Entertainment
Mixed Reviews for ‘Paddington in Peru’: Charming but Lacks Original Spark
The newly released Paddington in Peru has received mixed feedback from critics over its opening weekend, being described as “charming enough” yet lacking the magic of its predecessors. The third film in the beloved series follows Paddington Bear on a heartfelt journey back to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy.
Fans were pleased to see familiar faces return, with Ben Whishaw reprising his voice role as Paddington, alongside Emily Mortimer and Hugh Bonneville. However, while the film brings nostalgia and warmth, critics suggest it falls short of the series’ established high standard.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian commented that the movie was “just as jolly as the previous two films, but not really as funny,” comparing it to a “special episode of a TV sitcom that takes the cast to the Costa del Sol.” Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter noted that while it didn’t capture the “absurdist wit and decidedly dark edge” of the earlier films, it was “serviceable enough given its limitations.”
Nick Curtis of The Standard offered a more critical view, awarding the film two stars and remarking that it “misses the easy charm, the fluency and the icy sliver of jeopardy” that appealed to audiences of all ages in the original movies. He also noted that the film’s pacing felt “ponderous and slow.”
Despite these critiques, Paddington in Peru still manages to charm audiences with the lovable bear’s adventures, even if it doesn’t fully capture the magic that made Paddington a cultural icon since his on-screen debut in 2014.
Entertainment
BTS Triumph at American Music Awards as Black Eyed Peas Reunite
BTS dominated the American Music Awards, taking home some of the night’s biggest honours as Black Eyed Peas reunited during the ceremony.
The K-pop superstars secured the event’s top award, further cementing their global success following their return from a nearly four-year hiatus earlier this year and a world tour reportedly worth around $1bn.
BTS also won song of the summer for their single Swim and were named best male K-pop artist.
Their label partners Katseye picked up the new artist of the year award.
Meanwhile, Golden — the breakout track from the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters — was named song of the year.
Sabrina Carpenter enjoyed a successful evening after winning album of the year for Man’s Best Friend. She also claimed awards for best female pop artist and best pop album.
Justin Bieber was named best male pop artist.
BTS beat a strong field in the top artist category, including Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga.
The group also overcame competition from artists such as Harry Styles, Tame Impala and PinkPantheress in the song category.
Despite entering the awards with eight nominations, Taylor Swift — the artist with the most AMA wins in history — left the ceremony without an award.
Entertainment
Madonna, Shakira and BTS to Headline Historic World Cup Final Half-Time Show
Global music stars Madonna, Shakira and BTS are set to headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final this summer.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will conclude with the final in MetLife Stadium on 19 July.
The performance is expected to last around 11 minutes, despite speculation the show could extend beyond the standard 15-minute half-time interval allowed under the laws of football.
The introduction of a Super Bowl-style performance marks a major shift for FIFA, with elaborate pre-match entertainment already common at events such as the UEFA Champions League Final.
Last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final in the US between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain featured a half-time show lasting more than 24 minutes.
Shakira’s involvement comes shortly after the announcement of her official World Cup anthem Dai Dai, which also features Nigerian music star Burna Boy.
The Colombian singer previously delivered one of football’s most iconic tournament songs with Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Madonna — often referred to as the “Queen of Pop” — is preparing to release her 15th studio album, Confessions II, on 3 July.
The 67-year-old recently made a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where the pair performed Vogue and Like a Prayer together.
BTS, regarded as the best-selling music act in South Korean history with more than 45 million albums sold, are also preparing for a major comeback after a three-year hiatus during which members completed mandatory military service.
The group previously collaborated with Coldplay on the hit single My Universe.
The half-time show is being curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100m for children around the world.
Gianni Infantino previously described the event as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Entertainment
Coroner Says Investigation Into Liam Payne’s Death Still Awaiting Evidence From Argentina
A coroner overseeing the inquest into the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne has said authorities in the UK are still waiting for additional evidence from Argentina as investigations there continue.
During a pre-inquest review hearing held at Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court on Thursday, senior coroner Crispin Butler said there had been no significant updates since a previous hearing in January 2025.
“We have had no further disclosure of evidence from Argentina via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,” Butler told the court.
Payne, who was 31, died in October 2024 after falling from a balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.
A post-mortem examination found the singer died from multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage” after falling from the hotel’s third-floor balcony.
The coroner said documentation already received from Argentina had undergone translation and confirmed that relevant material would be shared with Payne’s family, who were not present at the hearing.
Butler added that his understanding was that investigations by authorities in Argentina were still ongoing.
In February last year, an Argentine court dropped criminal negligence charges against three of the five people initially charged in connection with Payne’s death.
Payne rose to global fame as a member of One Direction before launching a successful solo career following the band’s hiatus. He released his debut solo album, LP1, in December 2019.
The inquest proceedings in the UK have now been adjourned until a further pre-inquest review scheduled for 1 December.
-
News1 week agoTrain Driver in Deadly Bangkok Crash Tested Positive for Drugs
-
News1 week agoBodies of Missing Italian Divers Found in Maldives
-
News1 week agoSix Americans Exposed in DR Congo Ebola Outbreak
-
News1 week agoWHO Warns Ebola Cases in DR Congo Likely to Rise Further
-
Sports7 days agoMohamed Salah Set to Captain Egypt at World Cup
-
News7 days agoDemocratic Republic of the Congo Cancels World Cup Camp Over Ebola Outbreak
-
News3 days agoMarco Rubio Says US-Iran Deal Could Come Monday
-
News7 days agoUS Charges Raúl Castro Over 1996 Plane Shootdown
