Borders announced today that the recent release of HBP did not help avert a slump at their UK stores, which in turn led to a decline in profits. Borders said in its statement that high discounts on HBP were a contributing factor in the drop in their net income.

The Guardian reports that Pinewood Studios, and its sister-studio, Shepperton, where Gary Oldman’s Batman Begins was filmed, are both about to start expansion projects. Pinewood’s program includes facilities upgrades that will incorporate state-of-the-art equipment, new sound stages, production workshops and post-production facilities.

A columnist for the New Hampshire Union-Leader has been musing on the role of the government in the HP series. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement acts as a sort of KGB, rounding up citizens to appear before the Wizengot, where the accused are tried in a dungeon while bound to a chair. The guilty …read more!

TheSnitch reported today about MoviesOnline’s collection of comments from people who have seen a test showing of Goblet of Fire. The interviews include spoilers for the film, where it differs from the book, and discuss some of the reasons why the film may have been given its PG-13 rating.

Raincoast, the Canadian publishers of the Harry Potter series, have announced that Vancouver Kidsbooks’ two events won their “Best HBP Launch Party” contest Raincoast said that Vancouver Kidsbooks ran two separate parties on the evening of July 15th at their two locations with an “Owl Post” theme; over 1500 fans attended the North Vancouver event …read more!

WB sent these over in high-res: Draco at the table with Krum (large) Draco at the table with Krum (medium) Draco at the table with Krum (small) Ron and Mad-Eye (large) Ron and Mad-Eye (medium) >Ron and Mad-Eye (small)

Bloomsbury has put up a teaser clip of the Stephen Fry version of the audio book of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, available by clicking here (rememeber to “save as”). The audio book will be released on August 22. From the press release: “Sometimes [there is] a turn of phrase that makes me think …read more!

Veritaserum has posted new GoF trailer footage, check it out! Thanks Milly! Update from WB: This trailer is international footage and is almost exactly the same as the domestic trailer and therefore won’t be released in any official capacity.

There is news today about a possible online Harry Potter game made by the people who do work for the Sims online games. New Pencil, a company that makes 3D graphics, apparently has teamed up with EA, the makers of the Harry Potter games, to develop something known as “Hogwarts Online”. If you click this …read more!

The QuillsAwards, sponsored by the Quills Literacy Foundation, has opened voting; you can vote for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in the Children’s Chapter Book/Middle Grade and Book of the Year categories here (you must fill out a short form first).