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Highlights Nicholas Hoult has reportedly been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBOs Harry Potter series. The actor is expected to appear in the second season, based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . Hoult recently played Lex Luthor in Superman . Nicholas Hoult is reportedly taking on a very different kind of villain after his turn as Lex Luthor in Superman . The British actor has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBOs new Harry Potter series, according to multiple entertainment outlets in

Southern Water says supplies to 165,000 people could be compromised if dry weather continues. A rare ban could stop businesses filling pools, washing vehicles and watering gardens. The River Test is under pressure as customer demand has climbed to more than 660 million litres a day. Southern Water has asked the government for permission to impose a rare non-essential use ban in parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, warning that 165,000 people around Southampton and Eastleigh could face water

NIGEL FARAGE will fight to retain his parliamentary seat on Thursday, going head-to-head with parody candidate Count Binface in a snap poll. The by-election was called after Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, resigned last month as MP for Clacton-on-Sea. But his surprise move amid a probe into his finances has threatened to backfire, with none of the major political parties fielding a candidate and denouncing Farage's gamble as a stunt. Count Binface, a self-described interg

Highlights Mallika Sherawat claimed Tom Cruise currently has a crush on her. The actress also said the Hollywood star sends her videos from times they partied together. Mallika made the revelation while speaking to fellow contestants on The Traitors Season 2. Mallika Sherawat has made a surprising claim about Tom Cruise while chatting with her fellow contestants on The Traitors Season 2. In a promotional clip ahead of the show's premiere, the actress said the Hollywood star has a crush on her an

Highlights Ridley Scotts Scott Free Productions is teaming with Amazon for a new fantasy series. The project will adapt Holly Blacks bestselling The Folk of the Air books. The story follows a mortal girl caught in the dangerous politics of a faerie kingdom. Ridley Scott is heading back into fantasy, this time with Amazon and a bestselling faerie saga. The filmmakers Scott Free Productions is teaming up with Amazon to adapt Holly Blacks The Folk of the Air into a new series, bringing the world of

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the government's emergency response committee on Wednesday to discuss measures to tackle extreme heat, wildfires and drought, his office said, as Britain faces its fifth heatwave of the year. Temperatures are expected to reach around 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) from Thursday across southern and eastern England and parts of the Midlands, the country's Met Office warned on Tuesday. Fire chiefs said they have responded to 966 wild

Highlights Tom Hollands 2026 box-office run includes The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day . Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed around 1.2 billion worldwide. Hollands career box-office total is reportedly above 10 billion, putting him closer to Hollywoods highest-grossing stars. Tom Holland is enjoying one of the biggest box-office years of his career, with two major releases helping push his cumulative worldwide gross towards the upper ranks of Hollywood's biggest earners. Christopher No

The limited-edition Charger Super Bee produces 600bhp from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six. It can switch from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive and reaches 60mph in 3.6 seconds. The new model is due in the US next year but is unlikely to be sold officially in the UK. The new Dodge Charger Super Bee is aimed at buyers who still want the drama of an American muscle car, even though the latest petrol Charger has moved away from the V8 that once defined the name. The limited-edition model get

Highlights Kangana Ranaut has backed Piyush Mishra after he criticised Naseeruddin Shah over his comments about Bollywoods silence on student protests. Ranaut said she would rather be a dog than a lomdi (fox), referring to Shah. The dispute began after Shah compared Bollywoods silence on student protests to a dog with a bone in its mouth. Mishra questioned Shahs own response to the Jharkhand students protest. A war of words between veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Piyush Mishra has drawn BJP

Trump Media reported a 176m net loss for the second quarter. Revenue rose 89 per cent but reached only about 1.3m. A new service will charge Wall Street firms for faster access to Trump's Truth Social posts. Donald Trump's media company has reported a 176m loss for the second quarter, despite revenue rising 89 per cent to about 1.3m, highlighting the huge gap between sales and the money being lost as the business expands beyond its Truth Social platform. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), wh

Highlights Stephen Graham and Maxine Peake lead the cast of the acclaimed British comedy-drama Funny Cow . The film follows a female comedian trying to establish herself in the male-dominated working mens club circuit of the 1970s. Peakes performance was widely praised by critics, with the film earning a 79% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The drama tackles abuse, sexism, racism and survival without softening the world its characters inhabit. Funny Cow is not the kind of comedy that relies on

IT TOOK three nights of violence in Thetford, Norfolk for the police to restore order. A crowd chanted get them out and deport, deport, deport as they pelted a house with eggs and smashed the windows. Several dozen people tried to break down the door, hoping to confront the people inside, violently attacking the police who blocked them. This violent criminality was not political protest, but an attempt at a xenophobic pogrom to drive out asylum seekers housed in the property. The police relocate

AWS will become Novo Nordisk's preferred cloud provider and strategic AI partner. A new co-innovation hub at Novo Nordisk's Kings Cross facility will bring scientists and AWS engineers together. More than 25,000 Novo Nordisk employees already use its AI tools. Novo Nordisk is taking its use of AI in drug discovery a step further, joining forces with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring artificial intelligence deeper into the pharmaceutical giant's research, development and day-to-day operations. U

The eclipse could cut UK solar generation by up to 1.3GW. Octopus is asking customers to avoid appliances such as washing machines between 6pm and 8pm on August 12. Eligible customers can receive a free hour of electricity in return for shifting their usage. Britain's biggest household energy supplier is asking customers to put their washing machines and dishwashers on hold for two hours as the UK prepares for its deepest solar eclipse in almost 30 years. The unusual request from Octopus Energy

Highlights Brad Pitt says the most painful period of his life was connected to family stuff. The actor says he sometimes thinks about his children when he sees happy families. Pitt reflects on his mothers death and his fathers grief. He says he is learning to accept what he cannot control and appreciate the people still in his life. Pitt keeps his family pain private Brad Pitt has given a rare glimpse into the family pain behind some of the most difficult years of his life, but remains careful a

Trump secretly left Turkey on a smaller C-32A aircraft after boarding Air Force One. The switch was made after an assassination threat linked to Iran. Journalists and some White House staff believed Trump was still on the larger aircraft. The White House defended the security arrangements on the Qatar-donated jet. US PRESIDENT Donald Trump secretly flew out of Turkey on a smaller aircraft last month after an assassination threat from Iran, the Washington Post reported. Trump was in Ankara on Jul

A RECORD 230 migrants crossed the English Channel to Britain in a single small boat, France's lifeboat service and UK media reported on Monday, as larger numbers of people continue to travel aboard individual vessels. The 230 migrants, including more than 20 children, were counted aboard the rubber dinghy as it left the northeastern French coast amid chaotic scenes late on Sunday, the SNSM lifeboat service said in a statement posted online. The number was higher than the previous record for a si

Forget subjective popularity contests. In 2026, influence is quantifiable, and South Asian representation in global media has violently shifted. For decades, it was limited to sidekick roles, niche indie films, or heavily stereotyped tropes. Today, the next generation of South Asian talent isn't just participating in the global entertainment economythey are driving it. Spanning India, Pakistan, the UK, the US, and the wider diaspora, here are the top trailblazers who will define the next decade

The spending needed for a free barista-made drink will rise from 50 to 60. A free pastry or cake will require 35 of spending, up from 30. Starbucks is the latest coffee chain to scale back its loyalty offering. Starbucks is making its loyalty rewards more expensive to earn, with customers needing to spend up to 20 per cent more for some of the freebies available through its scheme from September 3. Under the changes, customers will need to spend 60 to earn enough rewards for a free barista-made

The woman said a Travelodge receptionist gave her alleged abuser a key to her room. She said he attacked her before returning and kicking the hotel room door off its hinges. Travelodge said its policy of never confirming a guest's room details was not followed. A domestic abuse victim has told she was attacked in her Travelodge hotel room after staff allegedly gave her abusive partner a key, raising questions over how hotels protect guests fleeing violence. The woman, who named Lucy as reported

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham has vowed to crack down on hard-to-cancel subscriptions and fake discounts as part of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, Downing Street said Sunday. The announcement came as the new Labour leader was due to return to work after a vacation and begin a tour of the country to speak to people about their financial pressures, his office said. Burnham said people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps, where subscriptions are difficult to

Highlights Harry Potter fans helped prompt the diversion of the 430m Greenlink interconnector away from Dobby's grave. The 125-mile cable connects the UK National Grid with Ireland via County Wexford and Freshwater West. Project manager Simon Ludlam said his company received hundreds of calls from concerned fans. Planners subsequently rerouted the underground cable away from Dobby's memorial. The National Trust previously agreed in 2022 that the mock grave could remain at Freshwater West. Dobby'

Meta said its Muse Spark 1.1 AI model exploited a vulnerability in a third-party system during cybersecurity testing. The company attributed the incident to a testing environment misconfiguration by security firm Irregular. The disclosure follows similar incidents involving Anthropic's Mythos and OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol. Meta has become the latest artificial intelligence company to report an AI model taking unexpected action during cybersecurity testing, joining Anthropic and OpenAI, which disclose

FORMER Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she would return to Bangladesh in December despite the possibility of imprisonment or even a death sentence, saying she was determined to stand with her people. Speaking during an audio-only virtual press conference, her first public media interaction since fleeing to India on August 5, 2024 following mass protests, Hasina said she would not be stopped by fear. Those attending the event heard only her voice. I know, they may put me

Highlights Shah Rukh Khan leads Kroll's India Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 with a brand value of 133.6 million. Ranveer Singh ranks second with 122.3 million, while Virat Kohli is third with 119.0 million. The report says brands are placing greater importance on digital presence, authenticity and long-term public trust. Shah Rukh Khan has been named India's most valuable celebrity brand, overtaking Ranveer Singh and Virat Kohli despite not appearing in a film since Dunki in 2023 . According to

Highlights Perez Hilton was taken to hospital after emergency services responded to reports of a mental health crisis. Authorities said deputies prioritised de-escalation before he was transported for medical care. Hilton's representatives said their focus is on his wellbeing and asked for privacy. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has been taken to hospital after emergency services responded to reports of a mental health crisis at his home in Miami. Authorities were called on Tuesday after members

Highlights Hollywood's four biggest releases of 2026 have earned more than 58 million at the Indian box office. Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey led the surge, with premium formats such as IMAX driving ticket sales. Industry experts say audiences are choosing films that offer a theatrical experience rather than favouring Hollywood over Indian cinema. Hollywood is enjoying one of its strongest years at the Indian box office, with four of its biggest releases collectively earning more tha

NATWEST helped fund London-based consumer credit firm Amplifi Capital with up to 250 million before the company entered insolvency last month, according to company filings reviewed by Reuters. The filings show NatWest provided funding to Castor Financing, a business that financed Amplifi, between 2023 and 2025. The links, which have not previously been reported, highlight how banks have provided funding to non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) as regulators continue to examine risks linked to

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham said he would always put Britain's interests first and would call out US President Donald Trump if he believed it was the right thing to do for the country. Speaking to the BBC in his first major interview since taking office, Burnham was asked whether he would be willing to challenge Trump when necessary. All leaders have to do that. You have to defend your own national interest before anything else. That's what you're required to do if you're to do this job properly

Homes that need a price cut take around 100 days to attract a buyer, compared with 28 days for accurately priced properties. One in three property sales involved at least one asking price reduction, according to Savills. Premium homes face some of the steepest price corrections as London's housing market remains under pressure. Setting the right asking price could be the difference between selling a home in weeks or waiting months, according to new UK property market research. Estate agent Savil

Around 33,700 people held at least 1 million in cash savings during 2025, according to new analysis. Despite equities returning an average 12.9 per cent annually over the past decade, many wealthy savers continue to favour cash. The Government is cutting the cash ISA allowance to 12,000 from April 2027 for most savers in a bid to encourage investment. Thousands of people across the UK are choosing to keep more than 1 million in cash savings, even as the Government steps up efforts to encourage i

UK retail sales rose 1 per cent in June, defying expectations of a decline. Online shopping reached its highest share of retail spending since spring 2021. Warm weather boosted demand for clothing, outdoor products and cooling appliances. A spell of hot weather and football fever gave UK retailers a stronger-than-expected June, with shoppers spending more online and snapping up everything from summer clothing to cooling products. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK retail s

The Jaecoo 7 became the UK's best-selling new car in March, overtaking long-established rivals. Buyers appear to be prioritising value, technology and ownership costs over brand heritage. Its success also signals the growing influence of Chinese carmakers in the UK. The Jaecoo 7 was virtually unknown in the UK a year ago. Yet in March, the Chinese-built SUV became Britain's best-selling new car, overtaking established names such as the Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. Nicknamed the 'T

Highlights The BBC has confirmed the first seven celebrities joining Strictly Come Dancing 2026 The line-up features actors, singers, presenters, reality stars and sporting icons More celebrity contestants are expected to be announced before the new series begins The countdown to Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is officially underway, with the BBC unveiling the first wave of celebrities heading to the ballroom. This year's line-up already includes soap favourites, reality TV stars, music icons and on

RESTORING nature for people who do not have access to green spaces especially in urban areas has become a priority for the National Trust. How this is being done was explained by Ren Olivieri and Hilary McGrady, chair and director general, respectively, of the National Trust. They were speaking recently at the National Trusts summer reception, held at Camley Street Natural Park, a two-acre nature reserve in St Pancras in central London that has been nurtured over the past 40 years by the Londo

Highlights Brad Pitt's children are among the latest famous names to move away from a family surname Some changed their names after family rifts, while others wanted to forge their own identity From Angelina Jolie to Nicolas Cage, each story reflects a different reason for leaving a famous name behind A famous surname can be a passport to instant recognition, but it can also bring comparisons, expectations and assumptions. While many celebrities embrace their family names, others have deliberate

Alex Karp believes AI will make a handful of people vastly richer while average workers see far smaller gains. The Palantir CEO says the biggest winners from AI may be people most of society cannot relate to. Other business leaders and AI experts have also warned that the benefits of artificial intelligence could become heavily concentrated. Artificial intelligence may improve living standards, but it could also create one of the widest wealth gaps in modern history. That is the warning from Pal

The Commercial Court has dismissed a claim against an investor in litigation linked to the collapse of Market Financial Solutions Ltd (MFS). The case, Ocorian Trustee (UK) Ltd & Cronus Finance Ltd v Chandarana & Others [2026] EWHC 1635 (Comm), forms part of wider proceedings in which the claimants alleged that more than 6.3 million in trust funds had been misapplied and distributed to multiple investors. Vyman Solicitors represented defendant Minal Yadav, who had invested with MFS, received repa

AI stocks have lost momentum as investors question whether massive spending on infrastructure will generate returns. Nvidia, Microsoft and other technology giants extended losses while chip stocks recorded their worst week in over a year. Rising tensions between the US and Iran have added fresh uncertainty, pushing investors towards safer assets. The AI stock rally that powered global markets for much of the year has hit an unexpected roadblock. After three straight days of heavy selling, invest

Highlights Himesh Patel says The Odyssey was filmed in harsh real-world conditions Christopher Nolan relied on practical effects, natural light and IMAX cameras The director joined actors in difficult filming conditions instead of watching from afar Himesh Patel has opened up about the making of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, revealing the physically demanding shoot, the director's commitment to practical filmmaking and the unusual rules that shaped one of the year's biggest productions. The a

Chinese AI startup Moonshot has launched Kimi K3, a 2.8 trillion-parameter open-weight model. The release triggered sharp falls in the shares of rival Chinese AI companies as investors reacted. Analysts say the launch highlights China's rapid progress in AI, though questions remain over real-world performance. China's artificial intelligence race has taken another step forward with the launch of Kimi K3, a new large language model that its developer claims can compete with some of the most advan

Highlights Jason Sanjay says his family's support gave him the confidence to pursue filmmaking Vijay's son revealed he wrote his first screenplay while studying in Canada He says his current focus is on the release of his directorial debut, Sigma Vijay's son Jason Sanjay has spoken about the encouragement he received from his family as he prepared to make his directorial debut with Sigma . The aspiring filmmaker said the belief shown by his parents gave him the confidence to pursue a career behi

A White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid leave over alleged insider betting. Regulators are investigating claims he made more than 75,000 (about $100,000) by betting on Donald Trump's speeches. Kalshi froze the account before the alleged winnings could be withdrawn and alerted federal regulators. A long-serving White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after allegedly using advance knowledge of President Donald Trump's speeches to place

Highlights Lewis Hamilton posted an emotional message following the death of Kim Kardashian's grandmother, Mary Jo MJ Shannon Kris Jenner announced her mother's death at the age of 91 Kim Kardashian paid tribute to her grandmother, describing her as her forever twin Lewis Hamilton has shared a heartfelt message about cherishing loved ones following the death of Kim Kardashian's grandmother, Mary Jo MJ Shannon. The Formula One driver posted a series of photographs from a recent family holiday wit

Major UK lenders have started raising fixed mortgage rates after higher market borrowing costs. A typical 200,000 mortgage could now cost borrowers about 480 more a year on some deals. Brokers say homeowners nearing the end of a fixed term may want to secure a new rate before further increases. The recent run of cheaper UK mortgage rates is beginning to reverse, with several of the country's biggest lenders increasing the cost of fixed home loans as financial market volatility feeds through to b

AN INDIAN captain accused of violating UK sanctions on Russian oil was denied bail by a court in London on Thursday. Ajay Pant, 38, appeared before the court after being charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil (or) oil products from Russia to a third country during June 2026. Pant was the captain of the oil tanker Smyrtos, which was intercepted by British armed forces in the English Channel on June 14 in the first UK-led operation of its kind. The tanke

Highlights Aamir Khan says Phunsukh Wangdu was not based on Sonam Wangchuk The actor called the long-standing claim a misconception His comments came after co-star Omi Vaidya linked the character to the activist For years, many fans believed Aamir Khan's memorable 3 Idiots character, Phunsukh Wangdu, was inspired by educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Now, the actor has put the speculation to rest, saying the connection is simply a misconception. Speaking during a Q&A session at the Lo

Highlights Ryan Hurst has been replaced as Kratos after suffering a torn bicep while filming The actor reportedly gained 40 pounds of muscle to prepare for the role Four completed episodes will be reshot as production prepares to restart Ryan Hurst's months of preparation to play Kratos in Prime Video's God of War have ended in disappointment after a torn bicep sustained during filming forced the production to recast its lead actor. Hurst, who reportedly gained around 40 pounds of muscle for the

Highlights Insiders claim Warner Bros could be broken up if the Paramount merger is blocked The studio's future is said to depend on the outcome of the legal battle California's lawsuit continues as Paramount argues the deal is vital for both companies Warner Bros has been one of Hollywood's most influential studios for more than a century, but insiders now claim its future could be in doubt if Paramount's proposed merger fails. As legal challenges continue to delay the deal, sources cited in th

INDIA exported goods worth $140 million to the UK at zero duty on the first day of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into effect on Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said. More than 50 export consignments worth over $140 million were shipped from over 20 ports, airports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and factories across the country under the agreement. The consignments included electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewe