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Highlights Meera Syal has spoken publicly for the first time about being sexually assaulted by an actor in the 1980s. She says the experience changed the direction of her career and pushed her towards writing. Syal credits a group of South Asian writers with helping her recover and find her voice. Meera Syal has revealed a deeply painful chapter from the beginning of her acting career, speaking publicly for the first time about being sexually assaulted by an actor she believed was offering to he

Highlights Catherine, Princess of Wales, may join Prince William in Mumbai for the 2026 Earthshot Prize in November. The visit would be the Waleses first substantive joint foreign trip in four years. The possible return comes as The Princess continues her gradual return to royal duties following cancer treatment. Catherine, Princess of Wales , may be preparing for a significant return to India, with reports suggesting she could join Prince William in Mumbai for the Earthshot Prize ceremony in No

$14.99: New monthly price of Apple TV in the US $119: New annual subscription price Nearly 3x : How much the monthly price has risen since Apple TV launched in 2019 Apple TV has raised its subscription price for the fourth time in four years, taking the monthly cost in the US to $14.99, up from $12.99. The latest $2 increase took effect on August 28 for new subscribers, while existing customers will receive about a month's notice before the higher price applies to their next billing cycle. The a

Bitcoin climbed above $75,000 for the first time since late May. More than $2.7 billion in Bitcoin short positions were liquidated as prices surged. Analysts remain divided over whether the rally has enough fresh demand to last. Bitcoin has pushed back above $75,000, reaching its highest level since late May as a combination of falling US Treasury yields, stronger trading activity and renewed hopes for clearer cryptocurrency rules sent digital assets higher. The cryptocurrency reached about $75,

Arsenal's Friday night win over newly-promoted Coventry City opened the richest football league on earth for another season. Millions watched. Billions will follow across the campaign. And for the first time in recent memory, not one of them will be watching a British south Asian player turn out in the Premier League itself. It isn't for lack of names. Four years ago, English football had what looked like a genuine breakthrough group: Hamza Choudhury at Leicester, Zidane Iqbal at Manchester Unit

IF 2026 has taught us anything so far, it is that resilience in the third sector is no longer optional. Charities are navigating one of the most demanding landscapes we have seen in years. Global needs are growing and we are feeling increasing pressure on our limited resources. In times like these, hope becomes more than an idea it becomes a driving force. A reason to keep building, supporting and showing up, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL speaks about his chari

Highlights Kangana Ranaut has responded to Sharmila Tagore's comments on Vande Mataram . Tagore said some sections of the song may not align with the beliefs of people who believe in one God. Kangana defended the song's imagery as poetry and urged people to move beyond a Hindu-Muslim mindset. Kangana Ranaut has reacted to Sharmila Tagore' s comments on Vande Mataram , pushing back against the veteran actor's concerns about the religious references in the National Song. Tagore recently spoke abou

The treatment could reduce insulin injections from 365 a year to just 52. NICE has recommended the weekly treatment, but it still needs MHRA approval. People who rely on carers or struggle with daily injections could benefit most. For some people with type 2 diabetes, managing their condition could soon involve one insulin injection a week instead of one every day. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended insulin efsitora alfa, also known as Onswik and made by

ARMED pirates have seized two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian nationals in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, taking control of the vessels and their crews, a senior shipping ministry official said on Friday. The two incidents involved an Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen, and a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship off Somalia's Puntland coast. The official said the Indian crew members were safe according to the latest in

IT IS hard to imagine what life must have been like when India was under British rule. It certainly would not have been able to make the remarkable progress it has since the country became independent on August 15, 1947. Narendra Modi marked Indias 80th Independence Day by addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. He has been prime minister since 2014. In that period, it is ridiculous that Britain has been through seven prime ministers: David Cameron (2010-2016); Theresa

Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has begun a nine-day Ram Katha at Harvard University, bringing the teachings of the Ramayan to one of the worlds most renowned academic institutions. Nearly 1,000 people filled the historic Memorial Hall for the opening of the Katha, being held from 15 to 23 August 2026. The gathering marks Morari Bapus 982nd Ram Katha and has attracted devotees, storytellers and scholars from around the world. The setting carries particular symbolism. Harvards motto, Veritas Truth,

The CMA has cleared Danones 864 million acquisition of Huel. The watchdog had examined whether the deal could weaken competition in the UK. The takeover will give Danone a fast-growing British nutrition brand with an expanding international presence. Danone is now one step closer to taking control of Huel, after Britain's competition watchdog cleared its proposed 864 million acquisition of the British nutrition brand. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched its initial merger inquir

Highlights: Changing interests are not automatically a problem. Stillness can replace the need for constant stimulation. Deeper purpose can make empty noise feel less important. Growth may change how we connect with others. True fulfilment can create space for what really matters. Have you noticed yourself quietly losing interest in things that once lit you up? The conversations, the gossip, the parties, the entertainment that used to feel so important, somehow just dont engage or interest you t

Highlights Jason Stathams Mutiny was briefly available to watch in full on Amazon Prime Video in the US. The accidental streaming appearance came two days before its planned theatrical release. The 95-minute Lionsgate action thriller was quickly removed after users discovered the listing. Jason Stathams latest action film was supposed to have its big-screen moment this week. Instead, some Amazon Prime Video users got the chance to watch the entire film before it had even opened in cinemas. Mutin

Highlights Will Smith is reportedly in talks to make his Indian film debut in Atlees Raaka . The Hollywood star could play the primary antagonist opposite Allu Arjun, according to reports. The reported 65 million sci-fi film also stars Deepika Padukone, but Smiths involvement has not been officially confirmed. Will Smith could be heading into unfamiliar territory. The Hollywood star is reportedly being considered for a major role in Atlees upcoming sci-fi film Raaka , potentially putting him opp

Highlights Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly approached for the role that became Ed Nortons extraordinary film debut. Norton initially thought Primal Fear was a mess, with the role not yet fully developed. His performance as Aaron Stampler earned him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Before Ed Norton became synonymous with films such as Fight Club and American History X , he walked into Hollywood with a role that could easily have overwhelmed a first-time film actor. Instead, his performanc

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham has unveiled a plan to help people sleeping rough move off the streets by Christmas, saying his government will put emergency accommodation and long-term housing support in place across England this winter. No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we've seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it, Burnham said in a statement, referring to the UK parliament. The announcement came a month after Burnham replace

Unitree shares opened 629 per cent above their IPO price before closing 460 per cent higher. The company raised about 670 million through its IPO. Its debut briefly pushed its market value to around 50 billion. A Chinese robot maker has just given investors a glimpse of how much excitement is building around humanoid robots. Unitree shares opened at 1,100 yuan, up 629 per cent from their IPO price of 150.80 yuan, before giving up some of those gains. The stock closed at 845 yuan, still 460 per c

Highlights Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have offered fans another glimpse of their reported romance during a tropical family holiday. Their increasingly public relationship comes with carefully timed social media posts and flattering reports from unnamed sources. With both stars possessing powerful personal brands, their public displays of intimacy raise questions about where private romance ends and celebrity PR begins. Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have given fans another intimate gli

A video found in pre-release macOS software appears to show how camera-equipped AirPods could work. The technology could allow AirPods to use visual intelligence to recognise objects and save information. Privacy concerns around cameras on wearable devices could become a major hurdle for Apple. Would you be comfortable sitting next to someone whose AirPods could be watching the room? That may sound like a strange question, but it could become a real issue if Apple goes ahead with camera-equipped

ChatGPT for Teens is designed for users aged 13 to 17. The new version restricts self-harm, sexual and romantic content and discourages emotional attachment to the chatbot. Parents can set quiet hours and receive limited safety alerts when high-risk situations arise. Would you let your teenager talk to an AI chatbot on their own? That question is becoming harder to ignore as teenagers turn to artificial intelligence not just for homework, but also for everyday questions and companionship. OpenAI

The full new state pension could rise by more than 500 a year. A 4.1 per cent increase would take the annual payment above 13,000. The final rise will depend on wage growth and inflation figures still to come. Could the full state pension cross 13,000 a year next April? The latest wage figures suggest it could. Average total pay rose by 4.1 per cent in the three months to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). If the wage figure used for the state pension calculation remain

EY and KPMG could receive up to 456 million for civil service training. KPMG will receive up to 319 million, while EY will get up to 137 million. The contracts come as Labour works to rebuild the National School of Government. Why is the government paying private accountancy firms hundreds of millions of pounds to train its own civil servants? That is the question raised by a new 456 million government contract awarded to EY and KPMG, less than two years after Labour pledged to halve spending on

The Vishv Umiya Foundation (VUF) has strengthened its presence in the United Kingdom with the formation of a new UK Core Committee, alongside the appointment of regional leaders and the expansion of its womens empowerment initiative. The announcements were made during the 2026 UK visit of Shri R.P. Patel, Patron and President of Vishv Umiya Foundation, who met community representatives as part of efforts to broaden the organisations network and activities across Britain. A special VUF UK Core Co

REGULATORS have restricted crop irrigation in parts of East Anglia as drought conditions deepen across almost three quarters of England, with some areas going 60 days without rain. The Environment Agency introduced tighter limits on water abstraction in parts of East Anglia over the past week and is considering extending them to other areas, The Times reported. Restrictions under Section 57 of the Water Resources Act 1991 have been imposed on 302 licences held by farmers. Such limits were last u

Highlights Hayden Panettiere, best known for Heroes and Nashville , has died aged 36 Her career began as a child and grew to include films such as Remember the Titans and Scream 4 Away from the screen, Panettiere spoke openly about addiction, postpartum depression, trauma, domestic abuse and grief Hayden Panettiere built a career around playing women who refused to break. As Claire Bennet in Heroes , she became televisions seemingly indestructible cheerleader, immortalised by the series famous S

Highlights Awarapan 2 has generated around 270,000 in gross advance bookings Batwara 1947 has recorded around 67,500 in day-one pre-sales Emraan Hashmis sequel has sold more than 100,000 tickets ahead of the Independence Day clash Emraan Hashmis Awarapan 2 is pulling away from Sunny Deols Batwara 1947 before the two films face off at the box office, with the sequel currently holding a fourfold lead in advance bookings. The latest figures show Awarapan 2 at around 270,000 in gross pre-sales, comp

Bumble is ending its women-first messaging rule for heterosexual matches The window to start or respond to a conversation is increasing from 24 hours to 72 hours. The change comes after Bumble began easing its original model with Opening Moves in 2024. For more than a decade, Bumble had one rule that made it instantly recognisable: in a heterosexual match, the woman had to send the first message. That changes from August 11, as Bumble removes the women-first rule and allows either person to star

The government estimates the reforms could cost employers between 350m and 2.9bn a year. Officials say the changes could generate up to 10bn in wider economic benefits. The number of people on zero-hours contracts reached 1.23 million last December. Labour's planned zero-hours contract reforms could leave businesses facing as much as 2.9bn in additional costs each year, according to the government's own analysis, but officials also estimate the changes could deliver up to 10bn in wider economic

Highlights Suvinder Vicky says director Aditya Dhar was confident his characters abusive dialogue would not be cut The actor revealed Dhar stopped him from improvising with language involving mothers and sisters Vicky played Arjun Rampals on-screen father in Dhurandhar: The Revenge Suvinder Vickys role in Dhurandhar: The Revenge may have been brief, but his characters explosive exchanges with Arjun Rampal quickly became one of the more noticeable aspects of his appearance. In a new interview, Vi

Highlights Five contestants have exited The Traitors Season 2 across its first three episodes Munawar Faruqui was voted out at the first Circle of Shaq, while Karan Singh Magic and Soundous Moufakir were murdered The Innocents successfully identified Harman Singha as a Traitor, but another secret move has kept the Traitors in a strong position Spoilers ahead The first three episodes of The Traitors Season 2 have wasted little time shaking up the game. Five contestants are already out, including

Thames Water recorded 2,871 visible pipe bursts in July, almost twice as many as a year earlier. The company says it is repairing more than 1,000 leaks a week across its network. More than 100km of ageing water mains have been replaced since April 2025, with 550km targeted by 2030. London is facing an awkward water problem: residents are being asked to cut their water use while Thames Water is dealing with a surge in leaks and burst pipes. Thames Water, which supplies around 16 million customers

UK TEMPERATURES could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week as the country faces its fifth heatwave of the summer, with possible disruption to railway lines and power networks. Monday will be slightly cooler before temperatures rise from Tuesday. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said Wednesday and Thursday could see temperatures reach the mid-30s across England and Wales, with Thursday the most likely hottest day, The Guardian reported. But Thursday, at this stage, looks the most likely hottest

Rani Reena Kumar was at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday last week (7) to offer her personal congratulations to a British soldier who had won the annual prize that she has set up in her fathers name. Staff Sergeant G Blackwell, 34, from the Royal Engineers, has won this years Major General Diwan Misri Chand Prize. The programme for the Sovereigns Parade said that the special prize is awarded to the individual, platoon or company that has demonstrated outstanding innovation and purp

Israel has proposed a roughly 700 km pipeline linking Saudi Arabia to Eilat. The route could connect to an existing 254 km pipeline from Eilat to Ashkelon. The idea could reduce reliance on Hormuz, but it is not yet an agreed Saudi-Israel project. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers are looking for ways to keep their exports moving when the region's main shipping routes become dangerous. One idea now being pushed by Israel is a new Saudi-to-Israel oil pipeline that could eventually allow G

UK new car registrations rose 11.7 per cent in July 2026, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth. Battery electric vehicle registrations jumped 44.5 per cent year on year. Industry leaders warn the growth is being fuelled by costly discounts that may not be sustainable. The UK new car market recorded its strongest July in six years, with electric vehicles leading the recovery as buyers took advantage of a wider choice of models, government incentives and manufacturer discounts. According

FROM talking about pub snacks to joking about his own appearance, Britain's new prime minister Andy Burnham is using social media to connect with voters on the same platforms where populist parties such as Reform UK have built large audiences. Burnham's ability to communicate with voters was one of the main reasons why the Labour Party replaced former prime minister Keir Starmer with the Greater Manchester mayor. Just two weeks after taking office, Burnham's posts on TikTok, X and Instagram have

Highlights Suriya says Jyotika is a better actor because of her ability to access emotions instantly. He recalled a lockdown mock shoot where her one-take performance caught him off guard. The actor also praised her ability to deliver emotional scenes in languages beyond her mother tongue. Suriya has opened up about why he considers wife Jyotika the better actor, recalling a mock screen test they filmed at home during the Covid-19 lockdown that left him in awe of her performance. In a joint inte

MANY people from other countries have been caring for my dad. I want those carers to know we appreciate you and we appreciate what you are doing to support people here. Andy Burnham chose fixing social care for his first major policy speech as prime minister. He also offered the most positive and personal expression of gratitude for migrants contribution since Boris Johnson name-checked the nurses from around the world who provided him with life-saving care during the pandemic. It really matter

Tazim Essani, who is a member of the council of the Royal Horticultural Society, is very proud of her 45ft square London garden. She said: I had the great good fortune two years ago to have it redesigned by Ruth Wilmott, who is a fellow council member at the RHS, but also a gold medal-winning Chelsea designer. Shes given me the most beautiful design. She added: It was a classic garden with a lawn in the middle and borders round the edges. Ruth got us to lift the lawn, put in three beds and plant

Highlights: Survey reports rise in racism against NHS staff over the last 18 months. Non-white healthcare workers say they faced abuse from patients. Some patients refused treatment from non-white medics. SoR calls on NHS trusts to improve reporting and action on racist incidents. A SURVEY by the Society of Radiographers (SoR) has found that non-white staff working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) have faced an increase in racist abuse at work over the last 18 months, with some also rep

Highlights ZEE5 Global and Collective Studios' Historyverse have announced six AI-assisted original productions. The slate is inspired by Hindu mythology, Indian history and folklore. The titles will launch globally in seven Indian languages, marking what the companies describe as a first-of-its-kind collaboration. Artificial intelligence is taking centre stage in Indian entertainment with what is being billed as one of the industry's most ambitious AI-led storytelling projects. ZEE5 Global has

Olix has raised 231 million ($312 million) in a Series B funding round. The investment values the UK AI chip startup at 2.45 billion ($3.3 billion), more than triple its valuation six months ago. The company plans to deliver its first AI chip to customers in the second half of 2027. London-based AI chip startup Olix has raised 231 million ($312 million) in a Series B funding round, pushing its valuation to 2.45 billion ($3.3 billion) as the company looks to challenge established players in the f

Telegram briefly disappeared from Apple App Store search results before being restored. Apple said the removal followed the discovery of child sexual abuse material that violated its guidelines. A viral Telegram post fuelled online speculation, but no evidence has linked it to the brief removal. Telegram briefly disappeared from Apple App Store search results worldwide, leaving users wondering whether the messaging platform had been removed altogether. Although the app was restored within hours,

FRENCH and British rescue teams saved 157 migrants after their boat caught fire while attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday, authorities from both countries said. The rescue operation is one of the largest reported since records began in 2018. A small boat caught fire on the boundary between French and British waters on Tuesday morning, forcing those on board to jump into the water, the prefect's office in France's Pas-de-Calais region said. It added that no casualties had been repo

Highlights The Plea: Former X Factor finalist Gabrielle Carrington, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 32-year-old TikTok influencer Klaudia Zakrzewska (Klaudiaglam). The Incident: Carrington allegedly ran over Zakrzewska with her Mercedes outside Soho's exclusive Inca nightclub at 4:30 am on April 19, 2026. The Courtroom Drama: Representing herself at the Old Bailey, Carrington told the judge, This is my life. This is the toughest decision I have to make. A former X Factor finalist has off

Dr Yusuf Hamied was in a nostalgic mood at the formal inauguration of two laboratories in the department of chemistry at Cambridge University which have been completely refurbished and modernised with his financial help. Im just happy to be here, said the head of Cipla, the Indian pharma giant, at the function which took place on Friday (31). Hamied, who celebrated his 90th birthday on 25 July, 2026, added: I wish I was a student again. The vice chancellor of Cambridge University, Prof Deborah P

Highlights Reports say Akshay Kumar will make a special appearance in Neeraj Pandey's R.D. Burman biopic. Farhan Akhtar is set to portray the legendary composer and music director. Kumar's role remains under wraps, but it is said to be an important part of the story. Akshay Kumar is reportedly reuniting with filmmaker Neeraj Pandey for a new project, this time making a special appearance in the upcoming biopic on legendary composer R.D. Burman. While Farhan Akhtar leads the film, details of Kuma

https://www.easterneye.biz/xbox-game-pass-loses-12-games-next-update/ Xbox console prices increased across the UK and Europe from August 1. Microsoft says memory and storage costs have risen more than 2.5 times. The company is also discontinuing its 2TB Xbox model while expanding financing and trade-in programmes. Buying an Xbox in the UK has become significantly more expensive from Saturday (1), with Microsoft introducing another round of price increases across its console range and blaming sha

Reports suggest the Galaxy S27 Ultra could feature three rear cameras instead of four. The long-running 3x telephoto lens may be dropped after appearing on Ultra models since 2021. Industry sources reportedly cite rising manufacturing costs and limited image-quality gains. Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra could arrive with one fewer rear camera, marking what would be the biggest change to its flagship camera system since the Galaxy S21 Ultra introduced a four-camera setup in 2021. According to multipl