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First-class next-day deliveries rose to 85 per cent, but remain below Ofcom's 90 per cent target. Second-class deliveries reached 91.4 per cent within three working days, against a 95 per cent target. Royal Mail is investing 500 million over five years to improve its service. Royal Mail is delivering more letters on time than it was a year ago, but it still cannot meet the standards set by the postal regulator. The company delivered 85 per cent of first-class mail the next working day between Ap

Highlights Sowcar Janaki built a career spanning more than seven decades and 400 films. She successfully moved from leading roles to character-driven performances. Her work across cinema, theater, and television kept her connected with audiences across generations. Sowcar Janaki 's career was extraordinary not simply because of its length, but because of how often she reinvented herself. After making her debut in the early 1950s, she remained part of Indian cinema through several generations of

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

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,

Highlights Successful actresses are often accused of choosing relationships for money or status The gold digger and climber labels can erase womens own careers and financial independence Anupama Parameswaran, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sushmita Sen and Malaika Arora have all faced versions of the same narrative Their responses show how female stars are increasingly refusing to accept the assumption that a relationship must have a financial motive When a successful woman is linked to a wealthier or mo

Highlights Rockstar will debut Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look on Netflix on August 27 The footage will reach Netflix six hours before it appears on YouTube Take-Two says the unusual partnership is part of Rockstars wider marketing strategy The Netflix event is only the beginning of a larger promotional campaign for the game Grand Theft Auto 6 is doing something unusual before its release, turning a game reveal into a streaming event. Rockstars next major look at the highly anticipated gam

Names, dates of birth and organ information were sent to transplant teams. NHS Blood and Transplant has reported the breach to the Information Commissioners Office. The NHS in England was told in 2019 to stop using pagers by 2021. NHS has admitted that sensitive medical data belonging to transplant patients was routinely sent over an unencrypted pager network, exposing a problem that sits somewhere between outdated technology and modern data protection. An investigation by the BBC found that NHS

Highlights Five investors are suing Selena Gomez and Wondermind Global over their alleged losses The lawsuit claims Gomez agreed to take an active role in building the mental health company Investors allege promised advertising deals, celebrity features and an app never materialised The claim seeks around 890,000, plus costs and damages Selena Gomez is facing a lawsuit from five investors who backed Wondermind Global, the mental health company she founded with her mother Mandy Teefey and busines

TCS will support Vodafone Business across cloud, AI, cyber security and data. The partnership builds on VodafoneThrees 11bn investment in its UK network. Public services, healthcare, finance, manufacturing and retail are among the sectors in focus. VodafoneThree is bringing Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) into its UK business push as it looks to turn an 11bn network investment into wider digital services for companies and public sector organisations. The partnership between TCS and Vodafone Busi

Highlights A-level results day 2026 is Thursday 13 August. Results are released from 8am, with the UCAS Hub updating at the same time and Clearing choices opening from 1pm. Medicine applications hit 25,770 this cycle, up 10.4% on last year, for roughly 8,000-9,000 places meaning most applicants, regardless of grades, won't get in. Dentistry has drawn a disproportionately high share of Asian applicants for over a decade, at roughly double the rate of Medicine and four times the rate of higher ed

THE GOVERNMENT will do what it can to help lower costs for businesses despite a difficult financial outlook, prime minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday. Speaking to BBC Radio's 'Wake Up to Money' programme, Burnham said his government's budget, due on October 28, would look at business rates a tax levied on shops, offices and other commercial premises more broadly. He also said he was looking at remodelling Britain's rail fares system to benefit the public. He repeated his long-term goal of

Highlights Nitin Ganatra is among the celebrities competing in the second week of Celebrity MasterChef 2026 . The actor said he is taking part in honour of his mother, whom he described as the best cook in the world. Ganatra recently won Best Actor at this years ACTAs for his role in Apnas . Nitin Ganatra is taking his family connection to food into the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen, with the actor dedicating his appearance on the BBC show to his late mother. Ganatra is one of five celebrities co

Highlights The Pixel 11 Pro Fold starts at around 1,450, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs around 1,451. Google has kept a dedicated 5x telephoto camera, while Samsung has removed it from the standard Fold 8. Both foldables now promise seven years of software updates. Google and Samsung have arrived at almost exactly the same price with their latest flagship foldables, with only around 1 separating the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8. The striking difference is what the two companies have do

Buyer interest in English cottages has fallen 32 per cent since the first half of 2023. Cottage values are falling even as average UK house prices have risen 1.3 per cent. North Devon has seen the sharpest fall, with cottage values down 6.1 per cent. The UK cottage market is losing some of the appeal that made countryside homes so sought-after during the pandemic, with buyer interest down 32 per cent since the first half of 2023 , according to new analysis from Zoopla. The change is beginning to

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

Highlights Jacob Batalon says his chemistry with Tom Holland helped him land the role of Ned Leeds. The actor recalled believing he had failed his Marvel screen test. Batalon shared behind-the-scenes memories from his audition for Spider-Man: Brand New Day . Jacob Batalon has reflected on how he landed one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most recognisable supporting roles, saying he believes the studio cast him largely because of his natural chemistry with Tom Holland rather than his acting e

HEAT health alerts are in force across much of England, with temperatures expected to reach 34C in some areas. Amber alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cover London, the South East, the East of England and the East Midlands until 0900 BST on Wednesday 5 August. The alerts warn of significant impacts on health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among vulnerable people, reported BBC. Yellow heat health alerts have a

Highlights Manushi Chhillar recalled having to restart her NEET preparation after the 2015 paper leak. The former Miss World said she gave up dance and painting to focus entirely on the entrance exam. She also opened up about burnout, student pressure and the importance of protecting mental health. Manushi Chhillar has reflected on the emotional toll of preparing for the medical entrance exam after the 2015 NEET paper leak, saying she had to put aside everything she loved in pursuit of her dream

Goldman Sachs has been ordered to pay a former executive 1.45 million over his dismissal while on paternity leave. The tribunal found the bank failed to follow a fair redundancy process, although it said there was a 50 per cent chance he would have lost his job anyway. Goldman Sachs says it strongly disagrees with the ruling and intends to challenge the decision. Goldman Sachs has been ordered to pay a former senior executive 1.45 million after an employment tribunal found serious flaws in the w

Highlights Patricia Potter, Jamie Bamber and Marian McLoughlin have joined the cast of EastEnders . The trio will play members of the Hawkins family, who are related to Nicola Mitchell. The new arrivals are expected to bring fresh drama as Nicola's story continues to unfold. EastEnders is expanding Nicola Mitchell's world with the introduction of the Hawkins family, with Patricia Potter among the experienced actors set to join the BBC soap. Potter will appear alongside Jamie Bamber and Marian Mc

Anthropic says its Claude AI models accessed the systems of three real organisations during security testing. The company says the incidents were caused by a testing misconfiguration rather than intentional AI behaviour. The disclosure follows a similar incident involving OpenAI, raising fresh concerns about AI safety. The debate around AI safety has taken another turn after Anthropic revealed that some of its Claude AI models accidentally gained access to the systems of three real organisations

Highlights Olivia Colman stars as a lonely fisherwoman who commissions a husband made from wicker in Wicker . Alexander Skarsgrd, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant feature in the ensemble cast. The unconventional comedy arrives in UK cinemas on 30 October. Olivia Colman has taken on one of the most unconventional roles of her career in Wicker , a new comedy that pairs her with Alexander Skarsgrd in a romance unlike anything seen on screen this year. The first trailer introdu

Highlights Aryan Khan was spotted with a woman during a recent outing in London, sparking dating speculation online. Social media users identified her as Danish artist Vinnie Takair after photos and videos went viral. Neither Aryan Khan nor Vinnie Takair has commented on the rumours. Aryan Khan has once again found himself at the centre of dating speculation after photos and videos from a recent outing in London spread across social media. The sighting quickly became a talking point online, with

BP has launched a process to sell its North Sea oil and gas business after more than six decades. The company says it wants to focus investment on its highest-value opportunities. The sale comes as the UK debates the future of North Sea production and energy security. BP is looking to sell its North Sea oil and gas business, marking another major shift for a company that has helped shape the UK's offshore energy industry for more than 60 years. The BP North Sea sale comes as the company reshapes

Highlights Film-makers behind Fortitude are suing Netflix for 79 million after a hard drive containing the unreleased film was allegedly stolen. The lawsuit claims the theft has jeopardised the film's commercial release, awards campaign and 34 million investment. Netflix denies responsibility, saying the film was delivered without industry-standard safeguards and that it has supported the investigation. The producers of the unreleased Nicolas Cage thriller Fortitude have filed a 79 million lawsu

Sainsbury's has agreed to sell Argos to Swift Partners for 120 million. Customers, staff and suppliers are expected to see no immediate changes after the deal. The move comes nearly a decade after Sainsbury's bought Argos as part of a 1.4 billion acquisition. Sainsbury's is selling Argos for 120 million, nearly a decade after paying 1.4 billion to acquire the retailer as part of its takeover of Home Retail Group. The Argos sale marks a major shift in strategy for the supermarket chain, which say

Highlights UK rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly found not guilty of three rape charges Jury convicted him on two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm Three rape charges remain unresolved after the jury failed to reach verdicts Sentencing date to be set following a court hearing on 21 August UK rapper and internet personality Yung Filly has been acquitted of multiple rape charges following a high-profile trial in Western Australia, but was convicted on two counts of assault occasioning bodily h

ANDY BURNHAM will give mayors in England a share of income tax revenue for the first time as part of his government's plans to devolve power from London and hand more authority to regional leaders. The move is part of the prime minister's push to decentralise the British state by giving more powers to regional mayoralties instead of the Westminster government. Burnham, who served as mayor of Greater Manchester before becoming prime minister, has made devolution one of his first political priorit

LONDON ear, nose and throat surgeon Parag Patel won the National Rifle Associations (NRA) Kings Prize at the Imperial Meeting, becoming the first shooter to win both the Queens Prize and the Kings Prize. Patel, who previously won the Queens Prize in 2017, secured the title after finishing first in the NRAs three-stage knockout competition, one of Britains oldest amateur sporting events. I just thought to myself, Ive just got to make a decision and fire a shot. I couldnt wait. I didnt want to wai

Highlights Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips has joined Strictly Come Dancing 2026 The ex-Manchester City and Chelsea winger is the 10th celebrity confirmed for the new series He says the BBC competition is outside my comfort zone but is looking forward to the challenge Shaun Wright-Phillips is the latest celebrity to join the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up, trading football boots for ballroom shoes as the BBC competition returns this autumn. The former England international wa

Highlights Sobhita Dhulipala closed Rahul Mishra's India Couture Week 2026 showcase Models performed a live shringar ceremony as part of the runway presentation The finale transformed the fashion show into a theatrical tribute to Devi: The Eternal Muse Fashion shows often end with a showstopper walk, but Rahul Mishra chose a different finale for India Couture Week 2026. Instead of simply presenting his final couture look, the designer turned the runway into a live performance, with Sobhita Dhuli

Highlights Raghav Juyal believes Bollywood no longer makes the kind of comedies popularised by Govinda The actor says Bhai Tera Star Hai is his attempt to bring audiences back to light-hearted cinema He also reflects on how Kill changed the industry's perception of him Raghav Juyal believes Hindi cinema has drifted away from the family entertainers that once made stars like Govinda box-office favourites. Speaking about his latest release, Bhai Tera Star Hai , the actor said comedy has become an

Highlights A UK court found that short Peppa Pig audio clips were repeatedly used in Wolfoo videos The ruling has led to a global takedown order covering all Wolfoo videos The case focused on copied sound rather than similarities in the characters' appearance A few seconds of dialogue, including simple words such as hooray!, proved decisive in one of the biggest copyright disputes involving children's content on YouTube. The High Court in London has ordered all videos featuring the animated char

Highlights Five artists have earned their first-ever Mercury Prize nominations in 2026 Paul McCartney joins Jade, Raye, Dove Ellis and Knats among the debut nominees Previous winners Dave and Suede return to the shortlist alongside Florence And The Machine The 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist has welcomed a wave of first-time nominees, proving that this year's race is about more than Sir Paul McCartney's long-awaited debut. While McCartney's first-ever Mercury Prize nomination has dominated headline

Highlights: Zendaya says sharing the screen with Tom Holland comes naturally The couple reunited for Spider-Man: Brand New Day after recently getting married Holland also reflected on returning to Peter Parker after a decade in the role Zendaya has shared why working alongside Tom Holland continues to feel effortless, as the couple reunited on screen for Spider-Man: Brand New Day . The actors, who recently married, attended the film's London premiere on Wednesday, where they spoke about returnin

Highlights: Fans believe the latest Ramayana trailer reflects changes made after the 'Rama Glimpse' Redesigned rakshas, revised colour grading and refined VFX become major talking points The filmmakers have not confirmed whether any changes were made The release of Ramayana' s full trailer has shifted the conversation from first impressions to fan detective work. Instead of focusing only on the film's scale and star cast, many viewers are examining whether the makers quietly reworked parts of th

Highlights BTS have chosen not to submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The decision comes weeks after the Recording Academy introduced a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The group said they want their music to be judged without being defined by language or region. BTS surprised fans on Wednesday by announcing they will not submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, even as the Recording Academy expands its recognition of Asian music with

Heathrow can recover 320 million in early third runway planning costs. Airport charges could add 15p to tickets from 2028, rising to 30p in later years. Airlines have warned the move could make Heathrow even more expensive. Heathrow passengers could soon start paying towards the airport's long-awaited third runway, even though construction has yet to begin. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved Heathrow Airport's request to recover up to 320 million spent on planning and designing the

MEMBER states of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan for serious misconduct, the ICC said last Friday (24). Diplomats on the executive bureau of the courts governing body said last month the British barrister had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior ICC lawyer and should be removed, according to documents seen by Reuters. A large majority of the ICCs 125 member states backed the recommendation. The assembly decided by a majority of 82 states part

MORE THAN a third of the UKs nursing and midwifery workforce is now made up of black, Asian and ethnic minority professionals for the first time, latest figures revealed on Wednesday (29). According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), a record 293,778 minority professionals are now on its register, accounting for 33.8 per cent of the total workforce. Overall, the organisations register has reached a new high of 867,935 nurses, midwives, and nursing associates. India remained the largest

Adani Ports is evaluating a potential bid for Associated British Ports. The UK port operator is estimated to be worth more than 10 billion. If completed, the acquisition would be Adani Ports' biggest international deal to date. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) is evaluating a potential bid for Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK's largest port operator, according to Moneycontrol. If the deal materialises, it could become the Indian company's biggest international acquisition and

AMBER and yellow heat health alerts are due to come into force on Wednesday as parts of the UK face the fourth widespread heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach 35C in the hottest areas. A plume of hot air moving north from North Africa, after bringing high temperatures to parts of Iberia and France, is expected to push temperatures to between 30C and 35C across southern and eastern England and parts of the Midlands. Some parts of eastern Wales could also meet heatwave criteri

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham will on Wednesday set out the first steps of his plan to reform the adult social care system, saying he is prepared to work with other political parties to improve funding for a service that can leave families facing costs of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Burnham, who became prime minister last week, has seen Labour's poll ratings rise after announcing measures aimed at reducing the cost of living. His plans to reform adult social care are expected to bring renewed

Highlights An eight-second kissing scene has been removed from the Indian version of Spider-Man: Brand New Day . Three instances of what were classified as obscene words have also been muted. The edits have prompted discussion online days before the film's release. Days before its release in cinemas, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become the subject of online discussion in India after reports revealed that a kissing scene had been removed from the film's theatrical version, along with changes to

Temple's valuation has reportedly climbed to $375 million, nearly double its previous $190 million valuation. Around 20 employees will be eligible to sell up to 25 per cent of their vested ESOPs. The startup is preparing for the commercial launch of its health wearable device after raising $54 million in seed funding. Temple, the wearable technology startup founded by Deepinder Goyal, has reportedly nearly doubled its valuation to $375 million while giving some of its earliest employees an oppor

Highlights Yung Filly said he was attracted to the complainant when they met at a Perth nightclub. The rapper denied touching her inappropriately during their first interaction. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Yung Filly told a court he fancied the woman accusing him of rape when they first met at a nightclub in Perth, as the rapper gave evidence in his trial in Western Australia. The 30-year-old, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, took the witness stand at the Distr