Posted on

Harry Styles’ First Solo Single is Officially on It’s Way!

One Directioners, get ready for the next chapter in your favourite band member’s life!

Cool cat and total heartthrob, Harry Styles, has officially announced the name of his first solo single – and we can’t be more excited!

The 23-year-old Brit made the announcement on his Instagram page on Friday, sharing the cover art along with the name of the single with his 19.7 million followers.

Harry’s first solo single will be called “Sign of the Times” and will be released in a week’s time, on April 7th.

According to various sources, Harry has been writing songs with Snow Patrol frontman, Johnny McDaid, and has written and registered quite a few songs already.

Harry told the media last year that he has been enjoying writing songs and the process of creating an album.

“The nice thing for me is that I’m not coming away from the band feeling like I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do. I loved it and it was what I wanted but I’m enjoying writing at the moment; trying new things,” he said.

Harry is signed to Sony Music, and in February, Sony Music CEO, Rob Stringer, told the media that Harry’s upcoming album is something the record company is very excited about.

“We have a record we’re incredibly excited about and it’s not far away from being ready. We obviously want everything to be beautifully done, because we think he’s here to stay…Harry has stepped up with the vision of someone who’s authentic,” he said.

We can’t wait to hear the single!

Posted on

EPL: Weekend Fixtures

Another epic weekend lies ahead for the English Premier League.

As Manchester United tries to cling on to their top four position in order to qualify for the Champions League, Chelsea continues to hold fast to their top EPL position in the, and second-placed Tottenham pushes  to claim the top spot.

Here are this weekend’s fixtures:

Saturday, 1 April:

Liverpool vs Everton

Burnley vs Tottenham

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Hull City vs West Ham

Leicester City vs Stoke City

Manchester United vs West Brom

Watford vs Sunderland

Southampton vs Bournemouth

Sunday, 2 April:

Swansea City vs Middlesbrough

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Posted on

Trump Steps Up US Military Presence in Somalia

The United States Defense Department announced on Thursday that US president, Donald Trump, has given the go-ahead to boost the US military’s presence in Somalia.

The US military will now conduct air strikes in the area in an effort to defeat jihadist terrorists there.

According to the Pentagon, this means that the United States will no longer need to justify their decision to launch air strikes in the area and that they can now launch these air strikes at will.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon, Navy Captain Jeff Davis, said that that the president approved the proposal, which was put forward by the military.

“The president has approved a Department of Defence proposal to provide additional precision fires in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia and Somali security forces operations [sic],” he said.

The US forces in the country are fighting against jihadi terrorists, most of them belonging to al-Shabaab.

Davis said that the additional military presence in Somalia will help ‘protect’ US citizens.

“The additional support provided by this authority will help deny al-Shabaab safe havens from which it could attack US citizens or US interests in the region,” he told reporters.

Posted on

More Than 140 Feared Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes

The United Nations refugee agency has said in a statement that around 146 migrants are feared missing, after a boat carryong would-be refugees capsized in the Mediterranean.

The UN refugee agency said that they recieved their information from a Gambian man, that was reportedly aboard the boat that capsized. He was rescued by a Spanish military ship that was skimming the waters as part of Europe’s ‘Operation Sophia’.

‘Operation Sophia’ is the EU’s effort to crackdown on illegal smugglers.

After being rescued by the Spanish ship, the man was taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The man told the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that the boat was carrying more than 100 people and that it capsoex shortly after it left the coast of Libya.

The High Commissioner met with the man at a hospital in Lampedusa.

The man also informed the High commissioner that the boat they had been travelling on left Sabratha in Libya on Sunday or Monday, intending to reach Europe.

He also said that most of the people aboard the boat were from Gambia, Libya, Mali and Nigeria. According to him there were five children on board and several pregnant women as well.

The man also had a lucky break, as he survived the capsizing by clinging on to a petrol can and staying a float. He was spotted ‘almost by accident’ by the Spanish ship before being rescued, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The Organisation for Migration also said that there may very well be more shipwrecks out in the waters that they are unaware of.

“It shows that there may very well be shipwrecks we don’t know about, because the boats sink without a trace,” the organisation said.

As the refugee crisis worsens all over the world, more and more people are fleeing their home countries in search of a better life in Europe. This increase in demand for travel to Europe makes crossing the waters that much more dangerous.

Posted on

Report: Louis Van Gaal in Talks With Netherlands National Soccer Team

Former Netherlands manager, Louis Van Gaal, has entered into talks with the Netherlands Football Association (the KNVB) over joining the association in an effort to help them find a new head coach, according to KNVB chairperson, Michael van Praag.

Danny Blind, former head coch of the Netherlands, was fired on Sunday after yet another dismal performance by the Dutch international soccer team.

The Netherlands’ hopes of qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup are also hanging by a shred, as the team lost to Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifying match last Saturday.

The loss against Bulgaria sent the team to fourth place in their group; six points behind leaders France.

The Netherlands have also slipped to an all-time low on the international FIFA rankings, currently clocking in at number 32 on the rankings list.

Danny Blind was sacked almost immediately after the devasting loss against Bulgaria, and the KNVB announced that the official process of finding a replacement coach started in Wednesday.

Louis Van Gaal, who had previously lead the Netherlands to third place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, will apparently help the KNVB with tge process of sleecting a new coach.

Posted on

2017 Academy of Country Music Awards: Nominees

If there is one thing you can bet your bottom dollar on, its the fact that country music will never stop being popular in the USA.

The country music genre in America, is so big, in fact, that they have to have multiple award shows just to make sure they cover everyone.

The latest award show coming up in the country music world is the annual Academy of County Music Awards – affectionately known as the ACM Awards.

This year’s award show will be held in Las Vegas on Sunday, the 2nd of April.

Leading the pack this year with 5 nominations is Keith Urban, followed by country diva, Miranda Lambert.

Check out the full list of nominees below:

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Florida Georgia Line

Carrie Underwood

Keith Urban

 

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Dierks Bentley

Thomas Rhett

Chris Stapleton

Keith Urban

 

Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Maren Morris

Kacey Musgraves

Carrie Underwood

 

Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

Maddie & Tae

 

Vocal Group of the Year

Eli Young Band

Little Big Town

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

Lady Antebellum

 

Album of the Year

Black, Dierks Bentley

Dig Your Roots, Florida Georgia Line

Hero, Maren Morris

Ripcord, Keith Urban

The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert

 

New Male Vocalist of the Year

Kane Brown

Chris Janson

Chris Lane

Jon Pardi

Brett Young

 

New Female Vocalist of the Year

Lauren Alaina

Cam

Brandy Clark

Maren Morris

 

New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year

A Thousand Horses

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

LoCash

Maddie & Tae

 

Video of the Year (Awarded to Producer(s) / Director(s) / Artist(s))

“Fire Away,” Chris Stapleton

“Forever Country,” Artists of Then, Now and Forever

“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw

“Peter Pan,” Kelsea Ballerini

“Vice,” Miranda Lambert

 

Vocal Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Label(s))

“Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King

“Forever Country,” Artists of Then, Now and Forever

“May We All,” Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw

“Setting the World on Fire,” Kenny Chesney feat. Pink

“Think of You,” Chris Young feat. Cassadee Pope

 

Single Record of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Label(s))

“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban

“H.O.L.Y.,” Florida Georgia Line

“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw

“My Church,” Maren Morris

“Vice,” Miranda Lambert

 

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter(s) / Publisher(s) / Artist(s)

“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban (Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen)

“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett (Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur)

“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw (Lori McKenna)

“Kill a Word,” Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens (Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde)

“Tennessee Whiskey,” Chris Stapleton (Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove)

“Vice,” Miranda Lambert (Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)

 

Songwriter of the Year

Ashley Gorley

Luke Laird

Hillary Lindsey

Shane McAnally

Lori McKenna

Posted on

Deliciously Decadent Chocolate Cupcakes

Show me someone who can resist this perfectly decadent chocolate cupcake and I’ll be surprised!

Chocolate cupcakes are one of those little pleasures in life that can easily put a smile on anyone’s face. The perfect combination between soft, spongy goodness and creamy icing is what dreams are made of.

However, many people believe that making the perfect cupcake is a difficult and laborious task.

Well, think again. Here is our favourite, classic chocolate cupcake recipe that is not only deliriously delicious, but super simple to make, too.

Classic Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcake ingredients:

1 ½ cups of flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons of butter
1 ½ cups of sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
¾ cup milk

Method:

Pre-heat your oven to 190 degrees celsius.

In a cupcake or muffin tray, line the cups with cupcake liners or grease with butter.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix the butter and sugar together until soft. Then, mix in the eggs and mix well. Once the mixture is well mixed, add in the Vanilla essence and stir.

Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Then, slowly add the milk and mix well.

Once your batter looks smooth and glossy, spoon it into the cupcakes cups, about ¾ full.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, until the cupcake is firm yet soft in the centre.

Icing ingredients:

1 ½ cups of icing sugar
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
½ cup soft butter
2 tablespoons of hot water

Method:

In a bowl, mix the icing sugar and the cocoa powder together.

Once well mixed, spoon in the softened butter and mix well. Then, slowly add the hot water until the desired consistency is reached.

Posted on

Mila Kunis Gushes Over Her Kids

Mila Kunis is clearly one happy mama!

The Russian beauty recently dished about the incredible bond between her two-year-old daughter and their newly born son.

Speaking to E! News at CinemaCon in Las VEgas recently, the actress revealed that she and husband Ashton Kutcher are over the moon with the latest addition to their family.

She also said that older sister, Wyatt, is head-over-heels in love with her new baby brother, who the couple named Dimitri.

“She loves it. She loves her brother…he wants him to sleep in her room and doesn’t get jealous or envious. She’s great. We got very lucky,” she said.

Mila also revealed that having two young children is definitely limiting to her social life, saying that a ‘wild night’ now means she gets to stay out after 9pm.

“My girlfriends and I went out to dinner a month ago and I got home at 10:30 from a dinner and I had three penicillins which is a delicious, delicious beverage…[I was] hammered. Three drinks, I am now a very cheap date,” she said jokingly.

You do you, Mila!

Posted on

Aguero Says He Is Staying With City

Argentinian international and Manchester City striker, Sergio Aguero, has said that he intends to stay with with the English Premier League club, despite rumours doing the rounds that he is planning on leaving the club at the end of the current season.

Rumours started doing the rounds that Aguero might be leaving Man City at the start of the year, after Brazilian youngster, Gabriel Jesus, joined the team and made an impressive start at the club.

In fact, 19-year-old Jesus made such an impression that Aguero was benched for several weeks in favour of the youngster.

However, Jesus ruled himself out for the rest of the season after obtaining an injury, which means that Aguero is in the starting lineup again.

Aguero recently told a Spanish radio station that he is not planning on leaving Man City, despite being cast as second fiddle to Jesus nowadays.

Speaking to Ondo Cero, the Spaniard reiterated his intention to stay with City.

“I have three months to give my best and, as I always said, in June it will be seen…One thing is that the club officially says it and another thing is to tell me. My intention is to stay. The club can say what it wants but in June they will have to meet with me,” he said.

Aguero is contracted to stay with Man City until 2020.

The club has also announced their intention to keep Aguero on board.

Posted on

White House Confirms Egyptian President to Visit Next Week

The US government has confirmed that Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will visit the White House next week, with the official visit scheduled for Monday, the 3rd of April.

White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, released a statement on Wednesday, confirming al-Sisi’s visit to the United States and his impending meeting with newly elected US president, Donald Trump.

News of al-Sisi’s impending visit to the US broke last week.

According to Spice, Donald Trump is looking forward to meeting al-Sisi. The two leaders have met before, when Trump was still running for presidency as the Republican party nominee in September of last year.

The two had ‘great’ meeting the first time around, and had only good things to say about each other.

According to Spicer, al-Sisi and Trump’s meeting will focus on bilateral as well as regional issues, and will included conversations on how to defeat terrorist group, ISIS.

“They will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues, including how to defeat ISIS and pursue peace and stability in the region,” he said in a statement.

He continued, saying that the meeting will only strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

This is the first time in years that the Egyptian president will make an official visit to the US.

Under the Obama administration, al-Sisi was given somewhat of a cold shoulder, amid human rights concerns the White House had with Egypt.