Independent Television

A Russian serviceman told state channel Rossiya 1 that a woman of around 70 crossed a heavily mined field in the Zaporizhzhia region before reaching Russian positions. He said Russian troops knew the field was mined and claimed it had not been mined by Russian forces. The claim, made on Russian state television, could not be independently verified.

Major US television networks are preparing to resume coverage of President Trump, even as the White House continues to bar CNN from its TV pool. The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and parts of the press over access arrangements. The exclusion of one major network while others return has drawn attention to questions about press access and editorial independence.

Banijay Entertainment's approach to scripted content centres on identifying promising creative talent first, then backing their ideas with production support. The strategy, laid out in a new feature by Variety, offers a look at how one of the world's largest independent content producers develops drama projects. Industry watchers see it as a signal of where scripted television investment is heading.

British television producer Nick Curwin, co-founder of production companies Dragonfly and The Garden, is retiring from Matisse, the independent incubator he helped build. Curwin has been a prominent figure in UK factual television, with Dragonfly and The Garden behind a range of documentary series. The announcement marks the end of a long career shaping British indie production houses.

A campaign finance complaint filed against Brandi Kruse, a right-wing podcaster based in Washington state, has been dismissed. The Seattle-based alternative weekly The Stranger reported the dismissal, though details of the complaint's origin and the reasoning behind the decision were not provided. Kruse, a former television journalist turned independent podcaster, has been a polarizing figure in regional political circles, and the case's outcome is drawing reaction from both critics and supporters.

Paramount+ has picked up three British television series produced by A24 for distribution in the United States. The deal brings UK-made shows from the independent studio behind films like Everything Everywhere All at Once to American subscribers, reflecting continued appetite among US streamers for British programming. Details on the specific titles and premiere dates have not yet been announced.

The Celebrity Traitors has prompted a psychologist to share three techniques for getting away with lying, published by The Independent. The advice ties into the popularity of the reality show, in which contestants deceive one another while trying to avoid detection, sparking wider interest in the psychology of deception.