Financial news from the Sydney Morning Herald: “Today, investors appear to be buying the stock to get a part of a very volatile business: the movie operation. The Internet premium has been supplanted by the Harry Potter premium.” The Providence Journal reports on the newest issue by the British Tourist Authority; maps to take one …read more!

The BBC has posted the preview clip for the “JK Rowling: Harry Potter and Me” special. Thanks to Ana for the link!

Ananova reports that Harry Potter leads to surge in broomstick sales. From mlive.com: Harry Potter charms some Christian critics.

Yet another record broken, this time for ticket sales in New Zealand. Here’s a link to the press release from the BBC regarding the programme mentioned earlier, “JK Rowling: Harry Potter and Me,” showing an air date of Friday 28 December. Set those VCRs!

Interesting bit a reader who says he has the script of CoS sent to us under threat of Death by Warner Bros. : It’s 113 pages – of which the first 41 are a tedious reprise of the first flick (well tedious for me) starting with the Dursleys, attempts to contact Harry, going to Kings …read more!

CoS Casting News Madame Pince will be played by Sally Mortemore. Manchester Online reports: “As soon as she finishes her stint at the Octagon in mid-January Sally is off to join the filming of the second Harry Potter film, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, in which she will play Madame Pince. “I’m so …read more!

Thanks to Sara for posting to HP4GU’s Announcements a summary of a trailer for the Christmas Day BBC Special, Harry Potter & Me’. The show is all about JKR, how she came to write the books, why she wrote the books, how she feels about them now, etc. The actual trailer started with a bunch …read more!

From the Inquirer News Service (Philippines), comes the story of how “Harry is the triumph of the single mom.” Ananova reports that a head teacher has quit after banning Harry Potter books from her school. The debate still rages over the good and bad of Harry Potter (from This is Staffordshire).

The American Humane Association has a review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, with an interesting emphasis on the different animal actors (and “stuffies”) used in the film.

News and views for 6 December From the Bellingham Herald, comes a story of a write-a-spell contest and its young winner. Ananova reports that a museum has kicked Santa out of its Christmas grotto and replaced him with Harry Potter characters. From the Los Angeles Times: “As if making a motion picture of the “Harry …read more!