Conductor on German train allegedly battered to death by fare dodger
A train conductor died after he was reportedly viciously attacked by a passenger without a ticket on a German regional service.
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Polish Government security officer taped ‘making death threats against journalist’
In Poland, an officer with the State Protection Service (SOP) responsible for the safety of state officials, allegedly made death threats against a journalist with…
Chile’s new President Kast warns free speech is under threat
Chile’s newly elected President, José Antonio Kast, said society is suffering from an overabundance of “isms” that are eroding long-standing values — a…
The Odyssey of identity: Why we must fight for the face of Helen of Troy
As Helen of Troy is about to be portrayed as black in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, the latest episode in the war for the soul of the West questions our very fundamentals.
Long-term Belgian unemployed rush to social welfare after entitlements run out
Belgian local social services are seeing a sharper-than-expected influx of long-term unemployed people after the country’s recent reform ended unlimited unemployment…
Ban on road salt puts Berliners on a slippery slope
For days on end pedestrians in Berlin have had a difficult time moving around the German capital.
Twisting history to dishonour history’s victims and democracy’s principles
Across the Western world, a troubling pattern has emerged: Historical memory is being weaponised against democratic preferences.
Far-left riots shake Italy
Far-left demonstrations in Turin erupted into violent clashes, widespread destruction and attacks on police officers over the weekend.
Austria to cut Latin lessons in favour of teaching AI and ‘democracy’
Austrian pupils will soon study ChatGPT more than Cicero in upper secondary schools throughout the country.
Council of Europe expands definition of ‘conversion practices’ to include questioning of gender identity
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged member states to ban so-called conversion practices, adding questioning gender-identity to the…
Every great collapse begins with a crack
At first glance, a headline about the University of Mainz removing french fries from its cafeteria menu seems trivial.
Dutch watchdog probes Roblox gaming platform over possible ‘risks to children’
The Dutch consumer watchdog has launched an investigation into Roblox to see if the popular gaming platform was doing enough to protect children amid reports they…
Polish minister Sikorski’s wife says Trump administration is ‘fascist’
The wife of Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has warned that the US is starting to resemble a fascist state.
US Republicans slam EC and ‘censorious’ online law after X fine
The US House Judiciary Committee Republicans have ramped up their blistering assault on the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), exposing what they call…
Four scenarios for the post-rules world
The Greenland psychodrama together with some of the startling opinions aired in Davos last week – especially Mark Carney’s definitive language on the end of…
Tusk’s Polish courts ‘are tearing down justice’
In Poland governed by Donald Tusk’s coalition, the justice system no longer operates independently in political cases.
Sweden ponders jail for 13-year-olds after explosion in gang violence
Sweden's justice minister Gunnar Strömmer said the government is pressing ahead with plans to allow 13-year-olds to be sentenced to prison for the most serious…
MCC Brussels wins landmark free-speech court battle
The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Brussels, a leading conservative educational and think-tank organisation associated with Hungary's Government, has won its final…
Italy summons Israeli ambassador after officers threatened at gunpoint in West Bank
Italy has summoned Israel's ambassador to Rome in a sharp diplomatic protest following an incident in which two Italian military policemen were threatened at gunpoint.
Polish opposition leader calls on PM Tusk to fund spot on Trump’s Board of Peace
The leader of the Polish opposition has called on the centre-left government to provide the $1 billion (€840 million) required for Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki…
Former Austrian minister slams home country in Russian podcast
Karin Kneissl, Austria’s foreign minister from 2017 to 2019, has used an appearance on a Russian podcast to settle scores with her former home country.
Russia jails schoolgirl for four years for posters of pro-Kyiv fighters
A Russian court Thursday upheld a four-year prison term for a 17-year-old girl who hung posters of pro-Ukraine Russian fighters in her school, Russian independent…
European Parliament votes against flight delay compensation reform
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to preserve the existing three-hour threshold for flight delay compensation.
Austrian Right and Left team up to prevent government eavesdropping on private messages
The right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the left-wing Greens Party are teaming up to thwart the government coalition’s plans for extended surveillance…
Bigamy charges next? Polish rule-of-law dispute creates chaos in family courts
A Polish judge has ruled that a couple’s divorce was invalid because it had been granted by a judge who had been appointed during the lifetime of the previous…
Barcelona train crash kills one in Spain’s second deadly rail accident in days
A commuter train near Barcelona ploughed into the rubble of a collapsed wall on Tuesday, killing one and injuring dozens in Spain's second deadly rail accident in…
US Republicans turn on Germany’s AfD after Weidel criticises Trump
US Republicans have attacked Germany’s right-wing AfD following party co-leader Alice Weidel’s criticism of US President Donald Trump over Venezuela and Greenland.
MEPs want independent EU social media to counter X after Grok scandal
European lawmakers are demanding the creation of a European Union social media source to counter the influence of X following the Grok scandal.
Hanover daycare centres get ‘queer book boxes’ to teach toddlers about sexual diversity
In a move to promote "diversity" among young children, the city of Hanover has allocated around €11,000 from surplus budget funds to distribute "queer book boxes"…
Western freedom is heading for the crocodile’s pantry shelf
The ailing English novelist Julian Barnes recently announced that he has written his last book.