Salman Rushdie calls for defence of freedom of speech
World-famous author Salman Rushdie called for the unconditional defence of freedom of expression as he received the German Book Trade Peace Prize in Frankfurt on…
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
EC signs online censorship deals with Ireland and France
The European Commission has signed an agreement with France and Ireland aimed at getting the two countries to help enforce the bloc's online censorship rules.
Macron government accuses opposition of ‘anti-Semitism’ amid Israel conflict
A spokesman for Emmanuel Macron’s French Government has accused members of opposition parties on both the Left and Right of anti-Semitism.
French airports hit with bomb threats for third day in a row
More than a dozen French airports have been hit with bomb threats for the third day in a row, media in the country is reporting.
French education minister wants radicalised pupils removed from schools
Following the murderous terrorist knife attack at a school Arras, Northern France, by a radicalised former pupil of Chechen origin, National Education Minister Gabriel…
Italian PM Meloni dumps partner after comments to other women are aired
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has ended her long-term relationship with Andrea Giambruno over comments he made that were broadcast on Italian TV.
Konstantin Kisin confirmed speaker for Brussels Signal launch event
Konstantin Kisin has confirmed as a speaker for the Brussels Signal's launch event.
Amsterdam sex workers protest against planned relocation of red-light district
Sex workers in Amsterdam are protesting against the planned relocation of the city's famous red-light district to an out-of-town "erotic centre".
EC launches investigation into TikTok, Meta over alleged ‘illegal content’
The probe follows an investigation into Elon Musk's X over similar claims that the social media firm might not be doing enough to fight "disinformation" as outlined…
Police injured and 174 arrested after pro-Palestine riot hits German capital
An illegal pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin turned ugly, resulting in dozens of police officers being injured and 174 protestors arrested on October 18.
Musk denies X may leave EU market over Digital Services Act
X owner Elon Musk has denied reports that the platform may end up leaving the European Union market over the bloc's censorious Digital Services Act (DSA).
Eight French airports hit by security alerts
Eight French airports faced security alerts on Wednesday and several were evacuated for checks, the DGAC aviation authority said, and the Palace of Versailles closed…
EC tells Member States to ‘fast-track’ EU online censorship powers
The European Commission has told European Union Member States to "fast track" the bloc's online censorship powers under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Crisis in French left-wing alliance over refusal to label Hamas ‘terrorists’
The Socialist Party (PS) in France has voted for a "moratorium" on its participation in the New People's Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), the French left-wing…
Irish Government’s anti-meat tweet deleted amid farmers’ outrage
A tweet encouraging the public in Ireland not to eat meat was axed by a state agency of the Irish Government after a backlash from farming organisations in the country.
Westminster Declaration: academics sound alarm at increasing censorship
More than 100 prominent intellectuals and academics have written a collective statement, called the Westminster Declaration, regarding threats against free speech…
Brussels ignores Israel, demands censorship of Hamas
The European Commission has ignored anti-censorship pleas from Israel, stating that footage depicting Hamas "atrocities" and "war crimes", or anything to do with…
Israeli Ambassador rejects EU censorship of Hamas ‘war crimes’
The Israeli Ambassador to NATO and the European Union, Haim Regev, has rejected an EU push to have Hamas atrocities censored online.
Big Tech bosses can ‘no longer hide’ from EU censorship, Breton says
Big Tech bosses can "no longer hide" from the European Union's censorship drive, said European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton.
TikTok fights back over €345 million teen privacy fine in EU
TikTok, the Chinese-owned video—sharing platform, is fighting back in the courts after regulators in Europe slapped it with a €345 million data privacy fine…
Dutch Greens and Socialists want to ditch the monarchy
A majority of Dutch Green (GroenLinks) and Socialist Party (PvdA) coalition members want to get rid of the Dutch monarchy.
Venice mayor suspends electric bus service after two accidents
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro announced a ban on La Linea's electric buses following two accidents involving its vehicles, one of which resulted in the deaths of 21…
Left-wing councillors snub Rotterdam vote on condemning hatred of Jews
A number of council members left a Rotterdam municipal council meeting when a vote was tabled on the condemnation of hatred against Jews.
Pro-Palestine protests erupt across Europe amid ‘day of jihad’
Pro-Palestine protests have erupted across Europe amid calls from Islamic militants for a worldwide "day of jihad".
Monarchy is outdated, says Belgium’s Prince Laurent
Prince Laurent of Belgium, brother of current King Philippe, said in an interview that the monarchy is a "medieval institution".
EU turns screw on X over alleged ‘hate speech’ as censorship crusade expands
The European Union has launched a preliminary investigation into Elon Musk's X over claims it allowed "hate speech" and other forms of "illegal content" on the site.
Teacher killed in knife attack in school in northern France – BFM TV
A teacher was killed and several people injured in a knife attack in a school in the northern France city of Arras on Friday, BFM TV said.
France orders ban on all pro-Palestinian protests
France's interior minister Gérald Darmanin ordered local prefects via Telegram to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations and to arrest all troublemakers.
X bends to Brussels’ will over Israel-Hamas censorship demands
Elon Musk's X has kowtowed to Brussels after the European Union’s censorship tsar Thierry Breton demanded a clampdown on "illegal" content linked to the Hamas…
Brussels put ‘democratic process at risk’ with plan to axe Palestine aid: Billy Kelleher MEP
Speaking in the Brussels Signal studio, Kelleher described the announcement to cut aid made by Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi…