EU aims to force Big Tech and others to make their products repairable
The European Union is to target so-called "planned obsolescence" in products amid the bloc's ongoing technology regulation efforts.
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Meta hit with European consumer group complaint over users’ DSA access move
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has been hit with a formal complaint over its attempts to charge European users to access the European Union’s Digital Services…
Berlin’s spätis show how things tend to go right when Europe keeps it simple
Can the EU political establishment learn something from the späti, the late-night convenience store that is ubiquitous in the German capital?
Musk’s X says Irish minister McEntee’s ‘no-censorship’ claims are ‘inaccurate’
US tech billionaire Elon Musk's X social media platform has accused Ireland's justice minister Helen McEntee of making "inaccurate" statements in the Irish Parliament…
Not only minorities are victims: Violence is violence, even if those attacked are Right-wing and white
In a surge of violent attacks, conservative and far-Right politicians are being targeted by extremists all around Europe. The trend is becoming worrying.
Leftist leader like an ‘annoying uncle who talks nonsense’, says Macron spokesman
The chief spokesman for French President Emmanuel Macron's Government has mocked one of the country's most high-profile left-wing leaders, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, comparing…
Belgian terror expert: ‘Brussels not safe’ to celebrate Christmas and New Year in
According to Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a Belgian terrorism expert, the European capital will not be a safe place to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s…
Can the Left keep taking the Muslim vote for granted? There are early signs that Keir Starmer’s Labour is losing its grip
What does the Israel-Hamas war mean for the European Left?
‘Attempted assassination’ of Vox founder ‘planned months in advance’, police say
The attempted assassination of the Conservative Vox party founder Alejandro Vidal-Quadras was planned three months in advance, according to Spanish police.
EC wants fast refunds and clearer information for stranded travellers
The European Commission is advocating for travellers to have access to clearer information and swift reimbursement in the event of trip cancellations.
Lithuania’s Government may collapse over key budget vote
Lithuania's Government is at risk of collapse as Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's unruly coalition looks increasingly fractious ahead of a crucial December 5…
Belarus police raid premises of opposition activists and their families
Police in Belarus have raided the offices of opposition members as part of a crackdown on dissenters who revolted against the Government in 2020.
Euro MPs want regulation of music streaming to ‘protect diversity’
MEPs sitting on the Committee on Culture and Education bemoaned the lack of bureaucratic influence in the sector, voting in favour of demanding EU action by 23 votes…
Belgium buries terrorist murderer ‘under false name’ to deter ‘sympathisers’ from rallying there
The terrorist who killed two Swedes in Brussels in October has been buried under an unrevealed false name to prevent his resting place from becoming a rallying point…
The Left’s Goliath is beating the Right’s David where it really matters
“If voting could change anything they'd abolish it,” was once a catchy quip used by cynics to justify their apathy and non-participation in elections.
European Court of Justice approves banning of religious symbols at work
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favour of the Belgian Government banning religious symbols in the workplace in an apparent effort to create a “neutral…
Ruling reality is not enough! MEPs demand EU regulation of ‘virtual worlds’
Seemingly unhappy with just ruling Europe, MEPs have demanded that the European Union starts regulating "virtual worlds", such as Facebook's metaverse and Star Trek-style…
Meta Platforms’ paid ad-free service targeted in Austrian privacy complaint
Meta Platforms' paid no-ads subscription service launched in Europe this month faced one of its biggest tests as advocacy group NOYB on Tuesday filed a complaint…
Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher
Six teenagers were due to go on trial behind closed doors on November 27 in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder…
Musk attacks Irish Prime Minister’s planned ‘crackdown on freedoms’
Irish authorities have vowed to tighten mass surveillance in the wake of rioting in Dublin on November 23, which itself was in retaliation to a stabbing of three…
Progressive Ireland risks letting the gun back into politics
The history of the modern Irish state is a history of near-constant political violence. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either ignorant or a liar.
Was Iran behind ‘assassination attempt’ of Spain’s Vox founder?
Alejo Vidal-Quadras, the 78-year-old founder of Spain's Vox party and a former vice president of the European Parliament, has been discharged from Gregorio Marañon…
France rolls out drones for Strasbourg Christmas Market
The French authorities have approved the use of two spy drones to monitor this year's Strasbourg Christmas Market.
The crusade for a European superstate remains as undemocratic as ever
In 2016, when campaigners for Brexit warned that a bloc committed since its founding to “ever-closer union” would one day morph into a “European superstate”…
EU holds ‘cybersecurity exercise’ to combat potential 2024 election interference
The European Union has held a so-called "cybersecurity exercise" aimed at toughening defences against possible attempts to interfere in the bloc's 2024 elections.
Tusk to oppose EU treaty change, quoting ‘unbearable euro-enthusiasm’
Donald Tusk and his Polish Parliamentary coalition have decided to adopt the same stance as taken by the outgoing Conservative PiS party on the issue of European…
European Parliament votes for right-to-repair
The European Parliament says it wants a pan-European Union right-to-repair law.
Could the tide be turning in favour of Europe’s Judeo-Christian tradition – thanks to the insanity finally being called out?
We live in a post-Christian world, we are increasing told, with Western society having swallowed the “God is dead" proclamation from German philosopher Friedrich…
Ireland to vote on removing reference to women’s interests from Constitution
Ireland will vote on removing the special protection of women's interests from the country's Constitution, the island's paper of record has confirmed.
Dutch politician Thierry Baudet attacked with glass bottle
Ahead of the Netherlands national elections on November 22, the Dutch right-wing firebrand Thierry Baudet has been violently assaulted for a second time.