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• The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the second time this year to combat persistent inflation. • The bank expects inflation to remain above its target level through the year 2028. • Higher borrowing costs will likely increase expenses for businesses and consumers as the bank addresses high energy prices and geopolitical instability.

• Major artists including Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake are driving a surge in concert tourism as fans travel across Europe for live performances. • Travelers are combining music events with destination experiences, such as exploring Rome, taking Swiss rail trips, or visiting the Pyramids. • This trend reshapes the travel market by turning single concert dates into multi-day tourism trips that benefit local cultural districts and transport systems.

• Traditional Hollywood studios and networks are losing their long-standing role as the primary gatekeepers of American cultural relevance. • The shift is driven by the rise of streaming platforms and social media, which allow content to reach mass audiences without traditional industry approval. • This disruption matters because it decentralizes the power to decide which stars, franchises, and entertainment trends become popular.

President praises late queen and King Charles but says duke and duchess treated royal family ‘with great disrespect’Donald Trump has weighed in on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s move back to Britain, declaring: “I’m happy about it.”“I was not a fan,” the US president told reporters during a question-and-answer session following a press conference with travel executives on Wednesday. “I had a very good relationship with the queen, really good. I got to know her very well. A really good relationship with King Charles – I knew him as Prince Charles and King Charles. I’ve known him for a long time.” Continue reading...

• The 31st Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its full guest roster and official programming, featuring high-profile stars such as Isabelle Huppert, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Fan Bingbing, and Michelle Yeoh. • The lineup includes five gala presentations and 14 films competing in the Asian Cinema Competition, with world premieres such as "The Burning Giants" and "Dhara." • The selection highlights a diverse range of international collaborations, featuring films from Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia, among others.

Rapper’s supporters reflect on ‘astonishing’ events leading to Duane Davis being found guilty over 1996 fatal shootingA criminal conviction this week in the murder of Tupac Shakur, the first since the rapper was gunned down in 1996, sent shockwaves through his sea of fans who have waited three decades for answers.Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former California gang leader, was found guilty of murder on Monday for the role he played in orchestrating the fatal shooting of Shakur. Continue reading...

• The 31st Busan festival announces its guest list, featuring notable figures such as Isabelle Huppert, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Yeoh. • The festival reveals five gala presentation titles and 14 competition films from across Asia, including "The Burning Giants" by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng and "Dhara" by Anuruddha Jayasingha. • The competition films represent a diverse range of countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, with many films making their world premiere at the festival.

• Arsenal is exploring a potential transfer for Lyon winger Malick Fofana, according to reports from RMC Sport. • The move comes as the club evaluates its options and navigates various transfer rumors involving Julian Alvarez and Barcelona. • These negotiations are critical as the summer transfer deadline approaches, with the club seeking to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season.

• The Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its Carte Blanche lineup and expanded its Story Market with new intellectual property (IP) from Thailand and Hong Kong. • As the ACFM Country of Honor, Thailand contributed five remake titles, including "Midnight Incense" and "Home for Rent," with a pitching session scheduled for Oct. 10 and business meetings through Oct. 13. • Hong Kong's contribution, selected by the CCIDA, includes four IP selections consisting of three animated shorts and one comic covering genres from AI thrillers to culinary drama.

• Ticket prices for the US Open have surged significantly, with the average sold price rising from $196 in 2022 to $346 this year. • Data from GameTime highlights a sharp increase in demand, specifically noting that average ticket prices for Louis Armstrong Stadium have jumped 52% year-over-year. • This trend reflects the tournament's status as a premier summer sporting event, though the rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for fans to attend affordably.

Separate criminal convictions come as domestic violence charities warn of tech-facilitated abuse and coercionTwo men have been convicted this week in separate criminal cases that revealed they had posted explicit content on OnlyFans without the full consent of the women whose images were uploaded.In the first case, Alexander Tang, 37, took and uploaded 47 intimate images and four videos of a woman to OnlyFans, without her consent, and was paid money for the material he posted to the website. Continue reading...

Funding boost worth $100,000 has recently materialized in form of new marmot-themed cryptocurrencyScientists who turned to OnlyFans to help save long-running research into marmots have raised more than $100,000 after harnessing the support of another, very modern, funding avenue – cryptocurrency.The 60-year project of continuous study of marmots – stout, ground-dwelling rodents that are the largest members of the squirrel family – across the US west was facing termination following science funding cuts imposed by Donald Trump’s administration. Continue reading...

Clancy’s live-streamed trial has become fodder for amateur sleuths to push viral conspiracy theories that threaten to undermine efforts to de-stigmatize illness, experts sayMeghan Cliffel was riding the subway in New York City in December 2015 when she became convinced the entire city belonged to a cult that was plotting to kill her and her two daughters. When she got back to her Manhattan apartment she believed the talking heads on the television were speaking to her directly, threatening her, and that the refrigerator was emitting poisonous gas. Her husband, she feared, was part of the cult too.“I punch him in the face trying to get to the kids,” Cliffel recalled, “Then I’m ultimately trying to get to the roof of our building because I believe if I get up there and show I’m willing to jump, that that’ll show my loyalty to the cult and hopefully stop this whole thing.” Continue reading...

• Disney hosted "D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event" at the Honda Center, featuring a series of high-profile showcases and an awards ceremony. • The event included the Disney Entertainment Showcase on Friday, the Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday, and the Disney Legends Award Ceremony on Sunday. • Major announcements were made regarding upcoming movie releases and new attractions and rides planned for Disney parks globally.

• Amy Hunt secured her third gold medal of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham as part of the British women's 4x100m relay team. • Both the British men's and women's 4x100m relay teams claimed victory, cementing a dominant performance for the host nation. • In the women's 400m, Norway's Henriette Jaeger won gold with a time of 49.04, finishing a full second ahead of Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka.

Fans line streets, singing Total Eclipse of the Heart ahead of Welsh singer’s Swansea funeralThousands of Bonnie Tyler fans lined the streets of her home town in south Wales to pay respects to the singer as her coffin was brought back to her former home.The singer, whose real name was Gaynor Sullivan, died unexpectedly on 8 July in Portugal at the age of 75. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister and first Asian-Australian to serve in federal cabinet to use Lowy Institute address to criticise politicians stoking racial divisionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has escalated its pushback on One Nation’s surging political support, with the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, labelling Pauline Hanson’s push for a monoculture a “melancholic fantasy” that would harm national security.Wong, the first Asian-Australian to serve in federal cabinet, will use a major address at The Lowy Institute on Friday to criticise politicians stoking racial divisions, insisting the country’s multicultural success remains a national asset. Continue reading...

• Millions of people across Europe observed a significant solar eclipse, the most prominent event of its kind since 1999. • In the UK, more than 90% of the sun was obscured, while residents of Iceland and northern Spain experienced a total solar eclipse. • The event was uniquely marked by sports fans who brought protective eyewear to stadiums across the continent to view the phenomenon.

• Entertainment Weekly compiled a list of 12 bizarre celebrity fan encounters characterized by boundary-crossing requests and strange gifts. • The collection highlights instances where fans failed to maintain professional or social boundaries when meeting famous stars. • These stories illustrate the challenges celebrities face regarding privacy and safety during public interactions.

Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter died after a speedboat capsized in the New York Harbor over the weekendThe driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged on Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect.Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail. Continue reading...

Power cable linking UK and Ireland now passes near Bronze Age human burial remains instead of fictional grave on Welsh beachHarry Potter fans have forced a new multimillion-pound power cable between the UK and Ireland to be relocated after complaining it would desecrate the “grave” of Dobby, a fictional elf.The character was laid to rest on Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, during the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Fans of the wizard series now come to leave stones reading “Here Lies Dobby” despite being asked not to by the land owner, the National Trust, because the beach is an ecologically sensitive site. Continue reading...

Those tempted to access fake websites run risk of phishing scams and having computer infected with malwareThe Odyssey is the hottest release this summer and you have been looking forward to seeing the much-acclaimed adaptation of Homer’s epic ancient Greek poem. But you have been unable to go to the cinema, so when you spot an ad to watch online, you jump at the chance.There are positive reviews posted on the site so you decide to sign up. Although it asks for your bank details – which is unusual for a “free” trial – you are so eager to watch the blockbuster you input your details. Continue reading...

• Former child actress and OnlyFans model Renee Olstead, also known as Renee Faust, is reportedly serving in a senior role for Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong's gubernatorial campaign. • Olstead is acting as the deputy campaign manager for Hong, a Democratic socialist, according to a report by The Heartland. • The appointment comes at a critical time as the campaign prepares for the upcoming Democratic primary scheduled for next week.

• Gianni Infantino has retained his position as FIFA president following a high-stakes crisis meeting held on August 6, 2026. • The decision comes amid a period of administrative power struggles and significant tactical evolutions across major European football leagues. • This outcome ensures continuity in FIFA's leadership as the global sports calendar accelerates into the latter half of 2026.

• India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a Group A match on September 5 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. • The encounter is part of the Women's Asia Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai from August 28 to September 13. • As the most successful team in the tournament's history, India is placed in a group alongside Pakistan, Thailand, and Hong Kong China.

David Crisafulli says ‘Queenslanders will enjoy for generations’ as opponents point to lack of detailGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has released new concept images for a parkland precinct to surround the 2032 Olympic stadium, as it seeks to quell concern at the loss of Brisbane’s largest inner-city parkland.But opponents of the plans – now entering the early construction phase – to build a stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park say the concept images are a “fantasy vision” with no detail, and which overlook the likely need for carparks, roads, transport links and plazas to accommodate large crowds. Continue reading...

Whey protein, a key infant formula ingredient, is in growing demand, partly linked to rising use of weight-loss drugsThe rise of “proteinmaxxing” – a trend in which consumers try to eat as much protein as possible – could lead to higher prices for infant formula, experts warn.Whey protein, a key ingredient in infant formula, has surged in popularity over the past year as health professionals emphasise the benefits of protein. Continue reading...

UK prime minister is the first head of a major nation to call on the under-pressure Fifa president to step downUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has called on the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to resign over his “outrageous” plans to sell a stake in the World Cup.Infantino faces growing pressure over his proposals, which triggered a backlash among major football bodies and prompted the resignation on Friday of a key advisor. Continue reading...