From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the vast majority of bathing waters in Europe met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing quality standards in 2025, according to the latest annual bathing water package published today. This represents 85% of Europe’s bathing sites, with 96% of all EU sites monitored meeting the minimum quality standards and only 1.5% rated as ‘poor’. These data also show that the overall quality of bathing waters across Europe has remained stable compared to the previous year.
The highest share for excellent quality bathing waters is found in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece — with a total of 95% or higher. The bathing quality of coastal waters is generally better compared to rivers and lakes. In 2025, 88% of coastal bathing waters in the EU were classified as excellent, compared to 78% of inland bathing waters.
The assessment and interactive map, put together by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the European Commission, show where swimmers can find the safest bathing sites in Europe. The assessment inspects water suitability for bathing, focusing on monitoring bacteria that can potentially cause serious illnesses.
Europe’s bathing water results once again demonstrate the value of EU environmental legislation and decades of investment in wastewater treatment and water management. Thanks to these efforts, Europeans can enjoy some of the world’s highest bathing water standards. At the same time, protecting our waters requires continued action on wider challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change, which are at the heart of our work to strengthen Europe’s water resilience.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
This summer we can all reap the benefits of solid implementation of EU bathing water rules, which have made a vast majority of our bathing waters clean enough to swim in. This is proof of how European coordination brings real value to all of us in improving our environment and health and goes a long way also to boost our water resilience in the face of climate change.
Water quality improvements over recent decades
The excellent quality of Europe’s bathing waters is supported by the sustained impact of EU law. Thanks to the EU’s Bathing Water Directive and other EU water legislation, the quality of Europe’s bathing waters has steadily improved over recent years. This includes improved monitoring and management practices, investment in urban wastewater treatment plants, better wastewater collection, and improved assessment of the cyanobacterial algal blooms that can be harmful for human health and nature.
Thanks to these continued efforts, people can now also swim in many formerly heavily polluted urban waters and rivers. At the same time, achieving healthy and resilient water systems requires continued progress in addressing broader pressures on surface and groundwater, including chemical pollution and climate-related impacts. Advancing water quality for both people and nature is a key component of EU Water Resilience Strategy.
Background
The assessment for today’s report is based on the monitoring of over 22,200 bathing sites across Europe that were reported to the EEA for the 2025 season. This includes sites in all EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland.
Alongside this year’s Bathing Water Report, the EEA has also released an updated interactive map showing the performance of each bathing site. Updated country fact sheets are also available, as well as more information on the implementation of the Directive in assessed countries.
Intel’s 18A-P Wakes Up: Faster Chips, Less Consumed Power, New Buyers
Intel said Tuesday that the newest member of its 18A manufacturing family, called 18A-P, has entered risk production — the early, small-batch stage chipmakers use to prove out a process before full volume. The company tied the milestone to surging demand for its central processors and a renewed push to win outside foundry customers.
A rendering shows multiple chiplets connected with a combination of 2D and 3D advanced packaging techniques to create a complex system in a package. Image credit: Intel
Key Takeaways
18A-P delivers 9% higher performance at the same power level (iso-power) or 18% lower power at the same speed (iso-performance) versus Intel 18A, with better thermals and more design flexibility.
The process is fully design-rule-compatible with 18A, so customers can reuse existing intellectual property and design flows without redrawing their chips.
Intel now pitches 18A as a product for external clients and forecasts second-quarter revenue of $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion, above the $13.07 billion analysts expected.
Risk production is a critical stage in the semiconductor manufacturing process. It occurs when a foundry begins to produce silicon wafers for a specific chip design, but the process is not yet fully validated.
A Faster, Leaner 18A
The upgrade is incremental but measurable. Against the base 18A node, 18A-P gives chip designers 9% more performance at the same power draw, or 18% lower power at the same clock speed. Intel also points to improved thermals and added design flexibility.
Just as important, 18A-P stays design-rule-compatible with 18A. Customers can carry over their existing IP and design flows instead of starting from scratch — a practical detail that lowers the cost and risk of adopting the newer process.
Intel announced the step at the VLSI Symposium, against a roadmap it set with partners a year ago. “This is a journey, and while we have more work ahead, we appreciate the opportunity to share the progress we are making with Intel 18A-P and our longer-range R&D,” said Naga Chandrasekaran, who runs Intel Foundry. The 18A-P family builds on the same generation behind Intel’s Panther Lake laptop chips, which began rolling out of its Arizona fab late last year.
Courting Outside Customers
The on-schedule step also feeds Intel’s foundry ambitions. By moving 18A-P into early production when it said it would, Intel tells prospective clients it can deliver what it promises — a sticking point for any company trying to make chips for others.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan has started describing 18A as something Intel can sell to external clients, a reversal of his earlier stance that the process would pay off only through Intel’s own products. Finance chief David Zinsner laid out that change in March.
The fresh manufacturing push lands as Intel’s processor business finally catches a tailwind. Demand from companies running AI services ran so hot in the first quarter that Intel sold chips it had already written off — old or underperforming inventory it had shelved.
That strength shows up in the guidance. Intel expects second-quarter revenue between $13.8 billion and $14.8 billion, well above the $13.07 billion analysts had penciled in, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Behind the numbers sits a change in what AI workloads need. As companies move from training models to running them — and toward autonomous AI agents — central processors are pulling more weight alongside the GPUs that powered the first wave. “The CPU is reinserting itself as the indispensable foundation of the AI era,” Tan told investors on Intel’s earnings call.
What It Means for the Chip Race
Beyond Intel’s own books, 18A-P pushes the company deeper into a contest for leading-edge manufacturing that TSMC has owned for years. Analysts read the timely milestone as evidence Intel can challenge TSMC’s most advanced nodes, and the progress inches Intel closer to a possible deal to make chips for Apple devices — the kind of marquee customer its foundry has lacked. Rival TSMC, meanwhile, has been turning out advanced chips on U.S. soil in Arizona, keeping the pressure on.
The stakes reach past corporate rivalry. Advanced chipmaking now underpins everything from AI data centers to national security, and governments have poured subsidies into bringing production home. Because 18A-P works as a drop-in upgrade that needs no redesign, Intel can court customers without forcing them to rebuild their chips — a low-friction path that could speed adoption if yields hold up. For a company that spent years losing ground, getting a competitive process into customers’ hands on time is the proof point that counts.
The development comes in the wake of the agreement between the United States and Iran, announced on Sunday, after more than three months of fighting and wider war across the Middle East and the Gulf region.
A UN force, UNIFIL, has been deployed for nearly 50 years in southern Lebanon, where hostilities escalated between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in March.
Drop in violations
Mr. Dujarric said the Mission recorded 38 violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli forces on Monday, down from 83 the previous day.
The number of trajectories of projectiles also dropped markedly during this period, from 705 to 174. Of these, 169 were attributed to Israeli forces and five to Hezbollah.
UNIFIL also continues to monitor Israeli ground activities across its area of operations, including armoured movements and logistical and engineering activities.
Families on the move
Meanwhile, humanitarians report that some displaced families are cautiously returning to their communities following the announcement of the US-Iran deal.
The number of displaced people in collective shelters has decreased from around 134,000 on Friday to 124,000, according to the Lebanese authorities. Moreover, some 2,700 people in the South governorate reportedly left collective shelters on Monday.
Mr. Dujarric said it remains unclear whether these movements represent temporary returns to assess homes and property or are more long term.
“While violence has decreased since Sunday, incidents in southern Lebanon continue to be reported, which has a direct impact on people’s ability to check on their homes or to move around,” he said, adding that the presence of unexploded ordnance also remains a very serious concern.
The Spokesperson reiterated the UN’s call for the protection of civilians and for returns to be safe, voluntary, informed and supported by sustained humanitarian access and assistance for those who need it.
Humanitarian agencies continue to respond to urgent and emerging needs across the Gaza Strip, but shortages of fuel, engine oil and spare parts are severely constraining essential services, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has warned.
Reduced supplies are undermining water production, distribution, wastewater treatment and solid waste management although prioritized fuel allocations have allowed limited operations to continue.
Aid partners are stepping up efforts to address a growing pest infestation. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is leading pesticide application efforts, while UNICEF and UNRWA are supporting public awareness campaigns and community safety measures.
Food assistance reached nearly 420,000 people during the first two weeks of June, including food parcels, high-energy biscuits and flour, covering around 75 per cent of minimum daily caloric needs.
Continued support
Meanwhile, efforts to support livelihoods continue. More than 2,200 herders received animal feed in early June, while over 1,000 farmers have received conditional cash assistance since late March to help restart crop production across Gaza.
Despite ongoing support, humanitarian partners stressed that needs remain immense and reiterated calls for sustained access, adequate fuel supplies and increased funding to scale up lifesaving assistance.
Rising debt costs squeeze development funding: New UN report
Rising borrowing costs are leaving many developing countries with less money to invest in schools, healthcare, infrastructure and climate action, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the UN trade agency, UNCTAD.
Between 2018 and 2024, 99 developing countries, which are home to 5.5 billion people, saw rising interest payments reduce the fiscal space available for development, the new report found.
The report shows how rising external borrowing costs, shorter repayment periods and persistent risk premiums are putting growing pressure on public finances.
Here are some key findings:
Developing countries received far less external finance than developed countries in 2024. External sources accounted for 11 per cent of investment financing in developing economies, compared with 38 per cent in developed economies
External financial inflows to developing countries fell 18 per cent between 2014 and 2024, while domestic financing rose 60 per cent
Africa received only 10 per cent of total external inflows to developing countries, despite accounting for 22 per cent of the developing world’s population while Asia and the Pacific attracted more than 70 per cent
Widening financing gap
At a time when developing countries continue to pay significantly more for external financing than developed economies, UNCTAD called for national reforms and stronger international action to reduce financing costs and expand the scale of and access to affordable, long-term finance.
Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, considerable progress has been made on testing capacities, Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) told reporters in Geneva.
Testing for the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is available in six locations in the country: in Bunia and Mongbwalu in Ituri Province, Bukavu and Lwiro in South Kivu, Goma in North Kivu, in addition to the capital Kinshasa.
Another four laboratories have been activated in Uganda where cases had been imported from DRC, with 19 confirmed cases and one probable case to date.
However, there is still room for improvement.
Breaking the chain
“We have blind spots where we get a low number of alerts,” Mr. Jašarević said. “There may be transmission chains that are not being detected. There are still people who risk infecting other people, and we need to get them”.
Bruno Michon, Operations Manager for the Ebola outbreak at UN partner the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), insisted that to stop the spread, investment is needed not only in the medical response, but also in building trust, which is time-consuming and difficult.
“But in this outbreak, it is not optional. It is lifesaving,” he said.
Speaking from Bunia, the epicentre of the crisis, he said that “some people still question whether the disease is real” and believe that the outbreak may have been “invented” to attract foreign aid. Others “see safe and dignified burials as an attack [on] culture and tradition, rather than a measure to protect families and communities”.
Scepticism, doubt and fear have hindered the response in conflict-scarred eastern DRC, by the local community’s distrust of outside authorities, which is significantly increasing the risk of disease transmission.
In the early days of the outbreak, two treatment centres were set on fire in the region, which has been beset by intense fighting, causing the displacement of more than 100,000 people.
At the time, WHO told UN Newsthat the attacks were linked to misinformation campaigns circulating on social media.
“When people are afraid, they may not report symptoms,” explained Mr. Michon. “They may avoid treatment centres” for fear of contamination and prefer to stay at home when they have a fever, “ashamed to tell the family that they are sick”, since significant stigma comes with the disease.
“Families try to bury their loved ones according to traditional practices without knowing the level of risk involved,” he added.
Respectful approach
The IFRC official explained that trust is earned through measures destined to appease the community’s concerns.
“Following community feedback, we started using body bags with a window so that the family can see the face of the deceased” and begin the grieving process, he said.
“When communities told us they feared that chlorine was used to poison them, we did not argue. We demonstrated how disinfectants are prepared.”
“Without trust, we cannot detect cases early,” Mr. Michon continued. “We cannot ensure safe and dignified burials. We cannot even protect families and we cannot stop the transmission.”
“Trust is not a secondary activity in the Ebola response. Trust is central,” he concluded.
Agencies in 2026 are under more pressure than ever. Clients expect faster turnarounds, deeper personalization, and measurable ROI, all while internal teams juggle an ever-growing list of platforms, channels, and reporting tools. The good news is that AI has matured from a novelty into a genuine workload-reducer, especially when paired with white label partners who already have the tools, talent, and processes in place.
For agencies looking to scale without burning out their teams, white label marketing services that integrate AI are quickly becoming the smartest way to keep up with client demands. In many cases the simplest route is a single white label marketing agency that already runs AI-integrated workflows, rather than sourcing each service from a different vendor. Mavlers Agency, an AI-driven partner with 400+ specialists, is one example of a team built this way, and we’ll come back to it at the end. First, here are six services worth exploring.
1. AI-Driven SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
Traditional SEO is no longer enough. With AI search engines and chat-based assistants now shaping how people discover brands, agencies need to optimize content for both classic rankings and AI citations. A white label SEO partner using AI tools can handle keyword research, content gap analysis, structured data, and GEO optimization at a scale that would take an in-house team weeks to match. That frees agency strategists to focus on client relationships and big-picture strategy instead of manual audits and spreadsheet-heavy research.
2. AI-Powered Email Marketing and Lifecycle Automation
Email remains one of the highest-ROI channels, but running personalized campaigns across multiple clients is time-intensive. White label email teams now use AI to build dynamic segments, generate subject line variations, predict optimal send times, and assemble personalized content blocks based on subscriber behavior. Instead of manually building dozens of variations, agencies hand off execution while AI does the heavy lifting on testing and optimization, sharply reducing the hours spent per client account.
3. AI-Assisted PPC Campaign Management
Paid media has become heavily automated, with smart bidding and AI-generated ad copy now standard on Google Ads and Meta. But configuring those tools correctly, monitoring performance, and adjusting strategy still takes expertise. A white label PPC team can own that layer, using AI to test ad variations, optimize bids in real time, and flag underperforming campaigns before budget is wasted. That lets agencies offer paid media to more clients without hiring a specialized strategist for every account.
4. AI-Generated Content and Social Media Management
Content production used to be one of the biggest bottlenecks for agencies, and AI has changed that equation. White label social and content teams now use AI to draft copy, build content calendars, repurpose long-form pieces into short clips, and keep posting schedules consistent across platforms. The agency’s role shifts from production to quality control and strategy, while the partner handles day-to-day execution through AI-assisted workflows that keep output consistent and on-brand.
5. AI-Enhanced Analytics and Reporting
Client reporting is essential, but pulling data from multiple platforms, formatting it, and turning numbers into insight is one of the most time-consuming parts of account management. White label analytics teams now use AI to automate data aggregation from GA4, ad platforms, email tools, and CRMs, then generate plain-language summaries that highlight what matters most. Instead of spending hours building reports by hand, agencies receive ready-to-share dashboards and summaries, freeing time for strategic client conversations.
6. AI-Backed Virtual Assistant and Project Support
Beyond core channels, a lot of agency time goes to administrative work: scheduling, data entry, onboarding documentation, and internal coordination. White label virtual assistant services now combine human support with AI tools that draft emails, organize project timelines, and manage routine communication. This hybrid approach gives agencies the reliability of human oversight with the speed of AI-assisted task management, cutting the operational drag that slows account teams down.
The Bigger Picture
None of these services are about replacing agency teams. They are about removing repetitive, time-consuming work so internal teams can focus on strategy, client relationships, and creative direction. As AI tools keep evolving in 2026, the agencies that benefit most won’t necessarily be the ones building everything in-house. They’ll be the ones who know which tasks to hand off, and to whom.
This is where consolidating services under one partner pays off. Rather than managing a different vendor for SEO, email, paid media, social, analytics, and operations, agencies increasingly lean on a single white label partner with AI-integrated workflows already in place. Mavlers Agency is one such partner, an AI-driven team of 400+ specialists that delivers across all of these channels under the agency’s own brand, with a human expert accountable for every result. For agencies weighing their options, the real workload savings come from that kind of consolidation: experience across multiple channels, AI built into the production layer, and a delivery model that scales without the overhead of hiring and training new specialists for every service.
European Parliament is expected to vote on the Return Regulation on Wednesday, amid concern over detention, return hubs and weakened safeguards
Caritas Europa has warned that the EU’s new Return Regulation risks marking a serious rollback of migrant rights, saying the bloc is moving towards a “return at all costs” model that gives priority to deportation, detention and coercive enforcement over human dignity and durable solutions.
The European Parliament is due to vote on the reform on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, after a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The file follows a provisional agreement between Parliament and Council negotiators on rules intended to speed up the return of non-EU nationals who have no legal right to remain in the Union.
EU institutions argue that the regulation is needed to make return procedures faster, more uniform and more credible across member states. Parliament’s own briefing says the reform would introduce stronger cooperation duties, allow detention for up to 24 months and potentially longer under certain conditions, reinforce mutual recognition of return decisions and permit the use of “return hubs” outside the EU. The European Parliament press service says the rules are designed to simplify procedures while respecting fundamental rights and international law.
For Caritas Europa, however, the balance has shifted too far towards enforcement. Maria Nyman, the organisation’s secretary general, said the new rules would “normalise coercive measures and detention”, including for children and families, while restricting legal safeguards and creating return hubs outside Europe.
“What is needed instead is an urgent paradigm shift that prioritises voluntary return, supported by independent counselling and reintegration assistance,” Nyman said, adding that residence permits should be available for people who cannot be returned because of humanitarian reasons or family ties.
Detention at the centre of the dispute
One of the sharpest areas of concern is detention. Under the agreed reform, people subject to a return decision may be detained where authorities consider there is a risk of absconding, non-cooperation or a security concern. Detention would have to be ordered by an administrative or judicial authority, and alternatives such as reporting requirements or residence at a designated place may also be used.
Caritas argues that the practical effect will be to make detention more routine, including for families and vulnerable people. The organisation says prolonged detention can cause severe mental and physical harm and should remain an exceptional measure, not a central tool of migration policy.
The concern is not limited to church and humanitarian organisations. The UN Human Rights office in Brussels has previously warned that return reform raises serious questions over detention, policing powers, third-country arrangements and procedural guarantees. In comments on the regulation, UN Human Rights stressed that effective return policies must remain aligned with non-refoulement, liberty, family life and the best interests of the child.
Return hubs and legal uncertainty
The regulation also opens the possibility of transferring people to return hubs in non-EU countries that agree to accept them. EU negotiators say unaccompanied minors would be excluded from such arrangements and that any third country involved must respect human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement.
Critics fear that, in practice, such hubs could become offshore deportation centres with limited oversight. Caritas says people, including families with children, could be sent to countries with which they have no meaningful connection, facing arbitrary detention, legal uncertainty or exposure to abuse.
The debate forms part of a wider shift in European migration policy, in which deterrence, faster border procedures and external partnerships have become increasingly central. The European Times has previously examined how Europe’s migration agenda has moved from internal burden-sharing towards externalisation and tougher return policies, raising questions over how far the EU can delegate migration control without weakening its own legal commitments.
Safeguards under pressure
Caritas also objects to provisions it says could allow more invasive enforcement measures. The organisation warns that search powers connected to return procedures could affect not only migrants’ homes but also premises linked to social services and humanitarian support, potentially deterring undocumented people from seeking help.
Another concern is the weakening of legal safeguards. Rights groups fear that some people could be removed while appeals are still pending, increasing the risk of refoulement if courts have not yet examined claims that return would expose them to persecution, torture or inhuman treatment.
For EU governments under pressure to demonstrate control over migration, returns have become a measure of political credibility. For humanitarian organisations, the question is whether credibility can be built on policies that risk deepening fear and exclusion among people already living in precarious conditions.
Nyman said the regulation risks “further stigmatising and criminalising migrants” at a time when European societies need cohesion. Caritas, she added, is calling on EU leaders to bring “humanity and fundamental rights, not fear of the other, back to the centre of migration policy.”
The vote in Strasbourg will not end the argument. Even if Parliament backs the text, implementation will test whether the EU can reconcile faster returns with effective safeguards, independent monitoring and respect for the dignity of every person affected by the new system.
Foreign ministers ask Brussels to examine possible measures on goods from illegal Israeli settlements
European Union foreign ministers have pushed the European Commission to prepare options for possible trade measures on goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements, moving a long-running human rights and foreign policy dispute into a more concrete phase ahead of July talks.
The request followed Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said many member states had called for proposals from the Commission. In her press remarks after the meeting, Kallas said she would ask the Commission to prepare possible trade measures, including steps aimed at preventing imports of goods from illegal settlements, and to assess questions linked to rules of origin.
The move does not yet amount to an EU ban. It does, however, signal that a group of governments wants the bloc to move beyond statements of concern and examine whether trade law can be used where unanimity on broader sanctions remains difficult.
A shift from condemnation to trade policy
EU governments have repeatedly described Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as illegal under international law and damaging to the prospect of a negotiated two-state solution. The harder question has been whether the EU is willing and able to turn that position into common commercial measures.
According to Euronews reporting, the Commission is expected to present options before the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in July, after pressure from a majority of member states. The options remain unclear, and any proposal would have to navigate legal, diplomatic and political constraints.
The distinction matters. A sanctions package normally requires unanimity among EU member states, giving any capital a veto. Trade measures, by contrast, may be considered under qualified majority rules depending on their legal basis. That difference explains why some governments see settlement goods as a practical area for action, while others remain cautious about legal challenges and political fallout.
Rules of origin under scrutiny
The EU-Israel Association Agreement grants trade preferences to goods from Israel, but not to products originating in occupied Palestinian territory. In practice, that places heavy weight on labelling, customs checks and rules of origin.
Those technical details carry significant human rights consequences. If settlement goods enter European markets as if they were ordinary Israeli products, critics argue that European consumers and businesses may be indirectly sustaining an unlawful settlement economy. Supporters of stronger measures say clearer restrictions would help align EU trade practice with its stated legal position.
The debate has sharpened since the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion on Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Court’s findings have strengthened calls for states not to assist or maintain an unlawful situation. The European Times has previously covered UN warnings that new West Bank measures further erode the prospect of a two-state solution.
Political pressure, uncertain outcome
The Commission now faces a delicate task. It must prepare options credible enough to satisfy member states seeking action, while avoiding a proposal that collapses under legal uncertainty or political opposition before it reaches the Council table.
Some EU countries have pushed for a firmer line on Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, arguing that the bloc’s credibility on international law depends on consistency. Others have warned against steps that could further strain relations with Israel or complicate wider diplomacy in the Middle East.
The result is likely to be a menu of options rather than a single immediate measure. These could range from tighter customs enforcement and clearer origin controls to broader restrictions on imports linked to settlements. Each would carry different thresholds for approval and different risks of challenge.
For Palestinians living under occupation, the question is less procedural. Settlement expansion affects land, movement, livelihoods and the viability of future statehood. For the EU, the July discussion will show whether its legal position on settlements can be matched by enforceable policy, or whether internal divisions will again limit the bloc to carefully worded concern.
Either way, the issue has moved up the EU agenda. What began as a demand from several capitals is now a formal request for the Commission to map the choices before ministers return to the subject next month.
Few concrete details have emerged about the deal to end the conflict that erupted at the end of February, with impacts across the Middle East, Gulf region and beyond.
The UN Interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on Monday that it observed a decrease in violence and exchanges of fire in the south, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have been fighting since the early days of the crisis.
Stay in place
On the humanitarian front, OCHA said some families have reportedly started to head back to their homes or are assessing the conditions in communities in parts of southern Lebanon, particularly around Nabatieh.
“However, no large-scale returns have taken place, and people should not return until it is safe to do so,” it added.
Meanwhile, local authorities report that occupancy rates in collective shelters remain high as many displaced families are awaiting greater clarity on the security situation before making decisions about returning home.
The Lebanese Armed Forces and some local authorities have reportedly urged residents not to return to high-risk areas now.
In the interim, the UN continues to call for the protection of civilians, safe and voluntary returns and sustained humanitarian access for all who need it.
New displacement in Gaza as insecurity worsens conditions
Renewed insecurity across Gaza displaced more families over the weekend and added pressure to an already strained humanitarian response, according to OCHA, the UN relief coordination office.
On Friday, an airstrike hit the yard of a UN school in a Jabalia camp sheltering displaced families, causing minor damage.
The same day, dozens of families in eastern Gaza City fled after Israeli troops expanded the so-called “Yellow Line” westward using yellow cement blocks.
Introduced in October 2025, the line marks restricted-access areas controlled by Israeli forces and has expanded several times since. UN human rights staff warn that Palestinians have reportedly been killed for approaching too close.
People remaining nearby told humanitarian teams that worsening insecurity is increasing pressure to move again. Many newly displaced families reportedly left without tents or belongings and are now sheltering with relatives or friends.
Joint response
To support those affected, humanitarian partners activated a joint UN response mechanism designed to provide rapid assistance following sudden displacement.
Meanwhile, aid delivery remains constrained. OCHA reported that the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing continues to be the only entry point for approved supplies.
Restrictions also remain on key items including power generators and spare parts, although recent negotiations led to the approval of some additional supplies, including equipment needed to improve malnutrition screening.
Somalia receives emergency funding as famine risk grows
The UN has released $10 million in emergency funding to help avert worsening hunger and reduce the risk of famine in Somalia, where drought, conflict and rising prices continue to deepen humanitarian needs.
Allocated through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the funding will support UN agencies and partners to provide food, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and protection assistance to around 640,000 people across nine priority districts.
Humanitarian agencies warn that nearly six million people, more than 30 per cent of Somalia’s population, are expected to face crisis-level food insecurity or worse this year, including 1.9 million in emergency conditions.
A plausible risk of famine has been identified in parts of Bay and Bakool regions, particularly in agropastoral areas.
Aid shortfall
Aid efforts remain severely underfunded, with only 20 per cent of the 2026 humanitarian appeal received so far.
Only 24 per cent of the people targeted for assistance have been reached since January.
At the same time, higher food and fuel prices linked to regional instability have further reduced families’ ability to afford basic needs.
At the Human Rights Council in Geneva, deputy UN rights chief Awa Dabo stressed how disruption to shipping in the Gulf’s narrow strait and the US naval blockade on ships using Iranian ports had upended the world’s energy supply network.
The crisis has seriously impacted aviation and restricted humanitarian aid flows, causing a much broader crisis that continues to affect people across the region and beyond, with fertilizer shortages another deepening concern.
“Economists warn that unless the Strait is opened, some of the world’s most vulnerable economies could be thrown into chaos, increasing poverty and hunger for millions,” Deputy High Commissioner Dabo said.
Bulwark against food crisis
Delivering an update on the fallout from the Iranian strikes against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, she insisted that “at a bare minimum, specialised agencies, including the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), must have the resources needed to prevent the projected global food security crisis”.
Also speaking at the Council, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Jamal Al Musharakh, said he hoped that the “ongoing negotiations” on the Middle East crisis would bring an end to attacks.
Since 28 February, the UAE has been targeted by more than 3,000 “ballistic missile and cruise missile and drone attacks”, he noted.
Questioning the credibility of the international human rights system in calling the debate, Iran’s Ambassador Ali Bahreini, insisted that his country had exercised its right to self-defence in line with international law, while Iranians faced “indiscriminate aerial bombardment”.
“If Iran ultimately accepted the ceasefire, despite its imperfections and subsequent challenges, it did so out of a profound sense of responsibility toward regional chiefs and collective security,” Mr. Bahreini said.
“We finally brought the war to an end so that we would never again have to hear the roar of advanced and indiscriminate weapons over schools and students,” he added.
Turk’s support for ‘fragile’ deal
Earlier, UN human rights chief Volker Türk welcomed the reported peace agreement echoed and called on all parties to end hostilities and push for a lasting ceasefire.
“At this fragile moment, all sides need to exercise maximum restraint and work toconsolidate the ceasefire and translate it into a comprehensive peace agreement,” Volker Türk said, addressing the Human Rights Council.
That appeal followed the UN Secretary-General’s comments welcoming the announcement as a “critical step” toward ending the conflict.
According to a statement issued by the UN chief’s Spokesman on Sunday, the agreement provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for further negotiations.
The strategic strait is a key shipping lane through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.
Seafarers’ plight
Also responding to the potential diplomatic breakthrough, the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that it represented “an important step toward restoring safety in this vital maritime corridor for seafarers and ships, as well as safeguarding the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation”.
After the conflict began on 28 February with US and Israeli strikes across Iran, the Iranian military responded with attacks on Israel and US‑allied States in the Gulf. Lebanon’s people were also drawn into the war after Hezbollah fighters based in the country began firing at Israel.
In Iran alone, Israeli and US strikes have reportedly killed thousands of civilians, “including hundreds of children, and destroyed hospitals, schools, homes, and other infrastructure”, Mr. Türk told the Human Rights Council.
Highlighting the mass killing of mainly Iranian schoolchildren on the first day of the war, the UN rights chief called for the findings to be made public of the US investigation into the attack on Minab school which left more than 156 people dead.
Video creation used to begin with a camera. Today, it can begin with a sentence.
With AI video generators, creators can turn simple text prompts into short videos, cinematic scenes, product clips, social media content, animations, and visual stories without filming anything. Instead of planning a shoot, hiring actors, finding locations, or learning complex editing software, you can describe what you want and let AI generate the first version for you.
This is especially powerful for creators. Whether you are making TikToks, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, product videos, music visuals, educational clips, or AI art animations, text-to-video AI helps you move from idea to output much faster.
But the quality of the final video depends on more than the tool. It depends on how you write your prompt, how clearly you describe the scene, and how well the AI video generator supports your creative workflow.
That is why OpenArt is the best place to start for turning text prompts into videos with AI. OpenArt gives creators a flexible, visual-first platform where they can generate videos from prompts, experiment with styles, use reference images, and build creative concepts without needing a production team.
In this guide, we will explain how text-to-video AI works, how to write better prompts, what creators can make with it, and why OpenArt is the #1 AI video generator for prompt-based video creation.
What Is Text-to-Video AI?
Text-to-video AI is a type of artificial intelligence that generates video clips from written descriptions. You type a prompt, such as “a cinematic shot of a futuristic city at sunset with flying cars and glowing neon lights,” and the AI creates a short video based on that description.
A text prompt can describe many parts of a video, including:
The subject
The setting
The action
The visual style
The camera movement
The lighting
The mood
The color palette
The type of shot
The platform format
For example, a simple prompt might be:
“An astronaut walking through a glowing alien forest.”
A stronger prompt would be:
“Cinematic close-up shot of an astronaut walking slowly through a glowing alien forest at night, bioluminescent plants, blue and purple lighting, soft fog, realistic sci-fi style, smooth camera movement, dramatic atmosphere.”
The second prompt gives the AI more direction. It explains what the subject is doing, where the scene takes place, what the lighting looks like, what style to use, and what mood the final video should have.
That is the core of text-to-video generation: the better your direction, the better the result.
Why Creators Are Using Text-to-Video AI
Creators are turning to text-to-video AI because video demand is higher than ever. Short-form platforms reward consistent posting, brands need more ad variations, and audiences expect visual content that feels fresh and engaging.
The challenge is that traditional video production takes time and money. Even a simple video can require planning, shooting, editing, exporting, and resizing. For solo creators and small teams, this can become overwhelming.
Text-to-video AI helps solve several common creator problems.
First, it reduces production time. Instead of spending hours filming and editing, creators can generate draft videos from prompts in minutes.
Second, it removes equipment barriers. You do not need a camera, lights, studio, actors, or travel budget to create visually interesting clips.
Third, it helps with creative blocks. If you know the idea but do not know how to visualize it, AI can help generate a starting point.
Fourth, it makes experimentation easier. You can test different prompts, styles, camera angles, and scenes without reshooting anything.
Fifth, it helps creators publish more consistently. Instead of creating every video manually from scratch, creators can use AI to support their content pipeline.
This does not mean AI replaces creativity. It gives creators a faster way to express ideas visually.
Why OpenArt Is the Best AI Tool for Text-to-Video Creation
OpenArt is the best AI video generator for creators who want to turn text prompts into videos because it is built around creative flexibility. It does not simply generate a video and stop there. It helps creators explore, refine, and build visual ideas.
Many creators begin with a rough concept. They might have an idea for a product video, a fantasy scene, a short-form hook, a character animation, or a cinematic visual. OpenArt helps turn that idea into something visible.
With OpenArt, creators can use text prompts to generate videos, but they can also work with images, styles, and visual references. This is important because video creation is rarely a one-step process. A creator might start with a prompt, generate an image, refine the look, animate it, then create a final clip.
OpenArt supports that creative loop.
What makes OpenArt #1?
OpenArt stands out because it is useful for multiple creator workflows:
Text-to-video generation for prompt-based videos
Image-to-video generation for animating visuals
AI art-to-video workflows
Product video concepts
Social media content creation
Character and scene experimentation
Cinematic and stylized video outputs
For creators, this matters more than having one isolated feature. A good AI video generator should help you develop an idea from rough prompt to polished asset. OpenArt gives creators the space to do that.
OpenArt is especially strong for creators who want to turn imaginative prompts into visual content. Whether your style is cinematic, realistic, anime, fantasy, product-focused, fashion, lifestyle, or surreal, OpenArt gives you a strong creative starting point.
How to Turn Text Prompts Into Videos with AI
The process is simple, but getting great results requires some structure.
Step 1: Start with a clear idea
Before writing your prompt, decide what kind of video you want to create. Are you making a TikTok background clip, a product ad, a cinematic scene, an animated character moment, or a YouTube Shorts visual?
Your goal should shape the prompt.
For example:
For social media: focus on fast motion, strong visuals, and vertical-friendly scenes.
For product videos: focus on the product, lighting, camera movement, and setting.
For cinematic clips: focus on atmosphere, shot type, mood, and realism.
For animation: focus on character design, motion, style, and expression.
A vague idea leads to a vague video. A clear idea gives the AI better direction.
Step 2: Describe the subject
The subject is the main thing in the video. It could be a person, animal, product, character, object, place, or abstract concept.
Instead of writing:
“A woman in a city.”
Write:
“A young fashion creator walking through a rainy neon-lit Tokyo street at night.”
Instead of:
“A product on a table.”
Write:
“A luxury skincare bottle standing on wet black stone with soft studio lighting and water droplets.”
The more specific the subject, the more useful the output.
Step 3: Add action
Video needs movement. A prompt should describe what is happening, not just what exists.
Weak prompt:
“A dragon in the mountains.”
Better prompt:
“A massive dragon flying slowly over snow-covered mountains while clouds move around its wings.”
Action helps the AI create motion. For text-to-video prompts, verbs matter. Use words like walking, flying, rotating, floating, glowing, transforming, pouring, drifting, zooming, dancing, opening, exploding, rising, or revealing.
Step 4: Define the setting
The setting gives context to the scene. It tells the AI where the video takes place.
Examples:
A futuristic city at sunset
A cozy bedroom with warm morning light
A luxury studio with a black background
A fantasy forest filled with glowing flowers
A clean ecommerce product set
A busy street market at night
A beach during golden hour
The setting can completely change the feel of the video. A product video in a bright minimalist studio feels very different from the same product on a dramatic cinematic background.
Step 5: Choose a visual style
Style is one of the most important parts of AI video prompting. It tells the AI what kind of world to create.
Common styles include:
Cinematic
Realistic
Anime
3D animation
Claymation
Fantasy
Cyberpunk
Luxury product commercial
Documentary
Vintage film
Surreal
Minimalist
Fashion editorial
Pixar-style 3D
Dark sci-fi
Dreamlike
For OpenArt users, style experimentation is one of the biggest advantages. You can test multiple creative directions without rebuilding the entire concept.
Step 6: Add camera movement
Camera direction helps the video feel more professional.
Useful camera phrases include:
Slow zoom in
Smooth tracking shot
Cinematic pan
Close-up shot
Wide establishing shot
Low-angle shot
Overhead shot
Handheld documentary style
Rotating product shot
Dolly-in movement
Slow motion
Macro shot
For example:
“Close-up cinematic shot of a coffee cup on a wooden table, steam rising slowly, warm morning light, slow camera push-in.”
This prompt gives the AI clear movement and framing.
Step 7: Add lighting and mood
Lighting affects quality. Mood affects emotion.
Examples of lighting:
Golden hour lighting
Soft studio light
Dramatic backlight
Neon lighting
Natural daylight
Moody low-key lighting
Blue and purple cyberpunk glow
Warm candlelight
High-contrast fashion lighting
Examples of mood:
Peaceful
Dramatic
Mysterious
Energetic
Futuristic
Luxurious
Emotional
Dreamlike
Playful
Epic
A good prompt combines both.
Example:
“A cinematic shot of a lone traveler standing in a desert at sunset, golden hour lighting, soft wind, dramatic and emotional mood, slow camera movement.”
Text-to-Video Prompt Formula
A strong AI video prompt usually follows this formula:
Subject + action + setting + style + camera movement + lighting + mood
Example:
“A futuristic sports car driving through a neon-lit city at night, cinematic cyberpunk style, wet reflective streets, smooth tracking shot, blue and pink lighting, dramatic high-energy mood.”
You can use this formula for almost any creator workflow.
For a product video:
“A luxury perfume bottle rotating slowly on a black marble surface, high-end commercial style, soft studio lighting, close-up macro shot, elegant and premium mood.”
For a TikTok background:
“A colorful smoothie being poured into a glass with fresh fruit around it, bright lifestyle style, slow motion, clean kitchen background, cheerful summer mood.”
For an AI art animation:
“A magical fox with glowing eyes walking through an enchanted forest, fantasy illustration style, floating fireflies, smooth camera pan, mysterious dreamlike mood.”
Best Use Cases for Text-to-Video AI
Text-to-video AI can be used across many creator workflows.
Social media videos
Creators can generate short clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and stories. These videos can be used as hooks, backgrounds, visual effects, transitions, or full standalone posts.
Product videos
Brands and creators can generate product visuals without expensive shoots. This is useful for ecommerce, dropshipping, beauty, fashion, tech, food, and digital products.
Faceless content
Creators who do not want to appear on camera can use AI-generated visuals for storytelling, facts, tutorials, motivation, list videos, or niche pages.
AI art videos
Artists can turn visual ideas into motion. This is one of the best use cases for OpenArt because creators can move from image creation to video generation in a more connected workflow.
Music and lyric videos
AI-generated clips can be used for music visuals, mood loops, lyric backgrounds, and promotional content.
Ads and marketing videos
Marketers can generate multiple concepts and test different hooks, visuals, and styles before committing to a final ad direction.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many beginners get weak results because their prompts are too short or unclear.
Avoid prompts like:
“Cool video of a car.”
This does not give enough information.
A better version would be:
“A red sports car speeding through a mountain road at sunset, cinematic commercial style, smooth tracking shot, dramatic lighting, high-energy mood.”
Another mistake is adding too many unrelated ideas. If the prompt includes five subjects, three locations, and multiple styles, the AI may struggle to create a focused video.
Keep the prompt detailed but organized.
Also avoid forgetting motion. Since you are generating video, always include action or camera movement.
Why Text-to-Video AI Is a Creator Advantage
The creators who win with AI video are not just the ones who generate random clips. They are the ones who learn how to direct the AI.
Prompting is becoming a creative skill. A strong prompt works like a mini creative brief. It tells the AI what to show, how it should move, what it should feel like, and what purpose it serves.
OpenArt makes this process easier because it gives creators room to experiment. You can start with a simple idea, test prompt variations, use reference images, and move toward a stronger final result.
For creators, this means faster production, more creative range, and fewer barriers between imagination and content.
Final Thoughts
Text-to-video AI is one of the most important tools for creators in 2026. It helps turn ideas into videos without filming, editing, or hiring a production team. It gives creators a faster way to test concepts, make social content, create product visuals, animate AI art, and produce videos at scale.
But the tool you choose matters.
If you want the best overall platform for turning text prompts into videos, OpenArt is the #1 choice. It gives creators a flexible, visual-first workflow that supports both prompt-based video generation and broader AI creative production.
With OpenArt, you can start with a sentence and turn it into a video. You can describe a scene, test a style, animate a concept, and create content that feels ready for today’s visual platforms.
Whether you are building a TikTok page, creating YouTube Shorts, making product videos, experimenting with AI art, or developing a visual brand, OpenArt helps you move faster from idea to finished video.
The future of video creation starts with a prompt. OpenArt helps you bring that prompt to life.
