Culture

• The global polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) seed coatings market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6% through 2035. • Growth is driven by the adoption of precision agriculture and the use of PVA as a carrier for biological seed treatments. • This expansion benefits the agricultural market through the development of low-residue, bio-based coatings and controlled-release systems that synchronize with crop needs.

Rachida Dati accused of lobbying for carmaker Renault-Nissan when she was member of European parliamentRachida Dati, a former French culture minister, has gone on trial in Paris on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan carmaking group.Dati, 60, is accused of illegal lobbying when she accepted €900,000 (£770,000) in lawyer’s fees from a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Renault-Nissan while she was a member of the European parliament. The court will have to decide what the money was for. Continue reading...

• French President Emmanuel Macron hosted global film and television leaders, including representatives from Hollywood and streaming platforms, at the Lumière Summit. • The gathering served as the first event of its scale in a century to address the impact of AI, YouTube, and culture policy on the future of cinema. • The summit focused on the belief that culture is an economic force and a source of soft power that requires active protection to drive growth.

• Guangdong Satellite TV and other partners hosted the Asia Pacific Discover Shenzhen 2026 APEC Reading Salon and Silk Road Cultural Market on September 3. • The event featured a media tour designed to showcase the cultural market within the Greater Bay Area, a regional economic hub in southern China. • This initiative aims to increase global visibility and cultural exchange for the region's markets ahead of the 2026 APEC summit.

• The entertainment industry is navigating a shifting landscape of changes in September 2026, including adjustments in streaming and high-profile real estate transactions. • High-profile real estate transactions and unexpected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! legal developments are affecting celebrity culture and media business. • Celebrity culture and media business are being impacted by the changes in the entertainment industry, leading to a collision of these two areas.

• Euronews Culture has released its Fall movie preview for the last four months of 2026, highlighting highly anticipated films. • The preview includes a list of hotly awaited movies that are expected to be released in the remainder of the year. • The list is intended to guide viewers on the most promising cinematic releases to look out for.

• Ridley Scott is releasing a new sci-fi adventure featuring Jacob Elordi as a post-pandemic pilot. • Soul singer Erykah Badu is set to release a highly anticipated collaboration. • Starting September 2, an exhibition showcasing moving image work by early-career artists—including Rhiana Bonterre and Rosanna Lee—will launch at Nottingham Contemporary and tour 16 UK venues.

• Canada's Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc welcomed the U.S. decision to withdraw its objections regarding the French language and culture in ongoing trade negotiations. • U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer informed CBC News that Canada's streaming laws are no longer considered a "red line" for the American side. • This shift removes a significant cultural barrier in trade talks, signaling a more flexible approach from the U.S. toward Canada's linguistic protections.

• Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest, claiming the event is "no longer" neutral. • The broadcaster stated that escalating international conflicts are undermining the competition's impartiality and fueling divisions among participants. • This decision highlights growing tensions surrounding the political nature of the contest amidst global instability.

Prolonged detention of children, insufficient staffing and hazardous damage to buildings are among the ombudsman’s concernsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDrugs are being openly dealt inside Villawood detention centre; makeshift weapons are being manufactured amid intimidation, standover tactics and a “culture of fear”; people are sleeping outside under CCTV cameras for their own safety; and children are being kept from going to school, a scathing report from the independent monitor has found.The commonwealth’s National Preventive Mechanism issued the report based on a three-day visit in March this year. A total of 428 people were held in Villawood at the time, including children. Some 78 beds were offline because of damage still not repaired from a fire three years ago. Continue reading...

Proud Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation recognised posthumously with the lifetime achievement awardGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Australia’s greatest cultural ambassadors has been recognised posthumously for dedicating her life to sharing, preserving and promoting First Nations culture through language, dance and ceremony.Proud Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation Rhoda Roberts died in March aged 66. On Saturday night in Alice Springs, she was posthumously awarded the lifetime achievement award at the Naidoc awards. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister and first Asian-Australian to serve in federal cabinet to use Lowy Institute address to criticise politicians stoking racial divisionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has escalated its pushback on One Nation’s surging political support, with the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, labelling Pauline Hanson’s push for a monoculture a “melancholic fantasy” that would harm national security.Wong, the first Asian-Australian to serve in federal cabinet, will use a major address at The Lowy Institute on Friday to criticise politicians stoking racial divisions, insisting the country’s multicultural success remains a national asset. Continue reading...

• The ASEAN Film Festival 2026 will run from 20 August to 27 September, featuring its largest program to date with over 30 films and free screenings. • The event opens with the Philippines' "Song of the Fireflies" and marks the first-ever participation of Timor-Leste, alongside entries from other ASEAN nations and guests from China and Hong Kong. • The diverse lineup includes titles such as Thailand's "SuckSeed," Singapore's "881," and Indonesia's "Jumbo," aiming to bridge cultures through storytelling and music-themed dramas.

• TMZ expanded its operations in April by launching a dedicated D.C. bureau to cover Congress and Capitol Hill. • A two-man crew, consisting of Wasserman and Cotton, utilizes an unconventional reporting style to treat political events like a reality show. • The move follows the outlet's success in gaining attention by posting photos of lawmakers on vacation during a partial government shutdown.

• The true crime documentary "The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare" has claimed the No. 1 spot on Netflix's Top 10 list of shows in the United States. • The series achieved this ranking for the tracking week of July 27 to August 2, displacing Will Ferrell’s "The Hawk" from the top position. • This surge highlights the continued high demand for true crime content among streaming audiences.

• Traditional cinema halls in Rawalpindi and other districts are experiencing a sharp decline, fading from their former status as the city's primary entertainment hubs. • The downturn is driven by the rise of streaming platforms, modern cinemas focusing on international films, and the popularity of short-form video applications. • This shift reflects a broader cultural change where younger generations now prioritize online content and AI-powered tools over the communal experience of traditional movie theaters.

Alcohol is embedded in profession where long hours, loneliness and lobbying are the norm, report findsParliament is “Britain’s last alcohol-soaked workplace” where MPs are offered free drinks as early as midday despite alcohol-related scandals, a report has revealed.Drinking is commonplace and some MPs have had their stomachs pumped after consuming so much alcohol that they ended up in hospital, one disclosed. Continue reading...

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled a shortlist of new designs for euro banknotes, emphasizing themes of European culture and nature. • The public is invited to provide feedback on these proposed designs through a consultation period ending September 21. • This initiative aims to modernize the currency's visual identity while reflecting the shared values and heritage of the eurozone.

• Streaming platforms and digital media have fundamentally shifted celebrity culture over the last decade by breaking the traditional media monopoly. • Previously, public perception of actors and musicians was carefully curated through a limited number of channels, such as magazine covers, television interviews, and red-carpet events. • This evolution matters because it removes the "gatekeeper" role of traditional media, allowing public figures to bypass curated press cycles and engage directly with audiences.

• Germany finished last (eighth place) in the Men’s Rugby European Championship, trailing behind nations including Georgia, Portugal, and the Netherlands. • The article features a reader-led discussion exploring the systemic reasons why Germany has failed to develop a major rugby culture compared to its European neighbors. • This lack of growth is highlighted by Germany's poor standing in the top tier of European rugby below the prestigious Six Nations tournament.

• UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has expressed support for expanding the BBC license fee to include users of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. • Under the proposed plans, individuals who exclusively use streaming platforms and do not watch BBC content could be required to pay a smaller, tiered fee. • This move aims to modernize the BBC's funding model as traditional television viewership declines in favor of digital on-demand platforms.

Gallery director says collection of 140 paintings will offer a more balanced view of Manchester painter’s workA new exhibition of work by LS Lowry will “bust a few myths” about the Mancunian artist, who the show’s co-curator says is still wrongly derided for being “naive and uncultured”.LS Lowry: the Theatre of Life features 140 paintings by the artist, who captured working-class life in the industrial north-west of England during the early and mid 20th century. Continue reading...

• Pontypridd, Birkenhead, and the Isle of Bute have been shortlisted for the first-ever UK Town of Culture award, alongside 12 other locations including Basildon, Grimsby, Rotherham, and Strabane. • The 15 shortlisted towns must now develop proposals demonstrating how they will use culture to celebrate their identity, showcase original storytelling, and empower local residents. • The initiative aims to leverage cultural programming to attract new visitors and secure further economic investment for the selected community.

• The UK has transitioned from a system of effectively free public television to a model where citizens pay US-based streaming services to access cultural content. • US multinationals in Britain now number over 1,300, generating annual sales of $836 billion, which equates to approximately £22,000 per British household. • This economic shift is significant as US corporate revenues in the UK now equal the combined revenues from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

• Fox Sports, Telemundo, and Peacock have reported stronger-than-expected viewership numbers for the current World Cup tournament. • Fox has invested significant resources into extensive coverage, including pregame shows and a unique nightly wrap-up program titled “After Hours With James Corden.” • The tournament's success is attributed to a surge in "pop culture sizzle," blending traditional sports highlights with celebrity guests and comedy sketches.

• BTS fans gathered at the Korean Cultural Centre in London to celebrate the group's upcoming UK concert dates. • The event featured screenings, photo opportunities, displays of BTS's stage outfits, and the chance for visitors to try on traditional Korean clothing. • The gathering highlights the global influence of BTS in promoting interest in South Korean culture and heritage among international audiences.

• President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev convened the 38th plenary session of the Foreign Investment Committee to discuss Kazakhstan's strategic economic growth. • The session focused on leveraging political stability to attract global capital and maintain the country's position as an investment leader in Central Asia. • This initiative matters as Kazakhstan seeks to diversify its economy and strengthen international partnerships to ensure long-term financial resilience.

• Madonna is set to release a new album featuring dance-focused tracks, while a new "Minions" movie introduces a time-travel plot. • On July 6, soprano Camilla Tilling and pianist Paul Rivinius will perform a lunchtime recital at Wiggle Hall in London. • The performance will feature Mahler’s "Kindertotenlieder" alongside lesser-known works from the Jugendstil era by Tilling's Swedish compatriots.