Rina Sawayama criticises eligibility rules of Mercury Prize and the BRITs: “I fundamentally don’t agree with this definition of Britishness”

The Pokémon Company has announced that it will be hosting a limited beta for its upcoming TCG.Pokémon TCG Live will be available on PC, macOS, and mobile devices running iOS and Android. This new release will replace Pokémon TCG Online, and all servers will be shut down ahead of the new launch.While there is no release date stated, Candian players will participate in an upcoming beta later this month (via PCGamesN).

Music Week reports that while BPI’s 2021 unit sales data showed that CDs remained ahead of vinyl, the latter is poised to become the dominant physical format in terms of revenue.Vinyl albums brought in £135.6million in 2021 (up 23.2 per cent year-on-year) compared to £150.1million in CD sales (down 3.9 per cent year-on-year). On this current growth trajectory, vinyl will be ahead by the end of this year.In terms of unit sales, 14.4million CDs were sold in the UK last year (down 10.5 per cent year-on-year) compared to 5.3million vinyl LPs (up 10.6 per cent).Sony Music UK VP of market planning and sales Charles Wood told Music Week that he believes vinyl will become the largest physical contributor to labels in terms of revenue during the next 12 months.“Following an uplift of interest in vinyl sales during Covid, we saw that vinyl was being purchased by a broader audience, beyond your music fanatics and niche format obsessives that drove the ‘vinyl revival’,” Wood said.“We saw continued growth for vinyl sales in 2021 – now making up 27 per cent of the physical market in terms of volume.

Strictly Come Dancing's Nicola Adams has revealed that she and girlfriend Ella Baig are expecting their first baby together.The loved-up couple shared an adorable image of themselves sharing a kiss together on a glorious seafront to announce the happy news.Ella took to her own Instagram account, sharing a black-and-white image of their baby scan.The couple have opted to use Nicola's egg along with a sperm donor and Ella will carry and deliver their child.Boxing star Nicola told fans: "We're so excited to announce that our family is expanding. "After what feels like a lifetime, we can finally say we're going to be parents.

The Loose Women panelists aren't shy in having a debate or two.

TikTok, with the video racking up more than 2million views since it was uploaded this week.To begin, the presenter asks him: "Did you really want to charge to use toilets on Ryanair planes?"Michael replies: "Yes, but not because I want the money – we give the money away to charity. I want to get rid of the two toilets at the back of the planes so I can add six extra seats."With six extra seats I can lower everyone’s airfare for by another 5%, all year round."TikTok users were divided by his comments though.One wrote: "He’s 100% correct...

Prince Andrew has reached an out-of-court settlement with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, with a sum thought to be in the region of £12 million.The prince, who denies all accusations against him - and says he doesn't recall ever meeting Giuffre, who had been sex-trafficked by his pal convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein - is reportedly giving £2 million of the rumoured £12 million to her charity as part of their legal agreement.The payment of the huge stack of cash has raised eyebrows, however, about how the money was pulled together, with reports claiming some of it is being paid for by his mum, Queen Elizabeth.Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry has said the payment will “damage” the Queen’s reputation. Speaking on ITV on Wednesday she said that the saga “has done a lot of damage to the monarchy, without a doubt.

slammed for making British tea by boiling milk in a kettle and were mocked for not knowing what grit boxes are.But this time, the baffled American has questioned what the silver rectangular grids are that can be found on the pavement in some British parks.Posting to TikTok under the name @swfinds, the American posed the question: “Can someone please tell me what these are?“They are everywhere on the dangerous sidewalks in the UK.”In the clip which has now racked up 185,000 views, the American filmed two metal sections in the path that have rounded bars going across them.But instead of Brits enlightening the American on what they are for, they of course provided them with some very sarcastic and very wrong answers.One person commented: “They’re breathing holes for the loch-ness monster.”Another user chuckled: “Windows for the people of the underground crumpet factories.”Whilst a third person expressed: “They are grids which immediately trap year 7s, they then get teleported to the police station.”Someone else declared: “Speed boost.”Meanwhile, a fifth person giggled: “Outdoor toaster.”Luckily for the confused American, a kind commenter shared what the ‘dangerous’ metal bars in the ground were - it turns out they are cattle grids and they are not harmful at all.One person shared: “It’s a cattle block so animals and cattle can’t pass.”Well, we guess someone learnt something new today! Get all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter

To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.The collision involved a blue Mini and a grey Fiat 500X - Winnie and the woman were travelling in separate vehicles. It was the first of two double fatal crashes in Shropshire within three days - the second saw a mum and her baby die at the scene on the A41 between Newport and Tern Hill on Tuesday (February 15).

The sky is still dark and a shirtless man is given a rude awakening.

Laila Rouass and called the actress a "prostitute", his sister previously claimed.The 46-year-old snooker champion and Footballers' Wives actress, 50, made headlines earlier this week when they announced their split after almost a decade together.The former couple, who never wed, met in 2012 and became engaged the following year.Laila confirmed the news of her and Ronnie's split on Instagram, telling fans: "After nearly 10 years of love and memories, Ronnie and I have parted ways. Peace and love to you all."While fans were shocked, cracks in the couple's relationship have been previously aired.In an unearthed interview from 2020, Ronnie's sister Dannielle claimed that their mother Maria had always disliked Laila.Dannielle claimed the O'Sullivan family matriarch had even dubbed Laila a "s**g" and a "prostitute" who would "sleep with anyone".She told The Sun: "Ronnie has given Mum so much help in the past.

Binky Felstead has given a glimpse inside her luxurious ski getaway with her husband Max Darnton and children India and Wolfie. The 31 year old mum of two, who recently met Louise Thompson's baby boy as she praised her 'brave friend', has shared a peek inside her skiing trip to Austria with her four year old daughter India and her eight month old son Wolfie. Binky revealed how the family-of-four had travelled to St Anton Am Arlberg as she shared a snap of the stunning mountains as the sun beamed onto the snow.

Gemma Collins broke down in tears as she discussed the tragic suicide of a family friend she thought of as a “little brother.” During a moving moment in her Channel 4 documentary, Gemma Collins: Self-Harm and Me, the 41 year old met went to visit a centre called Harmless, which provides support for people who self-harm or might be at risk of it in Nottingham. While there, the former The Only Way is Essex star Gemma met with the founder Caroline Harrow, as the pair had a heartfelt conversation about self-harm, including Gemma’s own 20-year battle.

Spilling her secrets! Britney Spears just shared her genius beauty hack for looking younger – and it’s safe to say that the 40-year-old singer is onto something. So, what trick does the “Toxic” vocalist have up her sleeve? Well, it boils down to a fabulous haircut and minimal makeup. 

Zack Sharf Jake Gyllenhaal said in a new interview with Esquire magazine that he does not resent Taylor Swift’s over the extended version of “All Too Well” that was released last fall as part of her re-released album, “Red (Taylor’s Version).” The original song debuted in October 2012 and is widely considered to be Swift’s greatest track. Fans have long speculated that “Red” covers events from Swift and Gyllenhaal’s three-month-or-so relationship. The extended “All Too Well” was released with an accompanying short film that reignited speculation about Gyllenhaal’s role in Swift’s heartbreak.

Jamie Lang SF Studios has announced that the 2021 Berlin Generation Kplus player “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent” is getting a sequel. The original was a hit among kids and parents alike in its native Sweden and won a pair of Swedish Guldbagge Awards. Based on Martin Widmark’s popular children’s books of the same name, the film features rising star Matilda Gross as the titular Nelly, a young girl who, along with her dog London, are dragged into a world of ghosts, vampires and werewolves.Johan Rosell will direct with Jon Nohrstedt and Niklas Larsson producing for SF Studios.

Rina Sawayama has said that Mercury Prize organiser the BPI has told her that it is looking into updating the awards’ eligibility rules. This follows uproar last week after it was revealed that she could not enter the prize for best British or Irish album of the year – despite her living here for 25 years – because she does not hold a UK passport.Now the musician has told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat that the BPI has been in touch with her to say that it is looking to make changes, though it has not made any public statement to that effect as of yet.“I’m really, really happy,” she says.

Rina Sawayama has been in contact with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the organisation behind the BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize, who have indicated that they are reconsidering their eligibility criteria.Earlier this week (July 29), Sawayama revealed that she wasn’t able to enter the Mercury Prize this year as she isn’t eligible to enter as a British artist under the current rules. Solo artists must hold either British or Irish nationality and provide official documentation of their citizenship, such as a passport.In a new interview with Radio 1’s Newsbeat, the singer says the BPI have told her they’re now looking into making changes.“I’m really, really happy,” she said.

When the Mercury Prize shortlist was announced last week, we had a little moan about how Rina Sawayama’s debut album, ‘Sawayama’, wasn’t included. So did quite a lot of people, actually.

Pop star Rina Sawayama said she was left in tears after being told she is ineligible for two of the UK’s biggest music awards because she does not hold a British passport.

Rina Sawayama’s first full-length album, Sawayama, is a hit with critics. It has a robust 89 rating at Metacritic.com, the review aggregation site. It’s one of only 12 albums from 2020 with such a lofty rating. Moreover, it’s one of only two albums by British artists with such a high score. The other is Laura Marling’s Songs for Our Daughter, which also has an 89 rating. Sawayama has even been touted by Sir Elton John, who has a decades-lo

Rina Sawayama has released a short teaser for an upcoming documentary on the making of her debut album, ‘SAWAYAMA’. The video features a collection of footage from her tours, studio sessions and day-to-day life.Watch the teaser for The Making Of SAWAYAMA below.Rina Sawayama released ‘SAWAYAMA’ earlier this year in April.