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Highlights Netflixs six-part series adapts Miles Franklins 1901 feminist novel Phillipa Northeast stars as Sybylla Melvyn, a young writer determined to avoid the life chosen for her The adaptation combines period drama with modern music, frank sexuality and stories of racism and social inequality An erotic poem, a scandalised grandmother and a young woman with little interest in marriage make for an unexpectedly lively opening to My Brilliant Career . Netflixs six-part adaptation of Miles Frankl

Highlights Gunil is leaving Xdinary Heroes after JYP Entertainment agreed to terminate his exclusive contract His departure follows an online post alleging that he repeatedly insulted fans The band will continue as a five-member group following the exit Xdinary Heroes have been hit by a major line-up change after drummer Gunil announced his departure from the band amid controversy over allegations that he insulted fans. JYP Entertainment confirmed on Thursday that Gunil would leave the group and

INDIA, without several key players, will face Sri Lanka in Galle from Saturday in the first of a two-Test series, with coach Gautam Gambhir under pressure. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan are out injured for India, who have recorded eight wins and 10 defeats in 20 Tests under Gambhir. India lost 2-0 at home to South Africa in November and are fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Sri Lanka are sixth. Shubman Gill's side have handed maiden call-ups to spinner S

Frasers Group has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration for an undisclosed sum. Four UK stores could be rebranded as House of Fraser or Flannels. The Knightsbridge and Edinburgh stores are expected to remain under the Harvey Nichols name. Harvey Nichols has been rescued from administration by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, but the deal could mark the beginning of a very different future for one of Britain's best-known luxury department stores. Frasers bought the chain on August 13, the same

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

Morrisons net debt has risen from 7.07bn to 7.52bn. Lease obligations have climbed to 1.97bn, while preference share liabilities reached 2bn. Revenue increased, but underlying earnings remained flat at 835m as Lidl moved ahead of Morrisons. Morrisons is still carrying a 7.52bn debt burden, five years after its takeover by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), with new accounts showing how lease costs and other financial obligations continue to weigh on the supermarket. Net debt

STUDENTS in England recorded a new high in the proportion gaining A* grades in A-level subjects, with 9.7 per cent receiving the top grade, up from 9.4 per cent last year and above pre-pandemic levels. Northern Ireland recorded the highest proportion of A and A* grades at 30.7 per cent, followed by Wales at 29.6 per cent and England at 28.7 per cent. A total of 262,820 UK 18-year-olds have earned university places this year, including more students from disadvantaged backgrounds, said Vivienne S

Highlights Anupama Parameswaran used three characters from Anniyan to describe the behaviour she says she experienced in a past relationship She said the relationship involved a repeating cycle of affection, cruelty and apologies Her comments come after a cryptic Instagram post sparked speculation about her alleged breakup with Dhruv Vikram Anupama Parameswaran has found an unusual way to explain what she says was a two-year experience of narcissistic abuse. Rather than simply describing her for

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's economy grew at a slower pace in the second quarter, with the national statistics office saying output remained obust despite domestic political unrest and the fallout from the US-Iran war. Gross domestic product increased 0.4 per cent in the April-June period, after expanding 0.6 per cent in the first quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement on Thursday. Keir Starmer resigned a prime minister in late June and was replaced around one month later by Andy Burnham

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 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

Highlights Richard Osman said he has heard Jack Lowden is being strongly considered to play James Bond. The Slow Horses actor joins Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner among the names linked to 007. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next Bond film, with Amazon MGM Studios reportedly targeting a 2028 release. Jack Lowden has emerged as another name in the race to become the next James Bond after Richard Osman revealed that the Scottish actor is being considered for the role. Lowden has not been co

Highlights Chelsea have agreed a 16.3 million deal, plus 1.7 million in add-ons, to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria. The 28-year-old replaces Marc Cucurella, who left Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid this summer after winning the World Cup with Spain. Chavarria didn't make his La Liga debut until he was 24, and was sent off on his European debut three years later. Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria for an initial 16.3 million, with a further 1.7

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

Highlights The Moon will cover up to 96 per cent of the Sun over the UK this evening, with maximum eclipse around 7.12pm BST from London. Certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses are the only safe way to look directly at it but a cereal box pinhole viewer works just as well, and takes minutes to build. The eclipse isn't visible from India this time, since it falls during India's night-time hours but it is visible from the UK, which means the traditional Hindu Sutak Kaal observance (where practise

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

The UK is the first European country to approve Eli Lillys Foundayo pill. The tablet is taken once a day without food or water restrictions. NHS availability will depend on a separate NICE assessment. The UK has become the first European nation to approve a new daily weight-loss pill, giving patients another option beyond the injectable treatments that have dominated the GLP-1 market. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Eli Lillys orforglipron, sold under the

THE BHAVAN London held its Indias Independence Day celebrations on Friday, August 7, with speeches, music and dance. The evening began with a prayer by Executive Director Dr MN andakumara MBE, followed by a welcome address by Subhanu Saxena, Chairman, The Bhavan UK. Saxena spoke about the importance of communities coming together and the role of institutions such as The Bhavan in bringing people together. Cllr Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, spoke about The Bhavans 50-year h

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

Highlights Bond 26 auditions have moved into a new round this August, with producer Amy Pascal saying a decision on the next 007 could be a good bet by year's end. Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi remain the names most often linked to the role but Riz Ahmed's name keeps resurfacing, and not just as fan-casting. Tom Holland is out (his Marvel contract won't allow it) and Taron Egerton has ruled himself out, narrowing the field further. For five years, who's the next James Bond? has been a question

Highlights The inaugural South Asian Film Festival UK will celebrate Indian cinema with three restored classics across England this October. Sangam , Kabhi Kabhie and Dil Chahta Hai will screen across eight Showcase Cinemas. Each screening will feature a special Filmy Sing-Along Medley before the film. Classic Hindi cinema is getting a big-screen revival in the UK, with the inaugural South Asian Film Festival UK set to bring three much-loved films back to cinemas this October. Supported by the B

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 Gillian Anderson has addressed the controversy surrounding Raynor Winns memoir The Salt Path , which inspired the film. The actor said the allegations emerged at a difficult time for the films US release and described the situation as something that sucked. Jason Isaacs has also defended the film, saying much of it is still completely valid. Gillian Anderson has spoken for the first time about the controversy surrounding The Salt Path , admitting that the allegations surrounding the m

UK courts will confiscate Meta smart glasses from people entering judicial buildings. Restaurants, pubs, theatres and private clubs are also restricting their use. Meta sold 7 million pairs last year despite the growing privacy backlash. The problem facing Meta smart glasses is no longer just about people feeling uncomfortable around a camera they cannot easily see. In England and Wales, the glasses are now facing restrictions in courts, while restaurants, pubs, theatres and private members' clu

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

For the British Asian diaspora and global film audiences, the final five months of 2026 offer an unprecedented slate. The lines between Western blockbusters and Eastern mega-hits have completely blurred, with both vying for premium IMAX screens across the UK. From returning sci-fi masterpieces to historical Bollywood grandeur, here is the definitive countdown of the 10 most anticipated movies still to come in 2026and our verdict on which film will claim the ultimate box office crown. 10. Godzill

BANGLADESH and India are in talks to resolve a deadlock over a six-match cricket tour scheduled for next month, with the foreign ministers of both countries involved in efforts to save the series. The tour includes three one-day internationals and three T20 matches. It was originally scheduled for August last year but was postponed after political relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated. Bangladesh Sports Minister Aminul Haque said late Monday that efforts were being made at the minis

A US judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani but said the Justice Department's decision to abandon the fraud and bribery case was concerning. Brooklyn-based US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted federal prosecutors' request to dismiss the case after questioning their reasons for doing so, including whether Adani's November 2024 promise to invest $10 billion in the United States had influenced the decision. The Justice Department's decision was the

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

TWENTY-FIVE revered saints and spiritual leaders from India and the UK came together in Harrow on Monday (10) for the Bhoomi Poojan of the new International Siddhashram Shakti Centre UK building, marking a major milestone in the organisations 25-year journey. The ceremony at 22 Palmerston Road, close to the existing Siddhashram centre, brought together spiritual leaders from different traditions for what organisers described as a historic gathering of saints on British soil. The occasion also fo

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