Screen

• India will showcase 37 deep-tech startups at the two-day Bharat Innovates exposition for Brics leaders in Delhi. • The exhibition features emerging technologies including AI-powered cancer screening, quantum computing, and electric motors that do not use rare-earth minerals. • This event provides Indian ventures in healthcare, space, and clean energy direct access to international leaders from Brics nations.

• India is showcasing several deep-tech innovations to BRICS leaders in Delhi this week. • Featured technologies include a cervical cancer screening system that assesses risk in under 60 seconds, a 64-qubit quantum computer processor, and an electric motor that eliminates the need for rare-earth materials. • These advancements demonstrate India's ability to reduce reliance on expensive imported minerals for green energy and improve rapid healthcare diagnostics.

• The U.S. Postal Service is rapidly developing a complex screening system for mail-in ballots following an executive order from President Trump. • Two dozen states and various voting organizations are challenging the order, arguing that it illegally restricts voting rights. • Concerns have emerged regarding implementation, as officials report that postal clerks have not yet been trained on how to validate or reject election mail.

US senator says that project, a key part of Trump’s voting restrictions, is ‘perilously rushed and potentially unlawful’A new system to screen millions of mail-in ballots for this November’s US midterm elections was thrown together so hastily, and tested so little, that a single scanning glitch could see entire batches of ballots turned away, a whistleblower has told Congress.The project – a key part of Donald Trump’s new restrictions on voting – is “perilously rushed and potentially unlawful”, according to the US senator Richard Blumenthal, who disclosed the warning in a letter to David Steiner, the postmaster general, on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• Singapore will officially lift the cap on dialect film screenings starting in September 2026. • The policy change removes previous restrictions on the number of films featuring dialects that can be screened in cinemas. • This move is significant as it allows for greater cultural expression and provides moviegoers with more diverse linguistic options in local cinema.

Exclusive: internal correspondence reveals USCIS anti-fraud officers shifted on to two ‘high-priority’ initiativesAll US immigration officers working for a key anti-fraud unit have been reassigned by Donald Trump’s administration to focus on screening South African refugees and alleged “unlawful” voters.Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) immigration officers have been shifted full-time on to two “high-priority” initiatives, according to internal correspondence seen by the Guardian, leaving US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unable to provide officers to train asylum officers in “the near future”. Continue reading...

As adept at comedy and musicals as she was drama, Law acted alongside daughters Emma and Sophie in a career spanning eight decadesPhyllida Law, whose prolific acting career encompassed a wide range of stage, TV and film roles – a number of which were alongside her daughters, Emma and Sophie Thompson – has died aged 94. Her personal manager, Jacky Leggo, said in a statement that she “died supremely peacefully at home, surrounded by all her family”.Born in Glasgow in 1932, Law was accepted at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre school – initially intending to be a stage designer but then switching to acting. She appeared in a number of Bristol Old Vic productions in the 1950s, and it was there she met Eric Thompson, a fellow actor, whom she married in 1957. Continue reading...

Jared Cooney Horvath argues that educational technology undermines how children learn and developJared Cooney Horvath is on a mission. In the wake of global campaigns for smartphone bans in schools and social media restrictions for under-16s, the neuroscientist wants to raise the alarm about educational technology in classrooms.A former teacher, Horvath believes the use of screens and digital tools in schools is undermining how children learn and develop. “This might be one of the hardest truths our generation has to face,” he writes in his book, The Digital Delusion. Continue reading...

• A coalition of 50 Canadian screen organizations is urging the Liberal Party government to maintain strict requirements for contributions from global streaming platforms. • The government claims recent policy shifts are intended to reduce financial burdens on families, denying that the changes are linked to trade negotiations with President Donald Trump’s administration. • CMPA chair Kyle Irving criticized the government's stance in June, arguing that federal officials have "sold out Canadian culture" to benefit large U.S. corporations.

Customers will be able to pay using face and palm scans, potentially speeding up transactions – but rollout of the technology is likely to be slowGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe company behind 300,000 Eftpos terminals across Australia is hoping shoppers will want to make payments by simply glancing at a screen, as biometric technology pushes further into retailing.Verifone is selling the innovation as “pay for your coffee with a smile”, promising faster checkouts for people who opt in to having their face or palm-vein – the veins in people’s hands – biometrics used for Eftpos transactions in Australia. Continue reading...

• The United States and Europe have reintroduced sanctions against Russia and issued warnings regarding Moscow's perceived threats to NATO. • The article argues that these diplomatic and economic measures are being used as a "smoke screen" to hide significant Western military failures. • Key concerns highlighted include the expenditure of billions of dollars and emerging scandals surrounding the deployment of Western weaponry in Ukraine.

• Victoria Thomas presented new ARTEF research at the Karlovy Vary film festival on August 7, 2026, arguing that European screen narratives remain influenced by outdated hierarchies. • The findings resulted from a year-long series of roundtables involving a diverse range of industry professionals, including producers, streamers, and festival programmers. • Rather than defining a "European story," the study analyzed the specific types of narratives the industry currently celebrates and those it systematically ignores.

• The documentary "The Moon is Yours" screened in Kuala Lumpur, attracting students, academics, and filmmakers. • The award-winning film tells the story of six international students from six countries finding their footing in Shanghai. • The screening was held at the Golden Screen, drawing a diverse audience interested in the documentary's themes of cultural exchange and adaptation.

Experts say evidence for cognitive screening desired by health secretary ‘not great’ as taskforce idle since last yearThe US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has called for better Alzheimer’s screening – but a critical federal panel that might have helped researchers find practical ways to do that has been prevented from meeting for more than a year.The panel, formally called the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), had planned to issue a recommendation on screening for cognitive decline this year, alongside 13 other topics as varied as autism screening and food allergy prevention. Continue reading...

Pete Hegseth announced that soldiers aged 30 and older in the US military will be screened for low testosterone The US defense secretary, ⁠Pete Hegseth, this week ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older, which he says will help to maintain military readiness.But many medical professionals warn it might do nothing of the sort and instead could increase service members’ risk of infertility or other consequences if testosterone is prescribed inappropriately. Continue reading...

• Stock markets in Tokyo and Taipei plummeted over 6% on July 17 amid a significant rout in the technology sector. • Geopolitical tensions rose as Pyongyang threatened escalation, while Hong Kong conducted sedition arrests and a racist Chinese video sparked anger in the Philippines. • Contrasting the instability, India reported progress in clean-energy initiatives and South Korea held votes focused on democratic renewal.

Campaigners hail ‘landmark moment’ in early detection and treatment of rare muscle-wasting diseaseEvery baby born in England will be screened for a rare muscle-wasting disease, starting next year, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on Thursday.Campaigners said the “landmark moment” should lead to babies who were found to have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) being treated early and thus growing up without any of its debilitating symptoms. Continue reading...

US defense secretary unveils plan that will work to ensure service members have the ‘right testosterone levels’Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screening for soldiers 30 and older.The US defense secretary unveiled plans for a new screening program for testosterone deficiency among troops that will work to ensure service members have the “right testosterone levels” to perform at their optimal conditions in a video posted to X. Continue reading...

Egyptian Mohamed al-Wahidi died when a missile struck his taxi shortly before his country played ArgentinaA Palestinian aid worker who had organised screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza was killed by an Israeli missile strike just before the game between Egypt and Argentina on Tuesday evening.Two brothers aged eight and 10 and another man who was in the street near the site of the attack were also killed. Continue reading...

• The Singapore government is shifting its approach toward dialect artistic materials, viewing them as essential heritage and cultural practices rather than competitors to Mandarin. • David Neo and Tan Kiat How highlighted that the state now welcomes community ideas to preserve dialect cultures while maintaining the strategic importance of Mandarin. • This shift matters as it acknowledges the cultural value of dialects in cinema and art, moving away from previous restrictive language policies.

• Singapore's IMDA and MDDI have approved 50 additional screenings of the film *Dear You* in the Teochew dialect to celebrate the language as a valued part of the nation's cultural heritage. • The screenings will run from July 3 to 26 at Golden Village outlets in Vivocity, Yishun, Bishan, Tampines, and Jurong Point, with tickets available starting June 29. • Directed by Lan Hongchun, the film explores two timelines: a grandson's search for his grandfather in present-day Thailand and a man's migration from China to Southeast Asia in the 1940s.

• SPH Media's Chinese Media Group is offering free screenings of the popular film *Dear You* for a limited time. • The event will take place from July 2 to July 5, specifically targeting eligible readers and listeners of the group's publications. • This initiative serves as a promotional reward for the media group's loyal audience, enhancing reader engagement through exclusive cinematic access.

• Opinion writers for KFF Health News address critical public health concerns, including the loss of the United States' measles-eliminated status and the safety of sunscreen. • One contributor argues that the U.S. can no longer claim to have eliminated measles due to recent outbreaks and declining vaccination rates. • The collection also features a political perspective questioning the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain and the influence of Chinese Communist Party-controlled companies on prescription refills.

Exclusive: Researchers call for urgent investigation of risks to babies of tablets, smartphones and other digital devicesScreen time for babies and toddlers under the age of two has been linked with long-term negative effects on health and quality of life and should be avoided, according to a landmark study.It warns that using screens during that period may lead to wide-ranging developmental concerns and calls for further urgent investigation of the risks smartphones, tablets and other digital devices pose to infants. Continue reading...

• The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival launched its Belt and Road Film Week on June 17, emphasizing cinema as a tool for mutual understanding. • A new "full-chain industry day" has been introduced to transition cultural exchanges into tangible business deals and professional collaborations. • This expansion aims to bridge the gap between artistic screening and commercial viability for filmmakers across the Belt and Road regions.

• Amazon has decided to drop "Artificial," a film directed by Luca Guadagnino centered on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. • The decision comes as a surprise to the industry because the movie reportedly received positive feedback during test screenings. • This move highlights the volatility of high-profile biographical projects and the challenges of distributing controversial tech-centric narratives.

• Premium VOD users in Southeast Asia spend only 8% of their digital time watching premium content, with the majority dedicated to social media, messaging, gaming, and short-form video. • Media expert Dhivya highlights a shift in viewing habits, stating that "there's no primetime anymore" as second-screen usage rewires regional attention spans. • Local stories are currently outperforming Korean dramas in markets with high content investment, specifically Indonesia and Thailand.

• Video-on-Demand (VOD) users in Southeast Asia spend only 8% of their digital time on premium content, with the vast majority dedicated to social media, messaging, gaming, and short-form video. • In markets with significant content investment, such as Indonesia and Thailand, local stories are currently outperforming popular Korean dramas. • Conversely, Korean content and other international imports continue to hold a larger market share in the Philippines and Malaysia.