Myanmar junta’s forced remittance rules pull in $7.1b
Rights groups say Myanmar’s system tying transfers to passport renewals, may amount to human rights violations.
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Major police operation targets drug and knife crime
West Midlands Police brings Operation Fearless to Handsworth.
Thai PM Anutin says clip of him vowing to reopen border with Cambodia ‘obviously AI’
Social media posts this week included audio purportedly of him speaking in Thai about plans to reopen the border.
Aina Clotet Talks Portraying an Older Coming-of-Age in Critics’ Week Title ‘Viva’: ‘We Are Still Missing So Many Stories About Women’
When Spanish actor-turned-director Aina Clotet received a call that her directorial feature debut “Viva” was shortlisted for Cannes’ prestigious Critics’ Week sidebar, she thought she was dreaming. When the selection confirmation call came a month later, she felt almost “dizzy”
Catalonia Consolidates as Go-To Production Partner
Following a banner year in 2025 with Carla Simón’s “Romería” and Oliver Laxe’s “Sirāt” in Cannes competition, Catalan cinema makes a strong return to the Croisette this year with seven titles, incñuding six features, across the festival, taking in Maria Martínez Bayona’s “The
Hungary's Orbán-era wartime state of emergency ended, PM Péter Magyar says
The emergency governance framework was first introduced by the government of previous Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in 2020 as part of measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter Jackson Says Stephen Colbert Pitched His ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Before CBS Canceled ‘The Late Show’ and They’ve Already Spent One Year Working on It
Peter Jackson is discussing for the first time what it’s like working with Stephen Colbert on his recently-announced “Lord of the Rings,” saying he’s “never met anyone who knows more about Tolkien” than the late night talk show host. “He phoned me up a year ago — before he knew
Split on key issues, Israel and Lebanon to meet for third round of direct talks in Washington
While Lebanon is demanding a permanent truce and a halt to the destruction of border villages, Israel seeks to retain full freedom of operations in Lebanon until the Hezbollah issue is resolved. It is unclear how the United States will bridge these positions
Pope Leo decries European military spending as 'betrayal' of diplomacy
By Joshua McElwee ROME, May 14 (Reuters) - Pope Leo on Thursday decried rising European military spending, which grew last year by the highest amount since the end of the Cold War amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, saying it was a betrayal of diplomacy. Leo, who
Upcoming Films From Catalonia Include Auteurs, Dance and Stop-Motion Animation
Some awaited films in the pipeline from Catalonia: The Rift Director: Àlex Lora (Inicia Films, Scope Features) Lora’s follow-up to his 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, “The Masterpiece,” tells the story of a young man with a Catalan mother and a Moroccan father who
Latest news bulletin | May 14th, 2026 – Midday
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this May 14th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
Americans still feel bad about the economy. When will it get better?
U.S. consumer sentiment has been on a downward trend since the Covid-19 pandemic. Inflation, wars and President Trump's tariffs are to blame, economists say.
Michelle Yeoh to EP ‘Nak Muay’ as U.K. Global Screen Fund Backs Disruptive Element Films’ Thailand Slate (EXCLUSIVE)
Disruptive Element Films has secured U.K. Global Screen Fund backing for a four-feature slate to be produced in Thailand, launching with “Nak Muay,” a Muay Thai action drama executive produced by Michelle Yeoh and directed by BAFTA-winning writer-director Tinge Krishnan. The
Failure To Lawn
On what a dying patch of turfgrass can teach us about water scarcity, ecological repair, and the lies we tell ourselves about success.
Clio Barnard’s ‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ Unveils First Clip Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
A birthday party in a British pub erupts into drunken dancing, singing and general rowdiness in the first clip from “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” the latest feature from BAFTA-nominated writer/director Clio Barnard. The film — set to have its world premiere in Cannes
Lucy Hale to Star in ‘A Young Widow’s Guide to Life’ From Director Mackenzie Munro
International sales have launched on the romance in Cannes.
US clears H200 chip sales to 10 China firms as Nvidia CEO looks for breakthrough
The stakes are significant, highlighting how the US-China tech rivalry is now snarling even approved trade, leaving the world's most valuable company and dominant chipmaker caught between dueling national priorities.
Artemis III: NASA details next steps in Moon programme
NASA has announced preliminary plans for Artemis III, its next Moon mission.
Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin producing phytoplankton abundance
Researchers in the UK have shown how the distributions of two phytoplankton groups—known to produce natural toxins that can halt shellfish harvesting—have changed in the North East Atlantic over the last six decades.
What is the Thucydides Trap and why did Xi raise it with Trump?
The term was popularised by Harvard political scientist Graham Allison in the early 2010s.
In pictures: Trump hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing on two-day summit
President Trump was welcomed by President Xi Jinping in Beijing for what will be a whirlwind tour.
Xi Jinping vows to 'open door wider' to US firms during Trump visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping used US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing to reassure American business leaders that China remains committed to further opening its economy to foreign investment.
Windows Update will soon automatically roll back faulty drivers
Microsoft is on a mission to fix Windows 11, and part of that involves improving the often-frustrating Windows Update experience. While you'll soon be able to pause updates indefinitely, Microsoft is also adding a new feature that automatically rolls back problematic drivers
Malaysia to seek legal action, compensation in row with Norway over scrapped defence deal
Norwegian group Kongsberg said in 2018 it had agreed a contract with the Royal Malaysian Navy to supply missiles.
Sundance Winner ‘Hive’ Director Blerta Basholli Releases Her Second Feature ‘Dua’ in Cannes’ Critics’ Week
Blerta Basholli’s second feature film “Dua” has just had its world premiere on May 13 during Cannes’ Critics’ Week. It follows Basholli’s film “Hive,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, becoming the festival’s only film to ever win the Grand Jury Prize,
Ornella Mkrtchyan on how practical challenges create the talent of tomorrow
For decades, the path from education into work followed a familiar sequence: theory first, application later. That structure is not disappearing, but it is beginning to shift. Ornella Mkrtchyan, director of the Centre for Youth Initiatives, who works at the intersection of
Putin visit to China will take place very soon, Kremlin says
MOSCOW, May 14 - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China very soon and preparations for the trip are already complete, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Seoul court orders North Korea's leader to pay compensation to Korean War POWs
Thursday's ruling was the third time former South Korean POWs have won damages against Kim and North Korea, according to local reports, although none has yet succeeded in collecting compensation.
Africa: BGFI Holding Lists On Central Africa's Bvmac Stock Exchange
[Daba Finance] BGFI Holding Corporation listed on the Bourse des Valeurs Mobilières de l'Afrique Centrale on May 7, becoming the first multinational from the CEMAC region to join the exchange's equities market.
UN says can feed a million more Afghan children if wars stop
Fundraising has proven difficult, and the WFP has raised only eight per cent of 2026’s target amount for Afghanistan.
MoreThan Films Sells ‘Balearic’ to Cineverse for Fandor in North America (EXCLUSIVE)
MoreThan Films has sold North American digital rights to Ion de Sosa’s “Balearic” to Cineverse, which will release the film on its curated arthouse streaming platform Fandor, marking a key deal for one of the company’s Cannes Marché du Film titles. The Barcelona-Berlin-São
Tariffs, weak demand and climate confusion drag EU business investment rate to 11-year low
It's the lowest point since 2015, with firms blaming geopolitical disruption, a disorderly market and regulation uncertainty. Hungary and Croatia buck the trend.
UAE denies Netanyahu office's claim of secret wartime visit as Iran dubs it 'unforgivable'
The UAE denied Netanyahu's office's claim of a secret wartime visit, as Tehran threatened those "colluding with Israel".
Lightcraft’s Upcoming Animated Feature ‘Wonderland’ Expanding Into TV With Louis Serkis Leading Voice Cast (EXCLUSIVE)
Polish production company Lightcraft is expanding the world of its upcoming animated film “Wonderland” with a new TV series toplining Louis Serkis (“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” “The Kid Who Would Be King”) slated to premiere next year. The feature film, which stars Roman
Gunfire in Philippine Senate: Standoff shows extent to which Duterte bloc would protect their own
The standoff turned the Senate into a shelter to protect fugitives, said analysts.
COL Group Names CMO and Senior International Hires to Drive FlareFlow’s Vertical 2.0 Strategy
COL Group has appointed Timothy Oh as chief marketing officer of FlareFlow, adding to his existing role as general manager for international business, as the Shenzhen-listed digital entertainment company announces a wave of senior international hires tied to its next growth
Deepfake Meloni clips distort relations between Italy and Israel
Several viral deepfake clips have spread online with misleading claims about Italy’s relationship with Israel.
Cats & Dogs
A dog gets fed and thinks his person is an omniscient, benevolent being. A cat gets fed and thinks it is. How we see ourselves in this analogy is actually up to each of us, every day. It also tells us a bit about how we think about customers, vendors, and partners.
Russia says it's establishing 'full partnership' with Afghan Taliban
MOSCOW, May 14 (Reuters) - Russia is establishing a "full-fledged partnership" with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and is encouraging other countries in the region to expand cooperation with Kabul, a senior Russian security official was quoted on Thursday as saying. Russia last
The Most Influential Philosophers Explained in 26 Minutes: From Socrates to Wittgenstein
The question of who are the fifteen most influential philosophers of all time may not arise at every conversation down at the pub — not outside the circle of Open Culture readers, in any case. But even among non-specialists, it could spark a livelier debate than you might
Meltwater flushed methane from Greenland seabed during ice-sheet retreat, researchers reveal
An international team of scientists has discovered that methane hydrates beneath the northwest Greenland continental shelf became rapidly destabilized by meltwater, releasing large stores of methane during ice-sheet retreat across the continental shelf.
'Last titan': Southeast Asia's biggest dinosaur discovered
A new type of long-necked plant-eating dinosaur—the largest ever found in Southeast Asia—has been revealed in a study led by researchers at University College London (UCL), Mahasarakham University, Suranaree University of Technology and Sirindhorn Museum in Thailand.
Trump Iran Tirade Visibly Rattles GOPers as Leaks Expose New Blunders
The fallout continues from Donald Trump’s startling rant admitting that he isn’t concerned with how the Iran war is impacting Americans’ finances. On Wednesday, JD Vance , Mike Johnson , and numerous other Republicans struggled to spin away the damage, but they appeared visibly
Lebanon’s medics vow to carry on through grief, injuries: ‘These are our people’
As Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire, dozens of volunteers eat, sleep and pray at a small hospital, waiting to respond to the next airstrike.
Isabella Rossellini to Receive Locarno Excellence Award as Swiss Festival Lauds the Icon as “Joyfully Unconventional, Consistently Brilliant”
"Virtually synonymous with artistic daring and technical excellence, Rossellini has long fused the technical brilliance of Hollywood with the European spirit of artistic fearlessness."
Isabella Rossellini to Be Honored With Locarno Film Festival Excellence Award
The Locarno Film Festival will honor Isabella Rossellini with its Excellence Award that pays tribute to film personalities who are making their mark on contemporary cinema. Rossellini — whose most recent credits include Alice Rohrwacher’s “La Chimera” (2023) and Edward Berger’s
India opposition name Kerala leader after rare win
Congress lawmakers chose 61-year-old veteran leader V.D. Satheesan.
Forza Horizon 6 launch times and release date in your region
The Horizon Festival's going to Japan, finally.
