Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by millions of Muslims around the world. It is a time for spiritual growth and self-discipline and is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan is a month-long observance in Islam whereby Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. Here are some things to know about Ramadan:
• Fasting happens during daylight hours
Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar and begins with hilal, which is the Arabic word for crescent or “new moon”. This happens in the ninth month of each lunar year. But because the lunar cycle steadily moves backwards, Ramadan falls earlier and earlier each year – moving back 11 days each time. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. This means abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and other pleasures during daylight hours. This can be especially challenging during the summer months when the days are longer and hotter.
• There are two main meals eaten during Ramadan
During Ramadan, Muslims eat two main meals each day: suhoor and iftar. Suhoor is eaten before dawn and is meant to provide energy for the day ahead. Iftar is eaten after sunset and marks the breaking of the fast. It is important to eat nutritious, energy-rich foods during suhoor and iftar to help sustain the body during the fasting hours.
• Dates are traditionally the first thing eaten at iftar
In adherence to how the Islamic prophet Muhammad broke his fast, a handful of dates followed by a glass of water are consumed before Maghrib (evening prayer) and the main meal. Soaking dates in milk overnight is a Middle Eastern iftar favourite. Some would eat dates followed by fruit or yogurt, which helps to kick-start the body’s metabolism after a day’s worth of fasting.
• Hunger-busting drinks are a big thing during Ramadan
Staying hydrated is essential during Ramadan, especially during the long fasting hours. In addition to water, there are many thirst-quenching beverages that are popular during Ramadan. For example, in the Middle East, jallab is a sweet drink made from dates, rosewater, and carob, usually served with pine nuts and raisins. Khoshaf is another sweet treat made of boiled dried fruits like apricots, plums, figs, dates, and raisins and flavoured with rosewater. Malaysia and Singapore have millennial-pink bandung, which is a rosewater-flavoured milky drink. Smoothies are also a popular way to rehydrate and get essential nutrients.
• Fasting during Ramadan is a must, but there are ‘loopholes’
Although fasting during Ramadan is mandatory for all healthy adult Muslims, there are some exceptions. Those who are unwell and/or taking medication, elderly, travelling, pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as children under the age of puberty, can forgo fasting – especially if it will negatively impact their health. A fast can also be broken if a woman is on her period. In all these cases, those who broke their fast can make up for the missed days of fasting.
• Ramadan is notorious for being a month of weight gain
Despite the daily fasting, many people gain weight during Ramadan. This is because the low activity levels during the day often give way to binge eating at night, which can result in slower metabolic cycles that may cause the body to store fat instead of burning it. In order to maintain a healthy weight throughout the month, Muslims are encouraged to drink plenty of water, eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and protein, and wake up every morning for suhoor.
Production on the third Enola Holmes film has reportedly been disrupted after several cast and crew members fell ill with food poisoning while filming overseas in Malta. The Netflix spin-off, starring Millie Bobby Brown, had shifted location from Shepperton Studios in the UK to Malta for the final weeks of filming.
Illness causes production delay
According to The Sun, a number of people involved in the shoot became unwell after consuming suspected contaminated food from on-set catering. Filming was immediately halted as a result of the outbreak.
A source told the newspaper: “It’s a nightmare because these productions run to such tight schedules and filming had to be stopped. There were a fair few affected and it meant everything had to grind to a halt until they got better.”
While the illness was reportedly not serious, the delay has added pressure to the production schedule, as the team works towards meeting Netflix’s targeted late 2025 release date for the film.
Millie Bobby Brown returns as Enola
Millie Bobby Brown reprises her leading role as the clever and independent Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. The actress, best known for her performance as Eleven in Stranger Things, has become one of Netflix’s most prominent stars.
She is joined once again by Henry Cavill, returning as Sherlock Holmes, and Himesh Patel, who plays Dr Watson. Louis Partridge is back as Viscount Tewkesbury, while Helena Bonham Carter resumes her role as Eudoria Holmes. Sharon Duncan-Brewster also returns as Moriarty.
Speaking to Deadline, Millie Bobby Brown said, “I can't wait to collaborate again with my Enola Holmes family. Enola holds a special place in my heart – she's strong, fearless, intelligent and brave. I look forward to fans seeing how her journey continues!”
A darker direction for the third instalment
Plot details for Enola Holmes 3 remain tightly under wraps, but early reports suggest the film will take a darker tone than its predecessors. The franchise has been praised for offering a fresh take on the Sherlock Holmes universe, focusing on the adventures of the youngest Holmes sibling.
The first film, originally intended for a theatrical release under Warner Bros., was acquired by Netflix in 2020 amid the pandemic. It became a major success for the platform, followed by a second sequel released in 2022.
Millie Bobby Brown on her British accent
Although born in Dorset, Millie Bobby Brown has admitted she found it challenging to return to a British accent for the role of Enola after spending years portraying an American character in Stranger Things.
In an interview with Radio Times, she said, “For the last five years I’ve been playing an American character… and I found it really challenging being British in this, even though I am a Brit. I had to learn how to speak again.”
Despite the recent disruption, filming for Enola Holmes 3 is expected to resume soon, with Netflix maintaining its release plans for the end of 2025.
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Pooja Singhal on reviving Rajasthan’s Pichvai art with Feast Melody and Adornment in the UK’s largest showcase
For the first time, London’s Mall Galleries will host a major exhibition dedicated entirely to Pichvai paintings, an intricate devotional textile tradition from Rajasthan. Titled Feast, Melody and Adornment (2–6 July 2025), the show brings over 350 artworks to a British audience, highlighting the evolution and global revival of this 400-year-old art form.
Curated by Pooja Singhal, founder of Udaipur-based atelier Pichvai Tradition and Beyond, the exhibition is being hailed as the most ambitious contemporary presentation of Pichvai to date. In fact, it marks a powerful shift in how Indian temple art is being experienced: not in hushed museum archives, but as a vibrant, living tradition reaching new audiences.
Pichvai, meaning “behind the idol”, originated in the 17th century in Nathdwara, a temple town near Udaipur. Artists created these large-format cloth paintings for daily darshans (ritual viewings) of Srinathji, a baby Krishna deity. These works captured moments of shringar (adornment), bhog (feasting) and raag (devotional music), and were displayed behind the idol in the sanctum.
Deccan Miniature Images - Gold Cows on red getty images
Over time, these temple painters formed a tight-knit community. “My mother collected Pichvais, and my grandfather sold them,” says Singhal, whose childhood was steeped in this visual tradition. “I literally grew up surrounded by them.”
Layers of meaning, scale and detail
Though often mistaken for simple Krishna depictions, Pichvais are complex, layered artworks. They can include over 100 miniature elements like cows, lotuses, chariots and gopis, often spanning six to eight feet in height. Some motifs, like lotus blooms, are symbolic too, evoking cooling relief during Rajasthan’s scorching summers.
Pastel Lotus getty images
“Pichvai is unique because it marries the scale of a textile with the detailing of miniature painting,” explains Singhal. “Every inch has a hundred layers. You can stand there for hours and keep discovering new stories.”
Krishna as Govindagetty image
Schools of miniature painting from Nathdwara, Bundi, Jaipur and Kishangarh influence the styles on display. Some resemble aerial maps of temple festivals; others evoke the rhythm of music or the warmth of food being served to devotees.
Reimagining tradition for a global audience
Singhal’s goal since launching Pichvai Tradition and Beyond in 2010 has been to preserve traditional methods while adapting them for modern collectors. Her key innovations include:
Grayscale reinterpretations for minimal, contemporary homes
Greyscale Pichvais
Restored sketchbook folios, recreating daily temple scenes from archival fragments
Sketches
Pastel colour palettes and geometric cow motifs to appeal to wider interiors
Modern Cow Pastel
Framing artworks individually, allowing Pichvai sketches to stand as contemporary works in their own right
Sketches
These modern adaptations haven’t diluted the tradition; they’ve helped it grow. One of the atelier’s works was even selected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a diplomatic gift to a foreign leader, an unexpected milestone that, according to Singhal, affirmed the relevance and stature of this centuries-old tradition in the modern world. “When a Swedish collector bought a grayscale Pichvai at the India Art Fair, I realised the form can travel,” she says.
Pichvai gifted to Narendra Modi
A new system for old skills
Breaking away from the age-old guru–shishya (teacher–disciple) model, Singhal’s atelier now works more like a studio collective. A team of 10–12 artists from different miniature schools collaborate on large and small format works.
“Many painters had no work,” she says. “We started smaller Pichvais and even Deccan-style gold miniatures. It gave artists a viable livelihood.”
Black and gold Gopis
Bringing Pichvai to Britain
Shipping 350 works across continents has taken six months of preparation. The Victorian-era Mall Galleries, located near Trafalgar Square, has never hosted an Indian temple art show of this magnitude.
The artworks are split across three interconnected rooms, themed around Raag, Bhog and Shringar. Alongside the art, there will be over 15 events including artist walkthroughs, collector previews, academic panels, and auctions benefiting Rajasthan’s artisans.
The Haveli of Shrinathji
“I’ve never worked at this scale before,” Singhal admits. “But if every visitor leaves feeling connected to the art, it’ll be worth it.”
What it means for British-Indian audiences
This is the first exhibition in the UK to exclusively showcase newly created Pichvais, not just preserved artefacts. For British-Asian families who’ve seen such works in temples or family homes, it’s a rare chance to see them celebrated on an international platform.
“Many have never seen this tradition at such scale or detail,” says Singhal. “And now, these living artists, whose families have painted for generations, get their moment.”
📍 Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1Y 5BD 📅 2–6 July 2025 🕙 10:00–18:00 daily (until 19:00 on 4 July) 🎟️ Admission: £12 (₹1,280), £8 (₹850), Free for Under 12s 🔗 More info: mallgalleries.org.uk
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The discount is funded and distributed by energy companies across England, Scotland and Wales, but the government decides who qualifies. (Representational image: iStock)
MILLIONS of households in Britain will receive £150 off their energy bills this winter after the government changed the eligibility rules for the Warm Home Discount.
People on means-tested benefits will now automatically qualify for the discount, regardless of their property's size or energy score. This change is expected to extend support to 2.7 million additional households, including nearly a million with children.
The discount is funded and distributed by energy companies across England, Scotland and Wales, but the government decides who qualifies. Under the previous rules, only those on the guaranteed element of pension credit or on means-tested benefits living in homes with a high energy score were eligible.
Simon Francis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition told BBC: "With bills still hundreds of pounds higher than in 2020, millions will continue to face unaffordable energy and cold, damp homes this winter."
The expansion of the scheme follows the government's recent decision to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment for most pensioners.
Although energy companies will cover the cost of the expanded discount, it may be passed on to all customers through a rise in the Standing Charge, BBC reported. The government says savings from reduced energy company spending and improved debt management will offset this.
Energy UK's chief executive Dhara Vyas welcomed the move and said she hoped for "a new improved targeted support scheme".
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently confirmed £13.2bn for the government's Warm Homes Plan to improve energy efficiency in homes.
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Hogan’s current hospital stay follows a neck fusion surgery he underwent in May 2025
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has been hospitalised for ongoing neck and back issues, but representatives have confirmed he is not in critical condition, dismissing online speculation suggesting otherwise.
The 71-year-old wrestling icon, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was reported by TMZ Sports to be undergoing treatment related to injuries sustained during his decades-long in-ring career. His representative said Hogan is already mobile again and “not on his deathbed”, following false claims made on air by Florida radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge.
The speculation began after Bubba stated he had heard Hogan’s health had declined significantly and that family members were being called to say their goodbyes. However, he admitted the information was second-hand and unverified at the time of broadcast.
— (@)
In reality, Hogan’s current hospital stay follows a neck fusion surgery he underwent in May 2025, which was described as successful. He has undergone numerous operations over the years to treat wear and tear from wrestling, particularly to his spine, hips and knees.
Despite his physical challenges, Hogan has continued to make public appearances. His most recent confirmed outing was in January 2025 on WWE Raw, where he promoted his Real American Beer brand during the programme’s Netflix launch. The segment received a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Hogan remains one of the most recognisable figures in professional wrestling, having helped define the industry during the 1980s boom. He held multiple world titles and was central to WWE's rise to global popularity, later moving to WCW and becoming a founding member of the nWo.
His team has confirmed there is no cause for alarm, and that his current hospitalisation is part of ongoing care rather than any emergency. No further surgeries have been announced at this stage.
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Ju Haknyeon exits THE BOYZ following controversy surrounding Tokyo lounge meet
K-pop idol Ju Haknyeon has officially left THE BOYZ following explosive allegations connecting him to a former Japanese adult film actress and an ongoing police investigation. While the singer denied involvement in any criminal activity, the controversy has triggered widespread media attention, emotional fallout among fans, and public apologies from the rest of the group.
Scandal breaks: Photos, police reports, and a contract termination
The storm began when images of Ju Haknyeon alongside ex-AV actress Kirara Asuka at a lounge in Tokyo began circulating online. What initially seemed like a private gathering on 30 May quickly spiralled into a scandal, with Korean media suggesting deeper implications beyond a casual meetup. Shortly after, on 18 June, his agency ONE HUNDRED confirmed the end of his contract, citing a "loss of trust."
Within 24 hours, matters escalated. A citizen filed a formal complaint at Gangnam Police Station accusing Ju of violating South Korea’s prostitution law, specifically Article 4, which pertains to arranging sexual services. The report hinted at potential ties with others in the entertainment industry, demanding a broader investigation. In response, the agency’s CEO Cha Ga Won issued a statement accepting responsibility, admitting the company lacked oversight, and apologised to fans.
Ju, in turn, posted a handwritten message denying all allegations. He acknowledged attending a private drinking session on 30 May but stated, “I have never engaged in prostitution or any illegal activity.” Despite the denial, the damage to his image was irreversible, leading to his removal from the group and all related activities.
THE BOYZ react: Apologies pour in from remaining members
In the aftermath, THE BOYZ members addressed their fandom, THE B, with heartfelt letters. Eric, Kevin, Juyeon, Sunwoo, Younghoon, Q, and others expressed deep remorse, shared personal struggles, and vowed to rebuild trust. They admitted the scandal had weighed heavily on them, with some describing emotional turmoil and fear of losing their fans.
The letters weren’t about defending Ju but about reassuring their audience that they remain committed. Each member promised to reflect, grow stronger, and uphold the group’s values. The group now continues as a 10-member act.
THE BOYZ attend 2022 The Fact Music AwardsGetty Images
Online reactions remain divided, with some fans supporting the group’s decision, while others question the harsh scrutiny idols face, especially over personal relationships. But one thing is clear: THE BOYZ is now in damage control mode, striving to move forward while keeping their fandom close.