Europe is considering to ban under-16s from social media |

 

The European Union is weighing a region-wide social media ban for children under 16. The proposal comes amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people. Supporters argue that stronger EU-wide safeguards may be needed to better protect children and teens from online risks.

Young and radical - Why right-wing populism is on the rise

In the Netherlands researchers say it was 18-34 year olds who helped the right-wing populist Geert Wilders to victory in the parliamentary elections. In Italy too, the Brothers of Italy, a party that is considered post-fascist, is in power. In Germany, there will be an early federal election at the end of February. According to surveys, the AfD, parts of which have been classified as right-wing extremist, has a good chance of significantly increasing its share of the vote.

 Antony Blinken warns that Russia is preparing to deploy the troops into combat ‘in the coming days’

About 8,000 North Korean soldiers at Ukraine border, says US

Antony Blinken warns that Russia is preparing to deploy the troops into combat ‘in the coming days’

Andrew Roth in Washington

Thu 31 Oct 2024 19.24 GMT

About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine, the US secretary of state has said, warning that Moscow is preparing to deploy those troops into combat “in the coming days”.

Antony Blinken said the US believed that North Korea had sent 10,000 troops to Russia in total, deploying them first to training bases in the far east before sending the vast majority to the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine.

Blinken told a press conference that the North Korean troops had received Russian training in “artillery, UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, indicating that they fully intend to use these forces in frontline operations”.

Its this kind of escalation that could lead to a wider war not only in Europe, but on the Korean peninsula. Think what will happen when the first North Korean soldiers are killed in Ukraine. Will Kim-Jong un respond with bombastic rhetoric or will he order a military response with an attack on South Korean and US forces. As for Europe, there will be foreign troops fighting there for the first time since the Second World. If those Korean troops accidentally cross into a NATO and country engage their forces that would be cause for real alarm.      

With tensions this high any mistake could be catastrophic  leading to unintended consequences.    

The rise of illiberal Europe - The enemy inside the gates

Investigative journalist Tim Sebastian exposes the growing threat of far-right extremism in Europe. From secret neo-Nazi gatherings in Germany to the alarming rise of populist leaders, discover the chilling realities facing democracy today. Watch as he delves into the ideologies, scandals, and political maneuvers threatening to reshape the European Union.

China's growing influence in Europe - Serbia and the New Silk Road

China is increasingly active in Europe. Serbia has a particularly close relationship with China: Since 2010, the Chinese have invested some $8.5 billion there. But who are the people who keep things running on the ground? When it comes to implementing China’s giant "New Silk Road" project, Serbia came in second place worldwide in 2022. But the story is complex: While Chinese companies are buying up the eastern part of the country around the Bor copper mine and extracting raw materials there on a large scale, second-generation Chinese in Serbia are beginning to realize their dreams.

Palestine-Israel through three European lenses

Israel-Gaza as seen in Europe: examining how history has informed coverage in Germany, France and Ireland.

If the United States has aided and abetted Israel’s campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, the European Union’s role has been one of quiet complicity.

In a special edition of The Listening Post, we examine the discourse around the conflict in three EU countries: Germany, where shows of support for the Palestinians have been heavily suppressed; France, where television news channels have distorted the debate to suit their own agendas; and the outlier that is Ireland, where there has been probing criticism of Israel’s actions – from politicians and in the media.

How smugglers lure in buyers for illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe

 

The BBC has gone undercover to expose how smugglers have lured people into buying what the smugglers claimed to be low risk illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe. Thousands of people have arrived in Europe from Pakistan since January 2021, many of which have used smuggling agents after contacting them over social media.

Filmmakers in Congo fight the European gaze

The film examines the mechanisms underlying Western views of Congo in particular and African countries in general. Journalist Ley Uwera, photographer Mugabo Baritegera and filmmaker Bernadette Vivuya are among the pioneers of a new generation of Congolese who want to show their own reality as a response to the world’s one-sided, Western-dominated perception of their region. With their cameras, they present an image that is miles away from Western stereotypes of misery and violence. Are there ways to reconcile the different perspectives? And is a Western filmmaker capable of telling this story?

Why the EU is still buying Russian energy?

 

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has radically reduced its imports of coal, oil and natural gas from Russia. In fact, the bloc's stated goal is to eliminate all Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.

How big a 'crisis' is the flow of migrants to Europe really?

In the north African country Tunisia, where authorities have intensified an operation to intercept migrants who are planning to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean sea. The Tunisian National Guard says it has arrested smugglers and stopped more than two-thousand people in its coastal cities, most people have been held back in the city of Sfax.

 

Nearly everyone in Europe is breathing polluted air – with deadly consequences

 

Virtually everyone in Europe lives in polluted towns and cities where annual average levels of fine particulate matter are higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended limit. In practical terms, this means that almost everyone on the continent is breathing bad air that has been shown to be fatal. Air pollution increases the risk of respiratory and heart disease and lowers life expectancy.

The refugee crisis: A European horror story

 

A mass drowning of refugees at sea – and the media coverage and politics in its wake. Plus, the perilous state of media in Algeria.

The most recent tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea – a boat of 750 refugees capsizing off Greece – has shed light on the European Union’s anti-immigration policies, the many media outlets reinforcing that message and the few independent ones that push back on the official narrative.

Russia's influence over former Soviet republics is starting to fade | DW News

 

Moldova is ramping up its EU membership push, and Georgia is still trying to get its candidacy status. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is looking to diversify its economic partnerships with China, Turkey and the West. From Eastern Europe to Central Asia, Russia’s influence on the former Soviet states seems to be waning.

From Nigeria to Morocco - In search of a better life in Europe

 These days, Ike Nnaebue is a famous "Nollywood” director, a prominent representative of Nigerian film. When he tried to emigrate to Europe in 1998, he couldn’t see a future for himself in Nigeria. Like so many young people in Africa, he dreamed of a better life in Europe - financially, at least. Now, camera in hand, he’s taking the same journey from Nigeria via Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali and Mauretania to Tangier in Morocco. Along the route he meets men and women who’ve turned their backs on their homes and who are intent on trying their luck in Europe - despite all the risks and obstacles.

Bringing back Asia’s stolen artefacts

 

101 East joins the hunt to bring back Asia’s looted artefacts from museums and private collections across Europe, the US and Australia.

Since the 19th century, thousands of ancient artefacts have been looted from Asian countries, ending up in Western museums and private collections.

Now archaeologists, activists, internet sleuths and lawyers are joining forces to hunt down the priceless stolen artefacts and have them returned home.

European leaders approve "Register of Damage" to document damages caused by the Russian forces

Leaders of wider Europe approved a "Register of Damage" on Wednesday to document the damage in Ukraine caused by the Russian forces so Moscow could be held liable for compensation. It comes after a two-day summit of the Council of Europe (CoE) held in Iceland. It was a "first, necessary, urgent step" ensuring "justice that is centred on the victims" of the war, said council head Marija Pejcinovic Buric said. By early Wednesday, 40 countries had signed onto the creation of the register, another three countries were finalising internal procedures to do so.

Zelenskyy receives Charlemagne Prize for promoting European unity

The ceremony took place in the western city of Aachen at the end of a day-long visit to Germany – his first since the Russian invasion more than a year ago. Earlier he was received with military honors in Berlin, before holding talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. His visit is part of a European tour aimed at getting more weaponry and funds. Prior to his arrival, Germany announced a new package of military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros for Kyiv. 

How China spies on and harasses its citizens abroad | Focus on Europe

China is reportedly operating its own police facilities in other European countries, including the Netherlands. Officially, the "service centers" provide diplomatic support, but others say that they're being used to hunt down dissidents.

Will the Ukraine war become a wider European conflict?

 

Kyiv calls for fighter jets after Germany agrees to allow the deployment of Leopard 2 tanks.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused thousands of deaths and destroyed entire cities.

Western countries have answered Kyiv’s pleas for military aid.

Slavery and plunder: How can Europe pay its debt to Africa?

In an effort to come to terms with its colonial past, the Netherlands has apologized for its role in slavery. The country once had an extensive colonial empire in South East Asia, Africa and the Americas. Hundreds of thousands of people were enslaved and sold by Dutch merchants, over centuries. Now, the Dutch government is planning to invest in education and awareness programs to tackle racism. But the apology was not welcomed by everyone.