Baltic States ‘pay €90K’ to host US influencer IShowSpeed in tourism PR blitz
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have each reportedly spent €30,000 to host US influencer and internet star Darren Jason Watkins Jr.
Russian universities train students to outwit economic sanctions
The Kremlin-backed curriculum for Russian public universities and private institutions now trains students to outwit economic sanctions.
AfD candidate blocked from mayoral race in Germany over ‘loyalty to Constitution’ concerns
Uwe Detert, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate for mayor of the German city of Lage, has been barred from running.
Artists boycott Belgian music festival over Franco-Israeli singer’s presence
Just days before Belgium’s Francofolies de Spa music festival kicks off, several artists have pulled out in protest over the inclusion of Franco-Israeli pop star Amir Haddad…
Digital vassals? French Government ‘exposes citizens’ data to US’
France’s deepening reliance on US tech giants is raising alarms about digital sovereignty and exposing public data to foreign jurisdictions.
Member states inch closer to social media age-limit for minors
Italy, France, Denmark, Spain and Greece said they would pilot an online age verification app prototype developed by the European Commission, making it easier for users to…
French court rules Palestinians in Gaza eligible for asylum in France
Palestinians can be recognised as asylum seekers in France following a landmark ruling by the country's National Asylum Court (CNDA).
‘To be free, you must be feared’: France to pump €6 billion more into military
"To be free in this world, you must be feared," French President Emmanuel Macron declared on the eve of Bastille Day in Paris.
French police raid Nestlé over alleged bottled water fraud
French police raided the offices of Nestlé Waters as part of a widening judicial investigation into the food giant’s alleged use of illegal filtration systems in its bottled…
‘System gone mad’: France’s National Rally decries police raids
France’s right-wing National Rally (RN) has denounced what it called a co-ordinated “harassment campaign” after police raided its headquarters in Paris.
German court slaps down library ‘warning labels’ on ‘controversial books’
Germany’s Higher Administrative Court in Münster has ruled that the city library must remove politically charged warning labels from two controversial books.
France battles wildfires as minister warns of ‘high-risk summer’ ahead
A "fast-moving" wildfire in France has been raging in parts of Marseille, triggering mass evacuations, lockdown orders and widespread travel disruptions.
French MP Olivier Marleix found dead at home, apparent suicide
French Republican MP, Olivier Marleix, has been found dead at his home.
French Socialist Party members denounce the term ‘Islamophobia’
Members of the French Socialist Party have revolted against use of the word "Islamophobia" in its formal documents because, they said, it "validates the theses of an identitarian…
US lawmakers: ‘EC weaponising digital rules to muzzle US interests’
US lawmakers have accused the European Commission of weaponising its “regulatory regime” to “silence American speech” online.
Patriots MEP’s office vandalised by ‘ultra-left’
Anne-Sophie Frigout, MEP for the French right-wing Patriots for Europe party, had had her office in Reims vandalised.
French moderate Left turns on Mélenchon ahead of 2027 presidential race
France’s moderate Left has distanced itself from radical firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon as it lays the groundwork for a unified front in the 2027 presidential election.
Politician behind Italian city’s cyberbullying initiatives exposed as Facebook bully
A councillor in northern Italy's city of Lecco resigned after she was revealed as the author of anonymous, abusive comments aimed at a resident who criticised the municipal…
Free speech or incitement? Glastonbury punk and rap acts ignite political firestorm
Punk duo Bob Vylan and rap group Kneecap’s sets at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival have triggered criminal probes and a revoked US visa, amid accusations of hate speech.
Azerbaijan police raid Russian media bureau in Baku, as relations sour
Police in Azerbaijan's capital Baku raided the local office of Russian state news agency Sputnik on June 30, amid rising tensions between Baku and Moscow.
Litmus test for Christian views? Finland’s top court to hear MP Räsänen free speech case
Finland’s Supreme Court is preparing to hold an oral hearing in the high-profile free speech case of former Interior Minister and Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen,…
EU wine sector says Mercosur deal can save ‘declining market’
The European Union wine industry has rallied behind the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, framing it as a necessary means to save the "declining market" in the bloc.
France’s left-wing bigwig wants French language renamed to reflect its ‘creole roots’
The French language did not belong to the French anymore and they should think of renaming it to reflect its "creole nature", said the country's radical left-wing de facto…
Ireland to ban imports from ‘Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories’
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Harris announced that Ireland will ban the import of goods originating from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories,.
US rapper Kanye West faces backlash ahead of Slovakia show due to ‘Hitler’ song
Grammy-winning US rapper Kanye West was facing growing opposition in Slovakia ahead of his scheduled performance at the Rubicon Festival in the capital Bratislava in July.
Council of Europe human rights chief warns ‘free speech under threat’ in Germany
Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty has expressed concern about limits on free speech and peaceful assembly in Germany.
Crisis in local government: Almost 2,200 French mayors resign since 2020
French mayors have been stepping down at an unprecedented rate, with almost 2,200 resignations since 2020, according to a report by the Association of Mayors of France (ASM).
Czech Government survives no-confidence vote over bitcoin scandal
The Czech Government, led by Prime Minister Petr Fial, has survived a no-confidence vote over the so-called bitcoin scandal.
‘Stop the Rich’: Activists plan march in Brussels’ wealthiest district
A group of activists said they planned to march through one of Brussels' most affluent districts, the Prince d’Orange neighbourhood in Uccle, under the banner: "Stop the…
French ex-PM Fillon gets suspended jail term over wife’s fake job
Former French prime minister François Fillon was given a four-year suspended prison sentence over his wife's fake jobs scandal, which torpedoed his 2017 presidential bid.