American fantasy drama series; first adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire
Iceland is set to vote on restarting EU membership talks in August. The decision hinges on balancing economic openness with fisheries sovereignty, amid a push for a more flexible enlargement model within the EU. A referendum would open talks toward joining the bloc, while concerns over the Common Fisheries Policy loom large.
The Guardian and other outlets have reported on ongoing regulatory and industry moves to tighten safety standards for AI deployment, with governments and platforms increasingly requiring transparency and accountability in how AI systems are trained and used.
Culture secretary has said she is minded to intervene in the Paramount-WBD merger on public-interest grounds, triggering regulatory scrutiny by Ofcom and the CMA. A final decision has not been taken; Paramount and WBD face a response deadline, with potential timelines extending into Q3 2026.
Ofcom has found 26% of UK viewers now turn to Netflix first when choosing what to watch, narrowly ahead of the BBC on 25%, while ITV is first for 15%. YouTube viewing has surged: TV viewing of YouTube has doubled since 2022 to 19 minutes a day and total daily YouTube time is 41 minutes. Traditional broadcasters’ weekly reach has fallen to 70%.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction has seen iconic pieces—from Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker lightsaber to Willy Wonka’s top hat—fetch records, underscoring fans’ willingness to pay for film history.
Outlander actors reflect on early scene practices, the introduction of intimacy coordinators, and the industry’s evolving approach to nude scenes. The conversation, held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland, also touches on the series’ end and potential future projects.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened The Mad King, a Game of Thrones prequel, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 3h45m production brings younger versions of familiar figures to the stage with a 36-strong cast and innovative puppetry. Reviews are mixed on pace and poetry, but the project aims to broaden GoT’s reach beyond devoted fans.
The Harry Potter TV series has replaced Nicholas Hoult with Kit Harington to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season, adapting The Chamber of Secrets. The change follows scheduling conflicts and comes after fan backlash to Rowling’s involvement. Other cast updates include Paapa Essiedu as Snape and John Lithgow as Dumbledore.
A trio of travel features from Independent and The Guardian highlights luxury hotels in Crete, Dubrovnik and Crevan near Venice. Buyers are eyeing boutique stays, private villas and heritage properties as tourism recovers and high-net-worth buyers explore the lagoon and Adriatic coast. The Guardian notesCrevan’s Napoleonic fort conversion and private amenities as Venice’s market heats up.
The Royal Mint has unveiled two 50p coin designs, some in colour, to celebrate 60 years of Star Trek. The designs feature the Vulcan salute with the motto Live long and prosper and a second coin with four spacecraft spanning different eras. Mint and Paramount executives say the coins honour the franchise’s dedicated collector community; they go on sale September 3 with prices from 19.95 pounds.
The White House has posted several arcade-style games to its website, including a Tetris-like “Build the Wall” game. Tetris denies involvement and warns of copyright action as one game is taken down. Other titles remain online as politicians weigh in on the messaging use of pop culture.