DR Congo bans copper and cobalt concentrate exports to boost domestic smelting

Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson have resumed filming for Sam Mendes’ highly anticipated Beatles film after production faced a major setback involving one of the most historic locations connected to the legendary band. On Sunday, August 16, the four actors were seen filming outside Abbey Road Studios in London, dressed in suits as they worked on scenes for the upcoming project. Their appearance at the iconic location marks an important moment for the production, particularly because Abbey Road holds a special place in the history of the Beatles. The famous recording studio is closely associated with the band, which recorded much of its music there. Abbey Road also became the name of the Beatles’ 1969 studio album, one of the most celebrated records in music history. The album was the final studio album recorded by the group, although Let It Be was released afterward. Much of the material for Let It Be had already been recorded before the sessions for Abbey Road. The new film project will see the four actors step into the roles of the legendary Beatles members. Barry Keoghan is set to portray drummer Ringo Starr, while Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney. Joseph Quinn will take on the role of guitarist George Harrison, with Harris Dickinson portraying singer and songwriter John Lennon. The actors’ latest filming appearance comes after concerns over whether production would be allowed to take place at Abbey Road. Director Sam Mendes had previously revealed that Westminster Council was not initially permitting filming at the location, creating uncertainty around plans to recreate scenes connected to the Beatles’ history. However, the situation was later resolved, with filming ultimately going ahead at Abbey Road. The development allowed Mendes and his production team to use the historic location for scenes featuring the four actors portraying the iconic band members. The project, officially titled The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, was announced as an ambitious new take on the story of the legendary British rock band. Rather than focusing on the Beatles as a group through a single traditional biographical film, the project is planned as four interconnected movies, with each installment focusing on one member of the band. The production is particularly significant because it has received the support and participation of the Beatles’ surviving members and the families of the late members. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the families of John Lennon and George Harrison, have granted rights connected to the project. The star-studded cast extends beyond the four leading actors. Aimee Lou Wood, Anna Sawai and James Norton are also among the performers involved in the highly anticipated production, with additional cast members expected to appear. Despite the growing excitement surrounding the project and the latest filming activity, the official release date has not yet been announced. Fans will have to wait for further details from Mendes and the production team as work continues on the ambitious Beatles film series.

Louis Tomlinson has shared a fun, previously untold detail about the making of One Direction’s Drag Me Down music video. A clip of the singer has resurfaced online. In it, he looks back at the time the band filmed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. One Direction remains the only band to ever shoot a music video at the facility. According to Tomlinson, the original concept was even bigger than what fans finally saw. The band had planned to film a segment in actual zero-gravity conditions. But the plan never made it to the screen. The reason, Tomlinson revealed, was simple. Niall Horan got nervous about the idea. “And he will not be too happy about me telling this but we didn’t do it cause Niall was too scared,” Tomlinson said in the clip. The host then pushed back, asking if it was really just Niall who refused. Tomlinson didn’t let Harry Styles off the hook either. “To be fair, it was Niall and Harry to be fair,” he said, laughing. Fans have long loved Drag Me Down for its space-age visuals. Now it turns out the video could have looked even more dramatic, had the full zero-gravity plan gone ahead. Drag Me Down was released in 2015. It served as the lead single from One Direction’s fifth and final studio album, Made in the A.M. The music video saw all four remaining members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne, suited up in real spacesuits. They filmed around training jets on location at the space center. The song went on to become one of the band’s biggest global hits. It broke streaming records within hours of release. It also topped charts in multiple countries. The track later won Best Music Video at the BRIT Awards in 2016. More than a decade later, One Direction’s fans are still discovering new layers to their favourite era. This latest story, straight from Tomlinson himself, has only added to the nostalgia surrounding the band’s space-themed video. For many longtime fans, hearing these old memories resurface feels like a small gift. It’s a reminder of just how much creative risk-taking went into the band’s biggest moments, even the ones that never made the final cut.

Pakistan’s Got Talent, the Pakistani adaptation of the internationally recognised Got Talent franchise, has been attracting attention for showcasing performers with a wide variety of skills. The reality competition provides a platform for singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, magicians, acrobats, beatboxers and stunt performers from across the country. The first season features a judging panel consisting of Ali Zafar, Mehwish Hayat, Tabish Hashmi and Usman Bashir. The judges assess contestants on their creativity, stage presence and individual abilities as they compete for recognition on the national platform. A recent episode, however, sparked a heated debate on social media after contestant Yousha Hussain from Karachi delivered a bold belly dance performance. Yousha appeared on stage wearing feminine-style clothing, makeup and jewellery while performing to “Jey Deyo Ijazat Tey,” the OST of the Geo TV drama Shahrukh Ki Saaliyaan. The contestant’s appearance and performance quickly became a major talking point online. Viewers particularly discussed the styling and outfit, which some considered revealing, while others focused on the decision to feature the performance on mainstream television. Following the episode, several social media users criticised the programme’s producers and questioned whether such performances were appropriate for Pakistani television. Some viewers described the performance as an attempt to promote LGBTQ-related themes, while others expressed concerns about cultural and religious values. One social media user accused the programme of promoting an “LGBTQ agenda” and linked the performance to religious beliefs surrounding the punishment of the people of Lut. Another criticised the show for allegedly promoting LGBTQ themes and called the decision a “big shame.” Other comments similarly questioned whether the performance was intended to promote LGBT representation. Some users also criticised the style of belly dancing and the contestant’s clothing, arguing that the performance did not fit their understanding of Pakistani cultural and religious values. The controversy has consequently shifted attention away from the contestant’s dancing ability and towards a broader discussion about entertainment, personal expression, cultural expectations and the type of content presented on national television. While some viewers have strongly objected to the performance, the debate also highlights the increasingly intense reactions Pakistani television programmes can receive when performers challenge conventional expectations surrounding appearance, gender expression and stage performances.