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Texas man accused of killing pregnant wife detained in Italy
Lee Mongerson Gilley, 40, is accused of strangling his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, in Texas in 2024. He fled to Italy shortly before his trial and remains detained there, while authorities negotiate extradition because Italian law bars transfers where the suspect could face execution or life imprisonment without parole. Gilley allegedly travelled via Canada…
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Ireland fines Google €403m over location data consent concerns
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403m (£345m) over concerns that users were not adequately informed or freely consenting to the processing of their location data. The regulator said the information could be used for targeted advertising and to infer highly sensitive details, including people’s religious beliefs, political views, health conditions and sexual orientation.…
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Putin’s United Russia secures 355 seats after opposition exclusion
Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has won 355 of the 450 seats in Russia’s State Duma, according to preliminary results, giving it a larger super-majority than in 2016. The result has been presented by the Kremlin as evidence of national unity, but its credibility is challenged by the exclusion of parties critical of Putin, including…
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UK urged to ‘team up’ with EU and Canada in economic partnership
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has called for the United Kingdom to form a closer economic partnership with Canada and the European Union, arguing that the three nations share similar values and are “stronger together”. This proposal follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent suggestion that Canada join the EU as an “associate…
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Italy plans school face-covering ban and cap on foreign pupils
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to ban face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and to impose a cap on the number of foreign students per class, with these measures set to be presented to cabinet shortly. This policy reflects Italy’s ongoing challenges with migrant integration, particularly given its central…
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Spanish Government Pledges to Continue Audiovisual Hub Through Spain Crece Fund
Spain’s government will continue supporting its audiovisual industry through the Spain Crece Fund, potentially with further strategic investment from the state-backed SETT venture capital fund. Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López said ongoing public support was justified by the sector’s record growth and international success, including Spanish films and series achieving major global audiences. The Spain…
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Michael Gove simulates cabinet response to Russian aggression in docudrama
Tonight’s television highlights include a political crisis docudrama, investigations into controversial wellness trends and Britain’s imperial past, plus programmes about emergency callouts, an awkward sex-party encounter and the Lucy Letby case. The Wargame on Sky One features Michael Gove, Nicola Sturgeon and Harriet Harman simulating a cabinet response to escalating Russian aggression. Stacey Dooley examines…
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Latido Takes Isaki Lacuesta’s ‘Flamenco Sketches,’ San Sebastian’s Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Closer (EXCLUSIVE)
Latido Films has acquired international sales rights to Isaki Lacuesta’s *Flamenco Sketches*, which will close the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section. The film explores flamenco’s history and continuing evolution through an experimental, non-linear structure rather than a conventional chronological account. Made over several years, the film uses extensive archive footage to connect flamenco with…
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Secuoya Studios Taps Carla Gómez to Lead Latin American Development as Regional Expansion Accelerates (EXCLUSIVE)
Secuoya Studios has appointed Carla Gómez as head of development and executive producer for Latin America, expanding its creative and production leadership in the region. Her role will cover original projects from concept to production and supports the Spanish studio’s strategy of giving its Latin American operation greater autonomy while prioritising locally created stories for…
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Tatiana Huezo, Juan Sebastián Mesa, Mónica Lima, Val Jashari Among 10 Filmmakers Vying for WIP LatAm and Europa Awards at San Sebastián
Ten projects have been selected for San Sebastián Film Festival’s WIP Latam and WIP Europa competitions, which support films nearing completion and release. Six Latin American projects will compete for the WIP Latam Industry Award, while four European titles are shortlisted for WIP Europa, including work by Tatiana Huezo, Juan Sebastián Mesa, Mónica Lima and…