Switzerland bans face coverings including burqas
On September 20, the lower house of Switzerland's Parliament passed legislation that prohibits face coverings such as burqas worn by Muslim women.
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
EC insists EU phone-radiation limits are ‘safe’ amid iPhone 12’s ban in France
A spokesman for the European Commission has insisted that European Union limits on phone radiation are "safe" amid ongoing controversy surrounding the iPhone 12.
Italian MEP receives death threats over anti-Islamic headscarves T-shirt
Italian MEP Silvia Sardone is reportedly receiving death threats after she recently wore a T-shirt in the European Parliament that read, "No to the Islamic Veil".
Irish Government’s anti-racism pledge could ‘undermine academic freedom’
An Irish Government's anti-racism pledge for universities runs the risk of endangering academic freedom, a lecturer has warned.
Dora Moutot: French journalist and activist discusses the violent state of France, the laziness of French media and the spread of self-censorship
Dora Moutot has been a journalist since 2012.
Montenegro’s ‘Laziest Citizen’ contestants put record to bed
Contestants are surpassing all expectations in Montenegro's annual "Laziest Citizen" contest.
German Left calls for the abolition of homework
Germany's hard Left Die Linke party has called for the complete abolition of homework in schools, much to the delight of nine-year-olds across the country.
Musk lashes out amid accusation X supports EU state censorship
US tech billionaire Elon Musk has lashed out online amid criticism of his X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.
TikTok fined 345 million euros over handling of children’s data in Europe
TikTok has been fined €345 million for breaching privacy laws regarding the processing of children's personal data in the European Union, its lead regulator in…
Schools in Belgium torched after sex-education lessons introduced
Five schools have been set on fire in Belgium amid anger over newly implemented relational, emotional and sex education for children.
German journalist says he will stop criticising Islam after spate of threats
A high-profile journalist in Germany has announced that he no longer intends to discuss or criticise Islam after a recent spate of threats levelled against him.
Ability to shut down undesirable social media is ‘proportionate’, EC insists
The European Union's power to unilaterally shut down certain social media websites deemed problematic is "proportionate", the European Commission has insisted.
EU ban on payment for sperm, blood and breast-milk donations moves forward
The European Parliament has approved a draft regulation banning payments for breast milk, sperm, blood and other "substances of human origin" (SoHO).
Why has James Bond turned into a hectoring EU technocrat?
James Bond is back. But rather unexpectedly he seems to have adopted the attitudes of a vexed Left-leaning European Union lawmaker.
EC considering new limits on fast-growing chicken
The European Commission is considering the possibility of imposing limits on the farming of certain types of chickens, it has confirmed.
Forced sterilisations in the EU: MEP calls for action
The European Union must take action against the forced sterilisation of disabled people within the bloc, an MEP has said.
Climate activists must be called to account for the growing anti-Semitism within their movement
Anti-Semitism is becoming en vogue again in Europe, and once again the far Left and the far Right found their common ground: Hatred towards Israel and everything…
Sweden Democrats MEP invites Iranian artist to Brussels after exhibition ban U-turn
Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers has invited the Iranian artist Sadaf Ahmadi to the European Parliament after the Swedish city of Borås cancelled her exhibition,…
European Parliament to debate ‘controversial’ kiss in Women’s World Cup
The European Parliament has added the “controversial” kiss at the FIFA Women's Football World Cup Final on August 20 to its list of items to be debated at Strasbourg's…
Gen Z more enthusiastic to work than older generations, study finds
Gen Z, or those born between 1996 and 2010, are more enthusiastic about working than older generations, a survey conducted in Germany has found.
EC insists it is pushing Palestine to accept LGBTQI+ rights
The European Commission has insisted that it is working to get Palestine's Islamist-leaning government to accept LGBTQI+ rights.
Islamic institutions in Belgium oppose sex-education programme in schools
With the new school year back in full swing, all students in the French-speaking community in Belgium will now regularly receive relational, emotional and sex education.
France has the ‘dumbest Left in the world’, Socialist Party official says
A senior member of France's Socialist Party has lambasted his own side of the political spectrum, claiming on September 4 that France has the "dumbest Left in the…
EC President escalates EU ‘war on wolves’
Having until now enjoyed strict protections under EU law, the growth of wolf populations throughout central Europe has resulted in increased attacks on livestock…
Riots erupt in Sweden’s third-largest city after another Quran burning
Rioting has erupted in the Swedish city of Malmö after Iraqi migrant Salwan Momika once again publicly torched a copy of the Quran.
‘We are not leaving Europe’, confirms Soros heir
In an opinion piece for US-based news outlet Politico, American philanthropist Alex Soros, who recently took over leadership of the Open Society Foundations (OSF)…
Ireland says free speech must be balanced with right ‘not to be misinformed’
Citizens’ rights to free speech must be balanced with their alleged right "not to be misinformed", a senior member of the Irish judiciary has said.
French pupils wearing Islamic dress will be barred from class ‘from September 4’
Children who arrive at schools in France wearing Islamic clothing will be barred from classes "from Monday" September 4, Gabriel Attal, France's education minister…
Controversial book by Italian General now a bestseller
Controversy is the best publicity, or so it appears, as a highly divisive book by an outspoken Italian General is topping an Amazon bestseller ranking.
Polish journalist ‘denied life-saving medication’ in Belarusian jail
Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist for Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza and a Polish minority activist, is being denied life-saving heart medication in a Belarusian prison,…