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Directors reject HBO’s Harry Potter series over Rowling’s trans views
Directors Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron said they declined approaches to direct HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television series because of J.K. Rowling’s views on trans rights, which they regard as transphobic. Their comments underline continuing criticism of the adaptation within parts of the television industry, even as HBO continues to assemble its cast and proceed…
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Vance urges DOJ investigation into hospitals over billing for transgender care
The Trump administration accused dozens of hospitals, clinics and providers on Thursday of fraudulent billing for transgender health procedures and referred them to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential prosecution. The effort, led by Vice President Vance, combines two of the Trump administration’s top priorities: cracking down on alleged fraud and restricting gender-affirming care….
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Sophia Stel Takes Stock On New Single ‘Now I’ve Got A Lot You Know’
Vancouver artist Sophia Stel has released her new single, ‘Now I’ve Got A Lot You Know’, through A24 Music. The self-written and self-produced avant-pop track reflects on recent changes in her life, continuing the momentum she gained after last year’s word-of-mouth success, ‘How To Win A Solitaire’. The release is accompanied by a video made…
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Disney says Kingdom Hearts games have generated over $1bn
Disney has said that Kingdom Hearts is one of nine game franchises in its portfolio to have generated more than $1 billion, highlighting the commercial significance of the long-running Square Enix series. The disclosure came ahead of Disney’s D23 fan expo, where fans had hoped for news on Kingdom Hearts 4 following years without a…
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Compulsion Games becomes publisher of South of Midnight on Steam, suggesting departure from Xbox amid major restructuring is now complete
Compulsion Games is now listed as the publisher of South of Midnight on Steam, indicating that its separation from Xbox may be complete. The change matters because it supports reports that the studio has regained independence during a broader restructuring of Microsoft’s Xbox division, while retaining control of its own game franchises. Compulsion and Double…
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Rochelle Jordan Shares ‘Disc 1’ Of ‘Through The Wall’ Remix Series
Rochelle Jordan has released ‘Disc 1’, the first of five remix EPs based on her acclaimed 2025 album ‘Through The Wall’. The Empire release brings prominent electronic artists into her work, extending the album’s club-focused sound and highlighting Jordan’s cross-generational approach to dance music. Honey Dijon, Ron Trent, Halogenix and regular collaborator KLSH rework tracks…
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Hyperscalers might regret embracing natural gas if new forecast proves correct
Major technology companies are increasingly planning to use natural gas to power the energy-intensive data centres supporting artificial intelligence, but a new forecast warns this could expose them to steep fuel-price rises. The report matters because higher gas costs could make privately powered data centres far more expensive to operate, potentially increasing AI service prices…
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BP to develop offshore gasfield in Venezuela with firms linked to Trump administration
BP has been granted a licence to develop the second phase of Venezuela’s offshore Loran gasfield, partnering with companies linked to the Trump administration. The move is among the first major foreign investments in Venezuela since the US ousted Nicolás Maduro in January, and supports President Trump’s call for at least $100bn of investment to…
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Soccer Mommy Shares For Young Hearts 10th Anniversary Deluxe, Joins American Football In Nashville
Soccer Mommy, the project of singer-songwriter Sophie Allison, has released a surprise 10th-anniversary deluxe edition of her 2016 EP For Young Hearts. The release commemorates the EP that helped establish Allison as an emerging artist and marked an early breakthrough in her career. The expanded edition adds three tracks: a demo of the previously unreleased…