Northeastern Italian city, capital of Veneto, built on 126 islands in the Venetian Lagoon
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Disinformation campaigns tied to the Ceuta border crisis are intensifying across Europe, with social media posts in seven languages reaching hundreds of thousands of views. Analysts say coordinated messaging from Russian-linked accounts and far-right networks is shaping public perception while migrants discuss routes online. Authorities stress the need for rapid, fact-based responses.
Como's mayor has announced a measure banning cyclists from riding on about 30 central streets, requiring them to dismount and walk. The move aims to boost public safety amid congestion and a surge in tourist traffic. The policy is part of a broader traffic plan that includes a limited-traffic zone in the historic centre.
Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged lawmakers to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, linking the deal to Oracle’s ties to Israel. Paramount calls the rhetoric antisemitic tropes; George Clooney defends Ruffalo’s right to speak. Over 170 Jewish artists have signed a letter supporting Ruffalo. The merger remains under antitrust scrutiny and on hold as debate intensifies.
New England faces a costly invasive-crab crisis. Scientists, fishermen and startups are turning soft-shell European green crabs into marketable products—from premium meats to pet treats and whiskey. Despite climate-driven spread and decades of grassroots work, supply and infrastructure hurdles limit harvests and market reach.
Bloomberg reports several airline moves: American Airlines is adding Philadelphia, New York, Charlotte and Chicago routes to European cities and Japan, while JFK-Tel Aviv and Newark-Luxembourg/Marseille services are expanding. These updates reflect broader network growth from major carriers.
Two Venetian islands are on the market, with Crevan offering a Napoleonic fort-turned-villa and Isola Santa Cristina described as an exclusive escape. Buyers are eyeing private villas, vineyards and heritage properties as Italy's lagoon and Adriatic coast attract high-net-worth interest.
The Independent reports that the 48-year-old New York-born actor is joining General Hospital as William Baines, joining a wave of casting changes. Debuts are set for Thursday, September 3, as the soap continues its long-running tale in Port Charles. The moves follow recent departures and recastings, including Jack Brennan’s kill-off and Ethan Lovett’s recasting.
Venice has faced criticism for including few female directors in its main competition. May el-Toukhys Woman Unknown was the lone woman-led feature in the initial lineup; festival organisers have since added the documentary NAZA. Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal and programmers at London Film Festival have said structural barriers, especially financing, are limiting womens progression to larger films.
At TIFF 2026, studios are bypassing fall festivals while markets expand. Major releases skip screenings, while the market and Red Sea Fund-backed projects push Toronto as a hub for sales and international partnerships. TIFF’s evolving role mirrors a broader shift in how studios reach audiences and win awards amid a crowded fall slate.
The Oasis documentary Don’t Look Back in Anger chronicles the 2025 reunion tour, capturing Liam and Noel Gallagher’s reconciliation and the emotional response from fans in Cardiff. Directors Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern show how music bridged a 15-year rift, culminating in a two-hour set that resonated across generations.
Australia has proposed a Digital Duty of Care that will force social platforms to offer users aged 16 and over a choice between algorithmic recommendation feeds or a feed limited to accounts they follow. The draft bill will require platforms to notify users, target addictive design features for under‑18s and allow fines up to A$109.2m for non‑compliance.
A wave of art and urban-design initiatives is reshaping public spaces in European cities. From Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Baths hosting a large-scale art installation to Glasgow’s archives becoming public, the trend emphasizes accessible, site-specific works that invite community engagement.
The Guardian, Business Insider UK, The Guardian and Independent pieces report on Alex Gibney’s four-hour Musk documentary. Ashley St Clair alleges Elon Musk discussed having a child to build a “legion” before civil conflict, with a $40m NDA offer later declined. The film questions Musk’s power, algorithm changes at X, and his political shift. Venice premiere provided a harsh critique of Musk’s influence.
A tour across Italy’s lesser-known towns—from Tropea in Calabria to Torre di Palme in Marche and Barga in Tuscany—highlights regional hospitality, cuisine, and luxury travel, amid new luxury hotels and evolving cultural offerings.
The EU Commission has proposed a framework to let cities curb short-term rentals in areas facing housing stress, with rules that require evidence-based, non-retroactive measures. The plan aims to stabilize urban housing by guiding local enforcement while protecting the housing supply and noting industry pushback.
John Malkovich has cancelled a Tel Aviv date for The Music Critic after a PR firm attributed quotes to him. He says he never made the statements and will not participate in the performance. The Israeli promoter and the PR firm apologize for the error. The show’s tour continues elsewhere.
Palestinian filmmakers have unveiled a Gaza Cinema Academy initiative advancing a nine‑month Gaza Filmmaking Diploma and planning to create an accredited degree, with aims to connect Gaza’s storytellers to global audiences and festivals.
The government has given English mayors the power to charge an overnight visitor levy as a percentage of accommodation costs with no statutory upper limit. Industry groups and major hotel chains have warned the uncapped power will push up prices, reduce demand and cost jobs; mayors argue revenue will fund local services and infrastructure from 2028.
NAZA, an 80‑minute documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has premiered at the Venice Film Festival, won a special jury prize and prompted sustained criticism from Israeli officials. The film presents anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel alleging AI‑assisted targeting and frequent civilian deaths in Gaza; Israel’s defence establishment has rejected the claims and ordered inquiries.
Oasis has revealed a 2027 tour spanning the UK, Europe and the US, with 11 Manchester shows, five Celtic Park dates in Glasgow, and four at Knebworth. Richard Ashcroft will headline all dates. The tour follows their 2025 reunion and weeks of teaser posts and a drone reveal in Manchester.
Meta is rolling out an audio-focused variant of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to calm privacy concerns while preserving AI features. The move follows backlash to camera-equipped models and signals a broader shift toward user consent and non-visual interfaces.
The Guardian and The Times of Israel report on the Venice-winning NAZA documentary by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Israeli ministers have condemned the film, with the culture minister threatening citizenship revocation for the directors. The IDF denies allegations of planned or approved strikes in Gaza and challenges the film’s anonymous whistleblower approach. The Gaza death toll exceeds 73,000.
A Venice-lauded documentary alleging that Israeli targeting practices include collateral civilian deaths has sparked a political firestorm. Israeli leaders condemn the film, threaten legal action, and move to strip the filmmakers of citizenship, while international peers call for freedom of expression and due process. The debate centers on anonymous insider testimony about AI-assisted targeting in Gaza.
The Novig advertising campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney, showing her in minimal clothing while posing with sports gear, has prompted widespread criticism from athletes and commentators about the sexualisation of women in sport. The backlash has seen outspoken responses from figures like Amy Hunt, Ariarne Titmus and Gracie Kramer, while Sweeney defends the project and highlights other nude campaigns.
B’Tselem reports five interconnected tactics—violence, movement restrictions, economic strangulation, social destruction, and ethnic cleansing—that are dismantling Palestinian life in the West Bank, accelerating under the current government and post-2023 Gaza war. The findings depict a coordinated effort to establish permanent Israeli presence, tightening control and forcing dispossession.
The Venice film festival features a four-hour documentary on Elon Musk that critics say is highly critical. Musk has branded the film a hit piece, while director Alex Gibney defends it as rigorous inquiry. The documentary includes AI-generated Musk commentary and details about Musk's business ventures and public presence.
A Yale study analyzes New York Times coverage of the Gaza war, arguing it underreports Palestinian casualties and civilian suffering while overemphasizing Israeli agency; Times counters that it covers the war rigorously from multiple angles. The debate centers on framing and balance as the conflict continues.
Documentary NAZA relies on anonymous Israeli military testimonials alleging AI-enabled targeting in Gaza. While the film has won Venice’s Special Jury Prize and will stream via The Guardian, Israeli officials deny the allegations and threaten legal steps against the filmmakers. The Guardian cooperates on distribution; filmmakers argue for public access amid ongoing debate.
Unreleased Oasis recordings from the 1990s, including 63 live shows and hours of rehearsals, have been withdrawn from auction after legal action by the band. Littleton Auctions had planned a sale in October, but Oasis has intervened, delaying the auction while the dispute proceeds. Other memorabilia remains on offer.
A review of recent articles shows the Malacca Strait crisis is intensifying, with maritime blockades constraining energy flows and testing international law. Analysts say diversifying routes and boosting military presence will shape global trade and security dynamics.
The documentary NAZA has opened in US cinemas after winning applause at Venice and New York festivals. Israeli military insiders in the film have alleged reckless killings of civilians in Gaza and described using AI-driven surveillance to select targets. Israel has denied the claims, called for probes and threatened action against those who spoke to the filmmakers.
The Medway West branch of a pet charity has launched a low-cost clinic to provide affordable care for pets of people on low incomes or benefits. The service aims to keep animals at home while reducing vet costs, with the branch noting high demand and a growing pet food bank
The documentary on Elon Musk has seen shifting release plans as studios negotiate distribution. TikTok has suspended an associated account over political content, while HBO’s airing remains in question as Universal reassesses international rights.
The Guardian‑produced NAZA, based on 24 anonymous Israeli military insiders, has sparked a political backlash after Venice’s Special Jury Prize. Netanyahu has called for investigations and citizenship revocation; filmmakers face legal and security pressure even as the film screens in over 50 countries. A counter‑film and online misinformation efforts have emerged, challenging NAZA’s claims.
The Guardian recalls Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, noting his Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman and his English-language hits Gloria Bell and The Wonder, while highlighting his sensitive portrayals of ordinary lives and the challenges faced by trans individuals in a global context.