Stars

• ABC and Disney+ are launching the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" with a two-night premiere this week. • Other recommended releases include a new album from Carly Rae Jepsen, the "Marvel's Wolverine" video game, and RuPaul in "Stop That Train." • These selections provide a curated guide for entertainment consumers looking for high-quality streaming and media options.

Preppy is back in the zeitgeist, says designer, blending sportswear codes and collegiate chic at New York showTommy Hilfiger’s front row was a slam dunk. The Knicks are the kings of New York right now, so scoring Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride, three of the team’s stars, for the guest list of his New York catwalk show was a victory. Travis Kelce, who is co-designing another upcoming collection with Hilfiger and had been rumoured to attend this event with his new bride, was a no show, but you can’t win them all.Tommy Hilfiger is all about sport. The design vocabulary of oversized jerseys, team stripes, rugby shirts and letterman jackets draws heavily on the visual language of the stadium. Kelce, whose NFL tunnel walks have become a catwalk of their own, is the latest in a bloodline of sporting ambassadors that includes Thierry Henry, Rafael Nadal and Lewis Hamilton. Hilfiger has long stood for a certain glossy stars-and-stripes Americana – its graphic red, white and blue logo is a riff on the flag – but American identity is delicate cultural territory right now. Sport, which unites audiences across all backgrounds and political allegiances, gives the brand a wholesome place to congregate. “People really like him,” Hilfiger explained backstage of why he chose to collaborate with Kelce. “He’s really humble, down to earth, sweet, fun, and funny. And a superstar athlete.” Continue reading...

• Japan is hosting the 20th Asian Games this month in Aichi-Nagoya, featuring top athletes competing for continental titles. • High-profile competitors include Singapore's 2021 badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew and Philippines' pole vaulter EJ Obiena. • Results in several sports will determine Olympic quota spots, which are the guaranteed slots required to qualify for the LA28 Olympic Games.

• Smriti Mandhana led India Women to a 137-run victory over Hong Kong during a Group A match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday. • Mandhana scored a record 124 runs off 64 balls at the Dubai International Stadium. • This dominant win secures a strong start for India in the tournament's group stage.

Ruling allows defense department to proceed for now in exerting greater editorial control over military news outletA federal judge has declined to stop the Pentagon from firing journalists who say they were illegally punished for speaking out about the need for the Stars and Stripes publication to maintain its editorial independence.The ruling by US district judge Trevor McFadden allows the Pentagon to proceed for now in exerting greater editorial control over the historically independent military news outlet. Continue reading...

• The Indian women's cricket team shared tactical insights and exchanged jerseys with Hong Kong China players following their 2026 Women’s Asia Cup match. • Two national teams participated in the exchange of memorabilia and knowledge at the conclusion of the encounter. • These interactions foster international camaraderie and provide developing cricket nations with direct mentorship from elite global athletes.

• NASA has launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a powerful observatory designed to chart the stars and explore the "dark universe." • Astronomers will utilize the telescope's wide and deep field of view to hunt for new exoplanets and study dark energy and dark matter. • The mission honors the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, a pioneer in astronomy who helped shape NASA's space science programs.

• Ridley Scott is releasing a new sci-fi adventure featuring Jacob Elordi as a post-pandemic pilot. • Soul singer Erykah Badu is set to release a highly anticipated collaboration. • Starting September 2, an exhibition showcasing moving image work by early-career artists—including Rhiana Bonterre and Rosanna Lee—will launch at Nottingham Contemporary and tour 16 UK venues.

• Several actors and shows from Channel 3 have received nominations for the Content Asia Awards 2026. • The nominations recognize the performers for their remarkable acting and contributions to high-quality content production. • This recognition highlights the growing regional influence and competitiveness of Thai entertainment in the Asian market.

• Philippine television and streaming productions achieved significant success at the 2026 ContentAsia Awards, securing multiple top honors. • Major industry players GMA Network and ABS-CBN Studios were among the primary winners, earning gold, silver, and bronze awards across various categories. • These accolades highlight the growing competitiveness and quality of Filipino content within the broader Asian media landscape.

About 80 people sign open letter to Andy Burnham calling for legislation to protect voice ownershipNicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas are among a group of actors backing a campaign against artificial intelligence voice cloning.Save Our Voices Now, which is also being supported by Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhán McSweeney and Pearl Mackie, aims to stop the practice in which AI technology is used to replicate a real person’s voice to say anything it is prompted to. Continue reading...

• Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to study 72 young, sun-like stars to analyze the process of planetary development. • The research reveals that planet formation is a "race against time," as gas giants must accumulate massive atmospheres before their surrounding disks dissipate. • This discovery is critical because it highlights how winds and jets can strip away raw materials, potentially preventing the formation of Jupiter-like planets.

• XPeng’s robotics unit secured over $900 million in its first external financing round on August 24, 2026. • The funding round valued the robotics division at more than $6 billion, marking it as the defining transaction of the period. • This surge in capital reflects a broader venture capital trend shifting toward the physical and financial infrastructure required for the next technology cycle.

• The US Open has successfully attracted top stars like Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, and Novak Djokovic to its mixed doubles event. • This surge in participation follows a strategic scheduling change implemented by the United States Tennis Association in 2025. • Previously, the event was held in the third week, causing it to be overshadowed by singles matches and conflicting with players' travel schedules.

• This week's European cultural agenda features a diverse range of art and entertainment, including a focus on Norwegian portraiture and cinema. • Highlights include an exhibition of pastel portraits by Asta Nørregaard, who rose to prominence as one of Norway's most famous artists in the late 19th century. • Film enthusiasts can look forward to the post-apocalyptic action of 'The Dog Stars', directed by Ridley Scott.

Max Lederer, longtime head of the US military news outlet, says his ‘philosophy of leadership’ differs from defense’sThe long-serving publisher of the Stars and Stripes could face an early dismissal just days after the taxpayer-funded military news outlet’s reporting revealed deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, according to a news report.Pentagon officials have discussed firing Max Lederer ahead of his scheduled retirement next month, according to CBS News, which quoted anonymous sources. Lederer, the publisher of the military daily for 19 years, had previously cited fundamental differences with the Trump administration for his decision to retire soon. Continue reading...

Christmas Island locals who woke to see the spacecraft floating off the coast hope global attention will encourage touristsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEngineers from Elon Musk’s SpaceX are on their way to a remote Australian island to retrieve part of a Starship that dived into the Indian Ocean.The spacecraft – now floating off the coast of Christmas Island – was launched in Texas on 24 July, in the 13th test of the technology. After reaching orbit and releasing 20 non-functioning satellites, the upper stage of the rocket re-entered the atmosphere, landing in the ocean. Continue reading...

• Business Insider has released a list of celebrity deaths for 2026, noting the loss of figures such as James Van Der Beek, Catherine O'Hara, Ted Turner, Hayden Panettiere, and Jesse Jackson. • The report highlights the passing of Academy Award-winning actress V وهكذا (implied Fricker), who died on July 16; she was the first Irish actress to win an Oscar in 1990 for "My Left Foot." • The list also includes Mark Fuhrman, the LAPD detective who gained widespread notoriety during the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial.

• Top South Korean male celebrities are increasingly choosing streaming platforms over traditional television for their first projects following mandatory military service. • This shift reflects a broader industry trend where global OTT services offer more creative freedom and wider international reach than domestic broadcast networks. • The transition is significant as it signals a change in the power dynamics of the Korean entertainment ecosystem and how stars manage their brand image post-service.

• A technical issue caused K-pop stars to freeze on TV during an awards show, breaking the typical perfection of South Korean entertainment. • The show was able to continue without further issues, but some viewers criticized the mistake, questioning the preparedness of the performers. • The performers, Sion, Ian, and Sungchan, are all signed to SM Entertainment, and many viewers noted this while discussing the incident.

• A new list highlights 30 South Asian stars under the age of 30 who are redefining global entertainment in 2026. • These trailblazers are making significant impacts across diverse sectors, including Hollywood blockbusters, Netflix global hits, international music charts, and digital business empires. • The recognition underscores a shifting cultural landscape where South Asian talent is increasingly dominating mainstream pop culture and global media.

• SpaceX is currently collecting imagery of its Starship vehicle, which remains intact and afloat in the Indian Ocean. • The vehicle has stayed buoyant for five days following its most recent flight test. • This observation provides critical data on the spacecraft's structural integrity and buoyancy after atmospheric reentry.

• The entertainment and political worlds saw the loss of several prominent figures in 2026, including actor Sam Neill, Godzilla vs. Kong star Kaylee Hottle, and Senator Lindsey Graham. • Other notable deaths reported include musicians Glen Hansard and Jayden Adams, as well as actor Randolph Mantooth. • These losses represent a significant impact on Hollywood and U.S. politics, marking the end of diverse careers across cinema and government.

• SpaceX successfully conducted the 13th test flight of its Starship megarocket, focusing on evaluating the vehicle's performance and capabilities. • The mission provided significant data and high-quality visuals of the massive rocket during its ascent and flight phases. • This test is a critical step in SpaceX's goal to develop a fully reusable transport system for missions to the Moon and Mars.

• SpaceX successfully completed the 13th overall test flight of its newest Starship design, achieving a precise landing. • This milestone marks a critical technical victory for the company's iterative development of the massive spacecraft. • The success is vital for NASA’s lunar exploration goals and SpaceX’s ambitious plan to deploy one million data centers in orbit.

• SpaceX successfully launched its Starship spacecraft on a critical test flight to demonstrate key operational capabilities. • The mission focused on testing the vehicle's ability to function as a fully reusable transport system for future crewed missions. • This milestone is vital for NASA and SpaceX's long-term goals of returning astronauts to the moon and establishing a sustainable lunar presence.

• Chinese AI entrepreneurs and researchers, such as Moonshot AI founder Yang Zhilin, are increasingly choosing to build companies in China rather than pursuing careers in Silicon Valley. • Despite receiving offers from top U.S. institutions like Stanford and MIT, and tech giants including Apple, Google, and Meta, a growing number of "AI stars" see greater opportunities at home. • This shift signals a change in the global talent war, as China's domestic ecosystem becomes more attractive for high-level innovation and entrepreneurship.