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UK becomes first European nation to approve new weight-loss pill, but NHS access is still pending

The UK is the first European country to approve Eli Lillys Foundayo pill. The tablet is taken once a day without food or water restrictions. NHS availability will depend on a separate NICE assessment. The UK has become the first European nation to approve a new daily weight-loss pill , giving patients another option beyond the injectable treatments that have dominated the GLP-1 market. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Eli Lillys orforglipron, sold under the

11 Aug 2026 10:18 pm
The Bhavan London hosts India

THE BHAVAN London held its Indias Independence Day celebrations on Friday, August 7, with speeches, music and dance. The evening began with a prayer by Executive Director Dr MN andakumara MBE, followed by a welcome address by Subhanu Saxena, Chairman, The Bhavan UK. Saxena spoke about the importance of communities coming together and the role of institutions such as The Bhavan in bringing people together. Cllr Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, spoke about The Bhavans 50-year h

11 Aug 2026 10:13 pm
Tom Holland set to enter Hollywood

Highlights Tom Hollands 2026 box-office run includes The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day . Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed around 1.2 billion worldwide. Hollands career box-office total is reportedly above 10 billion, putting him closer to Hollywoods highest-grossing stars. Tom Holland is enjoying one of the biggest box-office years of his career, with two major releases helping push his cumulative worldwide gross towards the upper ranks of Hollywood's biggest earners. Christopher No

11 Aug 2026 9:47 pm
James Bond: The unlikely Riz Ahmed twist in the race for 007

Highlights Bond 26 auditions have moved into a new round this August, with producer Amy Pascal saying a decision on the next 007 could be a good bet by year's end. Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi remain the names most often linked to the role but Riz Ahmed's name keeps resurfacing, and not just as fan-casting. Tom Holland is out (his Marvel contract won't allow it) and Taron Egerton has ruled himself out, narrowing the field further. For five years, who's the next James Bond? has been a question

11 Aug 2026 9:45 pm
South Asian Film Festival UK to bring 'Sangam', 'Kabhi Kabhie' and 'Dil Chahta Hai' back to cinemas

Highlights The inaugural South Asian Film Festival UK will celebrate Indian cinema with three restored classics across England this October. Sangam , Kabhi Kabhie and Dil Chahta Hai will screen across eight Showcase Cinemas. Each screening will feature a special Filmy Sing-Along Medley before the film. Classic Hindi cinema is getting a big-screen revival in the UK, with the inaugural South Asian Film Festival UK set to bring three much-loved films back to cinemas this October. Supported by the B

11 Aug 2026 9:17 pm
Dodge Charger Super Bee gets 600bhp straight-six to rival Mustang V8

The limited-edition Charger Super Bee produces 600bhp from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six. It can switch from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive and reaches 60mph in 3.6 seconds. The new model is due in the US next year but is unlikely to be sold officially in the UK. The new Dodge Charger Super Bee is aimed at buyers who still want the drama of an American muscle car, even though the latest petrol Charger has moved away from the V8 that once defined the name. The limited-edition model get

11 Aug 2026 9:14 pm
Gillian Anderson breaks silence on 'The Salt Path' controversy:

Highlights Gillian Anderson has addressed the controversy surrounding Raynor Winns memoir The Salt Path , which inspired the film. The actor said the allegations emerged at a difficult time for the films US release and described the situation as something that sucked. Jason Isaacs has also defended the film, saying much of it is still completely valid. Gillian Anderson has spoken for the first time about the controversy surrounding The Salt Path , admitting that the allegations surrounding the m

11 Aug 2026 8:24 pm
Meta sold millions of smart glasses, so why are UK venues banning them?

UK courts will confiscate Meta smart glasses from people entering judicial buildings. Restaurants, pubs, theatres and private clubs are also restricting their use. Meta sold 7 million pairs last year despite the growing privacy backlash. The problem facing Meta smart glasses is no longer just about people feeling uncomfortable around a camera they cannot easily see. In England and Wales, the glasses are now facing restrictions in courts, while restaurants, pubs, theatres and private members' clu

11 Aug 2026 8:13 pm
Kangana Ranaut takes aim at Naseeruddin Shah over student protests:

Highlights Kangana Ranaut has backed Piyush Mishra after he criticised Naseeruddin Shah over his comments about Bollywoods silence on student protests. Ranaut said she would rather be a dog than a lomdi (fox), referring to Shah. The dispute began after Shah compared Bollywoods silence on student protests to a dog with a bone in its mouth. Mishra questioned Shahs own response to the Jharkhand students protest. A war of words between veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Piyush Mishra has drawn BJP

11 Aug 2026 7:13 pm
Stephen Graham and Maxine Peake

Highlights Stephen Graham and Maxine Peake lead the cast of the acclaimed British comedy-drama Funny Cow . The film follows a female comedian trying to establish herself in the male-dominated working mens club circuit of the 1970s. Peakes performance was widely praised by critics, with the film earning a 79% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The drama tackles abuse, sexism, racism and survival without softening the world its characters inhabit. Funny Cow is not the kind of comedy that relies on

11 Aug 2026 5:43 pm
When protest becomes a pogrom: The Home Office must draw a clearer line

IT TOOK three nights of violence in Thetford, Norfolk for the police to restore order. A crowd chanted get them out and deport, deport, deport as they pelted a house with eggs and smashed the windows. Several dozen people tried to break down the door, hoping to confront the people inside, violently attacking the police who blocked them. This violent criminality was not political protest, but an attempt at a xenophobic pogrom to drive out asylum seekers housed in the property. The police relocate

11 Aug 2026 5:41 pm
Why Novo Nordisk is bringing Amazon deeper into its drug-making business

AWS will become Novo Nordisk's preferred cloud provider and strategic AI partner. A new co-innovation hub at Novo Nordisk's Kings Cross facility will bring scientists and AWS engineers together. More than 25,000 Novo Nordisk employees already use its AI tools. Novo Nordisk is taking its use of AI in drug discovery a step further, joining forces with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring artificial intelligence deeper into the pharmaceutical giant's research, development and day-to-day operations. U

11 Aug 2026 5:37 pm
10 most anticipated movies of 2026 and how much they're likely to earn

For the British Asian diaspora and global film audiences, the final five months of 2026 offer an unprecedented slate. The lines between Western blockbusters and Eastern mega-hits have completely blurred, with both vying for premium IMAX screens across the UK. From returning sci-fi masterpieces to historical Bollywood grandeur, here is the definitive countdown of the 10 most anticipated movies still to come in 2026and our verdict on which film will claim the ultimate box office crown. 10. Godzill

11 Aug 2026 5:19 pm
Bangladesh, India scramble to keep six-match cricket series on track

BANGLADESH and India are in talks to resolve a deadlock over a six-match cricket tour scheduled for next month, with the foreign ministers of both countries involved in efforts to save the series. The tour includes three one-day internationals and three T20 matches. It was originally scheduled for August last year but was postponed after political relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated. Bangladesh Sports Minister Aminul Haque said late Monday that efforts were being made at the minis

11 Aug 2026 5:10 pm
US judge drops Adani bribery case, questions Justice Department decision

A US judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani but said the Justice Department's decision to abandon the fraud and bribery case was concerning. Brooklyn-based US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted federal prosecutors' request to dismiss the case after questioning their reasons for doing so, including whether Adani's November 2024 promise to invest $10 billion in the United States had influenced the decision. The Justice Department's decision was the

11 Aug 2026 4:17 pm
30 under 30 south Asian stars shaping global entertainment in 2026

Forget subjective popularity contests. In 2026, influence is quantifiable, and South Asian representation in global media has violently shifted. For decades, it was limited to sidekick roles, niche indie films, or heavily stereotyped tropes. Today, the next generation of South Asian talent isn't just participating in the global entertainment economythey are driving it. Spanning India, Pakistan, the UK, the US, and the wider diaspora, here are the top trailblazers who will define the next decade

11 Aug 2026 1:23 pm
Ayushmann Khurrana responds to filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph

Highlights Jude Anthany Joseph has clarified his earlier comment about Mohanlal and a past project. The filmmaker said the remark was about the producer involved and had nothing to do with Ayushmann Khurrana. Ayushmann praised Mohanlal as a legend and said he hopes to share screen space with him someday. Jude Anthany Josephs recent comment involving Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was linked to a past project that was reportedly being developed with Ayushmann Khurrana. The filmmaker has now clarifi

10 Aug 2026 8:45 pm
Starbucks customers will now need to spend

The spending needed for a free barista-made drink will rise from 50 to 60. A free pastry or cake will require 35 of spending, up from 30. Starbucks is the latest coffee chain to scale back its loyalty offering. Starbucks is making its loyalty rewards more expensive to earn, with customers needing to spend up to 20 per cent more for some of the freebies available through its scheme from September 3. Under the changes, customers will need to spend 60 to earn enough rewards for a free barista-made

10 Aug 2026 6:55 pm
Fifth UK heatwave could push temperatures to 36C

UK TEMPERATURES could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week as the country faces its fifth heatwave of the summer, with possible disruption to railway lines and power networks. Monday will be slightly cooler before temperatures rise from Tuesday. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said Wednesday and Thursday could see temperatures reach the mid-30s across England and Wales, with Thursday the most likely hottest day, The Guardian reported. But Thursday, at this stage, looks the most likely hottest

10 Aug 2026 6:49 pm
Who is Tabby Stoecker? Meet the Olympic gold medallist joining Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Highlights Tabby Stoecker is the 13th celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. The Team GB skeleton athlete won Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. She made her international debut in skeleton just five years ago and has since built an impressive medal record. Tabby Stoecker is going from Olympic gold to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom after being confirmed as the latest celebrity joining the 2026 series. The Team GB skeleton athlete was announced as the 13th name in thi

10 Aug 2026 6:20 pm
Travelodge guest fleeing domestic abuse assaulted after receptionist gave abuser room key over seizure claim

The woman said a Travelodge receptionist gave her alleged abuser a key to her room. She said he attacked her before returning and kicking the hotel room door off its hinges. Travelodge said its policy of never confirming a guest's room details was not followed. A domestic abuse victim has told she was attacked in her Travelodge hotel room after staff allegedly gave her abusive partner a key, raising questions over how hotels protect guests fleeing violence. The woman, who named Lucy as reported

10 Aug 2026 5:54 pm
Prize awarded at Sandhurst in memory of

Rani Reena Kumar was at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday last week (7) to offer her personal congratulations to a British soldier who had won the annual prize that she has set up in her fathers name. Staff Sergeant G Blackwell, 34, from the Royal Engineers, has won this years Major General Diwan Misri Chand Prize. The programme for the Sovereigns Parade said that the special prize is awarded to the individual, platoon or company that has demonstrated outstanding innovation and purp

10 Aug 2026 5:00 pm
Air India pilot undergoes

AN AIR INDIA pilot whose flight plunged around 300 feet during turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew, is undergoing a confirmatory psychoactive drug test, Indias aviation ministry said Sunday. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely, the civil aviation ministry said. Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hos

10 Aug 2026 4:38 pm
Burnham targets subscription traps as he begins cost-of-living tour

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham has vowed to crack down on hard-to-cancel subscriptions and fake discounts as part of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, Downing Street said Sunday. The announcement came as the new Labour leader was due to return to work after a vacation and begin a tour of the country to speak to people about their financial pressures, his office said. Burnham said people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps, where subscriptions are difficult to

10 Aug 2026 2:21 pm
Harry Potter effect: Dobby fans help divert

Highlights Harry Potter fans helped prompt the diversion of the 430m Greenlink interconnector away from Dobby's grave. The 125-mile cable connects the UK National Grid with Ireland via County Wexford and Freshwater West. Project manager Simon Ludlam said his company received hundreds of calls from concerned fans. Planners subsequently rerouted the underground cable away from Dobby's memorial. The National Trust previously agreed in 2022 that the mock grave could remain at Freshwater West. Dobby'

10 Aug 2026 2:11 pm