Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein may have to pay EU under three different regulations
Shein, the Chinese global e-commerce platform specialising in fast fashion, could soon find itself paying more than just shipping costs to the European Union.
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Collapse in number of new builds in Germany fuels fears of worsening housing shortage
New apartment construction in Germany has collapsed since 2024, new data show. Higher interest rates and higher construction costs were behind the collapse.
How calling a German finance minister a ‘moron’ leads to cops and criminal charges
Stefan Niehoff, a 64-year-old retiree and former sergeant in the Bundeswehr, became something of an overnight sensation in Germany last year after police showed…
“I am disappointed they excluded Russia but let Israel in”, says Austrian Eurovision winner
Austria's Eurovision winner Johannes “JJ” Pietsch has come under fire for critical remarks about Israel and equating its war in Gaza with Russia's invasion of…
EU consumer group accuses Ryanair and others of ‘illegal’ extra fees for carry-ons
The European Consumer Organisation accused Ryanair and other airlines of engaging in unfair and illegal practices by charging extra fees for hand luggage.
MEPs and experts call for Commission to tackle DSA’s free speech concerns
Cross-party members of the European Parliament and free speech advocates gathered in the European Parliament May 21 to urge the European Commission to review the…
EU spends more on policing speech than transnational cancer research
The EU has given €650 million to projects combating so-called 'hate speech' and 'disinformation', one third more than it has given to transnational cancer research…
Polish state TV bans photos of its buildings
Poland’s government-controlled broadcaster TVP (Telewizja Polska) has placed new notices warning photographers they may not photograph the corporation’s headquarters…
Statue of Venus removed from Berlin government office after ‘sexism’ complaint by Equal Opportunities Commissioner
An historic sculpture of the Venus de' Medici has been removed from a Berlin government building at the request of equal opportunities officers who argued its presence…
Belgium and Spain suspect manipulation in Eurosong vote, demand action
The Spanish and Belgian public broadcasters questioned the points awarded to Israel’s Eurovision entry and have announced there were possible irregularities.
Road safety before religion: German court forbids woman to drive car wearing a Niqab
A German court has ruled that it is illegal to drive while wearing a niqab–a Muslim headgear covering most of the wearer’s face.
Eurovision contestants spurn English for festival of mother tongues
The May 17 Eurovision final in Basel, Switzerland will see an extraordinary chorus of mother tongues, with 19 of 26 finalists–73 per cent–ditching English to…
Hate speech or free speech? How rapper Ye’s ‘Heil Hitler’ exposes Big Tech dilemma
Controversial rap artist Ye’s latest track, Heil Hitler, was promptly banned from Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube upon its May 8 release but in just 24 hours…
Soros’ Open Society Foundation pumped more than $700 million into Europe
New research into the extent of billionaire George Soros's funding activity has revealed the Hungarian-American pumped more than $700 million (€625 million) into…
Poland PM Tusk’s ‘undemocratic actions’ under US Republican spotlight
Four US Republican Congressmen have written to the European Commission demanding a response to the actions of Poland's centre-left government under Prime Minister…
Meta takes on European digital rights watchdog over user data for AI training
Tech giant Meta has snubbed a 'cease and desist' request from the European digital rights watchdog over their use of personal data to train AI systems, countering…
German intelligence probe into AfD ends in farce with ‘top secret’ report leak
A controversial top-secret German intelligence report on the right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD) that could lead to a total ban on the insurgent political…
‘Ordinary spanking’ row lights up Poland’s marathon presidential election debate
A row over spanking children was the highlight of Poland's marathon televised presidential election debate on May 13 that saw one candidate heatedly accuse another…
Antifascists claim egg attack in bid to thwart MCC think tank conference
'Antifascist' activists have claimed responsibility for an egg attack on Brussel’s Stanhope Hotel on May 12 in protest at a scheduled seminar hosted by Conservative…
German public broadcaster under fire for leaking right-wing YouTuber’s identity
Germany's state TV station ZDF has come in for criticism after one of its hosts leaked the identity of a prominent anonymous YouTube personality on air.
Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault
A Paris court has found French movie star Gérard Depardieu guilty of sexual assault.
‘Algorithms will not raise our children’: France to lead EU coalition to ban social media for children
France said it was working with other member states to prevent children under 15 from accessing social media anywhere in the EU.
Anti-Semitic protests mar Eurovision song contest kickoff
Protesters demanding Israel be excluded from Eurovision overshadowed the 2025 song contest's May 11 opening parade in Basel, Switzerland.
Cocaine claims are ‘Fake news by enemies’, blasts an angry Paris
A viral video accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of hiding a cocaine pouch during a visit to Ukraine was "fake news being spread by France’s enemies", said…
Bulgaria’s government should give their people a voice on the euro
Until fairly recently, it looked like Bulgaria was set to join the Eurozone early next year.
German security service unexpectedly suspends ‘extremist’ classification of AfD
German intelligence agency the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has temporarily suspended its May 2 decision to classify the populist…
Chair of US Intelligence group calls for ‘no collaboration’ with Germany over AfD
Tom Cotton, chair of the US Senate Committee on Intelligence, has called for pausing "all intelligence sharing" with German domestic intelligence agency the Federal…
Jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s X account blocked in Turkey
Access to the X account of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, has been blocked in Turkey in response to a legal…
Record-low road deaths in Belgium, but not for cyclists
Fewer people than ever died in traffic accidents across Belgium last year — but in Brussels, it was a deadlier year for cyclists.
French university has funding cut over its ‘Islamo-leftist drift’
All regional public funding to Lyon 2 University has been cut over concerns about "Islamo-leftist drift" within the institution.