Selena Gomez gets candid on ‘Rare Beginnings’ and being too hard on herself

The Avatar universe is expanding in a bold and dramatic new direction. Paramount+ has unveiled the first teaser for Avatar: Seven Havens, a new animated series set in a world shattered by catastrophe, and confirmed that the show will premiere on October 9, 2026. The teaser is dark, atmospheric and immediately striking in tone, a significant departure from the warmth and adventure that characterised the original Avatar: The Last Airbender. What it offers instead is a world in ruins, a new Avatar burdened by a deeply complicated legacy, and a story that promises to push the franchise into grittier and more urgent territory. The October 9 date itself carries a certain significance. It had originally been earmarked for the release of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, a separate project within the franchise, before that film’s schedule shifted following an online leak. Seven Havens has now stepped into that slot. The series follows a young earthbender who discovers she is the new Avatar after Korra, emerging in a world that has been devastated by a cataclysmic event. In this dangerous and fractured era, being the Avatar is not a source of hope or admiration for those around her. It marks her instead as a figure of fear, seen by many as humanity’s destroyer rather than its saviour. Hunted by both human and spirit enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover the truth about their origins and find a way to save the Seven Havens before the last remaining strongholds of civilisation collapse entirely. The cast assembled for the series is a strong one. Saheli Khan leads as Pavi, joined by Aishu Devan as Nisha, Akshay Khanna as Karthik, Major Curda as Jae, Sakina Jaffrey as Agam, Darren Barnet as Daemin, Dianne Doan as Zi, and Dee Bradley Baker, the beloved voice of Appa and Momo from the original series, voicing Geet and Ruhi. The show follows the two-book structure familiar to fans of the original series, with 26 episodes ordered in total, each book comprising 13 episodes. Avatar Studios and Nickelodeon are producing the series, with original franchise creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko serving as executive producers alongside director Ethan Spaulding and co-executive producer Sehaj Sethi. The original Avatar: The Last Airbender, which first aired in 2005, is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated series ever made. It was followed by The Legend of Korra in 2012. Seven Havens now continues that legacy into a darker and more complex chapter, and if the teaser is any indication, it has every intention of earning its place in that company.

Rapper Nicki Minaj has once again criticised former White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, following his appearance before a U.S. Senate committee, where he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and declined to answer questions related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Barbie World hitmaker took to X (formerly Twitter) on July 30 to share a lengthy statement expressing her frustration over the Senate hearing and the lasting impact she believes the pandemic response had on millions of people. In one of her strongest remarks, Minaj wrote, “Feeding tubes will be his portion. He will lose the ability to speak & then & only then will he feel the collective pain & long term ramifications he caused to new borns, young children who are still trying to become acclimated into society & schools, traumatized pregnant women who couldn’t even have family in the delivery rooms & visits.” She continued by listing other groups she believes were deeply affected during the pandemic. “The elderly who died alone & afraid, young ppl still struggling w/mental health, suicide, people turned away from hospitals at their most vulnerable moments, the trust that is now gone from innocent people toward their governments forever, billions of stolen money from hard working tax payers via con artists…” she wrote. Concluding her message, the rapper reflected on the emotional toll of the pandemic. “I’ve been struggling to find the humor in any of this. God bless everyone who made it to the other side. You’re stronger than you thought. God is in control,” Minaj added. Her comments came a day after Dr. Fauci appeared before a Senate hearing examining decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the proceedings, Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, declining to answer questions regarding his role in the government’s pandemic response. The latest exchange revives a public disagreement between Minaj and Fauci that began in September 2021 during the global vaccination campaign. At the time, Minaj claimed on social media that her cousin’s friend in Trinidad became impotent and suffered swollen testicles after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The post quickly gained international attention and sparked widespread debate online. Health experts, however, said there was no scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to those reported side effects. Responding to the claims in 2021, Dr. Fauci said there was no evidence supporting the allegation and urged the public to rely on verified scientific research instead of unconfirmed reports circulating on social media. The disagreement quickly became one of the most talked-about celebrity-public health controversies of the pandemic, raising broader discussions about misinformation, vaccine confidence, and the influence of high-profile public figures on health-related issues. With her latest post, Minaj has once again reignited debate surrounding the pandemic years and the role of public officials in shaping COVID-19 policies, while her criticism of Fauci continues to draw strong reactions across social media.