Merv review – a dog steals the show in Amazon’s by-the-book Christmas romcom

Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel co-parent a depressed dog in a serviceable attempt to appeal to animal lovers during the festive period

EU opens investigation into Google’s use of online content for AI models

European Commission to assess whether Gemini owner is putting rival companies at a disadvantage

Australia launches a social media ban – and is AI a bubble about to pop?

Under-16s to be banned from social media in Australia, and analysts continue to monitor the massive investment in AI

In this age of authoritarians, online abuse of women is soaring – and it’s leading to ‘real-world’ violence

Our UN report reveals the link between the online misogyny and offline crimes that are hounding women out of public life, says Julie Posetti, lead author of a new report published by UN Women

Joyful, irreverent, endlessly quotable: why Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the perfect holiday movie

Taika Waititi’s quirky family caper has no explicit mention of Christmas – but that doesn’t stop it from being the best Christmas viewing

Doxing, death threats and the ire of Elon Musk: who is the Australian woman taking on the social media giants?

Overseeing the world’s first social media ban has been bruising for Julie Inman Grant, but she says ‘there’s no playbook for this’

Social media ban explained: when does it start in Australia, how will it work and what apps are being banned for under-16s?

Has the ban started, and how will age verification work? Here’s everything you need to know

Millions of children and teens lose access to accounts as Australia’s world-first social media ban begins

Accounts held by users under 16 must be removed on apps that include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and Threads under ban

Christmas, Again review – laidback tale of a forlorn Christmas tree seller has authentic charm

Charles Poekel’s directorial debut has taken a decade to reach the UK, but its indie take on seasonal cinema brings low-key warmth

‘Can we have more comedies?’: Armenian cinema processes trauma as country wrangles EU membership – and Trump

The second year of London’s Armenian film festival reflects a country in flux as the legacy of recent conflict with Azerbaijan hangs over attempts to strengthen ties with the west

Daniel Day-Lewis defends Paul Dano after Tarantino criticism

Day-Lewis, who suggested Dano for his part in There Will Be Blood, has endorsed praise of the actor following disparaging remarks by Quentin Tarantino

Anybody heard of a rehearsal? Mangling nominees’ names may be traditional – but it’s still embarrassing

Yesterday’s Golden Globes announcement was a masterclass in mispronunciation that threatens to undo every effort to internationalise awards. Why can’t producers just make their presenters practise?

Preparation for the Next Life review – deeply felt story of love among the marginalised in New York

Bing Liu’s debut feature is an unflinching portrait of an undocumented Uyghur immigrant and a traumatised US veteran whose fragile connection is strained by their pasts

Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea review – gripping trip along supply lines in China standoff

A gripping film captures the fraught contests, lonely outposts and human toll of the Philippines’ struggle to assert sovereignty against China

Animalia review – megaflood strikes in haunting, eerie debut about liberation and the unknown

A pregnant woman’s journey becomes a surreal exploration of class, gender and spiritual transformation in Sofia Alaoui’s striking debut