X to launch legal challenge against Irish anti-hate-speech laws, Musk says
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, will launch a legal challenge against forthcoming anti-hate-speech laws in Ireland, its US billionaire owner…
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Leaked French state documents report surge of ‘secularism violations’ in schools
French schools are struggling with an explosion of what are termed secularism violations, spurring controversy over the wearing of Islamic religious symbols and…
Controversial French rapper Médine no longer welcome at Belgian festival
While the controversial rapper Médine is set to appear at a meeting of the French Greens party, a Belgian festival has cancelled his show over the weekend of August…
Facebook and Instagram announce changes over EU censorship legislation
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has announced changes to its social media platforms in response to new European Union censorship laws coming into force.
Rapper’s invitation to French Greens’ convention fuels storm over anti-Semitism
Controversial rapper Médine's invitation to the upcoming French Greens party's summer convention has ignited fierce debate within the nation's left-wing circles.
Meta’s fact-checkers caught interfering in Australian referendum
Facebook’s parent company Meta blocked and deplatformed a number of people in Australia by using false fact-checks - in violation of its own code of principles.
Norway promotes penguin to rank of Major General
The Norwegian military has promoted a king penguin residing in a UK zoo to the rank of Major General in its military.
Discord in Italy’s government after General replaced over controversial book
There is discord in Italy's centre-right government coalition after a leading Italian army general was replaced in his role for publishing a controversial book.
Sweden to cut use of screens in schools as reading standards suffer
Sweden's education minister Lotta Edholm is taking action as Swedish children’s ability to read apparently deteriorates.
MEPs lambast Politico news outlet for linking populist parties to ‘fascists’
When is it fine to describe a political party as far-right?
Twitter allegedly ‘shadow-bans’ Belgian party leader ahead of new EU digital law
Elon Musk's Twitter, now X, has been accused of limiting the visibility of a Twitter account, known as "shadow banning", belonging to Tom Van Grieken, the leader…
Anti-Quran protests spread to the Netherlands
The leader of the Pegida-movement in the Netherlands has publicly ripped to shreds a copy of the Quran as a form of protest in The Hague, angering local Muslims.
Poland approves law to ban ‘sexualisation of children’ in schools
Legislation that will ban organisations which “promote the sexualisation of children” from schools has been approved by Poland’s parliament, backed by both…
Ukraine considers porn law overhaul
Ukraine is considering the decriminalisation of pornography.
Italian general sacked after his controversial book causes uproar
A senior Italian general has been sacked after his controversial book caused uproar in the country.
Clerics allegedly caught using church computers to access porn
High-ranking officials within the Catholic Church are reportedly some of the many employees who have been caught trying to access pornography on their work devices.
Democracy! Minister plans to get political rival fired from teaching job
Germany's Antifa-linked interior minister Nancy Faeser has announced plans to have one of her political rivals fired from his position as a teacher.
Infighting breaks out among Last Generation group over anti-Semitism
One of the most important elements of the climate group German Letzten Generation, or Last Generation, has gone on an indefinite strike against the leadership of…
Ban AfD members from holding church positions, Catholic official demands
An official within the German Catholic church has demanded that members of the populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party be banned from holding lay offices.
Sweden raises terror alert to second-highest level
Sweden's security service SAPO has put the terrorist-threat level against the nation at 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 over rising tensions following a series of Quran burnings…
Germany’s Cabinet approves bill to legalise cannabis
On August 16, Germany's Cabinet approved a controversial bill to legalise the recreational use and cultivation of marijuana under what would be among the most progressive…
Irish Times says ‘block web access for teens critical of trans agenda’
The Irish Times, regarded as Ireland's newspaper of record, has suggested that teenagers deemed to not be sufficiently pro-trans may need to have their access to…
Criticism of popular partygoers’ tune sparks outrage in France
A popular song in France has been attacked by a French singer who said she would leave any party that played it, prompting the writer of the tune to describe her…
AfD politician violently beaten up
Andreas Jurca, a candidate for the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party in Bavaria, has been brutally assaulted at a campaign event.
European Commission refuses to define the word ‘woman’
The European Commission has refused to define the word "woman" despite a formal request to do so from an MEP.
German MP arrested in Turkey
The Turkish Government arrested and detained a member of the German Parliament, or Bundestag, German media has reported.
Irish hate-speech plans spook politicians after autistic girl’s UK arrest
Ireland's planned anti-hate-speech laws have reportedly left politicians in the country spooked after the arrest of an autistic girl in the UK.
Italian restaurant charges tourists €2 to cut sandwich in half
Two tourists were unpleasantly surprised when they received the bill in an Italian winery and café - after eating a sandwich.
Meloni government in talks to host Musk versus Zuckerberg cage-fight
Giorgia Meloni's Italian Government is reportedly in talks to host the forthcoming cage-fight between Twitter owner Elon Musk and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Has Brexit made UK more ‘woke’ than rest of Europe?
When Brexit occurred it was obviously quite the shock to all. The UK lurched into uncharted territory. There was a sense of all bets are off and anything could happen.