Veteran character actor T.K. Carter, whose career spanned nearly five decades across film, television, and voice acting, has died at the age of 69. Carter was best known to audiences for his role as Nauls in John Carpenter’s 1982 cult-classic horror film The Thing, a performance that secured his place in genre cinema history and continues to resonate with fans decades later. Authorities discovered Carter’s body on Friday at his home in Duarte, California, after a welfare check w

New Jersey health officials have confirmed the first pediatric death linked to influenza during the 2025–26 flu season, underscoring growing concerns about an early and intense wave of respiratory illness across the state. The child, who was under the age of five and lived in northern New Jersey, died as a result of flu-related complications, according to a statement released by the New Jersey Department of Health. State officials reported that influenza activity this season has a

President Donald Trump’s recently announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies are expected to have a limited effect on what most Americans pay for prescription drugs, according to health policy experts who say the scope and structure of the deals leave many patients unaffected. Since Sept. 30, the Trump administration has reached agreements with 14 drugmakers in exchange for relie

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards officially launched Hollywood’s annual awards season, setting the tone for the months-long race that culminates with the Academy Awards in March. The ceremony, held on Sunday, delivered a strong early signal to industry observers, critics, and audiences alike, with One Battle After Another emerging as the evening’s most dominant and widely discussed film. Best Picture and Director Recognition One Battle After Another secured the Best Picture award, immediately positioning itself as a leading contender in the broader awards landscape. The film’s critical reception translated decisively into wins, underscoring its impact among voting members. Paul Thomas Anderson further strengthened the film’s standing by winning Best Director, a recognition that highlighted his distinctive storytelling approach and command over the material. The dual victories reinforced Anderson’s status as a consistent creative force and placed the film at the forefront of awards season conversations. Acting Honors in Leading Roles The performance categories reflected a mix of established stars and compelling dramatic turns. Timothée Chalamet received the Best Actor award for his role in Marty Supreme, continuing his streak of high-profile recognitions. His performance was widely noted for its intensity and emotional range. Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for Hamnet, earning praise for a nuanced and deeply affecting portrayal that resonated strongly with critics and voters. Both wins signaled strong momentum for their respective films moving forward. Supporting Performances and Emerging Talent The supporting acting categories showcased a broad spectrum of performances that enriched ensemble storytelling. Jacob Elordi earned Supporting Actor honors for Frankenstein, while Amy Madigan won Supporting Actress for Weapons. These awards reflected an appreciation for performances that elevated their narratives without dominating them, highlighting the importance of balance and depth within ensemble-driven films. The Young Performer award went to Miles Caton for Sinners, recognizing a breakout performance that stood out in a competitive field. Screenwriting Achievements Writing awards emphasized originality and adaptation across genres. Best Original Screenplay was awarded to Ryan Coogler for Sinners, acknowledging its strong narrative voice and thematic clarity. Best Adapted Screenplay went to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, further extending the film’s successful night. These wins underscored the importance of strong storytelling foundations in shaping critical and awards recognition. Craft and Technical Excellence Several technical categories highlighted the collaborative artistry behind the year’s most ambitious projects. Awards for cinematography, production design, editing, sound, costume design, and visual effects went to a diverse group of films, reflecting a wide appreciation for craftsmanship across genres. These honors reinforced the role of behind-the-scenes creativity in shaping immersive cinematic experiences that resonate with audiences and critics alike. Television Awards and Series Recognition Television remained a central focus of the Critics Choice Awards, with drama, comedy, and limited series categories drawing significant attention. The Pitt won Best Drama Series, while The Studio claimed the top comedy honor. Adolescence emerged as a standout in the limited series category, collecting multiple awards across acting and series recognition. The television wins reflected the continued expansion of high-quality storytelling on the small screen and its growing parity with film in awards consideration. Individual Television Performances Acting awards in television highlighted strong performances across genres. Noah Wyle earned recognition for his role in The Pitt, while Jean Smart won for her continued work in comedy. Supporting categories celebrated performances that added depth and complexity to their respective series, reinforcing the strength of ensemble casts and long-form storytelling. A Strong Start to Awards Season As the first major ceremony of the year, the Critics Choice Awards often serve as an early indicator of industry momentum. The success of One Battle After Another, combined with a broad distribution of honors across film and television, suggests a competitive and diverse awards season ahead. With guild awards and additional ceremonies on the horizon, the outcomes from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards have firmly set the narrative for the months leading to the Oscars.

A professional violinist has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that he was dismissed from a concert tour with actor and rapper Will Smith after reporting what he describes as a disturbing hotel room intrusion that raised serious safety and harassment concerns. The legal filing claims the termination amounted to retaliation and names both Smith and a management company connected to the tour as defendants. According to the complaint, the violinist, Brian Ki

Veteran singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has revealed that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery, prompting the rescheduling of his January concert dates. The announcement was made Monday through a personal statement shared on social media, in which the 82-year-old performer described the circumstances that led to the discovery of the illness and reassured fans about his prognosis. Manilow said the diagnosis followed a period of recurring bronchitis that las

Filmmaker Mira Nair has shared a candid behind-the-scenes revelation about her acclaimed television adaptation of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy, offering fresh insight into the casting process behind the ambitious BBC series. In a recent interview, Nair disclosed that her son, Zohran Mamdani, was originally her first choice for the central role that was eventually portrayed by actor Ishaan Khatter. According to Nair, Mamdani possessed the essential qualities she believed were requi

Few figures in Hollywood history have reached the age of 100 with their reputation not only intact but warmly cherished. Dick Van Dyke reaches that milestone today, standing as a rare constant in an industry defined by reinvention and impermanence. Once known for tripping over an ottoman on television and dancing with animated penguins on film, he has outlived many of his contemporaries and even the criticisms that once followed his most famous performances. Van Dyke’s career span

JioHotstar created a landmark moment in the South Indian entertainment industry by announcing a massive investment of ₹4,000 crore to strengthen regional content, talent development and digital storytelling over the next five years. The announcement was made on December 9, 2025 at the JioHotstar South Unbound grand event held in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Nagarjuna, Vijay Sethupathi and several South film industry giants attended th

A small aircraft crash-landed on a moving vehicle during rush hour along Interstate 95 in Brevard County, Florida, prompting a rapid response from emergency crews and traffic authorities. The incident occurred when the plane, carrying a 27-year-old pilot and a 27-year-old passenger, descended onto the busy roadway and struck a 2023 Toyota Camry that was traveling along the interstate. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, both individuals on board the aircraft escaped the crash without inj

Veteran producer AVM Saravanan, one of the most respected figures in Tamil cinema and a cornerstone of Indian filmmaking, passed away on Thursday at the age of 86 due to age-related ailments. His demise marks the end of an era for the Tamil film industry, which owes several milestones to his vision, production leadership and long-lasting creative contribution. His body will be kept for public homage until 3:30 pm at AVM Studios in Chennai, allowing colleagues, admirers and fans to pay their f

Spotify has released its Wrapped list for 2025, offering detailed insight into India’s most-streamed artists, songs and albums over the past year. The data shows a mix of consistent favourites, resurgent classics and the accelerating influence of independent musicians and podcasts on the country’s listening habits. Arijit Singh continued his long-standing dominance as India’s most-streamed artist for the seventh year in a row. Pritam and Shreya Ghoshal followed in second and third place

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has delivered a strong caution that the threat of diseases and dangerous pathogens being exploited by non-state actors is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern. Speaking at a major gathering marking fifty years of global commitment to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), he warned that bioterrorism has evolved into a credible danger that the world must be fully prepared to confront. He stressed that recent scientific advancements, though beneficia

Actor and politician Hema Malini shared a series of touching photos on social media as she remembered her husband, veteran superstar Dharmendra, who passed away earlier this week in Mumbai. Known to generations as Bollywood’s He-Man, Dharmendra left behind a legacy that shaped Hindi cinema for decades. Malini posted intimate old photographs of their time together, captioned with simple yet moving words such as “Some memorable moments” and “Togetherness over the years — always there

Dharmendra’s life off screen was as eventful and influential as his celebrated film career. Long before he stepped into the world of movies, he married Prakash Kaur in 1954. The couple shared a strong bond and welcomed four children: Sunny, Bobby, Vijayta and Ajeeta. Despite the pressures of a demanding film care

Australian greyhound racing is paying tribute to one of its most remarkable athletes following confirmation that champion sprinter Fernando Bale has died. His passing brings an emotional close to a career and legacy that redefined standards within the sport. Known for his extraordinary acceleration, consistency, and competitive dominance, he remains widely regarded as one of the most influential greyhounds ever to race in Australia. Fernando Bale was whelped on 12 March 2013, bred f

During his recent visit to the United States, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, made a high-profile commitment to invest $1 trillion in Washington while seated beside the US president at the Oval Office. The announcement underscored the scale of Saudi Arabia’s financial ambitions, but it also renewed debate over whether the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund has sufficient liquidity to support such a massive pledge at a time when its domestic projects are encountering financial strain. Much of the responsibility for executing the investment promise would likely fall on the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s flagship sovereign wealth fund, which has been under increasing pressure due to slowing returns from several large-scale ventures. The Public Investment Fund has for years been at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation strategy, financing ambitious projects intended to diversify the nation’s oil-dependent economy. While the fund officially controls assets valued at approximately $1 trillion, a significant portion is tied up in holdings that are difficult to liquidate and lack transparent public valuations. The situation has prompted fund officials, according to people familiar with internal discussions, to caution international partners that future allocations may be scaled back until liquidity conditions improve. This comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is seeking additional capital for ongoing megaprojects that have already absorbed substantial resources. Among the most prominent initiatives facing headwinds is Neom, the futuristic development planned for the kingdom’s northwest. Conceived as a hub for advanced technology, sustainable living, and major tourism attractions, Neom was expected to showcase the scale and innovation of Saudi Arabia’s modernisation efforts. However, the project has encountered delays, rising costs, and questions about its commercial viability. Similar challenges have surfaced across other ventures funded by the PIF, including luxury Red Sea resorts that remain largely unoccupied despite significant investment. These difficulties have intensified scrutiny over the fund’s ability to sustain its commitments while supporting a broad portfolio of domestic developments. Saudi Arabia continues to benefit from substantial oil reserves, but its energy revenues have been constrained by production cuts linked to global market agreements alongside relatively subdued crude prices. As a result, the kingdom is managing a budget deficit and has increased borrowing to support national spending priorities. Analysts note that these fiscal pressures add complexity to the crown prince’s pledge, which arrives at a moment when the government is balancing long-term economic goals with short-term financial realities. The PIF, established in 1971 to support nationally significant industries, grew slowly for decades before being placed under Prince Mohammed’s direct authority in 2015. Since then, the fund has taken on a far more expansive role, backed by injections of government capital, redirected oil revenues, and assets seized under anti-corruption campaigns. Its portfolio now spans global equities, domestic infrastructure, and emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, reflecting the prince’s drive to position the kingdom as a major player in future technologies. Despite achieving notable gains during periods of rising markets, the fund’s more recent initiatives have faced tougher conditions. In response to financial pressures, the fund’s leadership has reportedly adjusted internal forecasts, restructured teams, and replaced executives overseeing underperforming ventures. Officials have also signalled a shift in focus toward private investments in technology firms, an area viewed as strategically important to the kingdom’s long-term plans. These moves come as global investors track the fund’s evolving strategy, especially given the symbolic weight of the crown prince’s $1 trillion pledge. While signs of strain are evident within the fund’s operations, analysts caution that it is premature to conclude that Saudi Arabia is facing broader economic distress. The kingdom retains substantial financial capacity, and its long-term diversification agenda continues to receive strong state backing. However, the contrast between ambitious international commitments and the financial demands of domestic megaprojects has raised questions about sustainability. Observers will be watching closely to determine whether the kingdom can balance its aspirations abroad with the fiscal realities at home, particularly as the PIF navigates a period of tighter liquidity and heightened scrutiny.

Switching from a long corporate career to consulting in your 40s can feel both exciting and overwhelming. You may wonder whether clients will trust you, whether your skills are relevant in today’s market, or whether it is too late to start something new. The truth is—your 40s are one of the best times to begin consulting. You have industry experience, leadership exposure, professional networks, and the maturity to offer real strategic value. With the right plan, you can

Health officials across the United States are closely monitoring a rapidly spreading H3N2 influenza strain that has already led to unusually large outbreaks in several countries. The early and aggressive activity observed abroad is raising concern that the U.S. may be headed toward a more challenging flu season than in recent years. Countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan have recorded stronger-than-normal waves of influenza infection, with some regions reporting significant

Health officials across North America are raising concerns over a growing surge in measles cases, urging travelers to remain cautious and ensure they are vaccinated. The warning follows multiple confirmed exposures at major U.S. airports, increasing fears of renewed transmission of the highly contagious disease that had been largely controlled for decades through widespread immunization. The latest alert comes after an individual infected with measles was present at Philadelphia Int