EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: TV explorer Levison Wood embarks on biggest adventure - fatherhood with Brazilian model

Trusting in what he describes as 'almost blind optimism', he never envisages failure – an indomitable spirit which sustained him on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention when circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula or walking the length of the River Nile or the Himalayas, where he flew off a cliff when the brakes on a car failed.
But even Levison Wood has admitted that he's struggled in one often bewildering environment – the 21st century dating scene where, he told me a while back, he hoped to encounter 'a woman with a sense of adventure and a sense of fun'.
So I'm delighted to reveal that the former Parachute Regiment officer turned explorer, author and broadcaster, has pulled off what he can justifiably consider his greatest triumph to date...He's about to become a father after falling for Brazilian firecracker Ana Protasio, a beauty whose accomplishments traverse numerous fields.
'Ana's a therapist and a yoga instructor and a model,' Levison, 43, tells me from the Alps, where he and Ana are on currently on holiday, relaxing in what, for Levison, is trademark manner – 'climbing mountains'.
It would seem an appropriately invigorating prelude to the impending addition to the Wood family.
'We're happily expecting our first child at the end of July,' confirms Levison, who's travelled across at least 120 countries, contending with broken bones, tigers, crocodiles and – so far – one cannibal.
It's tempting to see the couple's romance as the perfect incentive for a chap to hack his way into the undergrowth. 'We met travelling in Costa Rica and stayed friends,' says Levison, adding that they 'reconnected' last year.
Being an officer and a gentleman, he declines to disclose Ana's age and even refrains from saying whether they are engaged – or married – but assures me: 'We're very serious in our commitment to each other.
'I've got some very exciting projects I'd love to do in South America,' adds Levison, whose latest book, The Great Tree Story: How Forests Have Shaped Our World, was published this spring.
That should earn Ana's seal of approval.
How Princess Anne put boot into rugby star
Princess Anne enjoyed cutting her pal Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan down to size when he was bursting with pride at representing his country.
'I remember playing in the World Cup in 2003, when England won, [Scotland coach] Ian McGeechan said, 'Think about the five million people in Scotland supporting you'. And running out on to the pitch and turning around and meeting Princess Anne,' 53-year-old Logan recalls.
'She said to me, 'You all right, Kenny?' I said, 'Yeah, yeah,' and shook her hand. She said 'I can't believe you still get a game'.'
He adds of the princess, who's patron of Scottish Rugby: 'She was horsey, I was horsey, farming, and outdoors. We had a great relationship. And even when I see her now she'll always say hi or try and sell me a horse or something like that.'
There's no place like home for Sir Michael Palin, who still lives in the 'modest' family house in unfashionable Gospel Oak, north London, that he bought with his late wife, Helen, in 1966.
He has resisted the celebrity tendency to move somewhere bigger and swankier. 'Helen influenced our living an unostentatious life,' says the former Monty Python star, 82.
'I like meeting people. I like hearing their stories. I don't want to be cut off because of what I do and [it] is such a nice little area. You've got everything you want here. So why move? Unless you feel you want to or your status demands it.'
His only concession was to buy the cottage next door and combine the houses.
Lady Amelia takes a twirl at art show...
Lady Amelia Windsor, whose sister Marina announced her engagement this week, is clearly in the mood to celebrate.
The Duke of Kent's 29-year-old granddaughter gave a twirl in the courtyard of Burlington House as she arrived at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition preview party.
Lady Amelia, who was once named as the 'most beautiful royal' by Tatler magazine, wore a one-shouldered, lime green mini-dress to the art event.
Her sister, Lady Marina, 32, is to wed IT specialist Nico Macauley.
...While potter Perry really is a picture
There was little chance of Sir Grayson Perry failing to stand out from the crowd at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition preview party.
The cross-dressing potter, 65, was a riot of colour in a purple wig and an orange and yellow jumper featuring exaggerated puff sleeves.
He paired the eccentric top with blue satin shorts, orange tights and fuchsia pink laced boots.
The ceramicist has been a member of the Royal Academy since 2011.
Kemi Badenoch says she has received advice from every living former Tory leader, with one exception. 'They've all offered me, actually, all except Liz [Truss], have offered advice,' she says. Interviewing her, comic

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Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Nick Cannon leaves fans stunned after dad of 12 forgets key piece of information about his brood

Dad of 12 Nick Cannon left fans stunned as he forgot a key piece of information about his huge brood. The 44-year-old host of The Masked Singer appeared on the Really Good Podcast with Bobbi Althoff and opened up about fatherhood. However when Bobbi asked Mariah Carey 's ex-husband why he has so many kids and if he could name all of them, he went blank. 'I usually get in trouble,' Cannon replied, and he then attempted to list all of his children, but forgot two of them. 'I know all of them, but like. Here we go. I'll lay them all out for you,' Cannon said. 'Keep me honest. There's Roc, Roe, Golden, Powerful, Rise, Onyx, Legendary, Zion, Zillion, Zen, and….see this is where. How many [are left?' 'You're missing two' Althoff pointed out, while Nick said, 'I'm missing two.' He was missing daughters Beautiful and Halo. Athoff also asked Cannon why he had so many kids. 'Why do I have so many kids? I have a king complex,' Cannon responded. 'You know, Black men, we always be like, "What's up king?"' 'I really think I'm the king,' Nick, who has 12 kids with six different women, said. 'So you need to have… do kings have a lot of kids?' Althoff asked, to which Cannon responded, 'yeah.' Earlier this month on a episode of his and Courtney Bee's podcast We Playin' Spades, the conversation took a surprising turn when the former NFL player Ryan Clark began discussing his vasectomy. His co-host Courtney noted that it seemed as if she had heard a lot about Black men getting vasectomies recently, and she wondered if it was a new phenomenon. Nick had an apparent moment of clarity when he admitted — in a bashful tone — that getting a vasectomy was the 'responsible thing to do.' However, even if he now acknowledged that it was the smart choice for someone in his position, he remained defiant. 'I'm just — I'm not done [having children],' he added. Later, he was asked if he would have another child with one of the women who had already had his babies. 'I don't know. That's the thing. I leave it to the Lord,' he replied. During his appearance on Dr. Laura Berman's Language Of Love podcast in 2023, Nick previously said he 'lend[s] that type of stuff to God,' and called his children 'miracles.' Although he stopped short of saying that God had told him to have the children, he did say only He would tell him when it was time to stop having kids. Nick previously spoke about the difficulties about spending enough time with all of his children. In November of last year, he joked that he was a 'busy man on Thanksgiving,' and he admitted in a December 2022 episode of The Checkup With Dr. Agus that his 'biggest guilt' was not getting to 'spend enough time with all [his] children.' 'One, 'cause I'm constantly working, and two, because I'm just spread thin,' he explained. In addition to his twins Moroccan and Monroe, whom he shares with ex-wife Mariah Carey he's also the father of sons Golden Sagon and Rise Messiah Cannon and daughter Powerful Queen, all of whom he shares with Brittany Bell. He and Abby De La Rosa are parents to twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, as well as their daughter Beautiful Zeppelin. He and Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi share their son Legendary Love, and he and LaNisha Cole have a daughter together, Onyx Ice Cole. Nick shared two children with Alyssa Scott. Their first son Zen, died at only five months old in December 2021 as the result of a brain tumor. Their second child, a daughter named Halo Marie Cannon, was born in December of 2022, meaning that Nick has now gone more than two years without another child after welcoming multiple per year at the start of the decade. By SARAH SOTOODEH AND LILLIAN GISSEN FOR TV host Nick Cannon has 12 children with six different women. Nick has children with: Mariah Carey, LaNisha Cole, Brittany Bell, Bre Tiesi, Alyssa Scott and Abby de la Rosa. His children are: Monroe and Moroccan, Onyx, Rise, Powerful, Golden, Legendary, Halo, Zen (he passed away), Beautiful, Zion and Zillion. In early November 2022, pregnant Alyssa confirmed Nick was the father of her child, just 11 months after they lost their son Zen at age five months due to brain cancer. Cannon is the proud father to 11-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He welcomed his eighth child, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi on June 28, 2022. Nick's ninth child - daughter Onyx Ice with model LaNisha Cole - was born on September 14, 2022. Less than two weeks after Onyx arrived, Nick welcomed his 10th child, a son called Rise Messiah Cannon on September 23, 2022, with Brittany Bell, who he already shares two children with: daughter Powerful Queen, two, and son Golden, five. Nick recently welcomed baby number 12 with Alyssa Scott - daughter Halo Marie Cannon, born on December 14, 2022. They had a son as well, but he died in 2021. Nick and Alyssa's beloved son Zen died from a brain tumor on December 5, 2021. Zen had previously suffered from hydrocephalus, in which fluid builds up in the cavities of the brain and increases the size of the ventricles, putting pressure on the brain. He was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his head and was rushed in for surgery. Zen made it out of surgery but his health began to deteriorate around Thanksgiving, and ultimately he died on December 5. 'We knew since August that Zen's time on this earth would be limited. We knew he would not make it to see 6 months,' Scott previous shared in an Instagram post. 'I am eternally grateful he was in the arms of the people who loved him most.' He had his 11th child with his baby mama Abby De La Rosa - daughter Beautiful Zeppelin on November 11, 2022; they also share twin sons Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, one. Daughter Monroe and son Moroccan with ex wife Mariah Carey Nick and Mariah Carey tied the knot on in the Bahamas in 2008, and they welcomed the rapper's first kids on April 30, 2011 - a set of twins named Monroe and Moroccan Scott. According to People, Monroe was named after late actress Marilyn Monroe, who was said to be an inspiration to Mariah. They decided not to give her a middle name since Mariah doesn't have one. As for Moroccan, the idea for his name came from the Moroccan décor in Mariah's apartment, which is where Nick proposed to her. His middle name, Scott, is also Nick's middle name and his grandmother's maiden name. Back in December, in the wake of Zen's death, Nick spoke out about how hard it was for him to tell the twins, who are now 11 years old, about Zen's passing - but credited their support, especially Monroe, with helping him get through the tragedy. He said Monroe is so 'so pure and so honest,' and called the 11-year-old his 'best therapist.' 'Having to explain that to [then]-10-year-olds ... is pretty intense,' he admitted to People. 'But their understanding and them being there for me probably helped me keep it together as well as really deal with it. Specifically, Roc and Roe. They were there for the entire journey. 'My daughter, really, she's so in tune and in line and wise beyond her years. I got a lot of therapists, but she's probably my best therapist. 'She keeps me in check. She's so pure and so honest. To be 10, she asks some really strong and powerful questions. 'Really, just it's all out of love. She's my oldest child. Even though they're twins, she came out first and she lets everybody know it. She's helped me keep it strong.' Back in 2016, after the birth of his second son, Golden, Nick opened up about the twins' relationship with their younger sibling, and he revealed that they really enjoyed having a little brother. 'They love hanging out with him, and it is almost like they are more concerned about him having fun than them having fun,' he gushed to Entertainment Tonight. 'They are always trying to make them laugh, and he is walking now, so they are trying to get him all the toys. 'Watching that whole older sibling thing take place, they understand the responsibility of it. They understand that they can teach him things, so it is really cool.' He also called them 'geniuses,' and admitted that he was not happy with how fast they were growing up. 'I'm fine with my son growing up. It's my daughter that I have a problem with,' he joked. 'I mean, shotgun's loaded.' As for how he his ex Mariah were co-parenting the twins, he explained in 2016 that they had come to a place of 'understanding and unconditional love.' 'When you come from a place of understanding and unconditional love for so many things, you can't really go wrong,' he said. 'It would be very easy to throw our egos in - what we believe we want to do with our time and effort - but then you step back. 'When it comes to my kids, it is whatever they want at whatever time, and I build my schedule around it. 'Those children are the most important thing to both of us. It kind of turned her into this wonderful mother, that I feel like the world started to connect with her on that level. 'There will always be unconditional love and a great relationship. That is one of my best friends in life, so it is always going to be that. 'The fact that there is no bad blood and we can still coexist, I think that is the best place for it.' Sons Golden and Rise Messiah, and daughter Powerful Queen, with Brittany Bell After his split from Mariah, Nick dated Phoenix Suns dancer Brittany Bell on-and-off for years. They welcomed a son together, named Golden Sagon, on February 21, 2017. At the time, Nick gushed on Instagram, 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning! 'No matter how hard the world may hit you, God always reminds us of our purpose! Welcome to Earth, son. #TrueHappiness #Awakened.' Reports came out that the couple had split after that, but in November 2020, they were seen walking hand-in-hand at his 33rd birthday celebration - with Brittany sporting a growing baby bump. They then welcomed their second child, Powerful Queen, in December 2020. 'The best gift ever,' Brittany, who is also a model, shared on Instagram at the time. 'We have been surprised with… A GIRL! Powerful Queen Cannon came this week, perfect timing for Christmas. 'So much more to share. All I can say is that Nick was my rock through the most intense yet empowering natural water birth. 'It was nothing but POWERFUL. Merry Christmas! THANK YOU GOD.' One month later, Nick was asked by Power 106 radio hosts if her pregnancy had been an 'accident,' and he insisted that it was not. 'I'm having these kids on purpose,' he said. 'I didn't have no accident. [There were] a lot of people that I could've gotten pregnant that I didn't. You only live once.' In December 2021, just after Powerful Queen's first birthday, the Masked Singer host couldn't stop raving over how smart she was on Instagram. He shared a clip of her saying words like 'nose, cat, dog, and tree' while he held up flashcards for her. 'Wow! Look at this brilliant baby!' he captioned it. 'They got mad when we named her POWERFUL QUEEN! Y'all lucky I didn't go with my other choice GENIUS EMPRESS! 'LOL. I can't take any of the credit here though! That's all her amazing mommy.' On September 23, 2022, Nick and Brittany welcomed their third child together, son Rise Messiah, weighing in at 10lbs. Sons Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa Nick and Abby, who is a DJ and broadcast professional, kept their relationship a secret until they announced that they were expecting twin boys together in April 2021. 'Our dearest sons - my miracle babies, thank you for choosing me to be your mommy,' Abby wrote on Instagram at the time, in a now-deleted post. 'I know the Lord has destined me and prepared me for the gift of not one but two little angels. 'I pray that God gives you both the strength to walk brave and boldly in your individual truth just like your daddy... That God bless you and your brother and guide you into living out your full purpose. 'Your dad and I will always be here for you both; in complete unison and support. 'No matter what this world may throw your way, know that forgiveness is key and what is for you - is for YOU! You both are already so loved and we can't wait to meet you both.' The boys - who they named named Zion and Zillion - were born on June 14, 2021. In an Instagram Q&A, Abby later revealed that she and Nick accidentally got pregnant in April 2020, but sadly, they lost that baby. Then, they became focused on getting pregnant again. 'First pregnancy, April 2020, was definitely not planned, but Nick was such a great friend to me and just so good to me, and then our focus became to have a baby,' she explained. 'Little did we know we would end up having twins. 'Let me just add that this planning wasn't like us sitting down with a calendar and being like, "You gotta be pregnant by this date." It had already been a thought and it happened. 'It had already been out there, it was something we were manifesting and we were just letting it flow.' Now, they are gearing up to welcome their third child together, whose gender is unknown. On November 9, 2022, pregnant Abby confirmed Nick was the father of her unborn child. She gave birth to his 11th child, daughter Beautiful Zeppelin on November 11, 2022. Son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi Nick first revealed that he was expecting an eighth child with model girlfriend Bre, 31, back in January, when the couple were seen attending a gender reveal to celebrate the news that they were having a baby boy together. He then shared the happy news on an episode of his since-canceled talk show The Nick Cannon Show, saying at the time: 'It's a boy! We found out yesterday. Everyone knows I have a lot of children. It's never a competition. Each one is special.' Bre took to Instagram to announce the birth of the couple's son, Legendary Love, revealing in a candid post that their baby had arrived in an 'all natural unmedicated home birth', while heaping praise on Nick for 'showing the f up' and being 'an amazing and supportive partner'. Legendary was born on June 28, 2022. 'I did it,' she wrote, while sharing several black-and-white photos taken during her labor and birth. 'An all natural unmedicated home birth. 'This was the most humbling / limit pushing yet awakening and completely empowering experience. I can't thank my team enough for delivering my son safely. This experience has changed me forever and I couldn't [have] asked for a more amazing and supportive partner. 'Daddy showed the f up for us... I couldn't [have] done it without you. I can't believe he's here.' Images taken during the birth show Nick caring for his partner during her labor, even taking a bath with her at one point, possibly to try and ease her contraction pain. A photo of the proud mom and dad with their newborn baby also shows Nick cutting his son's umbilical chord, while wrapping a protective arm around his son and partner Bre, who also shared video footage from her birth on YouTube. 'The vlog of my birth is now live on my YouTube,' she revealed. 'I have documented my pregnancy, natural induction, labor, delivery as well as more information and resources for doulas midwife's and hypno birthing. It's real raw and I hope It helps anyone considering an unmedicated home birth.' In her YouTube video, Bre documented her experience of labor, sharing clips of herself trying to work through the pain of her contractions and impending delivery - with Nick by her side the whole time. The new mom revealed that the couple's son Legendary Love weighed 8lbs 10oz at birth and measured at 21 inches, adding in an intro slide: 'Trigger warning. This video is quite intense. It is my real and raw natural birth experience with a lot of screaming and [it] is a little graphic. 'Viewer discretion advised.' She also revealed that the couple had something of a scare during the birth, explaining that her son had a 'long crown' because his hand was up by his ear when he was born - a condition known as nucal hand. 'So he needed a little respiratory support from [my midwife],' she wrote. 'I noticed he wasn't crying...' Daughter Onyx with LaNisha Cole Nick Cannon made the surprise announcement that he had welcomed his ninth child The actor, 41, shocked fans as he took to Instagram in September 2022 to announce that he had welcomed a child with 40-year-old model LaNisha Cole. He shared a snap of the proud new parents with the bundle of joy - a daughter - with a lengthy caption which revealed the child's name is Onyx Ice Cole Cannon, born on September 14, 2022. The lengthy caption began: 'Introducing ONYX ICE COLE CANNON… Once again Today I am in Awe of the Devine Feminine! God has given me and @MissLanishaCole the privilege of hosting an Angel here on earth. I vow to protect, provide, guide and love this child to the best of my abilities.' As he has impregnated several women over the years, he went on to explain that though he as skin thick enough to deal with the criticism, it doesn't exactly run in his family. He wrote: 'As we all know I am not easily triggered and have quite tough skin and have always been an open book but not everyone in my family has that same level of strength. So I pray and ask others to please project all criticism and cynicism towards ME and not the loving and precious Mothers of my children.' Nick was romantically linked to LaNisha in February 2021 as she shared a now deleted video of him in a room filled with balloons, however, they split at the end of the month. LaNisha is an American fashion model who was best known for her eight seasons as a rotating model on The Price Is Right hosted by Bob Barker then Drew Carey. Son Zen and daughter Halo with Alyssa Scott Nick met Alyssa Scott when they both starred in MTV's Wild 'N Out. Years later - in January 2021 - they announced that they were having a baby together. Their son, Zen, was born on June 23, 2021, with Alyssa writing at the time, 'I will love you for eternity.' But when the baby was two months old, they noticed he had come down with a cough that wouldn't go away, and decided to have it checked out by doctors. 'I always noticed he had a cough and so I wanted to check it out,' Nick later said on The Nick Cannon Show. 'He had this interesting breathing and by the time he was two months, I noticed he had this nice sized head too, we called it a Cannon head. 'We didn't think anything of it, but I wanted to take him to the doctor for his sinus and breathing.' After taking the newborn in for a 'routine' checkup, they were told he had a malignant tumor and needed emergency surgery immediately. He had also developed hydrocephalus - a condition where fluid builds up in the cavities of the brain causing the head to increase in size and ultimately putting pressure on the brain. He unfortunately passed away on December 5, 2021 - spending his last moments by the ocean. 'He was the most loving. We called him Z Chilling. He was always smiling. He had the most beautiful spirit,' Nick said after his death. On the Today show, Nick praised Alyssa - 'who carried a beautiful child for nine months and nurtured and cared for him every single day through this process' - for her 'strength.' '[Alyssa] is strong,' he said. 'She is definitely one of the strongest individuals I've known. 'I couldn't imagine - I mean, as a father, it's painful, but for a mother who carried a beautiful child for nine months and nurtured and cared for him every single day through this process. 'There were so many medicines and so many trips to the hospital and the doctor, and also she's a mother-of-two so to watch her go through this...' At the time, he said he was using his faith and therapy to get through the immense loss. 'I'm taking it - as my therapist says - five minutes at a time, but I'm optimistic in finding the purpose through all of the pain, so I'm attempting to smile, I'm attempting to be the high-frequency individual that I've set out to be, but along the way there's definitely some curves in the journey, so I'm taking it five minutes at a time. 'Honestly [there] was a lot of fear involved [in telling people about Zen's death]. I'm so used to being upbeat and outspoken and even vulnerable at times, where I'll talk about anything. 'But this was probably the most delicate and the most precious thing I've ever had to talk about. 'And I didn't know how to talk about it, I never imagined having to be in this scenario, so as much as it was such an outpouring of love, there was a lot of fear, there was obviously some hurt. 'I wanted to be the protector as well for all of the rest of my family, Alyssa and [everyone], so I wanted... It's a very delicate thing, even when talking about this. 'And that's coming from a person who is used to talking to people each and every day live here on television. It's scary.' After the tragic passing, Nick opened up about the 'guilt' he felt about having to divide his time between working and being a dad. 'I'm a father, first and foremost. There's a lot of guilt that I feel and I talk about this in therapy all the time,' he admitted. 'It's rooted in not having enough time to spend with my loved ones, specifically my children, because I have a lot of children. 'I'm also spread so thin in my work because that's how I cope. That's how I deal with things. 'I have several jobs and several shows and movies and music, all that stuff. And I call myself a provider for many, but one thing no matter how much money I generate, one thing I can't generate is time. 'It's not about quantity, it's about quality. And it's really just having quality moments with my children, quality moments with my family. 'Had a lot of quality moments with Zen in his short time here. I always say time is a manmade thing, but love and energy is a godsend.' In January 2022, just days before his and Bre's gender reveal party, the star admitted that he was 'still missing his little dude' Zen in an emotional Instagram post. 'Still missing my little dude… His spirit and brightness were so strong #ZensLight,' he captioned a throwback snap that showed Moroccan, Zion, Zillion, and Monroe sitting with him, as he held Zen. He added: 'The whole family, we ALL miss you young King! Forever Our Angel!' In early November, pregnant Alyssa confirmed Nick was the father of her unborn child. Alyssa gave birth to his 12th child - daughter Halo Marie Cannon in December; she was born on December 14, 2022.

BBC News

4 hours ago

• BBC News

BTS is back - but K-pop has changed

"I missed them so much," says Stephanie Prado, a die-hard BTS fan who has been desperately waiting for the group to reunite after a two-and-a-half-year love for the boy band inspired her to move from Brazil to South Korea - so it was no surprise that she turned up last Friday for "BTS Festa", a big party held every year near Seoul on the group's time she has spent waiting, has moved "both slowly and really quickly", Stephanie says, waving an ARMY bomb, the official lightstick used by BTS fans, who call themselves the her is a huge sculpture of the lightstick, a must-have in the K-pop year's event is special because a reunion is finally around the corner. The countdown peaked last week, when four of the seven members, RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook, completed their military service. And the wait ends on Saturday when the last of them, Suga, is discharged."I hope they rest now," Stephanie says, before adding, "but of course I also want albums, concerts, everything".The 18 months in the military that are mandatory for all South Korean men forced the world's most successful boy band in recent years to hit pause in 2022. Now they are returning, some say, to a K-pop industry that is quite different to the one they knew: faced with stalled album sales, shaken by scandals and increasingly scrutinised over the excessive pressure its puts on absence of a leading band, industry watchers say, was deeply felt."Without BTS, a core pillar was missing," says Kim Young-dae, music critic and author of BTS: The Review. "There have been concerns recently that K-pop is losing momentum. True or not, BTS could change that perception." The ARMY awaits There are no plans yet for all seven members to appear together, but that didn't stop the ARMY from gathering early on a humid morning in long, restless queue stretched to the subway station an hour before the gates for the BTS Festa opened. The snippets of English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish alongside Korean, threw off a local walking past who asked, "Why are there so many foreigners here?" Inside were more queues - some people were hopping with excitement and others were sobbing after entering the so-called voice zone, a phone booth where you could listen to BTS members' messages. About half of the fans the BBC spoke to teared up talking about how much they missed BTS."It felt like the 18 months lasted forever," said Vuyo Matiwane, a South African who had been visiting BTS-themed venues in Seoul, like their favourite restaurant. "I was crying at every location - it was so emotional."And then she watched the livestream of them being discharged, which was "overwhelming".Being surrounded by all things BTS made a trip half-way across the world worth it, says Fara Ala, who travelled from the Netherlands: "Breathing the same air, drinking the same water, eating the same food as BTS - that's enough for ARMY. If you ask other ARMY, they'd say the same." South Korean military service is a major test for male celebrities, many of whom have to enlist at the peak of their success. In the past, it has proved fatal for some is believed to have staggered it so that all seven members were missing from action for no more than six months. J-Hope, who was discharged last October, has since wrapped up a solo world tour. But the so-called curse can be hard to break. For one, the loyalty of fans could wane as new groups debut almost every week, competing for their attention. Returning idols also face a tough transition because a military stint and a touch of maturity could dampen the essence of K-pop appeal: youthful if anyone can break the curse, it's BTS, Mr Kim of them announced solo projects in the past two and half years, he explains, without hurting their popularity as a group: "It feels like their military hiatus passed by naturally. Their return feels smooth." The shift in K-pop Still, the industry beyond the ARMY can pose a BTS was on a break, the other K-pop sensation, Blackpink, has not dropped an album since September 2022, opting instead for solo releases. These were the leaders of K-pop's third they have been succeeded by fourth and fifth generations that have brought fresh style to the genre. The newer acts - which debuted after 2018 - lack a standout name like BTS because K-pop has become more diverse than ever. The result is a range of very popular and experimental groups. "Most people my age like fourth generation idols these days," says a 13-year-old fan of girl group IVE."Some still like third generation groups, but for teens, BTS kind of feels like they belong to an older generation. A lot of new idols debuted while BTS was away, and they have become popular."But the biggest challenge to BTS's superstar status is what some see as a slowdown in from concerts remains strong, but album sales - a key market metric - have been declining since a peak in 2023. The slump coincides with when BTS and Blackpink were not releasing Korean pop culture critic Park Hee Ah agrees that K-pop went through "some difficult times" while BTS was have also been several controversies, such as the headline-making dispute between hit girl group NewJeans and their agency, allegations of mistreatment by all-powerful agencies and harassment of stars by fans and trolls."Album sales started to drop, and some problems - like questions about companies doing the right thing - came up," Ms Park said. Because of all of this, she adds, we did see more "deeper problems in the K-pop industry". That's also why so many are looking forward to BTS's return, hoping it will bring renewed energy - and maybe even a path forward for the industry."Their return will help people focus on Korea's music scene again," Ms Park says, adding that a BTS reunion is great not just for their fans but also for Korean soft eyes are now on the band's next song. "I will quickly make an album and return to the stage," RM, the group's leader, said on the day he was a new group album may not come until early next year because J-Hope still has domestic concerts scheduled, and Jin is set to hold concerts for fans across the world over the next few months. It's also possible Suga, who landed in controversy after he was caught drunk-driving a scooter last year, may want to lie low for a little millions of fans like Stephanie though, simply knowing BTS is back together is enough - for now."It'll feel like nothing ever changed. The kings are back."

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Living Nostradamus predicts Jordon Hudson and Bill Belichick's relationship will be over within TWO YEARS

A psychic who has successfully predicted numerous world events has made a serious projection about the future of Bill Belichick 's relationship with Jordon Hudson - and their alleged engagement. Belichick, 73, has been dating Hudson, 24, since 2023, but their relationship has made headlines in recent months - especially after she steamrolled his interview on CBS Sunday Morning in April. She caused shockwaves throughout America after she pushed back on a question that journalist Tony Dokoupil had asked the former New England Patriot's coach while they were talking about his new book. Dokoupil asked him how the two met, to which Hudson sharply replied, 'We're not talking about that.' Adding to the drama, a shocking report from the New York Times last month claimed that Hudson had told 'at least one person' that she is engaged to be married to Belichick. Their relationship seems to be going strong - for now, at least - as psychic Athos Salomé, 38, from Brazil, issued a stark warning for the pair. Salomé, who is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus,' told the Daily Mail that he believes their romance won't make it past 2027. He is called the 'Living Nostradamus' due to his numerous accurate predictions - including his forecasting of the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II's death and the Microsoft global outage. Salomé told the Daily Mail exclusively that he foresees their relationship 'consisting of three distinct phases, peaking in 2026, and gradually dissolving by 2027.' 'There will be no explosive breakup. The bond will quietly fade away, like a spiritual contract that has run its course,' the clairvoyant claimed. He also said he doesn't see the two of them ever making it down the aisle, noting that he predicts a 'formal marriage' will not occur. They will not have children together, either, per the psychic. Salomé said he believes what 'unites' the couple together right now is a 'vibrational pact,' adding, 'Jordon seeks learning and projection; Belichick, emotional rejuvenation.' But what about that 'engagement' ring? 'There is a symbolic commitment between them, perhaps materialized by a ring, but without any intention of public consecration,' Salomé claimed. 'It is an energetic exchange, not a traditional union.' 'They are temporary karmic companions,' he claimed. 'They are together to learn, not to stay. It is a reflection, not a fusion. Functional, but not spiritual.' However, as of right now, it looks like Hudson is still scouting out some potential wedding locales. She's following multiple wedding-related Instagram accounts from her public-facing page, @jordon. According to screenshots obtained by Hudson is following the Instagram account for The Breakers Hotel weddings in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as Boston Weddings by Boston Magazine, a page that shares the 'ultimate guide to New England celebrations.' The Breakers Hotel, a luxury resort near Mar-a-Lago that can cost thousands of dollars per night during peak snowbird season, offers a venue that can fit up to 500 people. The hotel's Instagram account for weddings showcases the various events that they throw, sharing pictures of brides' dresses, catering, and decorations. It's a luxe getaway that hosted the 2015 wedding of Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello. The hotspot has multiple locations on its property where you can tie the knot, too, including its Ocean Lawn overlooking the Atlantic, or its 6,100 square foot Mediterranean Ballroom, which was modeled after the 'loggias of Italian villas.' However, you can't get married there without spending a pretty penny. Per Party Slate, a minimum wedding spend at The Breakers is $50,000. Vergara's wedding at the locale reportedly cost $4 million. It's unclear if this is the venue that Hudson and Belichick will choose for their alleged upcoming nuptials, but it certainly seems like the bride-to-be is looking into it - or at least taking some inspiration from the opulent hotel. Belichick owns a condo in Jupiter, Florida, per People - only a mere few miles away from the Palm Beach hotel. Speculation about the couple's relationship has been rife for months, ever since Daily Mail exclusively photographed Hudson at a New Orleans dinner during Super Bowl week with a rock on her left finger. The coach also notably changed his boat's name from 'VIII Rings' to 'I + VIII Rings.' Belichick has won eight Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator and head coach in New York and New England, respectively).