Elijah Wood breaks silence on possible return to new ‘Lord of the Rings’ film
Elijah Wood finally broke the silence over his potential return to the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie.
Speaking to Screen Rant at Fan Expo New Orleans, the 44-year-old actor neither confirmed nor denied reports claiming that Elijah will reprise his role as Frodo Baggins in the new film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
Playing coy about reprising his beloved role, Elijah said, “I can neither confirm nor deny. Listen, a wizard is to be trusted.”
He further told the outlet, “I’m not really allowed to confirm. I’m really excited about the film. I think it really is a creative ‘getting the band back together.’ A lot of the creative heads of department are back and in that space again.”
“Philippa [Boyens] I think, is co-writing it and producing it. It’s very much that core original group getting back together to tell this story that will feel like a really fun exploration of this character that we all love so much. And I’m just really excited,” continued the Green Street star.
Elijah further said, “I’m excited for Andy [Serkis] to direct it. It feels so unbelievably appropriate that he directs a film about his character that he has really made his own.”
“I’m thrilled. It’ll be great. And I’m excited to see… I know their intention is to make other films in this universe. And that’s exciting, interesting to see where that goes, but very exciting,” he added.
For those unversed, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released in cinemas on December 17, 2027.
Gold prices climbed to record highs on Tuesday, driven by worsening geopolitical conditions and expectations of further interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, lifting both global and domestic bullion markets to historic levels.
Prices of gold and silver surged globally and locally amid heightened tensions involving the United States, Venezuela and Iran, alongside ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, which has strengthened demand for safe-haven assets.
In the international bullion market, the price of gold rose for a second consecutive day, gaining $9 per ounce to reach a new all-time high of $4,595.
Following the global trend, gold prices in the local market also increased sharply. The price of gold per tola rose by Rs900 to reach Rs481,186, while the price of 10 grams increased by Rs771 to Rs413,118.
Silver prices also posted strong gains. The price of silver per tola rose by Rs180 to a new record of Rs9,075, while the price of 10 grams increased by Rs154 to Rs7,780.
Spot gold traded 0.1% lower at $4,588.43 per ounce as of 0947 GMT, following a record high of $4,629.94 in the previous session. US gold futures for February delivery slipped 0.4% to $4,597.50.
Elsewhere, spot silver gained 0.7% at $85.57 per ounce after hitting an all-time high of $86.22 on Monday. Spot platinum lost 0.5% to $2,332.40 per ounce after scaling a record peak of $2,478.50 on December 29. Palladium slid 1.1% to $1,822.37 per ounce.
Earlier on Monday, gold prices in Pakistan surged to a fresh record, mirroring a sharp rally in international bullion markets as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid escalating political and monetary uncertainty in the United States.
In the local market, the price of gold per tola jumped by Rs7,700 to reach an all-time high of Rs480,962, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association. Similarly, the price of 10-gram gold rose by Rs6,602 to Rs412,347.
Internationally, spot gold climbed 2.5% to $4,620.56 per ounce by 10:50 am ET, after touching a record peak of $4,627.27 earlier in the session. US gold futures for February delivery rose 2.9% to $4,631.30, according to Reuters. Silver also rallied strongly, setting a new record high above $85 per ounce.
Market participants attributed the rally to heightened uncertainty surrounding US monetary policy and political developments. Adnan Agar, Director at Interactive Commodities, said gold’s sustained rise was being driven by multiple factors, with the US Federal Reserve playing the most critical role.
“The primary reason is the Fed. Markets are under pressure due to expectations of rate cuts, which are clearly favourable for gold and silver,” Agar said. He added that political uncertainty linked to the Trump administration and broader geopolitical risks were further fueling investor demand for precious metals.
Gold has now reached an all-time high of $4,627 per ounce and continues to trade just below that level, suggesting further upside if current conditions persist. Agar noted that silver has also broken its previous peak of $84, rising to as high as $85.73, and has already delivered a 16% return since the start of the year.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee edged up Rs0.01, closing at 280.01 against the dollar, extending last week’s modest inter-bank gains.
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Nipah Virus Detected In Kolkata: On Monday, the West Bengal government said that two cases of Nipah virus have been detected in the state. Both the affected individuals are medical staffers of a private hospital in Barasat in the North 24 Parganas district and are admitted there.
They were identified on January 11 at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), ICMR, AIIMS Kalyani in West Bengal.
Both the affected persons are nurses and are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital, West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and state Health Secretary Narayan Swoop Nigam confirmed on Monday.
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West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty told mediapersons, “Both, aged between 22 and 25 (male and female), had travelled to Purba Bardhaman for personal reasons, but have no history of travel outside the state… They are employees of a private hospital in Barasat and are currently undergoing treatment at that facility.”
The chief secretary said the Health Department has started contact tracing. “The authorities are investigating how the two individuals contracted the virus and are identifying everyone who had come into contact with them,” she said.
Sources said that the Health Department officials held a high-level meeting with infectious disease specialists and experts, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally monitoring the situation.
They said the state health department is keeping a close watch on the situation and is trying to trace the persons who came in contact with the two nurses after they were suspected to have been affected by the Nipah virus.
Both the nurses are attached to a hospital at Barasat, the district headquarters of North 24 Parganas. Both are now admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital.
One is a resident of Nadia district and the other is a resident of East Burdwan district. Hence, attempts to trace the persons who came in contact with them after they were suspected to have been affected are mainly concentrated in Nadia, East Burdwan and North 24 Parganas districts.
Immediately upon receipt of information, the Union Health Secretary held discussions with Chakraborty and Nigam to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated action.
A national joint outbreak response team has been deployed to support the state government in containment and public health response measures.
The team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata; National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune; National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai; AIIMS Kalyani; and the Department of Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
It is learnt that the Union government’s guidelines on Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert have been shared with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) unit.
In addition, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, has been activated to coordinate the national response.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, assuring full support from the Union government.
JP Nadda also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the state in managing the situation, according to a statement issued by the Union health ministry.
Why Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez didn’t pose together at Golden Globes
Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez both attended the 83rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony on Sunday, but didn’t pose together on the red carpet, despite there being “no drama” between the two.
On Monday, an insider spilled to Daily Mail that Ben Affleck’s ex-wives were not photographed together at the Golden Globes because they “don’t want to create a fuss.”
Garner and Lopez are “friendly with each other,” a source told the outlet. “They get along, they are cool with each other, there are no issues.”
“They don’t want to drum up headlines by posing together at an awards show; that would be awkward. They don’t want to create a fuss because it would be hard for the kids,” the confidant added.
For those unversed, Garner shares 17-year-old twins Max and Emme with Marc Anthony, while Lopez co-parents kids Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with Ben.
As per the source, the actresses see each other “often” because Emme and Seraphina are especially close.
“I am pretty sure they see each other like once a week because of the kids, and they talk on the phone, they are co-parenting in a way, even though Lopez divorced Ben,” the insider said.
The source claimed, “They are like one big modern family, which is nice. They have all been in solid therapy and understand the importance of getting along for the sake of the kids.”
“Also, Garner is very cool about everything; she is a no drama lady, so there was no way there was ever going to be any weirdness. She is like the nicest person in Hollywood,” a tipster added.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the US, as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran, which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
“Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Tariffs are paid by US importers of goods from those countries. Iran has been heavily sanctioned by Washington for years.
“This order is final and conclusive,” Trump said without providing any further detail.
There was no official documentation from the White House about the policy on its website, nor information about the legal authority Trump would use to impose the tariffs, or whether they would be aimed at all of Iran’s trading partners.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Iran, which had a 12-day war with US ally Israel last year and whose nuclear facilities the US military bombed in June, is seeing its biggest anti-government demonstrations in years.
Trump has said the US may meet Iranian officials and that he was in contact with Iran’s opposition, while piling pressure on its leaders, including threatening military action.
Tehran said on Monday it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as Trump considered how to respond to the situation in Iran, which has posed one of the gravest tests of clerical rule in the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Demonstrations evolved from complaints about dire economic hardships to defiant calls for the fall of the deeply entrenched clerical establishment.
US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 599 people – 510 protesters and 89 security personnel – since the protests began on December 28.
While airstrikes were one of many alternatives open to Trump, “diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
During the course of his second term in office, Trump has often threatened and imposed tariffs on other countries over their ties with US adversaries and over trade policies that he has described as unfair to Washington.
Trump’s trade policy is under legal pressure as the US Supreme Court is considering striking down a broad swathe of Trump’s existing tariffs.
Iran, a member of the OPEC oil producers’ group, exported products to 147 trading partners in 2022, according to the World Bank’s most recent data.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attend a meeting with oil industry executives, at the White House in Washington, DC, US on January 9, 2026. — Reuters
JD Vance spox denies report pushing diplomacy over Iran strikes.
Iran says nuclear talks with US ongoing despite rising tensions.
Iranians use Starlink to bypass nationwide internet blackout.
WASHINGTON: Some senior aides in President Donald Trump’s administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging Trump to try diplomacy before strikes against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing US officials.
The White House was weighing an offer from Tehran to engage in talks regarding its nuclear program as Trump seemed to eye authorising military action against Iran.
A spokesman for Vance said the Journal’s report was not accurate.
“Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio together are presenting a suite of options to the president, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military actions,” said William Martin, Vance’s communications director. “They are presenting those options without bias or favour.”
The development came a day after Tehran said it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as US President Donald Trump considered how to respond to Iran’s tackling of nationwide protests.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington, though these were “incompatible” with US threats.
“Communications between (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff and me continued before and after the protests and are still ongoing,” he told Al Jazeera.
Adding to threats of military action, Trump late on Monday announced that any country doing business with Iran, a major oil producer, will face a new tariff of 25% on its exports to the US.
“This Order is final and conclusive,” Trump said in a social media post, without providing further detail about the legal authority he would use to impose the tariffs, or whether they would be aimed at all of Iran’s trading partners.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment on Trump’s tariff announcement. Iran, already under heavy US sanctions, exports much of its oil to China, with Turkiye, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India among its other top trading partners.
Meanwhile, some Iranians are still using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service despite a nationwide communications blackout, three people inside the country said, the latest example of Starlink being used to counter internet shutdowns in geopolitical flashpoints.
But Starlink, which beams its service directly from thousands of low-earth orbit satellites, is still working in some places in Iran, despite being banned by authorities there, three people using Starlink in the country told Reuters. One of them, in Western Iran, said he knew dozens of people using Starlink and that users in border towns and cities were largely unaffected.
Alp Toker, founder of internet monitoring group NetBlocks, said he has heard from people in the region that there is still some Starlink access in Iran, though service appears reduced.
From delayed bathroom breaks to poor hydration, experts explain why UTIs are common in working women and how simple daily habits and early care can prevent complications.
Small, mindful changes in daily routines, hydration, hygiene, and timely medical care can go a long way in preventing UTIs and ensuring sustained well-being, comfort, and productivity at work.
For many working women, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are dismissed as routine or unavoidable. Yet doctors increasingly point out that UTIs are less about sudden illness and more about the cumulative impact of everyday workplace habits, long hours, delayed bathroom breaks, inadequate hydration, and poor ergonomic routines.
According to Dr. D. B. Usha Rajinikanthan, Senior Consultant, Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & IVF, SIMS Hospital, Chennai, UTIs in working women are often driven by modern work culture rather than infection alone. Extended desk hours, back-to-back meetings, and limited access to clean restrooms frequently result in delayed urination. “When urine is held for long periods, bacteria are given time to multiply in the bladder,” she explains, making infections more likely and recurrent.
Hydration or the lack of it plays a critical role as well. Many women consciously reduce water intake to avoid frequent bathroom trips during work hours, unknowingly increasing their risk. Prolonged sitting further contributes to poor bladder health, creating conditions that allow infections to thrive. Dr Rajinikanthan also stresses the importance of breathable clothing, recommending cotton underwear to keep the genital area dry and discourage bacterial growth.
Hygiene habits, though seemingly basic, are equally important. Washing the genital area with mild soap and water, avoiding scented products such as sprays or douches, and maintaining proper hand hygiene after restroom use help preserve the body’s natural pH balance. She also advises limiting bladder irritants like coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods, which can aggravate urinary discomfort. Simple practices such as wiping from front to back can significantly reduce bacterial transfer to the urethra.
The consequences of ignoring UTIs extend beyond physical discomfort. Recurrent infections can disrupt productivity, increase absenteeism, and contribute to antibiotic resistance, making future treatment more complicated. “What starts as a manageable issue can escalate into something that affects long-term health and work performance,” cautions Dr. Rajinikanthan.
Early recognition of symptoms is another critical factor in preventing complications. Dr. Jaishree Gajaraj, Head of Varam and Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, MGM Healthcare, Chennai, emphasises that prompt medical attention can make treatment far simpler and more effective. Symptoms such as burning during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and lower abdominal discomfort should never be ignored or self-treated.
“Delayed care can allow the infection to travel to the kidneys,” Dr Gajaraj explains, “leading to fever, severe pain, and even hospitalization.” She strongly advises against self-medication, noting that inappropriate antibiotic use can worsen resistance and mask underlying issues.
Preventive habits, she adds, need to be intentional and consistent. Not holding urine for long periods, drinking water regularly to flush out bacteria, maintaining intimate hygiene, wearing breathable clothing, and avoiding excessive sugary drinks can dramatically lower infection risk. Awareness, she believes, is just as important as action, recognising early symptoms and responding promptly can prevent long-term complications.
As women’s work patterns continue to evolve, so must conversations around health at the workplace. Both doctors agree that prioritising bladder health is not a luxury but a necessity. Small, mindful changes in daily routines, hydration, hygiene, and timely medical care can go a long way in preventing UTIs and ensuring sustained well-being, comfort, and productivity at work.
First Published:
January 13, 2026, 10:47 IST
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Nicola Peltz lifts the lid on new twist in Beckham feud
Nicola Peltz has dismissed the reports claiming that David and Victoria Beckham had tried to mend fences with their son, Brooklyn.
On Monday, an insider close to the actress told People magazine that “the claim that Brooklyn and Nicola have been invited to all events and that David and Victoria have made honest efforts to mend things is untrue.”
“Neither parents have reached out to Nicola in almost a year,” the confidant added.
Earlier on January 9, a tipster informed the outlet that both the former footballer and the fashion designer had “repeatedly asked Brooklyn and Nicola to meet and talk in order to move forward.”
The source further claimed that the couple has also always been invited to the Beckham family events.
“Of course invited Brooklyn and Nicola [to his knighting and after-gathering]. They have always been invited to all family occasions or events, whether private or public,” an insider said.
The source shared that David and Victoria had tried to mend ties with their eldest son and daughter-in-law when the beef allegedly began over Nicola’s wedding gown.
On Jan. 8, The Sun reported that tensions between Brooklyn and his parents remain high as he sent a legal notice to them, warning them to contact him only through his lawyers.
“David was told to speak to them via [law firm] Schillings,” the source told the publication. “That was the only way for them to communicate.”
