Culture

Senator Elizabeth Warren has introduced legislation that would prohibit private equity firms from owning medical practices. The bill targets growing private equity acquisitions of physician groups, a trend critics link to higher prices, staffing cuts and degraded patient care. Commenters online are debating whether ownership restrictions would protect patients or overreach into healthcare markets, with many supporting the ban and others questioning its feasibility.

Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk', due out October 9, is being blocked from paid promotion online. Distributor Bleecker Street says YouTube, TikTok and Meta all rejected ads for the film's trailer, citing 'political' content, while X has refused to respond to inquiries. The distributor is appealing the rejections as the release date approaches.

Advertising platforms have reportedly declined to carry ads promoting a documentary about Elon Musk, with buyers saying the content does not meet their brand-safety standards. The rejection has reignited debate over advertising rules, political bias and the treatment of Musk-related projects by media companies and ad networks.

Saturday Night Live has premiered its 52nd season, and the big story is the lineup changes behind the desk. E! News rounded up all the cast members who joined and departed ahead of the new run, as the show opens another chapter following its traditional summer break. Fans are weighing in on who left, who stayed, and how the reshaped ensemble will shape the season's comedy.

Piers Morgan says he has insider information about how the Royal Family is reacting to a new book about Princess Diana described as explosive. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he suggested palace figures are privately unsettled by its claims. The comments have drawn wide attention, with royal watchers debating what the book reveals and how the family responds to renewed scrutiny of Diana's legacy.

Disney has hired Jon Watts, director of Marvel's Spider-Man films, to helm the first movie in a new Star Wars trilogy set in the Skywalker saga era. Watts becomes the latest high-profile filmmaker brought in to expand the franchise, and the news is drawing attention as fans speculate about the story and characters the new trilogy will follow.

The Powerball jackpot stood at an estimated $360 million ahead of the Saturday, September 26 drawing, and players across the United States were checking the winning numbers to see if anyone matched all six. Local outlets such as 10TV published the results as attention turned to whether the prize rolled over again or a ticket finally claimed it.

News is circulating that a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been revealed. The original 1998 Nintendo 64 game is widely regarded as one of the most influential titles ever made, so word of a remake is drawing immediate attention from fans. Details about the developer, platforms and release date are not yet clear, and Nintendo has a record of remaking past Zelda entries for newer hardware.

Taylor Swift has released a new animated music video, timed around the streaming release of Toy Story 5, according to ABC News. The two developments drew attention together, with fans discussing both the new visuals from the pop star and Pixar's latest sequel arriving on streaming platforms.

Grand Theft Auto VI remains one of the most anticipated entertainment releases in the world. French media are once again analysing why the next instalment of Rockstar Games' open-world franchise is drawing such global attention, years after GTA V's record-breaking run. Fans continue to discuss trailers, release timing and expectations for the game's return to Vice City and its two playable protagonists.

Apple Music is opening a concert venue at Battersea Power Station in London, according to BBC News. The space would add live music to the landmark riverside development, which has already become a retail and office destination since reopening. Details on capacity, opening date and programming have not yet been announced.

Major social media platforms are refusing to run paid advertisements promoting a documentary about Elon Musk. The refusal means the film's distributors cannot buy promotional placements on the very companies the documentary examines. Details about which platforms declined the ads and their stated reasons were not immediately available, but the decision adds to ongoing scrutiny of how these companies handle content about Musk and their own executives.

Oracle faces contractual obligations to keep paying investors in a data centre project even if the site lacks an electricity connection, according to a Financial Times report. The arrangement highlights the risks piling up in the AI-driven data centre boom, where billions are being committed to sites before basic infrastructure like power supply is secured.

Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, has apologised to broadcaster Piers Morgan after factual errors were identified in his new book about his sister. The correction has drawn attention to the accuracy of Spencer's account of Diana's life and prompted discussion about how the mistake was made and how Morgan responded to the apology.

Richard Manoogian, the renowned businessman, philanthropist and art collector, has died at the age of 90, according to The Detroit News. Long associated with Detroit, Manoogian was known for combining a prominent business career with major charitable giving and one of the most noted private art collections in the United States. Tributes and obituaries are highlighting his influence on business, culture and philanthropy.

Bloomberg reports that some people addicted to vaping are attempting to quit e-cigarettes by switching back to traditional cigarettes. The paradoxical approach highlights how hard nicotine addiction is to break, with some smokers viewing combustible cigarettes as a more familiar and finite habit. Commenters are debating whether the trend reflects failed promises of vaping as a cessation tool, and how regulators should respond.

Lucasfilm has officially confirmed the director set to helm the next Star Wars film in the Skywalker trilogy saga. The announcement ends months of speculation about who will take charge of the franchise's next major chapter following the conclusion of the previous trilogy. Fans are debating the choice and what it signals for the direction of the series going forward.

The next Godzilla film, 'Godzilla Minus Zero', is being reported as a first in the franchise's history, with filmmakers saying the movie aims to shock audiences. Outlets are covering the announcement globally, though details about the plot or the nature of the franchise milestone have not been spelled out in early reports. Fans of the long-running kaiju series are following the news closely.

The Milwaukee Art Museum has returned vessels made by an enslaved potter to the potter's descendants. The transfer, reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, resolves the institution's claim to works created by an enslaved craftsman whose descendants are now their rightful owners. It adds to ongoing debate in the US museum world over restitution of culturally significant objects.

Disney held its D23 fan event, where the company laid out a wide range of announcements spanning new theme park attractions and an upcoming slate of films. Coverage has rounded up everything revealed, from ride plans to movie projects, giving fans a first look at what the studio and parks division have in store over the coming years.

A trailer for Werwulf, the new film from director Robert Eggers, has been released. The project is the filmmaker's follow-up to his recent historical horror work, and the first footage is now drawing attention from film fans online. No further details beyond the trailer's release are confirmed, and audiences are sharing their first reactions to the footage.

Film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor have publicly defended their findings on Israel's killing of Palestinians, pushing back against threats made by Israeli officials. Their documentary NAZA, an award-winning work examining Israel's treatment of Palestinians, has drawn intense political pressure. The pair say the threats will not deter them from reporting what they documented on camera.

Japanese secondhand bookstores are reporting a fivefold surge in sales as bulk buyers purchase entire stock loads, in some cases tens of tons at once. One order of around 50 tons was shipped to the United States, and store owners suspect many large purchases end up in overseas facilities where books are scanned to train artificial intelligence models and then destroyed. The trend has raised concern among booksellers about losing rare volumes and the fate of the books themselves.

The MTV Video Music Awards are taking place, with Taylor Swift positioned to make history at the ceremony and Madonna leading this year's nominations. Outlets across the United States are publishing viewing guides telling audiences how and where to watch the show. Coverage focuses on the records Swift could break and Madonna's dominance on the nominations list.

Mathematician Terence Tao has announced the formation of an Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, publishing the news on his personal blog. The group is intended to examine how AI is reshaping mathematical research and to advise the community on its use. The announcement is drawing wide attention among mathematicians and technologists debating AI's growing role in fundamental science.

Bigg Boss Tamil season 10 is set for a 'turning point' week, with Lakshmi Priya, Savinya and Javed Sherif reportedly entering the house as new contestants. The news, reported by Tamil media, has stirred fan discussion about how the fresh entrants will change the game and existing alliances inside the house.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the renowned former Disney studio chief and DreamWorks co-founder, says the creative industries should accept artificial intelligence rather than resist it. His comments argue that AI adoption is inevitable for production and creative work, a stance likely to fuel ongoing debate among filmmakers, artists and studios already divided over AI's role in writing, animation and design.

A new legal complaint alleges that text messages connect a crisis public relations adviser working for actor and director Justin Baldoni to secret websites used to smear Blake Lively during their ongoing legal dispute. The claim adds a new layer to the high-profile Hollywood litigation, drawing attention to the tactics allegedly used by Baldoni's publicity team.

Disney has chosen Jon Watts, director of the recent Spider-Man films, to helm the first installment in a new trilogy set in the Star Wars Skywalker Saga era. Watts takes on one of the most high-profile directing jobs in franchise filmmaking, and fans are debating what his action-driven blockbuster style could mean for the future of Star Wars on screen.

Jesse Wegman argues that judicial supremacy has gone too far, saying the Constitution should not be treated as the exclusive property of the nine Supreme Court justices. The argument comes in a new book, 'Supremacy: How Rule by the Court Replaced Government by the People,' which calls on Americans to reclaim ownership of their founding charter and question the Court's final say over its meaning.

Taylor Swift's new music video for 'Patient Zero' is being analyzed for its effect on her prospects of earning an Academy Award nomination. Commentators argue the release could strengthen her case in certain categories, while other factors may still work against her. The discussion centers on whether the video's reception translates into awards momentum for the pop star.

The Israeli television series Fauda has been trending in Pakistan, prompting commentary on what its popularity there says about Israeli cultural reach. An opinion piece argues that the show's success among Pakistani audiences reflects the global appeal of Israeli storytelling about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even in countries with no diplomatic ties to Israel, and raises questions about soft power and public perception.

Reports are circulating that Jon Watts, known for directing Marvel's Spider-Man trilogy, may be attached to a new Star Wars movie. No official confirmation has come from Lucasfilm or Disney, and details about the project's story or release remain undisclosed, leaving fans speculating about what the filmmaker could bring to the franchise.

Chinese director Jia Zhangke is preparing 'Mamma Dunhuang', a new road movie starring his longtime collaborator and wife Zhao Tao. The filmmaker says he will not use artificial intelligence anywhere in the production, a stance that sets the project apart as AI debate sweeps the film industry. Details on plot and timeline remain limited, but the pairing of Jia, Zhao Tao and the Dunhuang setting is already drawing attention from international cinema watchers.

NBA star Jalen Brunson hosted Saturday Night Live and used his opening monologue to joke about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. The bit touched on one of the most talked-about celebrity couples, prompting reactions from fans of both the show and the pair. Entertainment outlets picked up the moment as the latest example of the couple's engagement dominating pop culture conversation.

Montreal's city council has adopted a bylaw that prohibits insults directed at police officers and municipal employees. Supporters argue it protects workers from abuse, while critics say it risks restricting free speech and could be applied unevenly against citizens voicing complaints. The measure has drawn attention well beyond Quebec as other cities weigh similar rules.

Actress Christy Carlson Romano, known for her Disney Channel roles, has released a new memoir in which she discusses her experience as a child star. In an interview with the New York Times, she reflects on the pressures and challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry, drawing attention to the broader conversation about the treatment of young performers.