, walk-in pantry, a wine refrigerator and breakfast nook.

The Woods family can enjoy city and mountain views from the dining room.

Avery and David’s suite features a spa-style bathroom, fireplace, and access to a a private patio.

The outside features a panoramic view of the city and mountains, putting green, saltwater pool, jacuzzi, fire pit and beautiful landscaping that boasts fruit trees and a garden.

Avery has shared many videos inside her home, including one of her and her husband taking a video with the Los Angeles view behind them and the caption, “First of many memories out here.”

In another video, she reveals to their children Ziggy, 6, and Stevie, 4, that they have purchased the home.

Avery has also posted enjoying a barbecue outside of the house and the jacuzzi.

Couple reviewing renovation plans on a putting green overlooking a hillside.
Tiktok/averyywoods
The house features a putting green[/caption]
TikTok star Avery Woods on her patio overlooking a valley.
Tiktok/averyywoods
Avery and her family having a barbecue at the mansion[/caption]
Woman and young child in a pool.
Tiktok/averyywoods
Avery and her daughter, Stevie, enjoying the home’s jacuzzi[/caption]
Family with two young children on a patio overlooking a hillside.
Tiktok/averyywoods
David and Avery telling their children they will be living in the home[/caption]
Couple discussing home renovation plans.
Tiktok/averyywoods
The house has floor-to-ceiling windows and wood beams[/caption]
Couple reviewing home renovation plans.
Tiktok/averyywoods
The living room has a cozy fireplace and hardwood floors[/caption]

HOME REMODEL

Avery and David are in the process of renovating the home.

In a get ready with me video, Avery says, “Hi you guys. We just got back from the new house because we had our first meeting with the interior design team and contractors.

“I have no idea what I’m doing! I obviously know my style and what I like when I look at it but I am not an expert when it comes to construction and design.

“I feel like interior designers kind of know the longevity of style. They can help you navigate.

“We are going to knock down a couple of walls and change a little bit of some things.

“I’m able to design my dream home, take some time with it. When it comes to investing in real estate you just can’t put a price on that view, it’s never going to lose value.

“It felt right and the other homes just didn’t. It felt like the right move for us. It is a very big project.”

She revealed they should officially be moved into the new house the first week of August.

SAD TRAGEDY

The house updates come after Avery took a weeks-long social media break.

Avery’s fellow TikTok influencer and good friend Emilie Kiser suffered a horrible tragedy when her 3-year-old son Trigg was pulled unconscious from the family’s pool.

After spending days in the hospital fighting for his life, he tragically passed away from the accidental drowning on May 18.

Avery went silent on social media, but returned on June 2 with a touching tribute to her beloved friend.

In a GRWM video, she wore a pendant with the name Trigg inscribed on it.

She captioned the video, “Been awhile since I put makeup on so thought I’d get ready for our anniversary, missed you.”

Emilie has been silent on social media as her family mourns the tragic loss.

The 26-year-old, who lives in Arizona with her family, is also mom to a 2-month-old son named Theodore with her husband, Brady Kiser.

TikTok star Avery Woods applying face cream.
TikTok
Avery returned to social media and paid a sweet tribute to her friend’s late son[/caption]
Family selfie at a baseball stadium.
Instagram/emiliekiser
Emilie’s son Trigg passed away in May after an accidental drowning[/caption]

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AI pilot ‘beats human in world’s first fighter jet air battle’ stoking fears of a Terminator-style armageddon

AN AI pilot has managed to beat a human fighter pilot during a battle in the air.

The historic breakthrough in defense technology saw the robot-driven aircraft outmaneuver a human-operated fighter jet during a simulated air combat exercise.

AI-powered Gripen E fighter jet flying above clouds and islands.
Jam Press/Jonas Jakobsson @Saab
An AI pilot flew the Gripen E during the air battle[/caption]
AI-powered Gripen E fighter jet in flight.
Jam Press/J�rgen Ericsson @Saab
The robot-driven jet conducted three advanced test flights[/caption]
A pilot holding a device displaying the Swedish flag in front of a fighter jet.
Jam Press/Linus Haegermark @Saab
The pilot who flew Gripen D was beaten out by a robot[/caption]

The event marked a major leap forward in AI warfare capabilities.

High-technology Swedish company Saab partnered up with German AI company Helsing to complete the feat.

They announced that three advanced test flights had been completed this week.

The flights ran under Project Beyond – a government-backed initiative to integrate AI into real-world fighter operations.

Tests were conducted between May 28 and June 3, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Each one featured Helsing’s AI pilot agent, named Centaur, which was placed inside a Gripen E fighter aircraft.

Centaur was put up against a human pilot who flew a Gripen D, and it was a Beyond Visual Range aerial battle.

BVR refers to a military strategy and technology where combat engagements occur at a distance.

The target is not directly visible to the pilot or observer.

It was reported that the official outcome was inconclusive.

However, the AI demonstrated real-time decision-making, complex maneuvering, and threat engagement autonomously.

Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programmes at Saab, stated that this was an “important achievement” for the company involved in defense, aviation, and aerospace.

He said, “This is an important achievement for Saab, demonstrating our qualitative edge in sophisticated technologies by making AI deliver in the air.

“We are excited to continue developing and refining how this and other AI agents can be used, while once again showing how our fighters will outperform faster than the opponent can evolve.”

What are the arguments against AI?

Artificial intelligence is a highly contested issue, and it seems everyone has a stance on it. Here are some common arguments against it:

Loss of jobs – Some industry experts argue that AI will create new niches in the job market, and as some roles are eliminated, others will appear. However, many artists and writers insist the argument is ethical, as generative AI tools are being trained on their work and wouldn’t function otherwise.

Ethics – When AI is trained on a dataset, much of the content is taken from the Internet. This is almost always, if not exclusively, done without notifying the people whose work is being taken.

Privacy – Content from personal social media accounts may be fed to language models to train them. Concerns have cropped up as Meta unveils its AI assistants across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There have been legal challenges to this: in 2016, legislation was created to protect personal data in the EU, and similar laws are in the works in the United States.

Misinformation – As AI tools pulls information from the Internet, they may take things out of context or suffer hallucinations that produce nonsensical answers. Tools like Copilot on Bing and Google’s generative AI in search are always at risk of getting things wrong. Some critics argue this could have lethal effects – such as AI prescribing the wrong health information.

The project was funded by the Swedish Defense Material Administration.

It is part of the country’s larger concept program exploring future fighter systems.

Other global fighter programs often operate on 10 to 15 year development cycles.

Helsing has claimed that its AI agent was fed the equivalent of 30 years’ worth of experience every week through simulator training.

This is also the first known instance of AI being tested in real air combat situations involving operational aircraft, rather than test planes or simulator-only environments.

A Gripen test pilot reviewing notes in front of an AI-powered fighter jet.
Jam Press/Linus Haegermark @Saab
The human-operated fighter jet couldn’t beat the pilot agent called Centaur[/caption]
AI-powered fighter jet tail.
Jam Press/Linus Haegermark @Saab
The flights were put on by a government-backed initiative to integrate AI into real-world fighter operations[/caption]

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