Category: 5. Entertainment

Fresh from his retirement concert with Black Sabbath at the weekend, Ozzy Osbourne has announced a new project: a visual art collaboration with chimpanzees.

Osbourne is a keen amateur painter, and for his latest works he painted multicoloured base coats on to five canvases, with the chimpanzees then adding daubs of their own.

The finished abstract expressionist works are being sold at auction to raise money for Save the Chimps, a sanctuary in Florida for chimpanzees who have been rescued from animal testing labs, poorly run zoos and wildlife traffickers.

“I paint because it gives me peace of mind, but I don’t sell my paintings,” Osbourne said. “I’ve made an exception with these collaborations as it raises money for Save the Chimps.” His wife Sharon Osbourne added: “Chimps are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, and I’m really proud of Ozzy for helping look after them.”

Osbourne is now settling into retirement, having concluded his performing career in spectacular style on Saturday night.

He performed two sets at the conclusion of farewell concert Back to the Beginning, first solo, then with the reunited Black Sabbath. “It’s so good to be on this fucking stage, you have no idea,” he told the crowd, performing seated in a giant bat-adorned throne. “I’ve been laid up for six years, and you’ve got no idea how I feel … Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Osbourne has suffered a series of health problems in recent years. He was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s, and then had numerous surgeries on his neck and spine after a fall in 2019. He also suffered pneumonia, and an infection that required him to remain on antibiotics for a prolonged period.

The injuries and illnesses looked as if they might prevent him from performing again. “You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong,” he told the Guardian in May. “You begin to think this is never going to end. Sharon could see that I was in Doom Town, and she says to me: ‘I’ve got an idea.’ It was something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.”

This was the Back to the Beginning concert which not only brought together the original Black Sabbath lineup for the first time since 2005, but also a series of metal greats who performed their own music as well as Black Sabbath cover versions. Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses and many more appeared, along with surprise guests such as Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.

The auction for Osbourne’s collaborative chimpanzee paintings is open now, with bids for each artwork starting at £1,000.

Japanese animation, or anime, has a legacy that stretches back to the early 20th Century, and a creative scope that spans seemingly endless stories and styles, from pirate sagas to sci-fi warfare; sorcery to sports action; martial arts mythology to star-crossed romance. The music used to soundtrack it is similarly adventurous. Songs vary significantly in their genres and tempos (often shape-shifting within a single track), but they also share common qualities: they elevate the visual action and deeply seal our bond with it. In the digital age, vividly evocative, insistently snappy themes are key to the viral impact of iconic Japanese animated series/films/manga comic adaptations – One Piece, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball Z, Cowboy Bebop, Attack On Titan and Naruto, to name a few. “Anisongs”, as they are known, are now a major musical force, particularly among younger people.

The frontman of Bob Vylan warned his fans to stop chanting against the Israeli military during the duo’s first UK gig since the band’s Glastonbury festival performance.

Pascal Robinson-Foster, who goes by the name Bobby Vylan, told fans at a sold-out surprise gig in London on Wednesday night they could get him in “trouble” after police launched an investigation into the group over comments he made at Glastonbury.

The 34-year-old led chants of “death, death to the IDF”, referring to the Israel Defense Forces, and spoke of working for a “fucking Zionist” during their show on the West Holts stage at the Somerset festival on 28 June. Bob Vylan issued a statement last week claiming they were being “targeted for speaking up”.

It came before the Belfast trio Kneecap’s appearance on the same stage. Both bands are being investigated by Avon and Somerset police over remarks made during their concerts.

At Bob Vylan’s intimate concert at the 100 Club on Wednesday night, some fans started to repeat the Glastonbury chant of “death, death to the IDF”.

Robinson-Foster responded by saying “you are going to get me in trouble, apparently every other chant is fine but yous [sic] will get me in trouble” before leading the crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine”.

The duo ended the gig by holding up the Palestinian flag as Robinson-Foster said: “We are a loving band, we love you lot for being here with us. We love the Palestinian people.”

After their Glastonbury set, it emerged that the group were already being investigated by the Met police regarding alleged comments made at a gig in London in May, with a video showing Robinson-Foster appearing to say: “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.”

Since then they have reportedly been dropped by their agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), which appears to have removed the group from their website, and have also been pulled from a number of concerts – including their US tour after having their visas revoked.

Despite the criticism the group have re-entered the charts, with their album, Humble as the Sun, climbing to No 1 in the UK hip-hop and R&B album charts. The group are expected to perform at the Boardmasters surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.

‘There were blokes crying everywhere’

I thought the show was going to be a bit of a money grab. I thought they’d turn their backs, play the songs, and not put too much effort into it. But it was just banger after banger. The pace was incredible. For me, it was pure nostalgia, with my brother and best mate. My brother and I had our own falling out earlier in the year, so there was reconciliation all round. Nature’s healing.

I think my highlight was Noel and Liam bowing to each other as they walked out. But Richard Ashcroft had already started strongly – when he played Bitter Sweet Symphony, tops were already off.

Champagne Supernova and Acquiesce were special. There were blokes crying everywhere. This was our Eras tour.

I last saw Oasis in the same stadium in 2009 when I was 15, on the last day of my GCSEs, and I thought Liam sounded crap. The roof was open, there wasn’t much of an atmosphere, the sky was grey, and they just sounded off. They needed a break; we all needed a break. You never know what you have until it’s gone. Lloyd Williams, 31, London (originally Cardiff)

‘I felt seen as a younger generation Oasis fan’

I’ve been an Oasis fan since 2020. I was out of school, and I felt a bit lost, and their music helped me quite a bit going through that tough time during Covid. It made me realise I really do enjoy music.

So seeing Noel and Liam finally back together was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. It lived up to everything I ever wanted it to be; an emotional and extremely memorable night. There were older fans, and fans who were younger than me. When Noel dedicated The Masterplan to people in their 20s and thanked them for “keeping the spirit of Oasis alive”, I started crying. I felt seen as a younger generation Oasis fan. I’m extremely grateful that I got to experience the monumental first night – it’ll forever be one of the best days of my life. Millie Cottrell, 21, Monmouthshire

‘Liam’s voice was back to its best’

It was completely joyful, something I will remember for a long time. Oasis might not have been as talkative on stage as they used to be, but they gave the fans exactly what they wanted – hit after hit, with some of the fan-favourite B-sides.

I was lucky enough to see Oasis five times back in their heyday, including Maine Road and Knebworth in 1996, so I have fantastic memories of seeing them at their very best when I was a teenager. But it felt as exciting to see them now. It was the perfect mix of nostalgia and joy at seeing them again. Liam’s voice was back to its best, and Noel – whose songs were always my favourite – belted them out with the crowd singing every word. Kate, 45, London

‘The anticipation was palpable’

Seeing Liam and Noel emerge on stage for the very first time in 16 years was always going to be electric. I was lucky enough to be there and the anticipation was palpable all day in Cardiff, with Oasis being blasted from pubs, and hordes of people wearing Oasis T-shirts and bucket hats milling around the city.

Right from the opening lyrics of their first song on stage, Hello, it was clear that Liam’s voice was in top shape and the rest of the band ran a tight musical ship. I would say my highlight was Acquiesce. It’s one of the few songs where both Liam and Noel sing in shared verses – seeing them share the same song was pretty amazing. Muhammed Abdelmoteleb, 48, Newport

‘I went to both nights – it felt like they had never been away’

When they announced Oasis was reuniting and I got pre-sale access, I felt sick with anticipation. I classify myself as a superfan and just had to be at both opening nights. I bought a ticket to the Saturday show in the first round of sales, but friends of mine said: “Well, you’re not really going to the reunion if you don’t go to the first gig.” So I spent a lot of time refreshing, and got lucky last week.

It was beyond my wildest expectations. Richard Ashcroft really set the tone for a magical evening with a superb set. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many people so engaged with a support act. The atmosphere before Oasis felt like the build-up before a massive heavyweight boxing match. When they arrived, it was a beautiful moment. Liam was on fire. The set list has to go down as one of the greatest of all time.

I’d seen Oasis seven times before, where there were drinks thrown and a few fights. There was none of that. It seemed like the crowd didn’t want anything to spoil it. It felt like they had never been away. The best two gigs I’ve ever been to. Nigel Wright, 44, Tongham, Surrey

‘It was raw emotion’

Being there on the first night, in my country, after a 30-year wait, meant the world to me. I was singing loudly to Acquiesce with a bunch of strangers, never saying a word to each other but all knowing what the other was feeling. Back in the 90s, music was very tribal, but this crowd was full of different people, young and old.

The band sounded great. Liam and Noel sang like no time had passed since the 1990s. Friday night took me back to 1996, when it felt like I could tell 13-year-old me that things are going to get dark, but they will get better. I know others will criticise the band for ripping off the Beatles – who hasn’t? – and for the Gallaghers having questionable opinions and means of expressing them in a non-musical setting. But it was raw emotion for me. While the Gallaghers can be right bellends, their music means so much more. They are my bellends, and will always be. Paul Hunt, 42, Abercynon, Wales

Amazon Prime Video is doubling down on sports, reality and romance in Italy, adding NBA games and several new formats, including a local version of global competition hit Traitors, to its Italian line-up, alongside a new slate of original series and TV movies, most of them centered on amore.

Amazon unveiled its upcoming Italian slate at an event in Rome on Thursday, confirming it will broaden its live sports portfolio with the addition of NBA coverage in Italy starting this fall. Under a global media rights agreement, Prime Video will stream 87 regular season NBA games, alongside postseason fixtures including the NBA Play-In tournament, a Conference Finals series each year, and the NBA Finals in select years. This expands on its existing deal to broadcast the UEFA Champions League in Italy through the 2026-27 season.

The slate of non-scripted programming includes The Traitors Italia, a local adaptation of the hit psychological reality competition format, will debut with six episodes this autumn, hosted by Alessia Marcuzzi. Holiday Crush, produced by Casta Diva and launching in September 2025, follows a group of young sexy travelers on a transformative vacation, who are being observed and commented on by comedy group The Jackal. Other upcoming unscripted titles include comedic tribute show Roast in Peace, and new seasons of Red Carpet – Vip al tappeto and LOL: Chi ride è fuori, the latter returning for a sixth season and a Halloween special.

On the scripted front, upcoming titles include Ministry of Love, a surreal romantic comedy written and directed by Giacomo Ciarrapico and Luca Vendruscolo; and Ancora più Sexy, a sequel to Pensati Sexy (Still Fabulous), a rom-com about a 30-something single who gets dating advice from real-life porn star Valentina Nappi. Diana Del Bufalo returns to star in the sequel, which will be directed by Michela Andreozzi.

The company also announced Italian Postcards, a new original series created by Lisa Riccardi and Damiano Bruè and directed by Jessica Yu (13 Reasons Why). The fish-out-of-water tale follows Mia, a young and spoiled New York heiress sent by her grandfather to Palermo, without money or luxuries, to work as a real estate agent in the family business. Co-produced by Amazon MGM Studios with Gaumont Italia, the series will go out on Prime Video worldwide.

Among the new original films showcased were the romance-themed Non è un paese per single, based on a novel by Felicia Kingsley and set in Tuscany and Love Me, Love Me – Cuori Magnetici, adapted from a popular Wattpad series and directed by Roger Kumble; as well as the holiday film Mrs. Christmas, starring Alessandro Gassmann and Luisa Ranieri, co-produced with Gaumont Italia.

After 15 years of devoted service, Natasha “Tash” Archer, Kate Middleton’s personal assistant and confidante, is leaving Kensington Palace to start her own private consultancy. 

The news was exclusively revealed by People magazine, and the Prince and Princess of Wales’ household has wished Archer all the best for her future endeavours.

Archer joined the royal household in 2010 as a personal assistant to both Kate and Prince William. Over time, she became Kate’s go-to stylist, curating her wardrobe for numerous royal engagements and international tours. 

Her impeccable taste in British fashion helped transform Kate into a style icon, showcasing high-end designers like Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham.

Archer’s influence on Kate’s wardrobe has contributed significantly to the “Kate Middleton Effect,” a phenomenon where fashion items sell out after she wears them, injecting an estimated $1.27 billion into the UK economy annually.

Her role extended beyond styling, as she managed Kate’s diary, clothing, and projects. She was instrumental in planning royal tours, ensuring Kate’s outfits paid homage to the visited countries’ cultures. 

In 2019, she persuaded Prince William to wear a traditional sherwani to a reception in Pakistan, showcasing her cultural sensitivity.

Archer was more than just a staffer; she was present for some of Kate’s most intimate moments, including the birth of Prince George in 2013. 

Her dedication earned her the Royal Victorian Order in 2019, and she was promoted to senior private executive assistant in 2022.

As Archer embarks on her new venture, Kate is thoughtfully easing back into public life after her cancer diagnosis. 

Recently, Kate visited Colchester Hospital, where she shared her thoughts on life after cancer treatment, saying, “You have to find your new normal — and that takes time.”

Ben Barnes broke his silence on Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia adaptation.

The Shadow and Bone star, who is known for his role as Prince Caspian in 2008 and 2010 in the fantasy film, shared excitement over the new Netflix version.

The actor had appeared for the premiere of Stephen King’s The Institute, in Los Angeles.

“With classic literature, there’s no end to the ways they can be adapted as long as it’s being fresh and it’s speaking to a new generation,” the Dorian Gray actor told Variety in a conversation.

“I think that those stories have this one, some fantasy really allows you to tell beautifully allegorical stories about hope and goodness and faith.”

The 43-year-old artist revealed that “it’d be really interesting” to see Gerwig’s take on it, noting that he was “thrilled that [Narnia] is getting retold.”

Gerwig, after the success of Barbie film, is writing and directing the adventure fantasy, which reportedly follows The Magician’s Nephew, the sixth novel in the series by author C.S. Lewis. 

The cast will include Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep and Emma Mackey. Carey Mulligan is also said to be in talks to join the project.

According to Deadline, Chronicles of Narnia will release in IMAX on November 26, Thanksgiving Day 2026 and debut on streaming platform on December 25, Christmas Day 2026.

Prince Harry is reportedly blaming his estranged brother, Prince William, for pushing Hollywood actor John Travolta away.

According to new reports, the Duke of Sussex is said to be upset over growing distance from Travolta and he thinks William might be behind it.

While the Prince of Wales doesn’t have any known link to Travolta, the Duke of Sussex believes someone from the royal side may have said something to change the actor’s mind.

A report by Radar Online claimed that Harry developed a close bond with the actor in 2023 and their friendship grew stronger over shared grief, flying, and a connection to Princess Diana.

However, recently, Harry feels like Travolta is ignoring him and his fears came true when he dropped an Instagram post with Britney Spears’ ex Sam Asghari.

An insider said that Harry “doesn’t have an issue with Sam personally – it just made it painfully clear that John still makes time for others, just not for him anymore.”

Not only it left Harry feeling “ghosted,” but his attempts to connect have also been ignored by Travolta with insiders sharing that “the friendship is dead.”

The report further shared that Harry feels like his brother is slowly turning people against him, and it’s making him feel more anxious and alone.

“Harry’s deeply suspicious that William is turning people against him, and this only fuels that anxiety,” the source shared.

“He’s been saying he wants to call John directly and ask him to be honest about what’s really going on.”

Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been operating for 20 years and had never experienced an incident such as this.

The victim was a relative of the zoo owner, Steve Robinson, who told the media the lions were not aggressive and the lioness was thought to be “just playing”.

Although attacks like this are extremely rare, they are obviously of great concern. The incident should prompt a rethink of our approach to wild animals in captivity, and whether it’s morally acceptable – or safe – to keep them there at all.

Why do zoos exist?

Zoos, aquariums and other settings where wild animals are kept captive exist for two main reasons: human entertainment and profit-making.

Surveys show zoo visitors have a preference for large mammals such as elephants, primates and big cats.

Some animals are more tolerant of captivity conditions and exposure to humans than others. Fish, for example, seem to respond more neutrally to human presence than most other species.

But a recent study found captive animals generally demonstrate abnormal behaviour more often than non-captive ones.

For most wild animals, captivity deprives them of the ability to engage in natural behaviour, which harms their welfare. For example, free-living dolphins and whales have long-range migration patterns which require vast ocean spaces. They are also highly social and display complex communication behaviour.

Some countries have banned keeping dolphins and whales in captivity for entertainment because it causes the animals to suffer sensory deprivation and stress, among other harms.

Captive dolphins were once common in aquariums and marine parks across Australia. But now only one facility, Sea World in Queensland, still breeds dolphins for entertainment.

And earlier this year, the last elephants at Perth Zoo were moved to a 12-hectare habitat in South Australia to improve their welfare.

Another important welfare question is whether the captive animal has “agency” – that is, whether it can make choices as it would in the wild.

Can it choose, for example, which other animals it has relationships with? Or whether it has privacy? Having control over such decisions enhances the quality of life for the captive animal.

It’s important to note that some zoos can deliver positive outcomes for animals. Many play an important conservation role, such as running captive breeding programs for endangered species.

An example is a long-running program across several Australian zoos and other organisations to recover populations of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. The program has released more than 400 zoo-bred birds into the wild.

However, such conservation programs do not necessarily need to involve zoos to succeed.

Weighing up the risks

No matter how domesticated they might seem, some wild animals in captivity will always pose a risk to humans. Their behaviour can be unpredictable and, as the recent Queensland example shows, even a “playing” lioness can cause enormous physical harm to people.

Wild animals are called wild for a reason. To be kept in captivity, most animals require training so they can be safely handled. The Darling Downs Zoo incident shows despite this precaution, things can still go wrong.

But humans will, understandably, always be fascinated by other animals, and want to see them up close. So what are the alternatives to zoos?

Open range-zoos, such as the one to which the Perth elephants were moved, can offer a better option for some animals.

Another option is to recreate the zoo experience using technology. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to create images of animals that look and seem real.

In Australia, examples include Brisbane’s Hologram Zoo and a high-tech puppetry experience touring Australia which replicates a real shark dive.

Overseas, animatronic displays have been created to replace dolphin shows.

Questions about animals kept in captivity require us to consider how much risk to human safety we accept, and the extent to which we prioritise human amusement over animal welfare. In searching for answers, we can start by asking whether we need zoos at all.

Milo Ventimiglia was spotted in a rare picture with his baby daughter after he has stepped back from the spotlight.

The 48-year-old actor celebrated his birthday on Tuesday and his wife, Jarah Mariano, took to Instagram to share a picture of the new dad with his daughter.

The Gilmore Girls alum was seen holding the baby, Ke’ala, in the picture as he pointed to a tree, in the picture.

“Happy birthday Milo, husband, dada,” Jarah wrote on her Instagram Story on Tuesday, July 8.

The This Is Us star welcomed his baby with wife this year in January after the couple tied the knot in September 2033.

Earlier this year, the couple went through bittersweet experiences as they lost their home in Pacific Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles, just a little while before they welcomed their daughter.

Jarrah later informed her Instagram followers that they were “together, happy, healthy & safe” after evacuating their home.

“This will be an extended process of rebuilding and grieving for many, but we are feeling optimistic & inspired to welcome all of the exciting newness of our fresh start!” she penned on the social media platform.