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Highlights Filipino actor Joaquin Pedro Valdes left a career in filmmaking and advertising to pursue musical theatre in the UK, following his first love for the stage. Now playing Benny in RENT , he wants audiences to see the character as a complicated human being rather than simply the villain. Valdes believes Asian representation in British theatre has improved, but says producers and creative teams still have a long way to go. Filipino actor Joaquin Pedro Valdes spent nine years working in fi

Highlights Ariana Grande has debuted a shoulder-length brunette bob with flipped-up ends. The playful hairstyle offers a retro twist on the classic bob and draws inspiration from cartoon character Betty Boop. Celebrity hairstylists share how to recreate the look at home. Ariana Grande is giving her signature ponytail a break with a fresh hairstyle that puts a playful, retro spin on the classic bob. The singer and actress recently showcased a sleek, shoulder-length brunette cut with flipped-up en

More than 31,000 homes without power as Storm Austen hits south-west 76mph gust recorded on the Isles of Scilly Part of Brightons West Pier falls into the sea Amber warning for Storm Boelo from 9pm on Saturday TENS of thousands of homes lost power and schools were closed as Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, battered south-west England on Friday. A gust of 76mph was recorded at St Marys airport on the Isles of Scilly. By 3pm, more than 31,000 homes in the south-west were without

Highlights Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany, 40, was reportedly taken to a Munich hospital with an emergency doctor on Friday, according to Bild and Sky Sky says his condition is stable, but Bayern had not confirmed anything or issued a statement at the time of writing Bild reported that a helicopter landed at the club's Sbener Strae training ground, and the cause of the hospital visit has not been officially confirmed Kompany had been unwell for more than a week, and Bayern executive Ma

Highlights Marvel Studios will unveil a new preview of Avengers: Doomsday during Game 1 of the World Series on October 23. A stormy promotional teaser featuring the Avengers logo has fuelled speculation about what the footage could reveal. Reports suggest another trailer could arrive on the same day, although Marvel has not confirmed this. Marvel Studios is building anticipation for A vengers: Doomsday with another promotional reveal, this time taking the superhero blockbuster to the World Serie

Highlights The Treasury expects businesses to save around 800 million through cuts to unnecessary paperwork and regulation. Streamlined reporting requirements are expected to save 290 million, while changes affecting asset managers and property transactions could save a further 221 million. Import tariff suspensions covering more than 250 products will be extended for another year, with savings of up to 155 million. UK businesses are set to receive around 800 million in savings from a government

Highlights Ayushmann Khurrana plays a Pakistani agent who loses his memory and begins to believe he is an Indian patriot. The spy comedy uses India-Pakistan tensions as the backdrop for slapstick humour and political mockery. While the identity confusion generates some effective laughs, the film struggles with crude jokes and stereotypes. Ayushmann Khurranas latest film, Udta Teer , takes a comic approach to espionage, turning the familiar India-Pakistan conflict into a farcical spy story. Direc

Highlights Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.5 is scheduled to launch on 22 October, bringing new content to the role-playing game. A reported leak points to console mod support, dual-wielding pistols, new quests and a field-of-view slider. CD Projekt RED has confirmed cyberware customisation and a new dual-wielding playstyle, while other leaked features await official confirmation. Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.5 could bring some major additions to Night City, including console mod support, new missions and ga

Miatta Fahnbulleh says longer settlement wait could harm cohesion Mahmood plans to extend the wait from five to 15 years Angela Rayner has also criticised the plans Burnham considering an exemption for care workers ENERGY SECRETARY Miatta Fahnbulleh has criticised home secretary Shabana Mahmoods plans to make migrants wait longer for permanent settlement, deepening a cabinet split over immigration. In a post on her constituency website, Fahnbulleh said extending the wait for indefinite leave to

Highlights: Miley Cyrus hit back at online criticism of her vocals and stage movement during her Hollywood Bowl comeback concerts. The singer said she would not tolerate questions about her commitment to performing, insisting: I am fully present. Cyrus acknowledged that returning to live performance was more difficult than it had been before her extended break. Nearly 1.5 million fans reportedly joined the presale queue for her two Hollywood Bowl shows. The singer said the concerts were a person

Highlights: Padma Bhushan awardee Sudha Ragunathan performed a two-and-a-half-hour Carnatic music concert at The Bhavan on 10 October. The vocalist was accompanied by violinist Balu Raguraman and mridangam artist Somasundaram Desigar. The concert took place in the lead-up to Navratri, bringing devotional music to London audiences. The Bhavan and Dance Umbrella co-hosted a discussion with choreographer Akram Khan MBE on 12 October. Royal Ballet director Kevin OHare CBE led the conversation, which

UK unemployment falls unexpectedly to 4.7 per cent Analysts had forecast the rate would stay at 4.9 per cent Around one million young people not in work, education or training Chancellor John Healey to deliver budget on October 28 UK UNEMPLOYMENT fell unexpectedly to 4.7 per cent in the three months to the end of August, official figures showed on Tuesday, a boost for the government ahead of next weeks budget. The rate, down from 4.9 per cent in the three months to July, is the lowest since mid-

Sabir Zazai remembers how he first heard about the refugee convention. He was given an official letter, after arriving in Dover in the back of a lorry during the cold December of 1999. It told him that he was now a person liable to be detained, having arrived without permission, but that he could make his application for asylum under the 1951 refugee convention. Zazai recalls a kind woman giving him some fish and chips and reflected, more recently, that there were no balaclava-clad men roaming

Highlights More than 4,500 jewellery pieces were created for the first part of Ramayana . Tribe Amrapali spent over 18 months researching and designing jewellery for the epic. Ayodhya, Mithila and Lanka each have distinct styles inspired by their identities and characters. The world of Ramayana is being shaped not only by its grand sets and costumes but also by the intricate jewellery worn by its characters. For Nitesh Tiwaris two-part cinematic adaptation, jewellery brand Tribe Amrapali has cre

Highlights Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Gemma Chan were among the stars making a statement at the Academy Museum Gala. Naomi Ackies custom Balenciaga gown featured a voluminous silhouette, sweeping train and pockets. Colman Domingo, Inde Navarrette and Cailee Spaeny brought distinctive designs to the red carpet. The Academy Museum Gala brought together some of Hollywoods biggest names for an evening of cinema, fashion and celebration in Los Angeles on Saturday (October 17). From Taylor Sw

Crypto vault deposits have climbed from $4bn to more than $10bn, according to Blockworks data cited by the Financial Times. Vaults typically offer returns of 3 to 10 per cent, with riskier strategies promising 20 per cent or more. Regulators in the US and Europe are examining whether parts of the sector should face financial rules. Crypto vaults have attracted more than $10bn in deposits as investors chase returns of up to 20 per cent, but analysts warn that the strategies can expose them to rap

Highlights Selena Gomez says heavy nicotine vaping has changed her voice and urges fans not to take up the habit. The singer and actor has stopped vaping and hopes to remain nicotine-free. Gomez has previously spoken about throat swelling and her long-term health challenges. Selena Gomez has warned fans against vaping after revealing that she believes the habit has changed her voice. The 34-year-old singer and actor shared the update in an Instagram post on Sunday, explaining that she had been v

Bus passengers could face fines of up to 100 for loud music and other offences under new local authority powers. A national rail campaign will ask passengers to share the carriage, not the noise. Transport campaigners have welcomed the crackdown but questioned whether authorities will have the resources to enforce it. Passengers who play loud music on buses in England could face fines of up to 100 under a government crackdown on antisocial behaviour across public transport. The measures target d

Highlights Three suspects have been arrested in Rajasthan over the firing at Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai. A social media post claiming responsibility for the attack warned that people working with Salman Khan could be targeted. A separate audio message reportedly threatened Khan and his family, with police investigating the claims and the alleged gang connection. Three men suspected of opening fire at Tiger Shroff s car in Mumbai have been arrested in Rajasthan, following an attack that has rais

Hundreds protest in Parliament Square against Indias election chief YouTuber Dhruv Rathee addresses rally in Hindi Smaller group of Modi supporters stages counter-protest Police keep rival groups apart as chants grow heated HUNDREDS of people gathered at Mahatma Gandhis statue in Parliament Square on Saturday to protest against Indias chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the revision of the countrys voter lists, as a smaller group of Narendra Modi supporters staged a rival rally nearby.

As Diwali approaches and our communities are illuminated by the warm glow of countless diyas, families across the world will come together to celebrate the Festival of Lights. There will be vibrant colour, glittering fireworks, wonderful food, dedicated prayer and plenty of celebrations. But beneath all of this sits a message that has endured for generations: light has the power to overcome darkness. That message carries a reverence far beyond the festival time. Diwali is a time to celebrate pro

AI services contributed more than 8 per cent of Infosys revenue in the previous quarter. The company could see AI account for 20 to 30 per cent of its work within a few quarters. Infosys plans to recruit another 20,000 graduates this financial year, with training focused on AI. Infosys chief executive and managing director Salil Parekh expects artificial intelligence (AI) services to account for almost half of the Indian IT giants work within two to three years, as demand for AI-led projects acc

Highlights: Britain recorded at least six tiger-related deaths since 1980. India reported 393 deaths between 2021 and 2025. Maharashtra accounted for 231 of Indias fatalities. Many Indian victims were collecting forest produce for their livelihoods. Indias tiger population rose to 3,682 in 2022. The death of William Chapman at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in 2026 has brought Britain's record of fatal tiger encounters under scrutiny. It also provides a striking comparison with India, where hundreds of

British Asian groups protest outside Indian High Commission in London Students also rally in Cardiff, Leeds and Edinburgh Protesters back demand for election chief Gyanesh Kumars removal Two CJP leaders sent to Tihar Jail after entering Jantar Mantar BRITISH ASIANS groups have staged an emergency protest outside the High Commission of India in London in solidarity with demonstrations in New Delhi over a controversial revision of Indias voter lists. The protest on Tuesday evening, organised by gr

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

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

The Met Office says current forecasts do not support widespread UK snow or a prolonged freeze. El Nio could increase the chances of wetter and stormier weather later in autumn and early winter. The coming days are expected to bring rain, showers, stronger winds and some cooler spells. The UK weather forecast snow claims circulating online have been challenged by the Met Office, which has rejected suggestions that Britain is about to be hit by widespread snow, a major freeze or a polar vortex. Th

Highlights Eight-year-old Jeevna Kaur Notay was invited on stage by Diljit Dosanjh after he spotted her dancing in the crowd at his Manchester concert. The Leeds girl, who was born with a congenital limb difference, told Eastern Eye about the emotional moment and why wearing her pagh on stage made her proud. Her father Surjeet Singh Notay explains how amputee football helped Jeevna find a community and why he hopes her story will encourage other families. Eight-year-old Jeevna Kaur Notay arrived

Average five-year fixed mortgage rate reaches 6 per cent, the highest since September 2023. Only nine fixed-rate deals below 5 per cent remain, down from 1,494 at the start of September. Rising gilt yields and volatile swap rates are pushing up lenders funding costs. UK mortgage rates have climbed back to a three-year high, with the average five-year fixed mortgage rate reaching 6.00 per cent as almost all fixed-rate deals below 5 per cent disappear from the market. Moneyfacts said the average f

Highlights Simu Liu, 37, and Interscope Records executive Allison Hsu, 30, married in France over the weekend of October 3, TMZ reports Their engagement was announced on May 11, 2025, after a Paris proposal that included a video message from Taylor Swift Liu said earlier this year that good music was the one thing both of them insisted on for the wedding Liu returns as Shang-Chi in Avengers: Doomsday this December The wedding, as reported TMZ was first to report that Liu and Hsu were married in

The FCA has appointed board member Lea Paterson to review its handling of Andriesz. The regulator previously apologised after giving him incorrect advice about whistleblower protection. MPs are calling for an independent investigation rather than an internal FCA review. The UK's financial regulator has launched an investigation into how it handled a whistleblower who raised concerns about his former employer and later highlighted alleged business links between US commerce secretary Howard Lutnic

BA295 dropped from about 37,000 feet to 9,000 feet over Ireland. Oxygen masks deployed after the aircraft experienced a technical issue. The Boeing 777-200ER circled before safely landing back at Heathrow. A British Airways flight from London to Chicago was forced to turn back after making a sudden descent of around 28,000 feet over Ireland. Flight BA295 was about an hour into its transatlantic journey from London Heathrow to Chicago OHare when the Boeing 777-200ER descended from its cruising al

Trump says US withdrew all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford He says threats were linked to Iran; Tehran denies involvement Downing Street insists the base is safe Six people arrested over incident released on bail US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States had withdrawn all its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford because of threats he believed were linked to Iran, as the UK government insisted the base was safe. The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the bombers had left the base in s

Highlights AJ Pritchard has taken on a new presenting role on GB News The former Strictly Come Dancing professional appeared on The Saturday Five He presented a segment about shoplifting and petty crime Some viewers questioned why the dancer had moved into current-affairs presenting His delivery was mocked by some viewers on X, while others praised his performance Former Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard has surprised viewers with a new television role on GB News, but his appearanc

The author (Lord) Jeffrey Archer, who has an especially devoted following in India, died suddenly on Monday at his home in the UK at the age of 86. He would have liked the fact that his end resembled one of the twists in his tales. He passed away after he had spent Sunday promoting what he had declared was his very last novel, Adam & Eve . This was formally published on Tuesday, October 6, by HarperCollins, who announced he died suddenly and peacefully at his home between writing sessions. Kate

Highlights Janhvi Kapoor has spoken out after an AI-morphed video featuring her went viral online The actress called the misuse of technology to objectify women deeply violating Janhvi said such manipulation is bordering on sexual assault She stressed that consent, choice and respect for a womans body should never be open to interpretation Janhvi Kapoor has broken her silence after an AI-morphed video featuring her likeness sparked outrage online, describing the misuse of technology to objectify

Green Party votes 1,022 to 813 to define Zionism as racism Israel bars party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country Jewish groups warn of risk to safety of British Jews At least three of five Green MPs opposed the motion ISRAEL has barred Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country after his party voted to define Zionism as racism at its annual conference on Sunday. Members backed the motion by 1,022 votes to 813. It states that Zionism should be reated as any other form

Reported losses from account hacking rose from 1.2m to 6.3m. Account takeovers made up 69 per cent of reported cybercrime cases. Report Fraud is urging people to use passkeys to secure their accounts. Criminals stole 6.3 million from people after hacking their email and social media accounts in the 2025-26 financial year, more than five times the amount reported a year earlier, according to new figures from Report Fraud. The losses rose from 1.2m in 2024-25, representing an increase of more than

BT has acquired TalkTalk and PlatformX Communications out of administration. The deal is intended to protect services for 2.5 million customers and around 900 employees. The CMA will examine the competition implications before the government considers wider public-interest concerns. BT has agreed to buy TalkTalk out of administration in a 400m rescue deal designed to prevent the collapse of the broadband provider and protect services for around 2.5 million customers across the UK. The deal gives

Highlights Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates are reportedly dating after growing close as Match of the Day co-hosts Chapman is said to have split from his girlfriend Clere Collier in April after three years together A report claims Chapman told Collier there was no overlap between the two relationships Chapman and Cates appeared together on Celebrity Gogglebox in July Cates previously opened up about her worries about dating again Match of the Day presenters Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates are reportedl

A YouGov projection puts the Tories second on 130 seats, ahead of Reform on 123. Reform's support slips amid a police investigation and a sleaze probe over a 5 million gift to Farage. Analysts call it a very small revival driven by Reform's fall rather than Tory gains. A split right-wing vote could help Labour, now led by Andy Burnham, hold key seats. THE CONSERVATIVES have overtaken Reform UK in a new seat projection, reversing a year in which Nigel Farage's party appeared on course to replace

A BRITISH ASIAN businessman and his former wife are fighting extradition to the US, where they are accused of defrauding American health programmes of millions of dollars by supplying cancer drugs that had not been approved by US regulators. Sukhi Ghuman and Kiranjit Ghuman, both 48 and now living in the UK, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London last week for an extradition hearing. The pair, who have divorced since the charges were brought, deny the allegations. They are also wan

POLICE in New Delhi detained several people on Saturday as they broke up a second day of protests against changes to India's voter rolls, led by the Gen Z-backed Cockroach Janta Party and other opposition groups. Protesters say the changes benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and are demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. About 100 demonstrators removed security barricades and chanted vote thief, leave the post and G

G7 countries will coordinate the release of 100 million barrels over four months. A substantial amount of diesel will be released within the first 20 days. UK diesel prices have climbed above 2 a litre amid a global supply squeeze. The G7 has agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and petroleum products in an effort to ease a global supply squeeze that has sent diesel and other fuel prices sharply higher. The coordinated release by the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan will

Highlights: South Asians seek health advice on WhatsApp NHS information can feel culturally disconnected Family networks remain highly trusted Social media fills perceived health information gaps Researchers warn about misinformation risks British south Asians are increasingly turning to family, friends and social media for health information when official advice does not feel relevant to their everyday lives. A new UK study suggests that WhatsApp, in particular, has become an important part of

Israeli website Ynet reports that the captain was Indian and fought an Omani co-pilot suspected of trying to crash the plane. The flight dropped about 17,000 feet in a minute before diverting to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu says the alleged attacker has been arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities. Flydubai has not confirmed either pilot's identity or nationality. THE CAPTAIN of a flydubai flight who fought with his co-pilot during a violent cockpit confrontation was an Indian

Trump brought leading AI and technology executives to the White House. The companies agreed to voluntary safety controls and external audits. Trump also directed federal agencies to use Super Intelligence instead of AI. Why were Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Greg Brockman and Satya Nadella all in the same room with US President Donald Trump? The answer goes beyond a meeting of technology executives. The White House gathering brought together leaders from different parts of the artificial intellig

Highlights Dakota Johnson opened up about filming intimate scenes with Anne Hathaway for Verity . Johnson said: I would kiss Annie for the rest of my life. Every day. The actors improvised one of the films intimate scenes with director Michael Showalter. Josh Hartnett described the casts chemistry as coming from mutual respect and understanding. Dakota Johnson has opened up about filming intimate scenes with Anne Hathaway in Verity , the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoovers bestselling novel.