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Nearly ten years after its debut, "Stranger Things" is drawing the curtain with a three-part final season and sky-high expectations. The cast shared some hints with us at catharsis, secrets and one last showdown. Can the Duffers deliver a satisfying payoff for Hawkins? London (dpa) – The first four episodes of the final season of "Stranger Things" will launch on Wednesday, November 26, after a three-year wait. The fifth and final season is being released in three parts on November 27, December 25 and December 31, 2026 on Netflix. The launch at 5 pm US Pacific Time means many in the Eastern Hemisphere will need to wait another day (or at least until after midnight) before they can watch. The wait has been long for the finale of a series that premiered in the summer of 2016 and became a global phenomenon almost overnight with its mix of fantasy, mystery, horror and coming-of-age, plus a heavy dose of 1980s flair and pop culture nods. 'A  satisfying conclusion'? "It's scary, but it is exciting," said Noah Schnapp in an interview with dpa. Schnapp plays Will Byers, one of the central figures in "Stranger Things". "It's sad, of course, and we keep saying how emotional it is." Fans have waited three years for the finale. There are many examples of series that disappointed fans at the end, from "Lost" to "Game of Thrones". "It's obviously scary," said series creator Matt Duffer, who devised the show with his twin brother Ross. "There's so many examples of long running shows that have not landed the plane so smoothly It's just really challenging because there's so many stories. There's mythology, there's plot. You have to bring it all to a satisfying conclusion." The ending has been set for years Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler, said she was satisfied. "I think there was a lot of catharsis," she told dpa. "They went out of their way, obviously, to make sure that we had proper closure, which is really nice." The Duffers said they had long been prepared and had the ending in mind early on. "We've always had the ending in mind, the last scene in particular," Matt Duffer said. "We've had that for seven years or something. So that provided us with a North Star that we were we were confident in. So we were always building towards that moment." All involved were very happy with the result, he added. Hype before the last season is enormous and is being fuelled by Netflix with extensive marketing and fan events. The actors went on a wide-ranging PR tour, visiting an abandoned building in Berlin and a disused underground station in London, locations that echo the show’s dark shadow world. There is a flood of merchandise and a fast-food chain is offering "Stranger Things" menus. For viewers who have gaps in their memory after three years but lack time to rewatch the first four seasons, Netflix offers recap videos with short season summaries to refresh memories. What's happened so far (careful , spoilers) In season one, set in 1983, Will Byers disappears. His friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair, searching for him, meet the mysterious girl Eleven, who has extraordinary powers. They, and Will’s mother Joyce, discover a parallel shadow world, the Upside Down, where the fearsome Demogorgon lurks. After Will is rescued, Hawkins faces a greater threat in 1984. A creature called the Mind Flayer invades victims’ thoughts and takes control of their will. In season three, set in 1985, Soviet agents infiltrate Hawkins to open a portal to the shadow world, bringing more unwelcome visitors. Police chief Jim Hopper sacrifices himself to close the portal from the other side and ends up in a Russian penal camp where Demogorgons are being used for experiments. Season four opens with unexplained deaths in Hawkins. An intelligent entity called Vecna haunts citizens in their dreams. Eleven learns she has a link to Vecna rooted in her traumatic past. The shadow world breaches the real one and parts of the town must be evacuated. The last battle looms Ahead of the finale, secrecy is paramount. What we do know is that in autumn 1987 Hawkins is under military quarantine, scarred by the opening of the Upside Down portal. Eleven is being hunted by the government, while her friends, under constant surveillance, forge a plan to end the horror once and for all. "The stakes are high," said Caleb McLaughlin, pausing to consider what he was allowed to reveal about season five and the last battle. "We all have one agenda is to get Vecna. We were defeated last season, and everyone has their eye on the tiger." The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde zlp xx a3 jcf

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From Herb Alpert’s Latin flair to Stryper’s heavy holiday vibes, this year’s Christmas album lineup has something for everyone. With fresh takes on classics and standout originals, which of these 2025 releases will make your holiday playlist sparkle? Los Angeles (tca/dpa) – We love those classic Christmas recordings. And we cherish the chance to hear Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, Darlene Love and other greats sing these standards each and every Christmas season. Yet, we also like to spice things up and add some new voices to our holiday playlist. Thankfully, we never have any shortage of contenders trying to make the cut. That’s because there are dozens upon dozens ofnew Christmas albums released each season. We’ve combed through the offerings and have come up with what we consider to be the best of the bunch. Here are our picks for the top 10new Christmas albums for 2025: 1. “On This Winter’s Night: Volume 2,” Lady A The country act’s first seasonal offering, 2012’s “On This Winter’s Night,” was a joyous affair that included sparkling versions of such Christmas classics as “The First Noel” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Thirteen years later, the platinum-plus-selling Nashville trio — consisting of lead vocalists Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley as well as the multi-talented Dave Haywood — returns with an equally good follow-up record. This second installment, in what hopefully will grow into a lengthy series, includes solid takes on “O Holy Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and other favorites. It also features guest appearances from Ricky Skaggs on “Why We Sing Noel” and Chris Tomlin on an absolutely gorgeous version of “Silent Night.” Listen to: “Silent Night” (featuring Chris Tomlin) 2. “Greatest Gift of All,” Stryper The holidays are about to get heavy — but in the right way — as powerhouse metal act Stryper finally releases its first-ever Christmas album. The SoCal outfit, best known for the platinum-selling ‘80s offering “To Hell with the Devil,” thoroughly rocks us around the Christmas tree as it thunders through a mix of holiday classics and originals. As far as the latter goes, we are really enjoying turning up the volume on “Still the Light” — which features some blistering guitar work from Michael Sweet and Oz Fox — and the Black Sabbath-esque “On This Holy Night.” Truly great stuff from Christian metal’s most legendary band. Listen to: “Still the Light” 3. “Greatest Hits Christmas,” LeAnn Rimes The country crooner — blessed with one of the finest singing voices in the history of the genre — has a long history with holiday recordings. It began in the mid-‘90s when she recorded “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” as a promotional/bonus single for her blockbuster major-label debut, “Blue,” and has continued through the years. This generous collection, which is big enough to warrant a double-LP release for vinyl fans, gathers up so many of her classic Christmas recordings — “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” — as well as three new cuts. Collectively, these songs serve to underscore that Rimes stands among the greatest Christmas music interpreters of the last 30 years. Listen to: “Little Drummer Boy” 4. “Let Me Carry You This Christmas,” Darius de Haas The versatile vocalist has quite a track record in the theater world, having appeared in Broadway productions of “Rent,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Carousel,” “Marie Christine” and other plays. He’s also fashioned an impressive career as a concert/recording artist, performing with both the Boston and Cincinnati pops orchestras and releasing a number of albums. Now, he’s making his mark in the seasonal music realm with this 11-track outing. He’s blessed with a beautiful voice — which many know from him doing the singing parts for the character of Shy Baldwin on Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — and he puts it to great use on “The First Noel,” “Silent Night” and other holiday tunes. Listen to: “Who Would Imagine a King” 5. “Come Home for Christmas,” Matthew West The contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who gave voice to such chart-topping hits as “More,” “You Are Everything,” “Hello, My Name Is,” “Grace Wins,” “Broken Things” and “The God Who Stays,” is inviting music lovers to “Come Home for Christmas.” This eight-song offering follows is yet another Christmastime delight for West, who previously recorded “The Heart of Christmas” in 2011 and “We Need Christmas” in 2021. The set is a mix of original tunes and holiday standards. And, as an added bonus, it even includes a “kids version” of West’s excellent Thanksgiving ode “Gobble Gobble.” Listen to: “Because of Bethlehem” 6. “Nollaig — A Christmas Journey,” Celtic Woman These PBS favorites originally came together for a one-off performance in Dublin, Ireland, in 2004 and are still going strong 21 years later. And now they are embarking on “A Christmas Journey.” It is not — to put it mildly — their first such journey. Celtic Woman, which some have described as “’Riverdance’ for the voice,” has released approximately 215,334 seasonal albums over the years. Or it could be 215,335 — since the group might have released another since I started writing this. The reason the collective keeps releasing holiday platters — and the reason we keep buy them — is that it does a really good job with the Christmas songbook. And that’s certainly the case, once again, with this fine collection of wintery tunes. Listen to: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” 7. “Christmas Time Is Here,” Herb Alpert The legendary trumpeter — who turned 90 earlier this year — has delivered such a gorgeous set of Latin-flavored holiday songs with “Christmas Time Is Here.” The collection of mostly instrumentals kicks off with a true jaw-dropper — with Alpert pouring such emotion and feeling into a softly held version of “Feliz Navidad” — and then continues to shine through such Christmas classics as “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride.” Of course, this is not the first holiday rodeo for Alpert, who achieved massive success with 1968’s “Christmas Album” — recorded with his Tijuana Brass band — and then followed up with the well-received “Christmas Wish” some 50 years later. Listen to: “Feliz Navidad” 8. “Christmas,” Natalie Grant A lot has happened since this Seattle native released her first seasonal offering — “Believe” — in 2005. For starters, she won a mind-blowing four consecutive Dove Awards for female vocalist of the year from 2006-2009. (And then she’d add a fifth such trophy to her collection in 2012.) Twenty years after “Believe,” Grant returns with “Christmas,” another gorgeous set of holiday favorites (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” etc.) and other tunes. We especially love her work with MercyMe’s Bart Millard on “Silent Night.” Listen to: “Silent Night” 9. “Snow Globe Town,” Brad Paisley “Brad Paisley Christmas” was a fine holiday affair, filled with cool covers of seasonal staples (“Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” etc.) as well as a few more unorthodox selections (notably, the PC-diss-track “Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday”). The country music star’s long-awaited follow-up — coming 19 years after that first 2006 Christmas outing — is another intriguing platter that mixes tradition and novelty. Paisley, a decent vocalist and excellent guitarist, sounds like he’s having a blast on “That Crazy Elf (On the Shelf),” “A Marshmallow World” and other fun tunes. Yet, listeners are likely to enjoy his work on the slower numbers even more. Listen to: “The First N…

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New York (tca/dpa) – Fiddy is making good on his promise to expose Diddy. Hip-hop superstarCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s eagerly anticipated documentary aboutSean “Diddy” Combs will finally see the light of day two years after the project was announced. Netflix is set to release “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” globally on December 2, the streamer confirmed on Tuesday. The four-part series — directed by Alexandria Stapleton and executive produced by 50 Cent — is described by the streaming giant as “a staggering examination of the media mogul, music legend and convicted offender.” The documentary will feature new interviews with “those formerly in Combs’ orbit,” according to Tuesday’s announcement. It also promises to “(tell) the story of a powerful, enterprising man and the gilded empire he built — and the underworld that lay just beneath its surface.” In a teaser also released on Tuesday,former Bad Boy Records rapper Mark Curry is heard saying: “You can’t continue to keep hurting people and nothing ever happens. It’s just a matter of time.” Combs was found guilty in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, following a nine-week trial in which his ex-girlfriend,R&B singer Cassie Ventura, served as the star witness . Last month, hebegan serving his four-year federal prison sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey. He’s also currently facing a barrage of civil lawsuits connected to sexual misconduct allegations as he attempts to appeal his conviction and sentence. “This isn’t just about the story of Sean Combs or the story of Cassie, or the story of any of the victims, or the allegations against him, or the trial,” said Stapleton, whose previous credits include documentaries on Reggie Jackson, Chelsea Handler andJonBenét Ramsey . “Ultimately, this story is a mirror (reflecting us) as the public, and what we are saying when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal,” she continued. “I hope [this documentary] is a wake-up call for how we idolize people, and to understand that everybody is a human being.” 50 Cent, meanwhile, said he’s “grateful to everyone who came forward and trusted us with their stories,” adding that he’s proud to have Stapleton to “bring this important story to the screen.” The “In Da Club ” rapper has hadlong-standing beef with Diddy , dating back to the 2006 diss track “The Bomb,” in which 50 accused Combs of having something to do with the 1997 murder of the Notorious B.I.G. The feud has continued ever since through social media jabs and rival business ventures. Actress, model and entrepreneurDaphne Joy, who shares a son with 50 Cent, was also named as one of Diddy’s “sex worker[s]” in alawsuit filed by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones . 50 Cent has said he suspected Combs’ alleged illegal behavior for years and that the documentary was already in the works prior toDiddy’s arrest in September 2024 . The following information is not intended for publication tca dpa coh

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Hand-sized, colourful plus a loving message – these playful cakes are popular, selling like – well – hotcakes, partly thanks to social media. Even novice bakers can create beautiful, sweet surprises. Berlin (dpa) – They're creative, look impressive and come from the heart: Bento cakes. These South Korean mini cakes have long since spread beyond Asia thanks to social media. While only palm-sized, they offer everything a large cake does, including a base, filling, coating and decoration. They often feature a short message to the recipient. A buttery "Love yourself" or an apologetic "Oops" are words that come from the heart. "In South Korea, people love colourful, playful and cute things," says Man Ahn Büschges, master confectioner and operator of an online bakery. No wonder that the trend started there. The name "bento" is derived from the Japanese bento boxes, those lovingly assembled lunch boxes that enjoy cult status in large parts of Asia. Photos of bento cakes and videos of people surprised when opening a box are often shared on social media, but bento cakes don't need an online audience. "They are easy for anyone to make and are a great gift," says Marid Lubenow, author and food blogger. Instagram-worthy bento cakes are relatively easy to bake at home, with manageable effort and no need for professional equipment. One batter, two creams plus imagination "Patience is the most important ingredient," says Lubenow. "Allow more time than you think you'll need," says Büschges, because it's crucial for success that the cake is well chilled between each step. The typical bento cake is a layer cake. For beginners, sponge mixtures are suitable, which are given an interesting flavour by special ingredients. Lubenow bakes a chai cake with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. She also likes to add a little olive oil to her Italian orange cake. If you don't have a mini baking tin with a diameter of 8-12 cm, you can use an existing baking tin and cut circles out of a larger base. Once the cake base has been baked and cooled, the filling and coating, also known as frosting, are prepared. "Mousse fillings are particularly popular. They are light and less sweet," says Büschges. She offers cakes with three sponge bases and two mousse fillings. "Sponge cake stacks well and a finger-width layer of mousse keeps the cake stable," says Büschges. If the layers are too thick, the cake could break when carried. For those trying their hand at frosting for the first time, Lubenow recommends American buttercream or icing. Cream cheese frosting, Swiss meringue or ganache are more elaborate. Small mistakes when applying the frosting can be corrected. If crumbs get into the cream or the frosting is uneven, chill the cake and frosting again. Later, add a second layer on top to create a clean and smooth coating. Helpful tools, but not essential, are a turntable and a palette knife for spreading the cream. Icing on the cake and kind words Once the cake is covered with frosting, put it back into the fridge, because the artistic piping decorations work best when it is well chilled. Lubenow advises first trying out the piping nozzle on a plate. Now put the test cream back into the nozzle and, once cooled again, use it to decorate the cake. "With a little patience, it will turn out fine and the cake will look homemade," says Lubenow. It takes some courage and skill to write a message on the tiny cake. Büschges advises, "Write with the base colour of the icing. If you make a mistake, just smooth it out again." When you are happy with the result, write over it with the coloured cream. Another tip from Lubenow: write on baking paper with liquid chocolate and place the lettering on the cake later. It doesn't always have to be a layer cake. "The cake should look good and taste good to the recipient," says Lubenow, who makes a New York cheesecake and a lemon tart in bento style. Even vegan versions are possible, such as a courgette bento cake. Now the packaging There is a trick to lifting the finished cake into the box without destroying the work of art. At the very beginning, the bottom layer is placed on a piece of baking paper cut to size. You can lift the cake by grabbing the protruding corners. "If brown baking paper doesn't work, I use white sandwich paper," says Büschges. You can order a wide selection of suitable boxes online. Or "just ask at your local snack bar if you can buy a burger box," says Lubenow. And what to do with the cake scraps left over from cutting out the shapes? If you haven't already nibbled them away while baking, you can use them to make cake pralines or layered desserts in a glass. You can find inspiration for bento cakes everywhere. Lubenow finds new flavour combinations or exciting ingredients while shopping. She also gets ideas from cafés or friends, which she incorporates into her creations. Büschges also uses social media as a source of inspiration. She gets ideas for the visual design of the cakes from interior design websites. "Interior photos provide trendy ideas," says Büschges. So, with a little creativity and a lot of patience, anyone can bake little works of art that make someone's heart beat a little bit faster. In the end, it's not the perfect photo that counts, but the smile on someone's face. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ode bzl cwg loe xxde arw coh

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Thirty years ago, The Beatles Anthology provided a whole new insight into the work of the Fab Four. Now the band's archive has been reopened. Sound engineer Giles Martin explains what was important in this process. London (dpa) – The documentary series "The Beatles Anthology" is returning to Disney+ with a new ninth episode to mark the anniversary, alongside freshly curated archive music releases. "The Beatles exist without us," George Harrison said 30 years ago in the documentary series "The Beatles Anthology", in which the musicians told the band’s story from their own perspective. Longstanding fans were delighted by the mid-1990s series, which allowed a new generation to discover the Beatles. Alongside the series came three double CDs of previously unreleased rarities, demos and live recordings, plus the first Beatles single in 25 years, "Free as a Bird". Those music compilations are now being reissued in multiple formats.Renowned producer and sound engineer Giles Martin, son of the Beatles’ late producer George Martin, has curated a new fourth compilation. It includes 13 previously unreleased demos and session takes, and also features "Now and Then", released two years ago as the Beatles’ final song. "Anthology 4 is an interesting mix of some material that we've heard before in other box sets and other material that's just worth listening to," said Martin in an interview with dpa in London at the famous Abbey Road Studios. "The reason behind it is that we felt like the Beatles' anthologies weren't complete alongside everything else." Up close with John, Paul, George and Ringo Thousands of hours of recordings sit in the Beatles’ archives. Martin did not make the track selection alone. There is a team of two Beatles nerds who know everything about the Beatles, he said. "They suggest things that they've argued in the past should be released, and I'll go through and listen to everything. And then my judgement is purely based on whether I think it's fun to listen to and whether I want to listen to it more than once and whether it provides a really good sketch into the world of the Beatles." That was also the idea 30 years ago behind "The Beatles Anthology": to give fans a look behind the scenes and a sense of being present as music history was made. The recordings capture not only the songs but also studio chatter and banter from Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Band and families directly involved The new Anthology was created in close consultation with the surviving Beatles, Paul and Ringo, as well as with George Harrison’s widow Olivia and son Dhani, and John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon. "There's no marketing teams or anything like that," Martin stressed. He has remixed the first three Anthology compilations, originally released in 1995 and 1996. "It was the CD world of things being quite bright and digital," he explained. "the transfer from tape to digital wasn't necessarily the best it could be and all that stuff. So I went and reback and redid all of that." Martin emphasised that "The Beatles Anthology" was not produced for specific technology, such as modern headphones, since he was keen not to mix for a particular technology that might not last as long as the music itself. Some fans voice criticism in advance As with such releases, the run-up brought not only enthusiasm but also criticism from some fans who wanted even more tracks and obscure rarities from the archive. Martin said it's great to work for such passionate fans, but notes that he doesn't make records to collect, but ones to listen to and enjoy. The sound expert is already working on the next Beatles project. Director Sam Mendes is making four films about the Fab Four, one about each member, and Martin is involved. He is convinced the Beatles phenomenon will endure. "I think people discover the Beatles in different ways, and generations will continue to discover the Beatles in different ways in the same way they discover a piece of music by Mozart – it could be from an advert, from TikTok or from a concert. It's the same with the Beatles." "The Beatles Anthology Collection" is available now on CD or vinyl, individually or as a box set, and digitally. The documentary series "The Beatles Anthology" will be available on Disney+ from November 26 with three episodes, with a further three episodes released on November 27 and November 28. The following information is not intended for publication dpa xx pde a3 thn cco

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Munich (dpa) – Luxury consumers are moving away from owning traditional status symbols like expensive cars, designer clothes and yachts, and are instead prioritizing luxury experiences, new research suggests. In a study published in November, consultants Bain & Company and Italian luxury goods association Fondazione Altagamma describe a "tectonic shift" toward luxury experiences such as hospitality cruises and fine dining. The research tracks "a persistent and crucial trend among consumers globally as they favour 'experiential indulgence' over past trends of 'conspicuous consumption' as new symbols of status, pivoting toward wellness, connection and self-reward." "After the shopping spree era, experiences and emotions have become the true engine of luxury growth," said Claudia D’Arpizio, Bain & Company senior partner and lead author of the study. Consumer research has previously pointed to a broader shift towards experiences among various consumers in recent years, one that is "bolstering the growth of the overall luxury market and reshaping the industry across segments," the study argues. However, global spending on luxury items, including gourmet dining, yachts and private jets, is set to show a decline this year for the second year in a row, the study predicts. Luxury expenditure is running at around €1.44 trillion ($1.66 trillion) for the year. The figure for 2024 was €34 billion higher. The decline is unusual, as the market for luxury consumption has shown long-term growth. The figure for 2019 was €169 billion lower than the 2025 figure, and Bain continues to predict strong growth for the years ahead, forecasting between €2.2 trillion and €2.5 trillion by 2035. "Across luxury segments, cars are impacted by declining volumes across price tiers, with resilience only within higher-end sport-oriented vehicles, while yachts and jets continue to enjoy robust growth," the survey found. Detailing other segments, it said that fine art had stalled and design furniture had stabilized. The alcohol segment had disappointed, but "gourmet dining is booming across Asia, the Middle East, and resort hubs, fuelled by younger, experience-hungry travellers," it said. "New frontiers – travel activities, safaris, and elite sports – are meanwhile redefining modern luxury around immediate exclusivity," it found. Luxury car purchase continued to make up more than a third of expenditure, while showing a decline of 6% to €545 billion. Luxury alcohol sales were down 5% at €93 billion, and spending on art fell 9% to €31 billion. The study also noted the emergence of new markets, with the Middle East, Latin America, South East Asia, India, and Africa combined accounting for around €45 billion in 2025, matching mainland China. "From Gen Z's embrace of accessible luxury in South East Asia to India's surging middle class and Africa's emerging local players, these regions signal growing luxury potential," Bain and Altagamma said. The study noted a declining luxury consumer base from around 400 million in 2022 to around 340 million this year. The proportion of active consumers within this group is also in decline: whereas around 60% of the base were active buyers in 2022, that figure has fallen to between 40% and 45%. The following information is not intended for publication dpa ruc xxde bvi rpm coh

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After retiring from diving, Tom Daley is trying to get more people – including the young – to take up the knitting and crocheting he loves so much. London (PA Media/dpa) – Instead of impressing the nation with gold medal-winning performances off the diving board, Tom Daley is now hoping to inspire people in a radically different way: through his love of knitting and crochet. Daley, who retired from diving last year after a haul of Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth and British medals, has helped create a range of crochet and embroidery kits in the hope that people who’ve never tried the crafts before will pick up crochet hooks and sewing needles to create their own yarn and thread masterpieces. He’s teamed up with Hobbycraft to create the Made With Love by Tom Daley kits, hoping to build on the ‘Daley effect’ that saw a rise in interest in crafting after Daley was spotted knitting in the stands at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the Games at which he won gold in the men’s synchronised 10-metre platform event. He says: “All the time I spent when I was diving is now being spent on 'Made with Love,' which I just love being able to do. I feel very lucky to have found a second passion in life.” Daley, who now lives in Los Angeles with his American Oscar-winning filmmaker husband Dustin Lance Black and their two sons, Robbie, aged seven, and Phoenix, two, admits that knitting and crocheting replacing his diving still seems a little bizarre. “When I was diving, if anybody had said I’d probably be more known for knitting than diving at this point, I’d say it was kind of crazy,” he says. “The whole thing still seems slightly absurd.” Although knitting is a stereotypically older lady’s pastime, Daley wasn’t taught by his gran to knit – although he says both his grandmas do knit and have started doing it more since he took up the craft. “Since I started, they’ve picked the needles back up again,” he says with a laugh. He actually learned how to knit and crochet from YouTube tutorials, and picking up tips from people who saw him knitting or crocheting. “I was a late bloomer,” he says, “I started knitting just before lockdown, so I’ve only been doing it for five years. It came into my life at a time when I was trying to find something to do – I had a lot of spare time with waiting for the Olympics, and lockdown, and it gave me my little creative outlet. I was able to take my mind off everything and just focus on the stitches in front of me. “So it was something I picked up quite late in life, but became obsessed pretty quickly.” Now the 31-year-old, who hasn’t dived at all since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he won a silver medal, spends at least an hour a day knitting, and is hosting the new Channel 4 show to find Britain’s best knitter, "Game Of Wool." And, of course, he recently appeared on the BBC’s hit reality TV show "Celebrity Traitors" as one of the faithfuls, getting ‘murdered’ by traitors Jonathan Ross, Cat Burns and Alan Carr during episode three. Daley, who admits he was constantly knitting when he wasn’t filming scenes for "Celebrity Traitors," says: “I got into knitting and crochet and all of the different kinds of crafts mainly because it was a great way for my mental health to be in the moment, be present and be mindful about lots of different things. I’ve always wanted to try and make it accessible to as many people as possible, so they’re able to slow down and sit and do something slowly with their hands. “I think it’s an important skill, and it’s very rewarding. It’s also something people love, when you’re able to make something and gift it to somebody else.” He says he likes to make clothes best, and has just made his sons matching jumpers for their school photo. And while he acknowledges that knitting and crochet are seen as an older person’s hobby, his aim is to attract the younger generation to it as well. “I want to try and reach a younger audience, so I’m trying to make things with more fun colours, and create patterns that are slightly different to what might be out there already,” he explains. “Compared to the historical audience for knitting and crochet, I think there’s starting to be a younger skew now, and that’s something that’s really quite exciting.” He says he’d love to help get knitting and crochet taught as crafts in schools, and points out: “It’s a great tool to be able to unwind and be mindful and as a form of meditation. And I think people are wanting to be able to do things and make things by hand a lot more, because it’s good to the environment, and it’s also very rewarding.” Daley hasn’t managed to get his husband to start knitting or crocheting, although he says: “Sometimes we do sit down together and because he has to catch up on his work, he reads while I knit, and it’s our way of being together, but being separate at the same time.” But knitting and crochet aren’t Daley’s only wellbeing fixes – he still works out a lot, and enjoys walking as well. “I retired last year,” he says, “but I still do exercise all the time, and that’s always formed part of my day-to-day life. “I like taking workout classes, and I go hiking with my husband every morning. There’s all kinds of different things I do. “I enjoy being able to go and have the freedom to do all of the different exercises that I used to never be able to do when I was training because of the fear of serious injury. But I find myself enjoying workout classes more than anything, because it pushes me in the same way as when I used to train with the GB team.” However, much as Daley loved diving, there’s absolutely none of that these days. “I’ve not actually set foot on a diving board since the Paris Olympics,” he says. “Diving is one of those hard sports to gain access to – it’s not like a swimming pool where you can go and do a couple of laps. It’s a very different scenario, because with diving you have to book things out in advance, and it’s not always as easy as just turning up. “There’s always that part of me that misses diving – it’s something that’s been such a huge part of my life, and I feel very fortunate that I’ve had something to transition into afterwards.” The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

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London (dpa) – The third entry in the "Knives Out" series is again stacked with big names. Ex-007 Daniel Craig returns as eccentric detective Benoit Blanc, the lone constant across the three films, though he now wears his hair longer. Newcomers include Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott and Kerry Washington. The Netflix production will play in cinemas for a limited time before arriving on the streaming service from December 12. The priest in training and former boxer Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) has been punished with a transfer to a small US backwater town, where he is to assist the local priest, Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), who is far from pleased. The charismatic cleric, who insists on being called Monsignor Wicks, is a powerful figure for the congregation. His sometimes very aggressive style is highly controversial among colleagues and drives away members. After a mysterious death, Duplenticy falls under suspicion. Police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) asks Blanc for help. Cracks appear in the community’s pious façade. The devout Martha (Glenn Close), the lawyer Very (Kerry Washington), her loathed half-brother, conservative influencer Cy (Daryl McCormack), the doctor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner) and the author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott) – almost everyone in Wicks’s parish has a motive. Blanc shows up noticeably late here compared to "Knives Out" and its sequel "Glass Onion". Most Agatha Christie books work exactly like this, writer-director Rian Johnson explained to dpa. In the first act you meet all the suspects, get a feel for the whole scene and already have a sense of who the victim might be. And then — bang — the murder happens at the end of the first act, and that’s exactly when the detective comes into play, Johnson said. The current political climate — especially in the United States — provided Johnson with plenty of inspiration. In particular, Brolin’s character will, to many, evoke US President Donald Trump. The film is not political, however. Like the first two instalments, "Wake Up Dead Man" is again a gripping and amusing "whodunit" that thrives above all on its impressive cast. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde xxde coh

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Berlin (dpa) – A sixth film in the "Hunger Games" series is currently shooting in Berlin, with a first trailer now released featuring a new star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons and Glenn Close. The film tells the backstory of future mentor Haymitch Abernathy, who is forced to take part in the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games film featuring Katniss Everdeen, then played by Jennifer Lawrence. The roughly two-minute trailer shows a Panem riven by political tension, a Capitol bristling with firepower and early, grim glimpses of an arena with harsher rules than ever. "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" is based on the book of the same name by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins, published in March 2025. Once portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy, Abernathy is now played by the relatively unknown Australian actor Joseph Zada.He is joined by a starry Hollywood ensemble. Alongside "Bugonia" star Jesse Plemons and Ralph Fiennes as Coriolanus Snow, the cast also includes Elle Fanning, Oscar winner Glenn Close and Kieran Culkin. In early July the production in Germany sought around 4,000 extras for filming near Cologne before shoots at a former airport in Berlin. With Francis Lawrence returning to the director's seat, the latest Hunger Games film is planned for November 2026. A prequel to the successful franchise, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes", was released in 2023. The following information is not intended for publication dpa skc yyzz n1 cor lif

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Fairy lights create a beautiful atmosphere, but if you buy the wrong ones, they can guzzle power, break after a few years and even carry toxic chemicals. Here's what to consider when buying a set. Berlin (dpa) – Fairy lights are everywhere in the run-up to Christmas, but not all sets are equal. From colour temperature to IP ratings and safety seals, here is how to pick lights that look great, last long and do not waste energy. Seven tips for buying string lights: Check the colour temperature:Some fairy lights emit a warm yellow light, while others are a colder, bluish white. You can determine this by looking at the Kelvin (K) value on the packaging. Lamps rated at 3,000 K or less will give a warm, yellowish white light and feel cosier. Prioritise quality:Check the expected service life on the packaging. LED string lights should last at least 20,000 hours, with some models rated for up to 50,000 hours. Use LEDs:To save energy, buy LED fairy lights, as these use about one tenth of the electricity of incandescent or halogen lamps and last roughly 100 times longer. Avoid battery packs:Unless you are decorating somewhere away from a power outlet, you should consider getting a set with a cable and plug, rather than a battery pack version. Battery power is around 300 times more expensive than mains electricity, not to mention the hassle of having to recharge. Look for splash protection:You may want to also use your fairy lights outdoors, which means you should check for protection against rain and moisture. Without this, using them outdoors will trigger a short circuit. Outdoor string lights should be marked with the droplet-in-triangle symbol or carry IP44, IP54 or IP64 ratings similar to many smartphones. There may be health and safety risks:If in doubt, go for a set that has some kind of trusted safety certification on the packaging and one that has been tested by a consumer protection organization. The CE mark on a box, widely seen in Europe, is only the manufacturer's self-declaration that EU standards are met. Studies of fairy lights in recent years have pointed to the use of toxic chemicals suspected of increasing the risk of cancer and damaging the development of children. Use a timer:You can of course avoid high electricity use by remembering to turn on and off the fairy lights when you see and need them. But it may be easier to buy a timer adapter for your socket or to get a set of fairy lights with an automatic timer built in. That way the lights come on every day at dusk and go off at bedtime. Year-round fairy lights for outdoors Fairy lights don't just need to be taken out and untangled every year for Christmas decorations. You can also use them to create some atmospheric lighting for a garden or balcony with chain of empty milk or juice cartons, where each fairy light lights up a colourful lantern. To start, collect some clean cartons and cut off the top part of each and cover the rest with gift-wrapping paper. Into each side, you cut a window measuring about 11 by 5 centimetres. Then you cover the windows with thin, colourful tissue paper (colourful serviette paper will also do). Cut two holes in the bottom of each carton and string the fairy lights through them, leaving one light in each carton. Your new party lighting system can be hung from two trees using a thin wire cable strung along the light chain. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn mod yyzz n1 sw

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