Spain’s PM Sánchez unveils ‘Hodio’ tool to combat ‘online hate speech’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced the launch of a new government tool designed to monitor and quantify so-called hate speech on digital platforms.
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Major police operation targets France’s ‘DZ Mafia’ drugs gang
French authorities have launched what officials describe as the largest operation ever carried out against the criminal group known as the DZ Mafia, as part of an…
Iranian female footballers granted asylum in Australia, ditch headscarves
Five members of Iran's women's national football team have been granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia after fleeing their squad during the Women's Asian…
Swiss vote to enshrine use of cash in Constitution, end tax penalty for married couples
Swiss citizens have voted on several contentious issues in four nationwide referenda – approving a constitutional right to use cash, ending tax penalties for married…
“Violent act of anti-Semitism”: Explosion outside synagogue in Liege
An explosion occurred outside the synagogue of the Israeli community of Liège, a major landmark for the city’s Jewish community that also houses a museum dedicated…
Harsh prison terms for seven Spaniards for hate speech against illegal migrants
Spain's Supreme Court has upheld prison sentences for seven individuals convicted of hate crimes over social media posts targeting unaccompanied foreign minors in…
Concerns grow over influence on EU of foreign propaganda and new media
A panel discussion hosted by MEP Dominik Tarczyński yesterday explored growing concerns about foreign influence in Europe and the role of new media in addressing…
Leading scientists accuse European Commissioner of ‘misleading statements’ on smoke-free nicotine products
A coalition of 23 leading European experts in medicine, toxicology, epidemiology and addiction science has accused European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare…
German police conduct 13th Day of Action against online ‘hate’
On Wednesday, February 25, German law enforcement carried out a nationwide “Day of Action Against Online Hate” involving raids and interrogations in connection…
President of Belgian hunting federation violently beaten up by apparent activists
The chairman of the Belgian hunting federation Hubertus Vereniging Vlaanderen (HVV), Rudi Van Decraen (63), was severely beaten on Wednesday evening in a wooded…
Belgian media outlet officially reprimanded for publishing JD Vance speech in full
A right-leaning news outlet in Belgium, 21News, violated journalistic ethics by publishing the complete transcript of the speech made by US Vice-President J D Vance…
Iranian regime “conservative”? Never, the mullahs are like 19th century Bolsheviks
Western pundits love to call the Islamic Republic of Iran “conservative.” This label is lazy, misleading, and fundamentally wrong.
Strict passenger rights rules annually saved 8,400 years of delays, consumer organisations say
Brussels' plans to reform air-passenger compensation rights are being met with much scepticism from passenger rights organisations that adhere to the notion of "if…
Warrant or not, the cops are coming: Polish government breaches ban on double jeopardy
In recent months Poland has seen an unprecedented situation.
Italian trial highlights rise of a ‘remigration lobby’ in Europe
A right-wing Italian activist is set to stand trial for hate speech over statements he published on social media in recent years.
Exclusive interview: German lawyer decries ‘bias’ in trans-child cases
A German lawyer is accusing German authorities of bias in cases of children who want to have their sex medically changed against their parents’ wishes.
UK Quran burner wins landmark blasphemy case
A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has had his acquittal upheld by the High Court.
EC says European Social Fund can be used to fund abortions
The European Commission has confirmed that European Union member states may use the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support access to legal abortion services,…
German court allows outdoor prayer meetings of banned Islamist group
The Administrative Court of Hesse has allowed members of the Imam Ali mosque in Frankfurt to continue holding twice weekly outdoor prayer meetings.
EU rules Hungary violated freedom of expression with radio shutdown
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Hungary violated European Union laws on freedom of expression by shutting down the country's Klubrádió…
Trump trap: Do Democrats despise their own national culture?
On Tuesday evening, Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union Address in American history in his usual style: Approximately one hour and 48 minutes of…
French prosecutors probe Al-Fayeds over sex trafficking
He traded on the glamour of owning Harrods, the Paris Ritz and luxury yachts, but Mohamed Al-Fayed was at the centre of a dark web of alleged abuse, say French lawyers…
AfD avoids immediate ban after German court suspends its ‘extremist’ status
A German administrative court in Cologne ruled yesterday that the country’s domestic intelligence agency may not classify the right-wing Alternative for Germany…
Killing of Quentin Deranque: Network of violence reaches into French parliament
The violent death of Quentin Deranque at the hands of far-left militants has brought into sharp focus the links between the antifa organisation La Jeune Garde (Young…
Trying to bring it down? Poland’s popular YouTube channel smeared by PM Tusk allies
The head of a popular Polish YouTube current affairs channel has produced documented evidence that a publicly funded NGO has commissioned a PR operation aimed at…
Young men without purpose mean lethargy or rage across Europe
In 2002 Fox aired one season of a remarkably entertaining science fiction show created by Joss Whedon.
The decline of liberty
Never was there more high-minded talk about republican ideals in ancient Rome than in the age of Augustus, the first de facto emperor who definitively buried the…
France appoints new president at Louvre after jewellery heist
The president of France's famed Palace of Versailles took over as head of the Louvre following a litany of problems at the world's most-visited museum including…
‘Child porn found in cell’ of notorious Belgian paedophile and killer
Images depicting the sexual abuse of minors were reportedly found in the prison cell of Marc Dutroux, the infamous convicted Belgian paedophile and serial killer.
Turkey to introduce mandatory ID verification for social media users
Turkish users of Facebook and X may soon be forced to sign up using their official government ID.