Shows

• The highly anticipated film 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups,' starring Yash, Kiara Advani, and Nayanthara, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26. • The movie marks the return of Kannada superstar Yash to the big screen after a four-year hiatus. • Early reports indicate a massive scale for the release, with the film running across 7,801 shows and generating Rs 104.54 crore in net collections during its initial phase.

• Prime Video will broadcast the Academy of Country Music Awards as a live event. • The awards show is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. • This event is part of a comprehensive 2026 TV premiere calendar covering major networks and streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Hulu.

• The Asian Art Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe celebrated diverse talent, naming 2ShoulderPads’ "Galaxy Train," a musical based on classical Japanese literature, as the Outstanding Show. • Other key winners included "Tether" for Outstanding Drama, "Our Town Needs a Nando's" for Outstanding Youth Show, and Kento Morita’s "Japanese Grandma Funeral" for Best Comedy. • The classic Chinese opera "The Lady Prince Consort" received the Asian Arts Special Award, highlighting the event's commitment to promoting Asian artists since its inception in 2014.

‘This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,’ Ken Paxton saysA federal judge has, for a second time, struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present.In a ruling issued on Tuesday, US district judge David Hittner said Texas cannot enforce its drag show ban. He said that the measure improperly restricts speech and violates the first amendment of the US constitution. Continue reading...

Trump administration has moved away from high-profile, militarized raids as its deportation spree has ramped upThe Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July, according to newly released government data – apprehending an average of 1,500 people and removing 1,100 people daily.This latest data confirms what attorneys and immigrant advocates have been seeing across the US – although the administration has moved away from the high-profile, militarized raids that came to define its immigration enforcement approach last year, it is quietly ramping up its operations. Continue reading...

• Six major streaming platforms are implementing a new strategy by incorporating "verticals" directly into their services to help viewers discover new shows. • This shift reduces the platforms' reliance on external social media redirects to drive traffic and engagement with their content libraries. • The move is significant because it allows streamers to better monetize existing content by controlling the discovery environment and user journey.

• Two recent NASA-funded studies have revealed how ancient events in the Sun's history influenced the development of Earth's unique climate. • The research suggests that these solar events may have been the primary drivers behind previously unexplained climatic shifts on our planet. • This discovery is significant because it highlights the profound, long-term impact the Sun's evolution has on planetary habitability and atmospheric stability.

Gunmen ‌attacked worshippers in Dekara village on Friday taking women, children and older peopleAn armed group has posted a video showing what ⁠residents said were about ⁠600 women, children and ​older people abducted in an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State last week.The video, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp, ⁠showed large groups of people seated in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Several children could be heard crying in the background. Continue reading...

Exclusive: New entrants the only cohort making more loan applications amid interest rate rises and tax changes, mortgage broker saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFirst home buyers are still taking out a large number of loans, with government backing, even as investors step back from Australia’s property market.New entrants are now the only cohort applying for more loans than they were in June, according to new data from Loan Market, the mortgage broking company. Continue reading...

• Indian equities have significantly underperformed global markets in 2026, recording a 9.1% decline in US dollar terms according to Bank of America data. • This downturn stands in sharp contrast to strong growth observed in the US, Japan, and broader emerging markets during the same period. • The trend highlights a shift in investor sentiment, with capital flows indicating that investors are increasingly favoring other international markets over India.

• Moderna and Merck have reported positive results from a large Phase 3 clinical trial of a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine designed to treat melanoma. • Unlike traditional treatments, this therapy trains a patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy the specific cancer cells threatening them. • This breakthrough represents a major step forward in precision oncology, moving away from broad attacks on cancer cells toward highly targeted immunotherapy.

• Merck and Moderna announced Wednesday that a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine successfully extended the lifespan of melanoma patients in a large, late-stage trial. • The companies intend to present the trial data at an upcoming international medical meeting to begin discussions with regulators regarding official filing submissions for approval. • This development is significant as it demonstrates the potential of personalized mRNA technology to treat aggressive cancers more effectively than traditional methods.

Film emerges as France says it has prevented 185 ‘small boat crossing events’ in three months since new £660m deal with UKFootage has captured the moment French police officers clashed with people on a beach in northern France as the authorities attempted to intercept a dinghy attempting to reach the UK.Men wearing lifejackets appear to throw objects at the police to try to keep them away from their dinghy. The officers then use Pava spray before slashing the inflatable boat with a knife. Continue reading...

• Merck and Moderna announced that an experimental cancer vaccine-drug combination shows promise in preventing the recurrence of melanoma in high-risk patients. • While full trial data has not yet been published, previous research presented in June at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting indicated the treatment halved the risk of recurrence over five years for 157 patients. • This development is significant as it suggests a potential breakthrough in long-term cancer survival and the prevention of relapse for high-risk individuals.

Former real estate developer leads press corps on tour of grounds and says ‘one thing I know how to do is build’As the US national debt climbed past $40tn for the first time on Wednesday, and the war with Iran he started nearly six months ago dragged on, forcing Americans already struggling to pay the bills to spend more on fuel, Donald Trump led the press corps on a tour of the extensive remodeling of the White House grounds he is personally overseeing in his role as the self-styled “builder-in-chief”.The tour, during which Trump showed off upgrades such as a new granite driveway and refurbished columns, and expounded at length on newly laid grass, culminated in Trump autographing the back of a stone, inscribed with his name, to go in the center of the ornate new helipad he insists he needs. Continue reading...

• A Washington Post analysis reveals that artificial intelligence and data centers have become major election issues for the first time in U.S. history. • Data shows that more political candidates now feature AI-related topics on their campaign websites than traditional priorities like manufacturing or the conflict in Israel. • This shift highlights how rapidly generative AI and infrastructure needs are impacting the national political discourse and candidate platforms.

Weaker growth, rising energy costs and persistent inflation mean Britain could face tougher times in the autumnUK economic growth slows downBusiness live – latest updatesIn the spring the International Monetary Fund warned Britain faced the heaviest economic blow from the Iran war among the world’s most advanced nations. Almost six months into the conflict, on the surface, the UK appears to be proving the forecasters wrong.The latest official figures show the UK maintained its pole position as the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of 2026. Despite the gloomy international backdrop and yet more domestic political uncertainty, consumers have largely continued spending and business investment has boomed. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelectionGood morning. In the media, August is known as the “silly season”. With parliament not sitting and many people on holiday, there is less proper news than normal, which means the nonsense stories get (even) more attention than usual. We are almost slap bang in the middle of the month, and today we’ve got a silly season classic in Clacton, where Nigel Farage, the Reform UK candidate, is fighting a byelection in which his main opponent is a joke candidate who dresses up as a dustbin.Farage is not inherently silly. Few politicians have been more consequential over the past quarter of a century (because he did more than any other single individual to make the Brexit referendum happen); for most of the past 16 months his party has had a big poll lead and he has a very realistic chance of being the next PM; and even if he doesn’t become PM, his hard-right, anti-migrant, crass, crypto-friendly populism will have changed British politics significantly.POLITICO analysis of the Reform UK leader’s digital campaign messages shows that Farage has run a twin-track strategy in the seaside seat as polls open Thursday. The two key themes of the digital air war have been painting Farage as a champion for local residents — as well as an insurgent leader harried by the “establishment” machine.Farage and his party have spent more than £10,000 pushing those messages via ads on Meta’s platforms — which include Facebook and Instagram — in the campaign so far.Almost £1,000 has been spent on videos of Farage urging local supporters to request the party deliver and install an “I’m with Nigel” garden sign. Meanwhile, around £500 went to ads asking voters to return their postal votes and “send a message to the establishment.”The largest single sum — between £4,000-£4,500 — was spent on an almost five-minute campaign video in which Farage waxes lyrical about the connection he’s made with local constituents, while claiming his party’s surging success has resulted in the powers-that-be using “foul means” to hamper him. Continue reading...

With wing spans up to 3ft, the shy cownose ray species typically arrive in Long Island waters in the warmer monthsDrone footage of dozens of stingrays in the ocean off New York has captivated beachgoers and marine enthusiasts, offering a rare bird’s-eye view of a species that scientists say has visited the area for decades.The footage was captured las`t Friday off the coast of Southampton on the Long Island peninsula by Joanna Steidle, a Hamptons-based professional drone pilot known for her aerial ocean shots. It shows cownose rays gliding through the water en masse near the surface. Continue reading...

• The article examines how Chappell Roan successfully transitioned from social media virality to mainstream success and sold-out performances. • Roan spent years refining her craft and persona, signing with Atlantic Records at 17 and releasing her first EP in 2017 long before her 2024 breakout hit "Good Luck, Babe!" • This trajectory highlights the importance of long-term artist development, emphasizing that sustainable fame requires consistent performing and brand building beyond a single viral moment.

• In March 2026, the AI infrastructure tool LiteLLM suffered a security compromise involving a malicious upload to the PyPI repository. • The breach transformed developer tooling into a conduit for high-value attacks, including cloud intrusion and the theft of sensitive credentials. • This incident highlights a growing trend where AI-specific software supply chains are becoming strategic targets for sophisticated cyberattacks.

• A new poll indicates that U.S. voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the current two-party system and are open to significant electoral reforms. • Many respondents support transitioning to proportional representation, a system where multiple representatives are elected per district based on a party's total vote share. • This shift is seen as a way to reduce the fear among sitting members of Congress that they will lose their seats during elections.

Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms’ climate accountability caseSupreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.The analysis from the non-profit advocacy group and judicial watchdog Court Accountability, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found that even at the lowest range of estimates, Alito gained almost $400,000 from his oil and gas interests since being tapped for the high court by George W Bush in 2005. Continue reading...

• A new poll backed by election reformers reveals that a majority of Americans are frustrated with the current two-party system and are open to significant structural changes. • Voters expressed support for transitioning to proportional representation, a system where multiple representatives are elected per district based on a party's overall share of the vote. • This shift matters as it could break the existing political duopoly and allow smaller parties to gain a foothold in the U.S. government.

• The California Film Commission has awarded production tax credits to nine television shows, including a sequel to the 1995 film "Clueless" and the second season of "S.W.A.T. Exiles." • Disney Entertainment Television received the largest incentive at $45.1 million for an untitled scripted series filming for 142 days, primarily in Los Angeles. • Other notable recipients include Universal Television’s "Newlyweds," starring Jamie Lee Curtis, which was granted $5.8 million for a 26-day shoot in Los Angeles.

Big companies describe being under constant threat but only half have a plan in place to respond to an attackNearly a third of British manufacturers have been hit by a cyber-attack on them or a company in their supply chain, according to a survey that highlighted the growing hacking risk to companies.The findings come almost a year after Britain’s largest automotive employer, JLR, was hit by an attack that forced it to halt production for weeks. Continue reading...

• A curated list has been released highlighting 19 of the best television shows of 2026 so far, featuring a mix of new hits and returning series. • Notable mentions include the latest seasons of "Rivals" and "Ted Lasso," alongside a surprise horror-comedy and a suburban mystery. • A standout highlight is Jack Thorne's adaptation of William Golding's "Lord of the Flies," which follows Thorne's previous success with the Netflix drama "Adolescence."

• A total of 16 new movies and TV shows are launching across OTT platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar between August 3 and August 9. • Key premieres include 'Operation Safed Sagar,' starring Jimmy Shergill and Siddharth, and Imtiaz Ali's partition-themed love story 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' featuring Vedang Raina and Sharvari. • These releases provide a diverse range of new content for streaming subscribers to add to their watchlists during the first full week of August.