X factor

THEY shot to fame on The X Factor - but these stars are almost unrecognisable since disappearing from the spotlight. Despite Simon Cowell's ITV show instantly making them famous faces, you'd be forgiven if you failed to notice they'd passed you in the street these days. Stars including Luke Friend, Tamera Foster and Monica Michael look very different compared to how they did while performing for millions on TV. Here we take a look at how they've transformed their images - and what they've been up to see leaving the talent show. Kitty Brucknell, 2011 SHE was in the series won by Little Mix in 2011 and was famous for her wacky outfits. Kitty - who finished in seventh place under mentor Louis Walsh - recently ditched blonde hair for a pink. "I've been inspired by Japanese anime and that kind of look," she explained. "I dyed my hair pink and purple and people have started liking my pictures and now I'm modelling and been working with some big brands in the states. … [Read more...] about X Factor stars Luke Friend, Tamera Foster and Monica Michael look totally different years after appearing on the show

Human beings may be able to maintain as many as 520 friendships at any one time, according to new analysis. It contradicts a long-standing theory called 'Dunbar's number' which states humans are incapable of maintaining social relationships with more than 150 people. This was based on calculations of a person's cognitive limit due to brain size and what we know about primate groups. However, fresh calculations reveal this method is 'futile' and the true figure for a person's maximum number of friendships could be anywhere from two to 520. Scroll down for video A long-standing theory states humans are incapable of maintaining social relationships with more than 150 people, but new research dismantles this belief, saying the method is 'futile' (stock) What is 'Dunbar's number'? Dunbar's number is a theory which predicts that humans have an average of about 150 relationships at any given time. It was first postulated in the 1990s by British anthropologist Robin … [Read more...] about Humans can maintain social circles of up to 520 friends – nearly four times previous estimates, study reveals

The probation officer for the Fishmongers Hall killer tried to get him a job with a heel bar the day before his attack. Ken Skelton, Usman Khan's probation officer, told the employer he had undergone a "thorough risk assessment". Mr Skelton told the inquest there were "no concerns" about allowing Khan to attend the Cambridge University prisoner rehabilitation project in which he killed two workers. Khan stabbed and killed Jack Merritt , 25, and Saskia Jones , 23 - workers on the Learning Together project - at a conference at Fishmongers' Hall on 29 November 2019. He was wearing a fake suicide vest and was shot dead by armed police on London Bridge 13 minutes after the attack began. Advertisement Mr Skelton was introduced to the Timpson Trust, which oversees the employment of former offenders in the company's stores, by Learning Together. When they told Amy Ludlow, the co-director of the programme, that they did not employ … [Read more...] about Fishmongers’ Hall inquest: Probation had ‘no concerns’ over killer Usman Khan

When Joe Biden boasted to world leaders last month that the US would halve its greenhouse emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels — urging his counterparts from countries like China and India to commit to stronger action — the US president left environmentalists unconvinced. The cuts are more ambitious than previous targets to burn less fossil fuel. But they will not stop the US from overshooting its fair share of the emissions that can be released to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement pledge to keep warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5C, according to independent research project Climate Action Tracker. This is a question of justice: The US has polluted the atmosphere more than any other economy on the planet and also has more money to deal with it. Factoring in those inequalities, Biden's pledge is "very close to or just within" the range of cuts needed to reach 2C, said Andreas Geiges, a researcher at Climate Analytics, which jointly runs the project. But it falls … [Read more...] about Climate justice: Do pledges ignore unequal emissions?

SPOTIFY customers have been left furious by the music streaming giant's plans to hike prices by up to £24 a year. The changes, which come into effect from June, will apply to Spotify's Premium Student, Duo, and Family plans subscribers. New customers will start paying the higher prices from this Friday, April 30. Customers on Spotify's Family plan will be hit with the highest hike, as the package will increase from £14.99 to £16.99 - an extra £2 a month. Meanwhile Student and Duo plans will increase by £1 a month - we've rounded up all the price changes in the box below. Spotify is yet to confirm whether its standard Premium subscription will stay at the current price of £9.99 a month. How Spotify's prices are changing SPOTIFY is increasing some plan prices for existing customers from June, these are: The Premium Family plan is going up by £2 a month - from £14.99 to £16.99 The Premium Student plan is going up by £1 a month - from £4.99 to £5.99 … [Read more...] about Spotify customers’ fury as it hikes prices by up to £24 a year from June