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UK study visa withdrawals rose to 10.5 per cent of applications in the first half of 2026, according to reports. The withdrawal rate for Pakistani applicants reached 40.9 per cent, compared with 3 per cent a year earlier. Universities now face a visa refusal threshold of less than 5 per cent under stricter Home Office compliance rules. International students hoping to study in the UK are facing a growing dilemma as universities withdraw admission offers amid a rise in visa refusals and tougher g

Highlights Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2026 has named its Top 13 contestants after an intense selection process. The upcoming Navratri special is expected to feature Gujarati folk singer Jahnvi Shrimankar. Judges Shankar Mahadevan, Kumar Sanu, Neeti Mohan and Javed Ali continue to mentor the contestants. The latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is moving into its next stage after a competitive selection process, with 13 singers securing places in the competition. The Hindi singing reality show, hosted by Shreyas

Highlights Grand Theft Auto VI will feature six newly announced radio stations hosted by artists including Bad Bunny, Lana Del Rey, Burna Boy and Robyn. Rockstar Games is introducing on-demand podcasts for the first time in the series. Players will be able to keep listening to music through Jason and Lucias smartphone headphones after leaving a vehicle. Grand Theft Auto VI is bringing a star-studded music line-up to its fictional state of Leonida, alongside a new way for players to listen while

Highlights The Ranabali trailer features Vijay Deverakonda as a warrior fighting British colonial oppression in Rayalaseema. Rashmika Mandanna plays Jayamma, his wife, while Hollywood actor Arnold Vosloo appears as a British officer. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the period action drama is scheduled to release on 16 October in five Indian languages. The trailer of Ranabali , starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna , has been released, offering a glimpse of a period action drama centred

ASOS says hackers accessed names, addresses, phone numbers and email details. Recent customer search histories, including terms such as glamorous wide fit, were also exposed. Passwords and payment card information were not accessed, according to ASOS. ASOS has revealed that hackers gained access to millions of customers recent search histories, as well as names, addresses, phone numbers and email details, in a cyber attack on the online fashion retailer. Searches including glamorous wide fit, AS

Highlights From a feared gangster to a comic underworld boss, Nana Patekar played characters that were worlds apart His most memorable roles often relied on sharp dialogue, distinctive mannerisms and powerful screen presence Parinda and Krantiveer showcased his intensity, while Welcome revealed his flair for comedy Natsamrat brought out a more vulnerable side of the actor in one of his most emotionally demanding roles These seven performances show why Patekar remained difficult to typecast throu

For more than three decades, the beat of the dhak has announced Durga Puja in Manchester. This year, it is joined by something new: WhatsApp messages, AI tools and short-form videos, as one of Northern England's longest-established Bengali organisations looks for new ways to keep its community connected. The Greater Manchester Bengali Hindu Cultural Association (GMBHCA) will celebrate Durga Puja from Friday 16 October to Tuesday 20 October 2026 at Gandhi Hall, Withington. Founded in 1993 by a ha

Permanent placements rose to 50.9 in September, the strongest reading in four years. Demand for workers fell at its weakest rate since August 2024. IT, computing and engineering were among the strongest areas for hiring, while retail and hospitality lagged. Britain's jobs market is showing tentative signs of recovery, with permanent staff placements rising at their fastest pace in four years in September, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Report on J

Highlights Kamal Haasan is set to return as the iconic freedom fighter Senapathy in Indian 3 S Shankar is returning to direct the next chapter of the long-running franchise The announcement follows the release of Indian 2 in 2024 The franchise began with the 1996 classic Indian , which introduced Senapathy to audiences The next film is expected to continue the story of the vigilante character Kamal Haasan is set to return as Senapathy in Indian 3 , giving audiences another chapter in one of Tami

Google Maps is displaying petrol and diesel prices at UK forecourts for the first time. Drivers can compare nearby prices using data from the governments Fuel Finder scheme. The government estimates that households with a car could save around 40 a year by shopping around. Google Maps has launched a new UK fuel price feature, allowing drivers to check near real-time petrol and diesel prices at nearby forecourts directly through the navigation app. The feature went live on Thursday, October 8, us

Highlights Nana Patekar died in Goa on Thursday at the age of 75 His last rites will be held at his Pune farmhouse with state honours Patekar leaves behind a celebrated career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and social work He won three National Film Awards and received the Padma Shri in 2013 From Parinda and Krantiveer to Natsamrat , his performances left a lasting mark on Indian cinema Veteran actor Nana Patekar , one of Indian cinemas most distinctive and respected performers, has

A COURT in London has settled a five-year succession dispute of a Hindu faith organisation which has a strong presence in the UK, US, India, Canada and Australia. The Yogi Divine Society (YDS), which has its UK headquarters in Harrow, north London, was established by His Holiness Hariprasad Swamiji, who died in July 2021, without publicly naming who would succeed him. Two saints sought claim to lead the organisation Pujya Prem Swaroop Swami, 80, (known as Member A in court documents) and Pujya

A 13-VOLUME biography of His Holiness Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, running to 8,848 pages and 2,146,447 words, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest biography by a single author. It was announced in London last Sunday (4) during celebrations marking the 93rd birth anniversary of HH Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The Guinness World Records certificate was presented to HH Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj at OVO Arena Wembley in f

PHARMACYS best were celebrated for their crucial contribution to healthcare at the 26th annual Pharmacy Business Awards in London last Friday (2). More than 680 guests attended the event, which pays tribute to the exceptional dedication of pharmacists who safeguard the health and wellbeing of local communities, as well as the industry that supports them. Pharmacy teams, leading products, wholesalers and manufacturers were recognised on the night. Rajan Shah and Sanjay Patel of West Ealing Pharma

Highlights Hear'Say and Liberty X will play 13 UK and Ireland arena dates from April 17 to May 9, 2027, on a tour called Popstars: The Originals Four of Hear'Say's five original members return: Danny Foster, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan. Myleene Klass is not taking part Liberty X return with all five members: Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm and Kelli Young A pre-sale opens at 9am BST on Wednesday, October 14 for fans who register, with general sale at 9am BS

Highlights The FA has sanctioned Tonda Eckert with a six-week ban from all football, suspended until the end of the 2027/28 season, plus a 28,000 fine and a reprimand Eckert admitted three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 for directing or authorising the observation of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough training sessions He can lead Southampton into Sunday's south coast derby against Portsmouth (12:00 BST, live on ITV and Sky Sports) The club were already expelled from last season's Champions

Highlights The Emmys will leave traditional US broadcast television for the first time from 2027 Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive global streaming rights in a six-year deal The ceremony will stream live and free worldwide, with no Prime Video subscription required The move ends a rotation between ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC that has been in place since 1955 The deal reflects the growing influence of streaming platforms over major live entertainment events The Emmys are entering a new era, with

Highlights Warner Bros and Paramount are set to come under the same corporate ownership after Skydances takeover The deal reduces Hollywoods major studio landscape from five companies to four HBO Max and Paramount+ could eventually be combined into a single streaming service The merger could affect film production, theatrical releases, studio jobs and Hollywoods creative direction Skydance has committed to maintaining a significant number of theatrical releases each year Hollywood is entering a

Highlights Spanish journalist Franois Gallardo claims Liverpool have contacted Kylian Mbappe's mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, about a 2027 move He says Mbappe, 27, has decided to leave Real Madrid next summer, with a fee of 200m to 250m The claim rests on one journalist. Real Madrid are reported to have no plans to sell, and one outlet noted that no credible source has backed it up In a September interview, Mbappe said his mother wanted him to join Liverpool in 2017, and that he chose Paris Sai

Migrants charged up to 4,500 for fake gay asylum evidence Three arrested in Home Office raid in London More than 100 asylum claims under review Asylum fraud carries a maximum 10-year sentence MIGRANTS were charged up to 4,500 for fabricated evidence to support fake gay asylum claims, according to the Home Office, which has arrested three people after a raid on a suspected criminal network. The network is accused of selling staged photographs, fake letters and other documents to migrants pretendi

Highlights: Paris-based Museum Studio is designing 23 museums at Sabarmati Ashram. The redevelopment project spans nearly 50 acres along the Sabarmati River. Research on Gandhi's 19171930 years at the ashram began in January. The proposed displays include digital exhibits, murals, sculptures and audiovisual content. The project aims to introduce Gandhi's principles to a new generation. For decades, Sabarmati Ashram has stood as a reminder of Mahatma Gandhis simple lifestyle and his role in India

Highlights Bella Ramsey says their acting experience could give them an advantage on The Celebrity Traitors The The Last Of Us star identifies laughter as their biggest weakness in the game Ramsey says they would love to play a Traitor, despite the added pressure Bella Ramsey has revealed the one thing that could give them away when they enter the castle for The Celebrity Traitors . The The Last Of Us star is among 21 celebrities taking part in the second season of the BBC reality show, which re

Highlights Aishwarya Rai and Bridgerton star Simone Ashley reunited at Paris Fashion Week The pair shared a warm greeting and were later seen holding hands at the event Fans praised their friendship, with some calling their interaction sisterly The two stars also shared a sweet moment at Paris Fashion Week last year Aishwarya Rai returned to Paris Fashion Week as a LOral Paris ambassador , but her reunion with Bridgerton star Simone Ashley quickly became another talking point. The pair were spot

Highlights Shweta Singh Kirti has made fresh claims about Sushant Singh Rajputs post-mortem She claims she was recently told that a stun gun was used on the actor Shweta also alleged that Sushants leg was broken and his eyes were hurt Her claims contrast with findings previously reported from the 2020 post-mortem She said the fight for justice should come from love and not revenge Shweta Singh Kirti has made fresh claims about the death of her brother, actor Sushant Singh Rajput , more than six

Highlights Madonna returned to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in 23 years Madonna won three awards during the televised ceremony, including artist of the year Taylor Swift won video of the year and the inaugural artist director award Sienna Spiro was named best new artist, while K-pop star Lisa won best pop Nirvana received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award Madonna and Taylor Swift dominated the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, taking home four of the six awards presented

Highlights Vogue World Milan featured humanoid robots during a segment called The Age of Intelligence The event had been promoted as a celebration of Italian craftsmanship and the human touch The robots were made by Chinese robotics company Unitree Similar humanoid robots have also appeared at London Fashion Week Vogue World Milan took an unexpected turn this week when humanoid robots joined the fashion spectacle, despite the event being promoted as a celebration of Italian craftsmanship and the

Highlights Former England striker Andy Carroll, 37, has revealed he was sexually assaulted in 2021 The attack happened at his home during his second spell at Newcastle United, carried out by an acquaintance of his former partner The attacker was convicted of sexual offences, sentenced to three years in prison, and placed on the Sex Offender Register Carroll disclosed the attack in his new autobiography, Owning It, released this week Andy Carroll has revealed he was sexually assaulted in 2021, in

Highlights: The ONS does not publish divorce rates by ethnicity. The Forced Marriage Unit supported 407 cases in 2025. 40 per cent of supported victims were aged 17 or under. Pakistan was linked to 35 per cent of cases receiving support. Community leaders say wedding culture can overshadow preparation for marriage. Marriage is often described as a celebration that brings two families together. But for some British Asian couples, the pressures surrounding marriage can continue long after the wedd

GLOBAL leaders, diplomats, entrepreneurs and professionals from more than 30 countries gathered at Oxford Town Hall for the Oxford Diplomat Summit & Nelson Mandela Leadership Awards 2026. Held on September 7 under the theme Shaping the Future: Global Leadership, Diplomacy & Inclusive Progress, the summit brought together figures from politics, public service, business, healthcare, technology and the creative industries for discussions on leadership, international cooperation, innovation and soci

Climate volatility is reducing tea yields and damaging crops in major producing regions. Only one in five Kenyan tea farmers surveyed by Fairtrade said they earned enough each month to cover essential family costs. Lidl has launched a new Kenyan tea designed to pay growers an additional living-income premium. Kenyan farmers supply around half of the black tea consumed in Britain, yet many are struggling to earn enough to cover basic household costs as unpredictable weather damages crops and rais

The couple visited Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple on Friday, dressed in matching purple, as they prepare to welcome their second child. It's the same temple, the same kind of visit, they made in September 2024, weeks before their daughter Dua was born right down to Ranveer's parents, Jagjit Singh Bhavnani and Anju Bhavnani, joining them both times. What they wore Deepika had worn a green saree on that earlier visit. This time she chose a heavily embroidered salwar kameez, while Ranveer wore a pu

Highlights Nani says he wants The Paradise to be recognised as a Telugu film rather than labelled pan-Indian The actor questions why films such as Jawan and Pathaan are still identified as Hindi films when they succeed across India Nani says this is the last time he will address the debate and claims parts of the media take his comments out of context Nani is once again addressing the debate around the term pan-Indian, saying he would rather T he Paradise be recognised for the language it was ma

MPs want the government to reject a 10bn rescue proposal from Thames Waters creditors. The company has more than 20bn of debt and serves around 16 million customers. The EFRA Committee says Thames Water is trapped in a doom loop and wants stronger powers for earlier government intervention. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has urged the government to reject a 10bn restructuring proposal from London & Valley Water, a consortium of more than 100 Thames Water creditors. The

Alexander-Arnold is an England international again, on paper at least, after fifteen months out of the picture. Thomas Tuchel named his squad for this month's Nations League fixtures with both Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer back in, the two most notable absences from England's World Cup run this summer, and the two names every conversation about this squad was always going to start with. Eight changes separate this squad from the one that took England to a third-place finish at the World Cup i

Highlights Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran play two police officers with very different ideas of justice Meghna Gulzar turns a controversial encounter into a wider examination of law, conscience and accountability Kshitee Jog delivers one of the film's most affecting performances as a grieving mother Meghna Gulzar 's Daayra does not make it easy to decide where justice begins and where it crosses a line. Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the investigative drama

Japans policy rate has reached 1.25 per cent, its highest level in 31 years. The BOJ is increasingly focused on preventing inflation from moving above its 2 per cent target. The weak yen, higher energy costs and pressure on borrowing costs could complicate the next phase of rate hikes. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 per cent on Friday (18), taking it to its highest level since 1995. The seven-to-two decision was widely expected, but the speed of the mov

British Steel is costing taxpayers about 1.3 million a day, according to the Public Accounts Committee. The government had provided 555 million in funding by June, while spending was expected to reach 642 million by the end of June. MPs say there is still no credible plan for the companys long-term business model, decarbonisation or finances. Britains decision to rescue British Steel was meant to buy time. More than a year later, MPs are asking what that time has actually bought. The Public Acco

Highlights Ranveer Singh has pledged to support the education of 1,000 girls Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are reportedly backing the refurbishment of 20 schools The Bollywood stars are among film personalities supporting the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Ganesh Chaturthi is often a time for prayers, celebrations and seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha. For Ranveer Singh , Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt , this year's festivities have also become an opportunity to give back. Ranveer visited Mumbai's iconic L

The Bank of England voted 63 to keep Bank Rate at 3.75 per cent. UK inflation rose to 3.1 per cent in August, driven partly by higher energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict. Governor Andrew Bailey warned that rates could rise if elevated energy prices begin feeding more strongly into wages and other prices. The Bank of England has chosen to wait rather than raise interest rates, even as inflation moves further away from its 2 per cent target. The Monetary Policy Committee voted by six t

Highlights Ali Zafar has spoken out after Katrina Kaif faced body-shaming online The actor urged men to examine how they judge women and their bodies He called for greater kindness and told people to let her live Ali Zafar has spoken out against the online body-shaming faced by Katrina Kaif following her recent public appearances, using the conversation to call on men to reflect on how they view women and unrealistic beauty standards. Katrina, who welcomed her son with husband Vicky Kaushal last

Highlights Waiting Hai turns India's familiar Tatkal ticket struggle into a quirky crime drama Divyenndu Sharma and Bhuvan Arora deliver strong performances as a railway cop and a young hacker The series loses momentum because of uneven writing and distracting tonal shifts Waiting Hai takes one of India's most familiar travel frustrations, the struggle to secure a confirmed Tatkal railway ticket, and turns it into a crime drama about technology, ambition and an expanding ticketing racket. Set in

McLaren plans to invest 500m in its UK operations and create up to 1,000 jobs by 2032. The company will build its future engines in-house for the first time in its history. Its South Yorkshire composites centre will be expanded alongside greater vehicle assembly in the UK. Britain's supercar industry is getting an unusually large vote of confidence from McLaren. The luxury carmaker plans to invest 500 million in its UK operations, expand its research and development work in South Yorkshire and o

Canada could become the EUs first-ever associate member under a status that does not currently exist. The proposed partnership could cover defence, AI, energy, critical minerals and advanced technology. The offer comes as Canada looks to reduce its dependence on US trade and build closer ties with Europe. Something unusual happened in the European Parliament on Wednesday: the European Union offered Canada a relationship that the EU does not currently have a formal category for. European Commissi

Highlights Tilly Norwood repeatedly turns questions back on a journalist during a virtual interview. The AI actor delivers carefully prepared answers while avoiding several sensitive topics. The unusual press junket raises questions about how convincing AI performers can really be. Tilly Norwood , the AI-generated performer created by Particle6 , has taken part in a virtual press junket, but the interview quickly became an unusual experience for journalists. Rather than simply answering question

Highlights Jyotika and Suriya renew their wedding vows as they celebrate 20 years of marriage. Jyotika says their milestone is about embracing imperfections, sacrifices and understanding. She calls Suriya her equal, confidant, gossip partner and best friend. Jyotika and Suriya have marked 20 years of marriage by renewing their wedding vows, but the actress made it clear that their milestone was not about celebrating a perfect relationship. Instead, Jyotika chose to celebrate the imperfections, a

JLR is talking to NATO countries about its new Defender Wolf Series II military vehicle. The carmaker is bidding for a 900 million UK Ministry of Defence contract. The move comes as JLR cuts costs and plans 4,000 job cuts globally. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is looking beyond the traditional car market as it explores selling its revamped Defender military vehicle to NATO countries. The UK-based carmaker, owned by India's Tata Motors, has established a new Defender defence division to look for partn

Revolut has contacted 680 customers believed to have been affected. The information reportedly included passport and bank account details. The UK's data watchdog is investigating the incident. A genuine government email address was reportedly used to trick Revolut into handing over sensitive customer information in a data breach that has affected hundreds of people. The fintech company has contacted 680 customers following the incident, in which a hacker allegedly used a legitimate government em

Highlights Hanuman Ansh director Vishal Chaturvedi announces Rambola The film will explore the life of poet and saint Tulsidas Chaturvedis debut has reportedly crossed Rs 250 crore domestically Rambola is being produced by Mahaveer Jain and Chaturvedi Vishal Chaturvedi is following the success of his directorial debut Hanuman Ansh with another story rooted in Indian spirituality. The filmmaker has announced Rambola , a new feature based on the life and teachings of Mahakavi Goswami Tulsidas, the

King Charles will bring together leaders from Nvidia, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in the development of advanced AI models. The push for common principles faces resistance from the US and China. The race to develop increasingly powerful artificial intelligence is entering a more uncomfortable phase, with some of the people building the technology warning that its rapid progress could create risks that are difficult to control. King

Frasers Group plans to increase its Hugo Boss stake from 48 per cent to more than 50 per cent. Chairman Stephan Sturm will step down as the British retailer seeks greater representation on the supervisory board. The move comes as Mike Ashleys retail empire expands further into premium and luxury fashion. Hugo Boss chairman Stephan Sturm is stepping down as Frasers Group pushes to take greater control of the German fashion house, marking a significant shift in the balance of power between the two