The 2026 Academy Awards revealed a striking contradiction. Many of the winning films grapple with urgent contemporary issues, or difficult questions of historical memory. Yet their makers avoided following up on that political character in their acceptance speeches.

This paradox is revealing of the current political mood in Hollywood: filmmakers are willing to engage with politics in their work, but reluctant to raise their own voices.

It makes for a puzzling irony that contrasts with the attitude of, for instance, the music industry in the Grammy Awards. In a year of tariffs, Epstein files, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) shootings and military interventions in Venezuela and Iran, the show’s host, comedian Conan O’Brien, kept the political references contained to harmless jokes.

For instance, O’Brien mentioned the tighter security for the gala, appearing to reference the FBI’s warning of possible drone attacks against the US west coast. But the nod quickly revealed itself as a pun about actor Timothée Chalamet’s recent declaration that “no one cares” about ballet and opera.

Even some of the more political speeches, such as Michael B. Jordan’s mention of the Black actors that preceded him when accepting the best actor Oscar, kept to industry boundaries.

Only comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose show Jimmy Kimmel Live! has become strongly critical of President Donald Trump, obliquely mentioned his looming presence when presenting the best feature documentary award.

Politics of the nominated films

This attitude is glaringly detached from what this year’s nominees communicate in their films.

Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, poked at conspiracy theories through its kidnapping plot. The constant ping-pong hustle of Marty Supreme returned to the foundational moment of US capitalism in the 1950s and pointed out that it was already rotten way before Reaganomics and Trump. The Secret Agent, meanwhile, set its thriller story against the historical memory of the dictatorship in Brazil.

The two main winners of the night were also the most political films. Joyfully disguised behind the vampire film conventions and musical performances of Sinners lies a condemnation of ongoing racism in the US. But the film also proposes blues music as an alternative way to experience the world and create loving and protective connections between its inhabitants.

À lire aussi :
Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film

In this sense, Delroy Lindo’s performance as ageing blues singer Delta Slim centres the political core of the film. His retelling of a friend’s murder by lynching is first a lament, then rhythm and finally blues.

Lindo competed for best supporting actor against Sean Penn, whose winning work in One Battle After Another became relevant when it started to overlap with the media presence of Greg Bovino, commander-at-large of the US Border Patrol. Under Bovino’s command two US citizens were shot by Ice in Minneapolis in January.

One Battle After Another recaptures the political spirit of 1970s US films such as The Three Days of the Condor (1975), Network (1976) and All the President’s Men (1976). These films reacted against the consequences of the Vietnam War and President Richard Nixon’s resignation in the 1970s. One Battle After Another brings to the present their activist attitude to oppose our contemporary political challenges.

The film’s chilling depiction of state violence against its own citizens connected with the events in Minneapolis and showed how relevant cinema can be when aimed at those in power. But the film had to speak for itself: its director, writer and producer, Paul Thomas Anderson, carefully avoided any direct mention of Trump, Ice or Minneapolis in his three acceptance speeches (for best adapted screenplay, director and film). And Sean Penn, whose political activism as a friend of Hugo Chávez or in favour of Ukraine has often made Hollywood uncomfortable, chose not to attend the ceremony.

Why nominees stayed silent

The reasons for the lack of politics at the awards may be found in the current industrial climate in the US. In September 2025, the Federal Communications Commission took Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air for a few days, and continues to threaten to do it again. The industry chatter also believes Trump to be responsible for CBS’ decision to not renew The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, another critical outlet.

The possible acquisition, meanwhile, of Warner Bros. by Paramount, presided over by Trump’s ally David Ellison, follows Amazon’s purchase of MGM and Disney buying Twentieth Century Fox. The industrial landscape is concentrating in a handful of technological tycoons. They may may not take kindly to political activism when funding future projects.

The only political voice that was pointedly raised in the Oscars this year belonged to Spanish actor Javier Bardem.

Bardem appeared on stage to present the best international picture award sporting a lapel that said: “No a la Guerra” – no to war. He had worn the same lapel over 20 years ago when the Spanish Film Academy Awards in 2003 became a loud and clear indictment to Spain’s involvement in the Iraq war.

Bardem left a clear message as he introduced the award: “No to war and Free Palestine.” While films such as this year’s extraordinary intake can and do speak for themselves, the gravity of the moment requires that those who make them join with their own voices.

Bardem’s dissonant appeal reveals where Hollywood’s politics currently lie. They are caught between making committed films and a fear of what the country’s politics will bring.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security will soon be under new management, an opportunity to reset President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda or to double down on his signature campaign promise to conduct the largest deportation operation in American history.

The White House’s political director recently encouraged party lawmakers during a retreat at the Republican president’s golf club in Florida to focus on immigration enforcement against criminals, a pivot from the mass deportation agenda he ran on. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the aggressive operations have created a “hiccup” for the party, which is now embarking on a “course correction.”

Yet all indications are that Trump’s mass deportation operation is not stalling out but intensifying, with billions of dollars being spent to hire Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, build warehouse detention sites and meet the administration’s goal of rounding up and removing some 1 million immigrants from the U.S. this year.

“We are at an interesting moment where it has been an inflection point — the public has finally seen what mass detention and mass deportation mean,” said Sarah Mehta, who tracks the issue at the American Civil Liberties Union.

“This is not an agency that’s slowing down,” she said. “They’re really going forward with some of the cruelest policies.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the president’s policies have sent immigrants out of the U.S., either through forced deportations or on their own, and sealed up the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Nobody is changing the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda,” she said.

Senators ready to grill Trump’s DHS nominee over deportations

The questions put Homeland Security at a crossroads. Secretary Kristi Noem is on her way out, and Trump’s nominee to replace her, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, appears this week for Senate confirmation hearings.

After the intense deportation sweeps in Minneapolis and other cities — and the deaths of at least three U.S. citizens at the hands of officers — Democratic lawmakers are refusing to provide routine funding unless the department changes its policies.

At the same time, those who believe Trump won the White House with his mass deportation agenda are disappointed the administration did not achieve its goals last year and insist he must do better.

“There has been a lot of talk in Congress and now in the White House about kind of backing away from President Trump’s, candidate Trump’s, mass deportation promise,” said Rosemary Jenks, co-founder of the Immigration Accountability Project, which argues for deportations.

“We believe that now is an opportunity,” she said. “We’ve got to get the deportation numbers up.”

A nation of immigrants no longer?

The debate is playing out as the United States, celebrating its 250th year, squares its founding as a nation of immigrants with images of masked federal agents breaking car windows and detaining people suspected of being in the U.S. without proper legal standing.

The Congress, controlled by Republicans, provided some $170 billion in last year’s tax cuts bill to fuel the effort, more than tripling the budget of ICE.

GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, in a fiery speech, fought back against the Democrats’ proposed restraints. “This question about deporting illegal immigrants was on the ballot. President Trump was not bashful,” he said. “And the American people supported the idea that we are going to deport people.”

Yet there are signs of cracks in the Trump coalition. Some Republicans prefer what one called a more humane approach and are sharing their views with Mullin.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., considered a stalwart against illegal immigration, said in his state it’s immigrants who milk most of the dairy cows, and he’s heard from restaurant groups that rely on immigrants to fill jobs.

“Can we just turn back the clock and have these all these people who came in here illegally, just be back home?” he asked.

“In terms of actually implementing that, it’s a lot tougher — particularly, in fact, when you realize a lot of these people, most of them, came here to seek opportunity, wanting freedom,” he said. “They’re working, supporting their family, contributing to organizations and community.”

Mass deportation group wants more

The Mass Deportation Coalition, a group of conservative organizations including the Heritage Foundation and Erik Prince, founder of the security firm Blackwater, was formed recently to keep the administration on track.

It calls last year’s focus on removing violent criminal immigrants “phase one” and says “phase two” should focus this year on deporting immigrants beyond those with violent criminal histories.

Mark Morgan, who served as acting head of ICE and Customs and Border Protection during Trump’s first term and is part of the coalition, said that doesn’t mean roving patrols through Home Depot parking lots. It’s about strategic enforcement focused on immigrants at worksites, those who have overstayed visas and who a judge has already ordered removed, he said.

But they’re facing opposition from within the Republican Party, Morgan said, particularly from those who want to narrow deportation to mainly criminals and from business groups that want to ease up on worksite enforcement.

“The Republicans that are saying that their definition of targeted enforcement is only criminal, they’re wrong. They’re on the wrong side of this,” he said.

“That’s why you see some of the base that’s really becoming apoplectic because they’re like, ‘Wait a minute. You’re talking about only removing criminals now?’ That’s not what you promised,’” Morgan said.

What’s coming next

The deportation advocates as well as those working to protect the rights of immigrants see that the Trump administration’s best chance at reaching its goals is creating an environment so unwelcoming for immigrants that they just leave — what’s often called self-deportation.

Mehta, at the ACLU, expects the administration will step up efforts to end temporary permissions that allow immigrants to remain in the U.S. — particularly refugees and asylum-seekers — while their cases are making their way through the system. She called it a “deliberate attempt to make people undocumented — to take away lawful status — and then to be able to enforce against them.”

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said he fears more nonviolent immigrants will be rounded up to fill the new warehouses being equipped as the Trump administration tries to reach its deportation goals.

That’s unacceptable, he said, and among “the key questions that Senator Mullin will have to answer at his confirmation hearing.”

NCP, one of the UK’s largest car park operators, has entered administration, placing 682 jobs in jeopardy.

The company, which manages approximately 340 sites nationwide, has struggled with declining occupancy and mounting losses since the Covid-19 pandemic.

PwC has been appointed as administrator for the business.

Despite the move, all NCP car parks will continue to operate as normal, and staff will remain employed while administrators assess the company’s options.

The firm’s financial difficulties stem from a significant post-pandemic drop in demand for parking, which has failed to rebound to pre-Covid levels.

This downturn has been particularly acute in city centre and commuter locations, attributed to shifts in commuting and consumer driving patterns, which have affected car park occupancy.

NCP also cited challenges posed by the high costs associated with long-term inflexible leases on sites that have become unprofitable.

open image in gallery

Advertisement

Some or all of NCP may be put up for sale as one of the options to secure its future.

Administrators said NCP will be assessing the viability of each location, and some sites may need to be closed as a result.

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator and partner for PwC, said: “NCP has faced a challenging trading environment over several years, with changing consumer behaviours impacting volumes, and a high fixed cost base leading to trading losses.

“Our priority on appointment is to ensure continuity of service while we undertake a detailed review of the business.

“All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal.

“We will be engaging with landlords, employees and other stakeholders as we explore all options, including the potential sale of all or part of the business, to secure the best possible outcome for creditors.”

open image in gallery

NCP was founded in London in 1931 and is owned by the Japanese firm Park24.

It operates about 340 car parks across the UK, including in major towns and city centres, airports, hospitals and train stations.

Prices differ at each site, but some central London locations can cost up to £60 for 24 hours of parking.

Latest accounts filed at Companies House show that it made a pre-tax loss of £28.2m in the year to 30 September 2023 and was £22.5m in the red the previous year.

Wales and Lions legend Graham Price gives his thoughts on the result and performance against Italy

This was a game that Wales needed to win in order to maintain our level of progress. The response to all the recent adversities mattered most.

Over the past few seasons, Welsh rugby has been through much turbulence because of coaching changes, young players being blooded earlier than expected, and a squad learning how to carry the weight of the red jersey again.

Against Italy, what we saw was a side beginning to understand exactly what that responsibility means.

Italy arrived with genuine confidence. Anyone who has watched them progress over the past couple of championships knows they are no longer the easy fixture they once were. Their attacking structure is sharp, their backs play with ambition and their forwards no longer take a backward step.

For significant periods of this match, they asked serious questions of Wales.

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more

But the difference, and it was a crucial one, lay in how Wales answered those questions. We have had a reputation for being slow starters, even during the times of our greatest success, but the Welsh pack set the tone early. There was a clear intent at the breakdown, where the contest was aggressive throughout. Wales targeted the Italian ball carriers, slowing possession and forcing the visitors to play from less comfortable positions.

It was not always pretty, but international rugby quite often isn’t when the stakes are high.

The scrum in particular offered encouragement. In recent years it has frequently been an area of concern, but on Saturday it provided the platform Wales needed. Stability up front allowed the half-backs to manage territory and apply pressure in the right areas of the field.

And pressure, as every forward knows, eventually produces mistakes.

What pleased Welsh supporters most was the composure when opportunities appeared. Too often in the past Wales have built pressure only to squander it through impatience or indiscipline.

The attack was not over ambitious, but it was effective. Direct carrying through the midfield created space wider out, and when the moment came Wales were ready to strike.

Yet there was also a sense throughout that Wales had another gear if they needed it.

Again, defensively, the organisation was impressive.

Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

One of the most encouraging aspects from a Welsh viewpoint was the contribution of the younger players. Welsh rugby has spent the last couple of years talking about transition, about building the next generation of internationals. Ellis Mee, Ben Carter, Eddie James, Dan Edwards and Alex Mann man have now arrived. Matches like this show why that process matters.

You could see the hunger in the way they chased kicks, fought for turnovers and carried into contact. International rugby is a brutal examination, and these players have had to learn what it demands quickly.

Of course, there are still areas Wales will want to sharpen up. We had difficulties in the lineout and there were phases where our attack became a little predictable. Against stronger opposition those details can become costly.

The key difference was composure. When chances appeared in the opposition 22, Wales were clinical enough to convert pressure into points.

That ability and the calmness to finish opportunities under pressure often separates winning teams from nearly teams.

But progress in Test rugby is rarely perfect.

What matters is the direction of travel. On this evidence Wales are moving in the right way. That is what we have achieved in this year’s tournament.

Get the latest Wales Rugby merch at Kitbag

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £,24.60

Kitbag

Advertisement

Buy Now on Kitbag

The Six Nations is running from February 5 to March 14 and Wales Rugby fans can get the latest jerseys, hoodies and more at Kitbag.

Momentum in rugby is a funny thing, sometimes it begins with a single tackle or carry and suddenly the whole perspective of the match can change.

I believe that moment came when Aaron Wainwright scored his first try, or rather the manner in which he scored it so soon after the kick off. No one was going to stop him.

But, perhaps the most telling moment came late in the game when Italy mounted one final surge. The Welsh defence was stretched and momentum briefly swung towards the visitors.

In years gone by that might have been the point where doubts crept in and we started to lose our composure and discipline.

Instead, Wales held firm. The tackles were made, the ball was turned over, and the pressure released with a clearing kick that brought a roar from the stands that brought the house down.

It was the reaction that resulted from the appreciation of a team rediscovering its resilience.

Anyone who has experienced a full Principality Stadium during the Six Nations knows it becomes more than just a venue. It’s more like a force of nature.

When Wales began to string phases together and push Italy back, the noise lifted the team to another level.

This performance did not solve every challenge facing Welsh rugby. What this match demonstrated, however, is that the core values of the game in Wales – commitment, pride in wearing the national jersey, and a determination not to yield under pressure – remain intact.

Those are values that have long been associated with Welsh rugby, and it has often been highlighted how crucial they are to the national identity of the game.

Rugby in Wales has always been about more than results. It is about identity, the belief that when players pull on the red jersey they represent communities, history and expectation in equal measure.

In the long run, that foundation is what victories are built upon.

Welsh rugby has faced a period of uncertainty in recent years, and every performance has been judged against that backdrop.

Of course, there’s still work to be done. The attack, the set pieces and discipline will always be talking points. Against stronger sides later in the year, Wales will need to show even more progress.

But rugby seasons are rarely about perfection. They’re about building momentum, learning lessons and finding belief.

This victory over Italy felt like a step in that direction.

For Wales, the important thing wasn’t simply that they won it was how they grew into the contest, handled adversity and showed the kind of grit that supporters expect.

If that spirit continues through the rest of the year, Welsh fans might allow themselves a little optimism.

And in Welsh rugby, optimism can be a powerful thing indeed.

With Chelsea enjoying so much success after signing star players through secret payments, did they get off lightly?

If the club had not been so co-operative they faced a much tougher financial penalty and potentially a points deduction.

The starting point was the aggravating factors – length of time of the wrongdoing, the size of payments, that they were made with the knowledge of senior figures and the seriousness of the breaches.

The Premier League Board concluded Chelsea should be fined of £20m with a transfer ban for two complete and consecutive windows.

But there were mitigating factors to take into account.

BlueCo, which bought Chelsea out of Abramovich’s ownership, self-reported the breaches once it had looked through the club’s books.

Added to that, BlueCo made voluntary disclosures and showed “exceptional co-operation”.

This saw the fine halved to £10m and the two-window transfer ban suspended.

The suspension will be activated if they commit a similar breach in the next two years.

The Board also reserved the right to be able to trigger the suspension at any time in the future if the club makes intentionally untrue declarations.

Chelsea were, however, ordered to pay an unpaid transfer levy of £771,288 in connection to Willian and Eto’o. They were banned from signing academy players for nine months, too.

Importantly, there was no breach of profit and sustainability rules.

When the payments were added to Chelsea‘s accounts they were not in excess of the £105m, three-season spending limit.

If they had been then the prospect of a points deduction would have been real.

The Blues had already been fined 10m euros (£8.6m) by Uefa over the same offences.

And Chelsea still have to face a hearing over 74 Football Association charges, which is likely to be another hefty fine.

So this is not quite over yet.

Tickets for the upcoming Champions League final in Budapest will remain at last year’s prices, Uefa announced on Monday, as part of a more fan-centric approach that stands in stark contrast to the ticketing controversies surrounding the World Cup.

The European football governing body has outlined strict conditions for its resale platform, mandating that tickets must be sold at face value with no fees levied on the seller.

This policy directly challenges Fifa’s resale platform for World Cup tickets in the United States, which has been criticised for allowing unlimited resale prices and imposing a 15 per cent fee on both buyers and sellers, leading some to label it “official scalping.”

For supporters of the two competing clubs, thousands of the lowest-priced tickets, set at €70 (£60), will be available for the third consecutive year.

Tickets for disabled spectators are also priced at €70, with a complimentary ticket provided for a companion. Uefa confirmed that each finalist club will receive 17,200 tickets out of the 61,400 available for the 30 May match at Puskas Arena.

open image in gallery

An additional 4,600 tickets are being offered through a global lottery via Uefa’s website.

Successful applicants will be required to register their mobile phones, which must then be used to access the stadium on match day, as tickets will be non-transferable. Access to purchase resale tickets will be exclusively granted to fans who were unsuccessful in the initial lottery.

Higher category seats, which saw a price increase for last year’s final in Munich, will also maintain their current rates for Budapest, set at €180 (£156), €650 (£562), and €950 (£821).

Over 22,000 tickets are reserved by Uefa for broadcasters, sponsors, national football federations, and other guests.

Uefa’s ticketing policies for its club finals and major tournaments are developed in consultation with Football Supporters Europe, a recognised fans’ group, a practice not adopted by Fifa for World Cup pricing.

Fifa did respond to widespread criticism in December by making a limited number of $60 seats available for each of the 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico, to be distributed by national federations to loyal fans.

But the Prime Minister, who has so far resisted the US president’s demands, said: “We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts.”

Dubai was forced to temporarily close its airport overnight after an Iranian drone hit a fuel tank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as conflict in the Middle East continues.

As morning broke on Monday, a drone hit a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic, causing a large fire.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and there were no injuries reported but the airport suspended all flights before resuming them a few hours later.

You can now amend bookings and rebook flights online within 72 hours of your original departure date by visiting https://t.co/5naa6fHRxU or “Manage Your Booking” on the Emirates app.

If you wish to rebook a flight earlier than 72 hours before departure, please reach out to us… pic.twitter.com/LsSaKMmM4b

— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 15, 2026

Emirates gives update on UK Dubai flights after airport closure

Although Emirates has now also resumed Dubai flights, it is offering a “limited schedule” today and some have been cancelled.

The latest announcement from the airline posted on its travel updates page said: “Emirates expects to operate a limited schedule after 10:00hrs Dubai local time today.

“Unfortunately, some flights from today’s schedule have been cancelled.

“Affected customers will receive a cancellation notice and will be advised on reaccommodation options.”

It advised: “Please check flight status on emirates.com, to ensure your flight is operating before heading to the airport.

“You can amend bookings and rebook flights online within 72 hours of your original departure date by visiting Manage Booking or “Manage Your Booking” on the Emirates app.

Your rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed

“If you are unable to rebook, please contact us. If you booked with a travel agent, please contact the agent for rebooking.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

“Emirates will continue to publish updates as we assess the situation.”

Shortly before this at 09.50am Dubai time (GMT+4), the airline had informed its passengers that all flights to and from the UAE destination were “temporarily suspended”.

It also told travellers to avoid heading to Dubai airport, at the time of the announcement.

In a statement online, Emirates shared: “All flights to and from Dubai have been temporarily suspended.

“Please do not go to the airport.

“Emirates will share updates when available.

“We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised.”

Is it safe to travel to Dubai from the UK right now?

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) is advising against all but essential travel to the UAE, at the time of writing.

For British nationals, it explains: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.  

“Stay away from areas around security or military facilities and US or Israeli government facilities.

“Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region such as hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, financial institutions, oil production sites, water systems, and airports.”

For those currently in Dubai, the FCDO recommends to follow the instructions of the local authorities and monitor local and international media for the latest information. 

Read our latest travel advice update for #UnitedArabEmirates with updated information about regional escalation and information about risks from posting online.https://t.co/s1FU7B725Z pic.twitter.com/78hMSkhOTw

— FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) March 14, 2026

Brits should also read the FCDO’s advice on ”if you’re affected by a crisis abroad” which includes suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies (a link to which can be found on the UK government website).

Additionally, you can sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts.

Recommended reading:

The ‘register your interest in flights from UAE’ scheme has been paused due to commercial flights resuming to the UK from UAE.

However, the FCDO urges if you are still in the UAE and need to get back to the UK, to check availability with the commercial airlines. 

Are you a meant to be heading to Dubai soon or are you a currently in the UAE trying to get back to the UK? Let us know in the comments below.