2026 News Archive

Amid fears for jobs, some film-makers say AI could enable them bypass studio giants and take more creative risks Near the collonaded entrance to Sony Pictures’ historic Culver City film studio, a tech-powered rival has sprung up this summer. The artists at Promise, a new studio feeding off the potential of AI, can glimpse the lots where Singin’ in the Rain and Men in Black were shot, but no longer do they need to get beyond the studio’s high walls to make their visions come true. From far more modest premises, they are making movies with rapidly accelerating AI models that create backgrounds, special effects and even “synthetic performers” – using US models but also driven by market-leading Chinese AI...

Studio Theatre, Edinburgh Rabih Mroué and Lina Majdalanie explore the playwright’s life, and their journey from Beirut to Berlin, in an absorbing show at the Edinburgh international festival Bertolt Brecht termed it “cold execution”. He was thinking of the way the US government, in the era of the House Un-American Activities Committee (Huac), could murder its opponents not by directly killing them but by cutting them off from what kept them alive. Where the cold war was waged without bullets, these cold executions were enacted, for example, on any blacklisted artist who could no longer work in Hollywood. It is an idea picked up by Lebanese artists Lina Majdalanie and Rabih Mroué who use the story of the playwright in exile as a way of thinking about displacement in our own era. Brecht, no doubt seeing the writing on the wall, got out of his native Germany soon after the burning of the Reichstag in 1933. It took him several countries, eight years and a journey across land and sea to reach the US. As Majdalanie and Mroué wryly point out, getting back to Europe after the US questioned his communist affiliations took only a day. At Studio theatre, Edinburgh, until 17 August...

On Friday, Italian police said they'd recovered three paintings stolen from a museum near the city of Parma. By Saturday night, thieves in Sicily had made off with four more masterpieces.

Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption Water companies could be allowed to raise bills for customers during periods of drought under proposals being considered by the sector’s regulator for England and Wales. Suppliers would be permitted to factor “water scarcity” into bills as part of efforts to reduce consumption under Ofwat’s plans, which are being likened to surge pricing – the practice where private hire firms raise taxi fares at times of higher demand...

Hazel Davis responds to a letter about the regulation and ethics of surrogacy I wish to respond to Lexi Ellingsworth’s letter (Regulation cannot eliminate surrogacy risks, 23 July). I gave birth to a baby for my friends in January. While the baby is living with its parents, my husband and I are the legal parents. We are waiting for our family court date in September to recognise the baby’s biological parents as legal parents. My surrogacy story started when my sister suffered complications following the birth of her first child. After a second difficult birth, the doctors told her that it wouldn’t be safe for her to carry any more children. I became an auntie via surrogacy when my sister’s friend carried her third child. Now my niece is a determined five‑year-old, just as much a part of the family as her older siblings, and I see no evidence that her origins have any impact...

In Saint-Louis, Senegal, traditional pirogue races are keeping alive a centuries-old tradition dating back nearly 200 years. Held in the fishing district of Guet Ndar, the 3.5-kilometre race brings together dozens of rowers and huge crowds, turning the event into both a major sporting competition and a celebration of local culture. But despite the race's popularity and the money it generates, competitors are not paid and are calling for greater recognition for the sport.

Four artworks by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina have been stolen from the Museo Regionale in Messina, Sicily, overnight on August 15. The thieves took three panels from his Polittico di San Gregorio, depriving the city of part of the only surviving works by the painter still held in his hometown. Italian authorities have launched an investigation. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta, correspondent in Italy, has the latest.

Government review led by former minister to recommend huge expansion of onsite schemes for those who need support Specialist internships designed to secure work for young people with special educational needs should be put on “turbocharge” to help tackle the growing youth jobs crisis, a government review is to propose. Alan Milburn who is leading a review of young people and work, said supported internships should be scaled up to combat “devastating” joblessness rates for young people with a learning disability, autism or mental illness...

Nearly 200 firefighters are trying to keep the two fires on Salamina apart, Greek media report.

Moroccan migrants are protesting in Ceuta, demanding asylum two weeks after more than a massive migrant surge.

A week after Israeli settlers began besieging Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, human rights activist Netanael Hanadaro joined FRANCE 24 to recount what he witnessed there. He said he and other NGO members reached the isolated homes on foot and left food outside for the trapped residents, with the Israeli army saying it would deliver the supplies. Hanadaro described an extraordinary situation in which the homes, located on the outskirts of the village, have been surrounded by settlers while the army works to prevent clashes between the settlers and activists.

Kyiv was hit by Russian strikes on Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring six, while a popular outdoor book market was destroyed. Vendors rushed to the scene to assess the damage, with some saying they had lost their shops and their livelihoods.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put young people at the heart of his development agenda in a speech marking India’s Independence Day on Saturday. He announced free online coaching for competitive exams and plans to train 10 million young people in artificial intelligence over the next year. The speech comes amid growing criticism of Modi’s Hindu nationalist policies and recent youth-led protests against his government, as analyzed by FRANCE 24's, Jamie Smith-Maillet.

The Iranian military announced on Sunday it would be offering a $30,000 reward for killing or capturing US soldiers, with the bounty doubled if conducted by a woman. There have been no known deployments of US ground troops in Iran during the war except for a rescue mission carried out in April.

Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia, killing at least six people and striking a Wildberries logistics hub.

Hundreds of migrants have again attempted to cross from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. This time, Moroccan officials fended them off, raising new questions about the crossing of July 30.

Belgium battling biggest fire in more than a century as flames near German border and 600 people told to evacuate Two people have died in fires on the Greek island of Salamis as firefighting aircraft were called on to help tame the biggest blaze in Belgium in more than a century in the latest wave of wildfires in Europe. The bodies of two people were recovered from the Peristeria beach area of Salamis on Sunday after two fires broke out on the island, a fire department spokesperson told AFP. Hundreds of people have been ordered to evacuate...

The rules will come into force on Monday along with other changes to planning policy.

The devastating hurricane grazes the Big Island in Hawaii in the US, but avoids making landfall.

Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for nightly killings in Gaza.

Chris Fearne says Europe must look beyond its borders to solve its migration problem.

Southampton will have to get used to being barracked as they travel the Championship this autumn, the Spygate team are set to be everyone’s favourite boo-boys in the second tier. Certainly that was the case in Hertfordshire, with Watford fans and players alike beside themselves after a hard-fought victory, decided by two memorable first-half goals. Watford paid tribute to Kenny Jackett before the match, the one-club legend and local boy hailed with two minutes of applause. As everyone clapped, the cameras remained stubbornly focussed on Tonda Eckert in the dugout. The Southampton manager has the potential to become a pantomime villain as this season unspools. Remaining under investigation by the FA for his part in the Spygate affair, and with the prospect of a potentially heavy sanction to follow, Eckert’s fate has cast uncertainty over his side’s prospects this season and given opponents added motivation...

About 2.5 million people, including Japanese war criminals who fought for the country, are enshrined at Yasukuni.

The works, by Antonello da Messina, were taken as the Sicilian city of Messina held a religious celebration.

Nathan Cofnas, who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism, believes intelligence varies between racial groups.

The Federal Reserve, the ECB and the Bank of England appear unclear on how to tackle inflation amid the Iran war New UK cost of living crisis looms as rising energy bills lift inflation Inflation rates have been falling across the industrialised world, but fears that the Middle East war will raise oil prices means central banks are sitting on their hands when they should be raising interest rates to subdue inflationary pressures. The US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are still smarting from the criticism of their inaction in 2022 when inflation soared above 10% in the UK and eurozone, and over 9% in the US...

The Women's Africa Cup of Nations final takes place tonight in Rabat, with Malawi facing Cameroon in a historic showdown. Speaking to FRANCE 24, sports journalist Charlotte Richardson discussed the growing popularity of women's sport, but also the persistent gaps in media coverage, funding and infrastructure compared with men's competitions. She also highlighted the WAFCON's last-minute postponement earlier this year, saying such a decision would be unthinkable in men's football.

The works were taken overnight without alarms being triggered, raising suspicion of a professional hit.

Israeli settlers encircle Palestinian homes and cut off supplies, leading to a declaration of a military zone.

Houthi missile and drone strikes target Marib and al-Makha, killing at least four people and injuring eight.

Patients treated in tents after earthquake damages Indonesia hospital

Largest recorded wildfire in Belgium forces 600 residents to evacuate as blaze spreads towards German border towns.

A crash involving a bus registered in Poland killed 12 people and severely injured at least 10 early Sunday on a Hungary highway, marking the worst accident of its kind in the country in more than 20 years. Poland will send an emergency aircraft to Budapest, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.

A broad group of diseases in the agricultural powerhouse is top of mind for the midterm elections In Iowa, one of the key battleground states in November’s midterm elections, just about every political candidate agrees on one thing: something must be done about the state’s rising rates of cancer. The midwestern state has the second-highest rate of cancer nationwide and, together with Utah and West Virginia, is one of only three states where incidences of the disease are rising, according to cancer rate monitoring from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities...

Exclusive: Campaigners say millions are missing out on key rights including sick pay and protection against unfair dismissal Andy Burnham is being urged to protect 4 million gig economy workers by prosecuting companies that use widespread “bogus” self-employment practices to deny people their rights. As the prime minister fleshes out his agenda, the Fabian Society and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have warned that millions of workers are missing out on key statutory rights including parental leave, redundancy pay and protection against unfair dismissal...

Firefighters in southwestern France are continuing to battle a wildfire that has burned 1,700 hectares of forest in the Landes region. The blaze has stopped spreading but remains out of control, with 550 firefighters, military personnel and six water-bombing aircraft working to contain it and allow evacuated residents to return home.

Israel's transfer of West Bank policing to civilian forces cements de facto annexation and empowers settler militias.

Nurses collapsing, builders with heatstroke, bus drivers in cabs that reach 44C. The new PM wanted to spend the summer talking about the cost of living – he should change his plans I don’t think I have ever written before about a British strike directly related to the climate emergency. But that’s exactly what began late last week in north London, with a zeitgeisty connection to Andy Burnham’s fixation on buses: picket lines outside depots and massed walkouts, while the temperatures in the relevant parts of the capital and its suburbs hovered at about 34C (93F). Last Friday, more than 1,500 drivers employed by the transport giant Arriva began a planned run of 26 stoppages through to October, affecting bus routes spread between London and Essex. Everything is being led by the union Unite, whose recent grievances include alleged company union-busting and assaults by the public on staff. But the fundamental basis of the dispute is at the heart of the national condition: the near-impossibility for millions of people of working through another insanely hot summer. John Harris is a Guardian columnist..

A Hamas delegation began a meeting with Egypt's spy chief on Sunday to discuss ways to advance the implementation of a post-war plan for Gaza, an official from the Palestinian group told AFP.

A solar eclipse seen across parts of Europe, ongoing search-and-rescue efforts in Colombia after a devastating earthquake killed at least 300 people and left hundreds missing, and escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, condemned by the US ambassador to Israel as "acts of terror": FRANCE 24 takes a look at the week's most striking images.

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks to Wall Street Journal business reporter Theo Francis about refunds some businesses are getting on the billions of dollars they've paid on President Trump's tariffs.

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with Kevin Book of ClearView Energy about the United States' dwindling oil reserves as they hit the lowest level seen in more than four decades.

As wildfires rage across Europe and Britain swelters through its hottest summer on record, literary fiction has a vital role to play in capturing the severe consequences of climate crisis Earlier this summer, I travelled through Europe on a book tour. Everywhere I went, the heat broke records. In Italy, Germany and Spain, I sought refuge from the afternoon sun in air-conditioned hotels. In normally temperate Zurich, it averaged 37 degrees. I jumped into the Limmat for relief. On my final day in Warsaw, Poland had never been hotter – one of 14 countries to hit a historic high. In June, when I left to return to the US, Europe was scorching. At the end of July, as I write this, it is burning. Since the heatwaves began, there have been more than 10,000 excess deaths. Yet for many, myself included, the high temperatures brought nothing more than inconvenience – uncomfortable commutes, heat rash, less time outdoors. This seems to be a defining feature of today’s climate crisis; deadly for some, banal for others. Even when the world is on fire, it somehow doesn’t feel like an emergency for everyone...

The 55.6-metre (182ft) concrete figure is head-and-shoulders above Rio de Jaineiro's Christ the Redeemer.

Millions of Iranians struggle to make ends meet as war with US devastates the economy and sends prices soaring.

At least 11 people killed in one day of Israeli attacks despite truce extension brokered by US in June.

Housing secretary says developers will have to prove there’s no way to save pub, as she prepares planning shakeup All pubs will get protection from being turned into housing or offices under a shakeup of planning laws in England to be presented by Angela Rayner this week. The housing secretary will publish a new national planning policy framework aimed at loosening planning laws even further to help build 3m homes by the end of the parliament...

But to capture its benefits, the continent needs to develop an effective, common maritime policy.

Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia Sunday, killing at least six people in one of Kyiv's largest aerial attacks of the war.

As parts of Beth Chatto’s visionary drought-tolerant gardens in Essex turn brown, the head gardener offers advice Her debut book, in 1978, was titled The Dry Garden. Since then, the late Beth Chatto created a rich legacy with her expertise as a plantswoman and by setting up one of the oldest unwatered public gardens in England. Once a car park but transformed in 1992 into an experiment to test what plants were drought-tolerant in Essex, the driest county in the UK, Chatto’s gravel gardens south of Clacton are being visibly tested this year...

The Egyptian forward, who joined the Turkish club on a free transfer, came off the bench early in the second half.

Morocco has deployed heavy security around the border city of Fnideq after false social media rumours claimed the border to Spain's Ceuta enclave would open. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, have gathered nearby, raising fears of another mass crossing just weeks after tens of thousands attempted to enter the Spanish territory.

Malawi and Cameroon will face off this Sunday in Rabat at 9pm Paris time in the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. A surprising matchup, with each nation hoping to secure the first continental title in its history.

Chadian opposition leader and former Prime Minister Succès Masra, who founded the opposition party Les Transformateurs and challenged President Mahamat Idriss Déby in the 2024 presidential election, was jailed for more than a year after being sentenced to 20 years in 2025. Pardoned by Déby on August 14, he has now spoken to France 24 about Chad's political situation and his future.

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed at least 11 people, in what local authorities describe as the largest escalation since the June agreement. Speaking to FRANCE 24, Pierre Catoire, an emergency doctor working in the area, described a deteriorating humanitarian situation, saying some doctors lost their homes in Saturday’s strikes and healthcare workers are increasingly worried that hospitals could also be targeted. He said the most common injuries are blast and compression wounds, while doctors are also concerned about infections, as well as the long-term psychological impact on civilians.

Live video captures panic as gunman opens fire at park in Kentucky

Assessment that has found a jump in UK productivity emphasises urgent need to appoint a national statistician Keen new chancellor, John Healey, responded to last week’s better-than-expected economic news by claiming the government is “bringing hope back”. Growth did not plunge as feared after Donald Trump unleashed war on Iran – with GDP expanding at a pretty decent 0.4% in the second quarter. But what if we should have held on to a bit more hope all along? A new assessment of the UK’s recent productivity suggests this critical measure of the country’s economic strength may have been systematically underestimated...

Artem Murdid, his mother and his girlfriend are accused of terrorism. They say they did nothing wrong.

Novak Djokovic struggled in the hot conditions and was ousted from Cincinnati Open in his first match since Wimbledon.

The United States and Iran are poised to blow past a deadline they had set themselves to broker terms on peace and Iran’s nuclear program.