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Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
16:27, 24 Aug 2026
Netflix is finally bringing back The Gentlemen and teasing an even darker side of Eddie Halstead.
More than two years ago, The Gentlemen on Netflix became a global phenomenon, attracting more than 100 million views worldwide and reaching the number one spot in 75 countries.
Now, once again back for eight more action-packed episodes, The Gentlemen season two is set to premiere on Thursday, September 3, on Netflix.
And just to give a little taste of what’s to come, the streamer has released the official trailer and this time, Eddie Halstead (played by Theo James) is biting back.
It begins with him telling Geoff Seacombe (Vinnie Jones): “Four hundred years ago, this estate spread out as far as the eye can see. I want it all back.”
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It doesn’t take long for the The Gentlemen season two teaser to welcome newcomer Hugh Bonneville into the fold as Eddie asks for his help to “decriminalise marijuana”.
Elsewhere, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) shares her concerns that “The Duke” is evolving into “something volatile”, with a follow-up clip showing Eddie strangling someone.
But the trailer really escalates when, after Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) calls him a “snake”, Eddie unexpectedly screams in his face: “Don’t you f*****g talk to me like that!”, leaving everyone stunned.
Clearly excited to see what’s to come, one YouTuber user commented: “When the world needed The Gentlemen most, they returned.”
Someone else exclaimed: “Guy Ritchie masterpiece”, as another added: “I know this is going to be epic”, a third pleaded: “Please give us four more plus seasons. Guy Ritchie is the goat.”
Thankfully, the viewers have got their wish as on top of releasing the new series two trailer, Netflix has confirmed that The Gentlemen has already been renewed for season three.
Addressing the good news, Ritchie remarked: “The ambition of The Gentlemen has accelerated, the world has expanded and the consequences carry weight. A third season felt inevitable, and I’m looking forward to pushing the boundaries of it further.”
As of yet, no further details of The Gentlemen season three have been released but given that series two hasn’t even dropped yet, it is still very early days.
Nevertheless, a teaser for what’s coming up has been confirmed by its official synopsis: “It’s been one year since Eddie and Susie joined forces to work together in Bobby’s criminal empire overseas.
“As they drive to expand their enterprise, the decisions Bobby is making seem to be increasingly unsound. Now Eddie and Susie must decide whether to take action or risk losing it all, but unfettered ambition never ends well…”
On top of Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville joining the cast, The Gentlemen season two will welcome Dune’s Benjamin Clementine, The Housemaid star Michele Morrone and Love Island icon Maya Jama.
The Gentlemen season two premieres on Thursday, September 3, on Netflix.
Aug. 19 (UPI) — Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel has withdrawn from a high-profile libertarian summit in Argentina where he was scheduled to appear alongside President Javier Milei, days after protesters dressed as Gandalf demonstrated outside his $12 million Buenos Aires mansion.
Thiel had been scheduled as one of the central speakers at the “Vientos de Cambio,” or “Winds of Change,” summit on Sept. 1 and 2 in Buenos Aires, organized by the Libertad y Progreso Foundation. He was expected to hold a public conversation with Chilean commentator Axel Kaiser, while Milei was scheduled to close the gathering, according to Argentine news outlet elDiarioAR.
The foundation said Thiel canceled because of scheduling and logistical issues and did not connect his decision to the protest.
“Due to scheduling and logistical reasons completely unrelated to the organization of the event, Peter Thiel will ultimately be unable to travel to Buenos Aires,” Libertad y Progreso said in a statement cited by elDiarioAR. The organization said Thiel and his team had tried to reconcile the appearance with previous commitments but that travel difficulties made his participation impossible.
The summit is intended to showcase Argentina’s economic transformation under Milei and will bring together government officials, investors, academics and think tanks from Latin America, the United States and Europe. Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Deregulation Minister Federico Sturzenegger are among the government officials scheduled to participate, according to La Nación.
Thiel’s withdrawal came after an unusual demonstration Monday outside his home in Barrio Parque, one of Buenos Aires’ most exclusive neighborhoods.
A group of protesters wearing gray robes, pointed hats and white beards dressed as Gandalf, the wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings, gathered outside the property carrying a banner reading, “You shall not pass,” La Nación reported.
Peter Thiel can run, but he can’t hide.
A squad of Gandalf’s held a banner that said “You Shall Not Pass” at the door of his new home in Buenos Aires. pic.twitter.com/8HQhr02FTD— Jason Bassler (@JasonBassler1) August 18, 2026
The choice of character was a pointed reference to Thiel’s well-documented fascination with Tolkien. Thiel co-founded data analytics company Palantir Technologies, whose name comes from the “palantíri,” seeing stones in Tolkien’s fictional universe that allow their users to communicate across long distances and view faraway events.
The demonstrators protested Thiel’s growing presence and investments in Argentina, including a recently disclosed $76 million stake in oil producer Vista Energy, according to elDiarioAR.
Thiel Macro LLC reported holding 1,189,792 American depositary shares of Vista at the end of the second quarter, worth approximately $76 million and representing about 1% of the company, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing cited by La Nación. The Vista investment was the fund’s second-largest reported equity position behind Amazon and represented about 18% of its reported stock portfolio.
Vista is one of the major operators in Vaca Muerta, Argentina’s massive shale oil and gas formation, making the investment Thiel’s most significant publicly disclosed financial bet in the country.
His financial expansion has come alongside increasingly visible ties to Milei and senior members of his government.
Thiel met with Milei at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in April, part of a series of meetings between the two over the past two years. El País reported that the April meeting was their fourth since 2024, following encounters at the Casa Rosada in January 2024, at the Milken Institute conference in Los Angeles that May and another meeting in Buenos Aires.
During his latest stay in Argentina, Thiel also met with presidential adviser Santiago Caputo, while Economy Minister Luis Caputo received him at the Economy Ministry in May, La Nación reported.
Thiel temporarily settled in Buenos Aires with his husband and children in early April and purchased a six-bedroom mansion in Barrio Parque for about $12 million, according to La Nación.
His outreach has extended beyond Milei’s political circle. On June 3, Thiel held a more than three-hour meeting at his home with opposition lawmaker and social leader Juan Grabois, one of Milei’s most outspoken political opponents. Grabois later said the meeting was intended to help him understand the political and technological project of Silicon Valley’s emerging elite.
TV fans won’t have long to wait for the return of Suranne Jones’ acclaimed BBC thriller.
A third series of Vigil is set to arrive over the bank holiday weekend, with the six-part drama premiering on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from Sunday, August 30.
The latest trailer offers a glimpse at the dangerous new case DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre must solve.
Played by Jones and Rose Leslie, the two detectives are once again at the centre of an investigation which takes them far from home. This time, they travel to a remote Arctic research station after a member of a secret British special forces operation is discovered dead from a gunshot wound.
What initially appears to be a murder investigation soon develops into a potentially explosive international situation. With nations increasingly competing for influence over the Arctic and its resources as the polar climate changes, Amy and Kirsten must work quickly to uncover the truth before tensions escalate.
Their investigation will not only put them up against a potentially dangerous killer but could also have serious consequences for their own careers and relationship. As events begin to spiral, the pair are forced to reconsider who they can rely on.
Alongside Jones and Leslie, Dominic Mafham will return as Sir Ian Downing, while Gary Lewis is back as DSU Robertson, who remains closely involved with Amy and Kirsten’s work.
The third series also brings a number of new faces to the drama. Jeppe Beck Laursen plays Henrick Becken, the Chief of Police in Svalbard, while Naomi Yang takes on the role of Shen Jia, a microbiologist.
Tornike Gogrichiani appears as Russian Colonel Fyodor, with Steven Miller and Benjamin Wainwright playing Special Boat Service operators Mark Cunningham and Oli Pickford.
Danusia Samal joins the cast as Jasmine Kelly, who works alongside Sir Ian Downing, while Eric Godon plays Mayor Korotayev and Amy Manson stars as geologist Lorna McCallister alongside a brilliant cast.
The latest instalment of Vigil consists of six 60-minute episodes and has been produced by World Productions in partnership with ITV Studios for the BBC. The production company is known for dramas including Line of Duty, Until I Kill You and Showtrial.
Filming for the new series took place in Svalbard and Scotland, helping to create the remote and unforgiving setting at the heart of the story.
The new trailer promises another tense chapter for Amy and Kirsten, with a murder in the Arctic setting the detectives on a dangerous path involving international rivalry, hidden agendas and a race to discover who can be trusted.
With their investigation carrying consequences that extend well beyond the murder itself, the third series looks set to deliver another high-stakes mystery when Vigil returns to screens.
Two episodes of Vigil will be available weekly on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 30th August, with the series airing Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm on BBC One from this date.
Syrian army helicopters have dropped roses on crowds at the Summer Syria festival at Damascus Citadel, as part of a wider push to revive cultural events after years of civil war.
Published On 16 Aug 202616 Aug 2026
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TINIE Tempah has announced his first album in 10 years as he dropped his new single.
The singer’s last album Youth was released in 2027, and included songs Girls Like featuring Zara Larsson and Not Letting Go with Jess Glynne.
A decade on and Tinie, 37, has shared the exciting news that he’s releasing his fourth studio album.
The musician shared a photo of the album’s front cover, which is titled The Night’s Not Dead.
Looking back on how much has changed over the last 10 years, Tinie wrote: “Last time I announced an album, lockdown wasn’t a thing.
“The UK was still in the EU, Supreme was selling bricks, memes were taking over the world, and 1 Bitcoin was worth £500.
READ MORE ON TINIE TEMPAH
“So much has happened in the world since then.
“It’s crazy to be announcing my 4th studio album, ‘The Night’s Not Dead,’ coming 16th October 2026.”
He added: “The journey of a night out starts today with Heaven Or Hell ft. Reggie. The track to start your night with. Let’s go!”
Reggie commented: “The King! Inspired me when I was a kid and still inspiring the next generation. an absolute pleasure brother.”
This fan posted: “Oooh this is gonna go crazy,” while another wrote: “Living legend.”
Just last month, The Sun revealed that Tinie was set to release a brand new album.
He exclusively told us: “I’ve not released new music in a while, but I’m back on the grind and it feels good.
“I’ve started putting new music in my sets, but the album is coming in October.”
Tinie’s debut tune, Pass Out, hit the top spot in 2010 and he’s collaborated with massive stars including Rita Ora, Zara Larsson and Ellie Goulding.
But it was way back in 2017 that he released his last album, Youth.
In this revival, Tinie is keen to turn attention to grassroots music venues, where he started out.
Last month, he took to the stage at intimate Southampton venue The Brook alongside Rizzle Kicks to shine a light on the cause.
He said: “One of the reasons I came back was the next generation of artists who may miss out with the way things are going and things are closing. It put me down a bit to think, ‘Wow, this might be an era thing’.
“Behavioural habits have changed — clubs closing, small venues closing — it’s just concerning.
“I feel, as Brits, every ten years we have come to the forefront with a new genre, with garage or grime or dubstep, and I feel like it’s partially because of these spaces that incubate the talent.
“That was one of the motivations for coming back and I feel like it’s a really exciting space to occupy.”
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has claimed that Russia’s army suffered 42,800 casualties in July, which, if accurate, would be the highest rate of losses so far this year estimated by Kyiv.
At the same time, Russia has responded to its poor battlefield performance and domestic energy crises by doubling down on the two weapons Ukraine has not found an adequate defence to – glide bombs and ballistic missiles.
list of 4 itemsend of list
Russia unleashed 8,300 glide bombs in July, more than in any other month of the war, said Ukraine’s defence ministry.
Ukraine’s kill rate is rising to meet what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes will be a call-up of up to half a million Russian reservists in October.
Al Jazeera is unable to independently verify either side’s claims of casualties in the war, now raging on in its fifth year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far refrained from using regular army conscripts and reservists in what he calls his Special Military Operation in Ukraine, fearing a political backlash. Should Ukraine force him to do so, it could mark a political inflexion point in Putin’s popularity at home.
As for Ukraine’s casualties, Zelenskyy recently told Fox News they amounted to 450,000, of whom 50,000 are fatalities.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has recently estimated that “the Russia-Ukraine casualty rate has likely risen to nearly 8:1 in the first half of 2026, up from between 2:1 and 3:1 for much of the war, in large part due to Ukraine’s use of drones”.
Drones were responsible for 30,272 of Russia’s casualties in July, said Zelenskyy.
Russia’s rising casualty rate is accompanied by a falling rate of performance on the battlefield.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank that assesses territorial control using geolocated open-source material, estimates that Russia occupied a total of 37.85sq km (15sq miles) of Ukraine in July, compared with 455,000sq km (176,000sq miles) in July of 2025.
That is demonstrative of Russia’s poor showing this year.
The ISW estimates that on balance, Russia has lost 183.5sq km (70sq miles) of Ukrainian territory this year, compared with the 2,198sq km (848sq miles) it seized during the first seven months of 2025.
Moscow has succeeded in infiltrating areas of Ukraine – a tactic of sending individual troops to pre-position themselves and await reinforcements, thus placing Ukrainian control of territory in dispute, if not firmly controlling it.
Russia infiltrated 121.6sq km (47sq miles) in July, according to the ISW, bringing total infiltrated territory for the year to 379.9sq km (147sq miles).
Many of these infiltrations have been reversed by the Ukrainian military, but they may yet prove effective in Kostiantynivka, the southernmost of Ukraine’s fortress cities, where Ukrainian defenders have recently expressed doubt about their ability to hold the city for more than a few more months.
Ukraine has also been holding its own in the air.
Zelenskyy declared a 40-day air strike campaign a success and renewed it on August 4.
The three-tiered campaign aimed to hit military production and oil refining inside Russia, energy and weapons flows in occupied territories close to the front line, and front-line positions.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it had struck 14 refineries, dozens of oil depots and loading terminals, 14 aircraft and four airfields over 40 days.
Many of those strikes took place in the past week, when Ukraine set fire to a Lukoil refinery in Volgograd, three refineries in the city of Ufa, 1,600km (994 miles) from Ukraine, the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery in Yaroslavl, the Engels 2 and Saratov airfields, and a factory in Izhevsk manufacturing Shahed drones.
Unlike the larger Shahed factory in Alabuga, which relies on Chinese parts, this one uses almost exclusively Russian parts, said military technology expert Serhii Beskrestnov.
Ukraine has destroyed about a third of Russia’s actual refining capacity, a recent Financial Times analysis of satellite photographs found.
Ukraine has been launching close to 10,000 long-range drones a month to achieve these results.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 6,225 Ukrainian drones flew towards Moscow in July, representing approximately two-thirds of all Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian soil.
When Ukraine launched its drone campaign at the end of 2023, its goal was to manufacture 11,000 long-range drones in all of 2024. It has since contracted agreements with nine allies to manufacture drones on their soil, sending 50 percent of production to Ukraine, and says 15 more agreements are pending.
The results of the 40-day campaign have been most dramatic in occupied Crimea, where Ukraine has struck 201 electricity substations.
“The Crimean Peninsula’s power grid faced an unprecedented load and operated in critical mode. Rolling blackouts occurred in all Crimean districts,” said the Kremlin’s ambassador-at-large, Rodion Miroshnik.
Things were not much better in the adjacent occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhia, where he said “large-scale power outages … were recorded throughout the week in all regions”.
Ukraine said it has also sunk or disabled 206 Russian tankers and ferries carting oil and war materiel to Crimea across the Black and Azov seas. The head of its unmanned systems forces said it had run out of targets.
The energy crisis has forced the Kremlin to spend billions of roubles subsidising the peninsula, including placing a 100 rouble ($1.20) price cap on petrol in the past week.
Meanwhile Ukrainian strikes have continued, levelling a 60,000-tonne petroleum products tank farm in Taman, on the Russian side of the Kerch Strait, used to supply Crimea, and causing a catastrophic fire on July 31. Ukraine followed up by striking aircraft hangars in Yevpatoria, a naval boat yard in Chornomorske and an artillery brigade’s supply base, all in Crimea.
Russia’s glide bombs are inertial ordnance fitted with fins giving them extra range and accuracy, so they can be dropped at safe distances of 20 to 30km (12 to19 miles) from the front lines.
Some carry three tonnes of explosives. They fly too fast to be intercepted by drones and cannot be disoriented by scrambling.
As well as glide bombs, Russia also unleashed its greatest monthly tally of missiles against Ukrainian cities – 376 in July, compared with a previous record of 288 in March. Of these, 120 were ballistic, and their density has depleted Ukraine’s stock of Patriot interceptors – the only missile that has proven effective against them.
During the past week, Ukraine stopped only one out of 51 Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
The Russian penetration rate translated directly into hits and civilian deaths – at least nine on August 1 and 17 on August 5 in Kyiv alone.
Russian production of Iskander-Ms is estimated at 70 a month, but North Korean ballistics may now be coming into play.
A missile fired at Radushne, Ukraine last month was of Korean manufacture, claimed Zelenskyy – only the second such missile to be used in the war.
Zelenskyy has pleaded for countries to send some of their stockpiles of an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 Patriot interceptors.
“The United States knows what we need. Europe knows what we need. Anti-ballistic missiles must protect people – not sit in stockpiles,” he said.
Ukraine’s vulnerability is clear from figures shared by its air force. It has intercepted 4,626 missiles of various types since the beginning of the war, but only 437 ballistic missiles.
‘Gripping’ detective drama with ‘genuine heart’ drops on Channel 5(Image: Channel 5)
Viewers looking for a gritty crime thriller are in luck, as Channel 5 has acquired a firm favourite.
The broadcaster has announced that Walker, starring Jared Padalecki, Lindsey Morgan and Molly Hagan, is now available to stream, with weekly season drops from July 30.
Walker, which first launched in 2021 in America, is a direct reboot and reimagining of the 1990s action crime drama Walker, Texas Ranger starring Chuck Norris.
The drama, which is made up of four seasons, sees Gilmore Girls star Jared Padalecki reinvent the iconic franchise as Cordell Walker, a widowed Ranger returning home to a family he barely knows and secrets that refuse to stay buried.
It has been described as a series that blends “gripping action with genuine heart”, and has strong reviews from those who watched the drama when it originally launched.
“So captivating!!” wrote one viewer on IMBd, adding: “I loved the episode it was a strong pilot and I can’t wait to see what happens! I loved the establishment of the characters right away you knew the relationship of everyone and you already got a little bit of insight to how they interact with each other. This is a show that can only keep getting better!!”
While a second wrote: “Big Supernatural fan of Jared’s and honestly was worried about seeing him transition to a new show after 15 years of playing one character.
“But after watching the pilot episode of Walker, man I was blown away! He was so believable as Cordell Walker, Sam was not to be found. Kudos to the entire cast! This episode introduced us to all the characters seamlessly, and I look forward to seeing where this show takes them.”
Others warned not to compare the reboot to the original. One viewer explained: “Stop comparing; it’s two completely different shows.
“This Walker is all about heart, family and fighting crime. Jared Padalecki is not and never will be Chuck Norris, thank goodness… Norris is all action and no acting! I never liked the original!
“But this one… This one is a great story and an amazing cast! And the intrigue and drama is getting better and better each week!”
A synopsis reads: “A widowed father returns to Austin after one year, attempting to reconnect with his children, navigate clashes with his family, and find common ground with his new partner, while growing increasingly suspicious of his wife’s death.”
Walker is now available to stream on My5 with weekly season drops.
The US Department of Justice has moved to dismiss its case against Olympian David Hearn over damage to the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC. The DOJ says new evidence points to flawed installation by the contractor, not vandalism.
Published On 1 Aug 20261 Aug 2026
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WASHINGTON — The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a “flawed installation by the contractor” as well as “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026.”
“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” said the filing from U.S. Atty. Jeanine Pirro.
Hearn’s lawyers said in a statement that the case against him should never have been brought.
“Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong. The government’s approach was ready, fire, aim. The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology,” the lawyers said.
Hearn pleaded not guilty earlier this month to one felony count of property destruction and has a trial scheduled to start Sept. 28 in D.C. Superior Court. The charge, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years upon conviction, accuses Hearn of causing at least $1,000 in damage to the pool.
Hearn told the Associated Press he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a bike ride on June 19. He said he reached in to examine the pool’s newly peeled coating and briefly touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool, but said he obeyed a park worker who told him to let go of it.
Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Md., competed in three Summer Olympics, earning his best finish, ninth, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee says on its website.
He and his supporters have said the prosecution is a politically motivated attempt by the Trump administration to deflect blame and scapegoat others.
Tucker writes for the Associated Press.
08:30, 31 Jul 2026Updated 08:30, 31 Jul 2026
Emmerdale is all about strong women this summer
Emmerdale’s strong female characters will take centre stage this summer in a string of big storylines.
The ITV soap has promised a huge summer for some of the biggest characters, with explosive secrets being revealed, new alliances forming and devastating consequences.
For fan favourite Charity (Emma Atkins), there is much drama ahead as her lies catch up with her. With Charity desperate to protect her family, she falls deeper in the lies that the baby she carried belongs to her and Ross Barton.
With everything she holds dear at risk, a confession comes – and the secret she reveals threatens to shake the entire village to the core, with devastating scenes set to air for the wider Dingle family.
Sarah, played by Katie Hill, will struggle to cope when she gets pushed to the edge by devastating news. Her world could come crumbling down if she learns the truth about where her and Jacob’s daughter Leyla’s true parentage lies.
It is bad news for Dawn – played by Olivia Bromley – who finds herself caught in the crossfire of a terrifying feud. She seems happy with Joe Tate and her new family, but things take a turn for the worse.
As her wedding day approaches, she’s trapped and needs to make a huge choice. A present life as it is now, or the hope of finally having the future she wants for her and her family.
New arrival Serena (Casey Al-Shaqsy) has caused quite the star since she showed up as the newest member of the Sugden family. She faces more drama this summer, and needs to decide how much she will face to lose to protect her biggest secret.
Gabby – played by Rosie Bentham – has always been the centre of some big storylines in the Dales, but this summer, she is struggling to keep things under control. Her health will be devastatingly impacted by her struggles and her life is at risk.
She is faced with the biggest moral decision of her life when a terrible incident takes place. Will she destroy the lives of the people she cares about with her terrifying decision?
There’s also a huge return for Patsy Kensit’s character Sadie, who has quite the agenda when she waltzes back into the Dales. Armed with a big surprise, she has a secret to tell, and the village will be left reeling.
Emmerdale Producer, Laura Shaw, teased: “From explosive secrets that shatter lives to dangerous new allegiances that threaten to tear the village apart, this season promises to be one of our most intense yet. The village is set for a dramatic transformation, and we can’t wait for our audience to see the peril these characters face.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
July 29 (UPI) — The stock market opened with the Dow falling 400 points on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s latest interest rate decision.
The committee will announce its decision on Wednesday afternoon with Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh making his second address since being appointed. Economic indicators point to the Fed holding interest rates at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%.
“My colleagues and I recognize that high inflation has been an undue burden on American households and businesses,” Warsh said during a Senate Banking Committee hearing earlier this month. “The members of our committee have no tolerance for persistently elevated inflation and we share a resolute commitment to restore price stability.”
The war in Iran has increased economic pressure, driven by rising fuel costs as the United States and Iran use the crucial Strait of Hormuz as a point of negotiation. The annual inflation rate rose to 4.2% in May on the back of rising gas prices.
The Federal Reserve has maintained a target goal of 2% annual inflation rate.
The average fuel price in the United States is $4.09 per gallon for regular grade gasoline on Wednesday, AAA reports.
The Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision at 2 p.m. EDT, followed by an address by Warsh at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
monsitj/iStock via Getty Images
Front-month gold futures plunged below $4,000/oz Monday after fresh strikes between the U.S. and Iran sent oil prices surging higher, reviving concerns about inflation and the potential for tighter monetary policy.
The latest escalation and President Trump’s declaration that the
July 9 (UPI) — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recalled more than 2.5 million bottles of eye drops because they may contain a “foreign substance.”
The nationwide recall was initiated by Lupin Pharmaceuticals on June 4 because of some type of foreign substance, though the company and the FDA have not identified it or how it got into the eye drops, MassLive and NJ.com reported.
The class II recall of the prednisolone acetate eye drops — used to reduce inflammation after eye surgery or for allergic and other conditions — is the second-highest risk recall for the agency because it may cause adverse consequences if used.
In a recall notice posted on its website on Thursday, the FDA said that the recall of more than 2.5 million bottles of Lupin’s prednisolone eye drops was because of the “presence of foreign substance.”
The affected bottles come in 5 mL, 10 mL and 15 mL quantities, and were produced by the India-based Lupin, which specializes in manufacturing generic pharmaceutical medications.
The FDA also cautions against simply pausing the use of these medications, suggesting that people who need to use them contact their eye doctor or pharmacist in order to properly react for their own conditions.
July 8 (UPI) — Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race on Wednesday evening, two days after allegations arose that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2021.
In a video, Platner said that “we believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me — and for that reason we are suspending campaign operations.”
“It’s not the false allegations, though, that have brought us to where we are,” he said. “It’s the fact that they’re being used by the political establishment to put structural pressure on us. We live in a political system that is not built for normal people. It is a system built structurally to make sure movements like ours cannot flourish.”
The decision allows Democrats to choose a new candidate for the race against Republican Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent. Platner had until Monday to drop out; Democrats now have two weeks to pick a contender for the race.
On Monday, a woman who once dated Platner said he forced her to have sex with him about five years ago, Politico reported. Jenny Racicot said Platner was intoxicated when he entered her home one night in 2021 andassaulted her while she told him repeatedly to stop. Others have also made claims about Platner and abuse.
Platner has steadily denied the allegations, calling them “categorically untrue.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Maine Democratic Party approved a plan to hold a nominating convention if Platner suspended his campaign.
Valli Geiger, a Maine state representative, told WMTW-TV of Portland, Maine, that Platner called her and encouraged her to try to take his place on the ballot.
“He said, ‘Valli, you are a fighter; you have been with this movement since the beginning,’ ” Geiger said. She said she was “heartbroken” by the accusations against Platner but agreed that he needed to suspend his campaign. She also said he was encouraging others to put their names forward.
CNN reported that candidates to replace Platner include three Democrats who ran for governor: Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control; Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; and former state Sen. Troy Jackson.
Since the allegations broke, a rising tide of Democrats called on Platner to suspend his campaign, including former supporters Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Many groups rescinded endorsements of the candidate.
Platner has also been involved in other controversies, including over a tattoo with Nazi connotations that he said he was unaware of.
FANCY a half price holiday? You may want to read this.
On the Beach have launched a massive surprise sale across 218 city break destinations, where holidaymakers can bag up to 50% off a break.
This includes capital cities like Rome, Paris and Amsterdam, as well as popular city break spots like Krakow and Milan.
The 72-hour flash sale ends at midnight tomorrow (June 3).
The discount applies to last-minute breaks with departure dates from July 4 to August 26, 2026.
With hundreds of hotels and dates available, you could be setting off on an affordable city break this summer for less than you’d think.
Here’s our pick of the top deals available in the flash sale.
The four star Attica 21 Barcelona Mar is an ideal spot to stay in the trendy Spanish city.
This hotel has a rooftop pool with sweeping city views, as well as comfy, modern rooms and a well-stocked buffet breakfast.
Here you’re also only a short walk from the beach, Platja de la Nova Mar Bella, which is one of the more peaceful stretches of sand in Barcelona.
The On the Beach flash sale offers breaks to Barcelona including flights for £325pp this August, including return flights from London Luton.
Ever fancied going to Thailand but haven’t quite got the budget?
You can book a holiday to Bangkok, staying at the four star Century Park for a week for £1,055pp.
This also includes your return flights from London Heathrow, which is a huge bargain considering flights to Bangkok alone typically cost upwards of £600.
The stunning four star hotel has a relaxing rooftop pool, tropical gardens, two restaurants and two bars.
Imagine sitting down with a drink soaking up the sun on the balcony of your hotel in Rome – that could be you this summer.
Hotel Mancino 12 offers traditional yet stylish rooms with balconies overlooking the historic city.
One of the best parts about this hotel is its location – you’re just a short walk from must-see spots like the Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum.
On the Beach offer a four night stay this August, with return flights from London Stansted, for £405pp.
Slip away for some sun this July to sunny Valencia in Spain, with a stay at the Azz Valencia Congress Hotel & Spa.
This modern hotel has its own spa, where you can take a leisurely swim in the pool or book yourself in for a blissful massage or pampering facial.
Rooms are bright, fresh and modern, with crisp white linen and sleek wooden finishes.
Outside you’ll find a manicured lawn and crystal-clear pool begging for a dip.
Here you’re a 10-15 minute drive away from the city centre, where you’ll find world-class paella and a plethora of fascinating museums.
Prices correct at the time of publication.
France inflation drops to 1.8%
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BIG news for families who travel on Ryanair flights.
The airline has announced that it has changed its policy so that families can sit together free of charge.
In a statement made today, Ryanair said that there will be free parent and child seats available together in the rear of its planes for families.
For adults travelling with children who choose this new seating option, they will be told of their seat allocation after they have checked in for their flight.
This is the case with most other airlines in Europe.
Families who opt for this are likely to be seated towards the back of the plane.
It’s still an option for families to choose their seats in advance, but this does require a seat reservation fee.
Previously, Ryanair’s Ts&Cs required at least one parent to sit with their children aged 2-11 when they fly.
This was done through what Ryanair calls a “mandatory family seat”, which the parent must pay for in order to secure a seat next to them for their child.
For all other passengers, reserving a seat is optional.
This fee applies to both outbound and return flights and typically costs around £8 each way.
Ryanair’s website refers to “Free reserved seats for kids under 12”, but the parents and guardians had to pay a booking fee to access these seats.
Typically, other airlines offer to seat children with a parent or guardian without the need for a paid-for adult seat reservation, or allocate seats together automatically during booking for free.
The new policy comes in on new bookings made from today.
The airline is facing investigation by the CMA to determine whether the practice is “in line with consumer law”.
On the policy change, a CMA spokesperson said: “Ryanair claims its seating policy now complies with the law, and we’ll test that thoroughly. If true, it’s a win for families – who will no longer have to pay to sit with their children – and it shows the impact our new powers are having.
“But it doesn’t change the fact families have been paying for ‘mandatory family seats’. Our investigation remains ongoing.”
Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary, said: “Turning a blind eye to the high fares charged by airlines on routes with no Ryanair competition, the CMA has now targeted our family seating policy which has been universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe.
“Instead of promoting competitiveness and lower fares for consumers, the CMA is on a mission to force Ryanair to adopt the less transparent and less consumer-friendly family seating policy applied by most other airlines – just because it’s the industry standard.”
He said that the airline will “reluctantly adjust” to the industry standard.
Michael explained that “families may have to wait until after they have checked in to find out their seat allocation”.
And that these seats are likely to be at the “rear of the cabin”
ANYONE who’s looked at holiday prices over the last few years will know one thing: summer getaways haven’t exactly been getting cheaper.
But this year, a big change in booking habits has completely blown the market wide open.
Because British holidaymakers are playing chicken with the calendar and leaving bookings later than ever, airlines and hotels are staring down a reduced summer capacity.
So, rather than flying empty seats and leaving hotel rooms vacant, some airlines and hotel operators are aggressively cutting prices across the board to get bookings in and holidays shifted.
Before we start, though, I should say that not EVERY destination is seeing price drops like this.
But when I crunched the numbers on package data for a family of four, I noticed that some of the year-on-year drops are massive.
So here’s where the prices are falling fastest for summer 2026…
If you’ve never been to Menorca, imagine everything people love about Majorca and Ibiza… but with the volume turned down.
It has always been a major winner for families because it’s incredibly safe, relaxed, and completely skips the club-heavy energy of its neighbours.
The big news is the pricing: our data shows family holidays here are trending noticeably down compared to last summer.
I flagged a seven-night stay at the Minura Sur Menorca on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Manchester on 22 August, from £858pp – which is a massive £536 cheaper than this exact package last year.
For a destination that traditionally sells out and hikes its rates in August, finding an all-inclusive setup under these numbers is a serious win against the usual school-holiday tax.
The hotel itself is a brilliant family workhorse on the outskirts of Punta Prima with massive pools and a splash park that will easily keep the kids occupied for hours.
If you’ve got a young family like me, my favourite thing about this property is that they run a free, regular shuttle bus straight down to the beach throughout the summer.
It saves you from dragging hot, tired kids and a mountain of beach gear on a 15-minute trek in the August heat.
Paphos is a super-reliable destination that absolutely nails the holiday basics.
You get guaranteed scorching weather, great beaches, and a vibrant harbour front packed with tavernas and bars, without feeling overcommercialised.
And when I took a look, I noticed that prices are down sharply across the resort, making it an ideal window for a bargain.
You can lock in seven nights at the Kefalos Damon Hotel Apartments on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Glasgow on 22 August, from £623pp, saving £246 compared to last summer.
Cyprus has some of the longest, most reliable sunshine windows in Europe, which usually means paying a massive premium to secure an August departure.
Snagging this deal lets you bypass that peak-season markup while keeping food and drinks entirely off the daily spreadsheet.
What makes this place stand out for me is the quality of the recent modern room upgrades.
They’ve kitted the apartments out with brilliant, fully functioning kitchenettes, which means you have a high-spec, contemporary space to retreat to.
This is a massive step up from the dated, basic apartments you usually get saddled with on a budget European getaway.
Crete is a massive island that handles every type of holidaymaker, but for families, it’s a brilliant choice because you can have completely different holiday experiences depending on where you pitch up.
The great news for the budget, though, is that pricing across the island seems to have headed south for late bookings.
I spotted a seven-night stay at the Bali Beach & Sofia Village hotel on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Bristol on 22 August, from £468pp – knocking £172 off last year’s price.
Greece in peak August for under £500 per person with all your food and beer thrown in is an absolute gift, by the way.
What I loved about this place was that they run free, weekly Greek cooking lessons hosted directly by the hotel’s executive kitchen chef.
It’s a brilliant, authentic touch where you can actually learn how to whip up proper local specialities, which is exactly the kind of genuine, cultural insight you never expect to get from a standard all-inclusive package property.
Gran Canaria is perfect for Brits because the weather is spot on all year round.
As a destination, it handles families, couples, and groups effortlessly, and right now the value across the island is dropping back into our favour for this summer.
One standout deal I saw in the data was seven nights at the Maspalomas Oasis Club on an all inclusive basis, flying from Dublin on 22 August, from £410pp – making it £179 cheaper than last year.
The Canary Islands usually command a massive premium in August because they are a safe bet for sun, but this price point lets you dodge that summer-holiday markup.
The real winner at this hotel is the food quality at the buffet, which you’ll be delighted to learn, completely dodges the lukewarm, processed repetitive food sometimes associated with cheaper all-inclusives.
Instead, they have live show-cooking stations at dinner, where the chefs grill fresh meats and fish directly to your order, right in front of you.
Getting proper, freshly seared food on an all-inclusive budget under £450 is an absolute steal.
Dubai probably isn’t the first spot you associate with price drops, which is exactly why the numbers caught my eye straight away.
Yes, August in the UAE is hot, but that’s exactly why the luxury hotels open up the discount books, with summer family packages dropping well below their usual rates.
Plus, they have some of the best air conditioning in the world.
I clocked seven nights at the Jumeira Rotana on an all-inclusive basis, flying from London Gatwick on 22 August, from £720pp – a drop of £135 against last year.
For Dubai, getting a full all-inclusive package at this price point is a total anomaly.
It means you can indulge in the city’s notoriously expensive dining scene without worrying about a massive bill at check-out.
My pick of features at this hotel though is its rooftop pool – it’s a corker.
It gives you a fantastic, elevated view of the Dubai skyline while you cool off.
And because the hotel is a smaller, more boutique property by Dubai standards, the staff actually bring chilled towels and refreshments straight to your lounger.
It feels incredibly attentive without the chaotic, impersonal hustle of the massive beachfront mega resorts.
If your absolute main priority, like me, is stretching your cash as far as humanly possible, Hurghada is incredibly tough to beat.
The Red Sea is legendary for its crystal-clear water, and the resorts here offer far more facilities per pound spent than almost anywhere else in the Med, with prices sliding down again this season.
So imagine my face when I saw this deal: seven nights at the El Karma Aqua Beach Resort on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Belfast on 22 August, from £578pp, saving you £107 on last year’s price tag.
The value loop here is simple: you get a massive beachfront resort with its own massive on-site waterpark thrown in for under £600, keeping the kids entertained all week without you ever needing to pull out your wallet.
What I love about this specific place is that they offer swim-up rooms where you can literally step out of your patio doors and straight into a crystal-clear pool channel.
It gives you that premium, luxury resort privilege where you can entirely skip the morning sunbed race and slide straight into the water from your own terrace.
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Crude prices retreated on Monday as US President Donald Trump confirmed a peace agreement with Iran and both sides announced a lifting of their respective blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the time of writing, the front month contract on US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down almost 6% from Friday’s close to roughly $80 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, dropped around 5% to about $83 per barrel.
The specific concessions made by each side are still unclear and there are questions surrounding whether the Prime Minister of Israel will respect the withdrawal of troops from southern Lebanon, which, according to the Prime Minister of Pakistan is included in the deal.
Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly address the US-Iran deal, or the issue of Lebanon, and CNN has reported that the Prime Minister of Israel is seeking an urgent meeting with US President Donald Trump after this week’s G7 summit.
Nonetheless, markets are reacting swiftly to the prospect of the Strait of Hormuz slowly reopening and the potential that the Iran war is closer to ending than reigniting.
The freshly announced peace deal is currently expected to be signed on Friday.
At the open, European markets also rose on the news that there is meaningful progress in ending the Iran war.
Both the Euro Stoxx 50 and the broader pan-European Stoxx 600 traded over 1% higher at the start of Monday’s session.
The UK’s FTSE 100, Germany’s DAX 30, Italy’s FTSE MIB, Spain’s IBEX 35, the Netherlands’ AEX and Switzerland’s CH20, all traded between 0.5% and 1% higher than their Friday close.
France’s CAC 40 led the pack and rose almost 1.5%.
In the US, S&P500 futures traded over 2% higher and the teach-heavy Nasdaq 100 rose more than 3%.
In other trade dealings on Monday, Asia-Pacific markets jumped overnight with South Korea’s Kospi climbing over 5%, recovering from a 4% drop on Friday, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 also traded roughly 3% higher.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.8%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped about 0.5% and Shangai’s SSE climbed over 1.5%.
