Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater: Wicked co-stars split after three years - BBC News

• China’s Newborn Town is leveraging AI-generated short dramas to target and attract a global audience. • Advertising spending for these AI-driven productions has already reached parity with traditional live-action shows.

• The Bangkok Post has released a curated list of streaming recommendations for the week of July 22-28. • A primary highlight is a localized, unscripted version of a popular UK dining reality series featuring 20 Filipino celebrities.

• Actor Naseeruddin Shah condemned the "zulm" (oppression) directed toward students during a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 22, 2026. • During his critique, Shah compared the actions and tactics of the Delhi Police to those of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• The U.S. Department of Justice seized more than 1,000 internet domains used for the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup Finals matches. • The operation took place across three separate actions, including the seizure of nearly 400 sites by the end of last month, to combat violations of U.S. copyright law.

• Netflix has released a new slate of movies and shows for the week of July 20-26, featuring titles such as "Ransom Canyon" season 2 and "Wicked: For Good." • A highlighted production features a high-profile cast including Academy Award nominee Teyana Taylor, Andy Garcia, and several "Saturday Night Live" cast members.

• The Cairo Economic Court in Egypt sentenced a medical doctor and an engineer to two years in prison for their roles in operating an illegal streaming site. • The defendants were also fined for managing a clone of Streameast, a notorious "piracy brand" that provides free, unauthorized access to the Premier League, NFL, NBA, and MLB.

• The Television Academy sparked controversy on July 17 by announcing plans to cut five categories from the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards. • The decision follows the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 14, 2025, where shows like 'Saturday Night Live' were honored for their 50th Anniversary Special.

• The European Commission has withdrawn a €2 million grant previously earmarked for the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation. • This financial cut follows tensions between Brussels and the institution, specifically regarding the presence of Russia at the Venice Biennale.

• Over 1,000 illegal streaming websites were shut down in the US and a similar number were blocked in Colombia during the World Cup. • The crackdown was supported by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), an organization dedicated to combating digital piracy.

• The BBC significantly outperformed ITV in viewership for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, drawing an average audience of 9.7 million compared to ITV's 2.4 million. • BBC coverage, hosted by Gabby Logan and featuring analysts like Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney, reached a peak of 13.6 million viewers.

• A new streaming guide highlights upcoming releases for the week, including 'King of the Hill' Season 15 and 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 4. • A professional dunking competition will air across six episodes, featuring global athletes judged by a panel of celebrities and TNT Sports Analytics.

• Christopher Nolan's new film 'The Odyssey' earned $264 million at the box office during its opening weekend. • A significant portion of the revenue, totaling $6.1 million, was generated specifically from IMAX 70mm screenings.