Roundup of global news: NASA observatory hit by wildfires, record El Niño predicted, contagious catfish cancer discovered, and tech reviews/advice.
The European Commission has preliminarily concluded that Meta's Instagram and Facebook designs violate the EU's Digital Services Act by failing to address risks to users' physical well-being, including minors. Meta faces potential fines of up to 6% of its annual turnover.
The European Parliament has passed legislation allowing tech firms to scan messages for child sexual abuse material until 2028. Critics call it "chat control." An amendment exempts end-to-end encrypted messages, but voluntary mass scanning was approved.
EU lawmakers have adopted a position paper on digital assets, urging the European Commission to assess the regulatory scope of DeFi, crypto lending, staking, and NFTs. The paper calls for consistent MiCA application and warns against market fragmentation.
La Commission européenne juge la proposition de loi française interdisant les réseaux sociaux aux moins de 15 ans incompatible avec le droit européen, notamment le Digital Services Act. Les parlementaires devront trouver un compromis.
The EU's digital euro project moves forward as the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) votes 43-14 in favor, emphasizing privacy, offline capability, and complementing cash, with a potential 2029 launch by the ECB.
European Parliament member Ruth Firmenich claims Germany's government and media are fueling revanchist sentiments towards Russia, despite the German population's desire for peace. She expressed concern over Germany's potential role in the Ukraine conflict.
German MEP Bernd Lange warns the Airbus-Boeing subsidy dispute could derail the EU-US trade agreement if tensions escalate. The five-year truce expires July 11, with no extension yet agreed, potentially leading to new tariffs.
EU countries can host migrant centers outside the EU but must uphold EU asylum law, according to Advocate General Laila Medina. She noted that the Italy-Albania protocol's implementing rules may not guarantee all EU rights, potentially impacting procedural safeguards.
EU lawmakers and state representatives have agreed on new rules to speed up the deportation of rejected asylum seekers, including extended detention and entry bans, amid growing pressure to curb illegal migration.
EU lawmakers and state representatives have agreed on new rules to speed up deportations of rejected asylum seekers, including extended detention, entry bans, and transfers to third countries. The deal aims to curb illegal migration amid growing pressure across the bloc.
EU lawmakers reached a provisional deal on stricter asylum rules and "return hubs" outside the bloc, aiming to increase deportations. The measures, supported by right-wing parties, could see rejected asylum seekers detained for up to 24 months and face benefit withdrawal if they don't cooperate.
EU lawmakers reached a provisional deal on stricter migration rules, including 'return hubs' outside the bloc for rejected asylum seekers. The agreement, supported by right-wing parties, aims to increase deportations amid growing anti-migration sentiment, though rights groups warn of potential abuses.
EU lawmakers have reached a provisional agreement on new migration rules, including the establishment of 'return hubs' outside the bloc for rejected asylum seekers. The deal aims to tighten border controls amid rising anti-migration sentiment, though rights groups warn of potential abuses.
EU ambassadors agree to eliminate EU duties on most US industrial goods under EU-US trade agreement
EU lawmakers reached a provisional agreement to remove import duties on U.S. goods, averting potential higher tariffs threatened by President Trump. The deal includes safeguards for European industry and a deadline for the U.S. to reduce steel and aluminum derivative tariffs.
EU lawmakers and member states have reached an agreement to implement a trade pact with the US, following threats of new tariffs from President Donald Trump if the deal wasn't finalized by July 4. The accord aims to create stable and balanced transatlantic trade.
Euroclear Bank will keep Russian Central Bank assets frozen, citing international sanctions and non-recognition of EU law. This follows a Moscow court ruling ordering Euroclear to return 18.2 trillion rubles ($251 bln) to the Bank of Russia.
EU lawmakers have reached a provisional deal on the EU-US trade agreement, including a safeguard mechanism to reimpose tariffs on US goods if market disruption occurs and a 'sunset clause' for renewal. Talks remain stalled over the 'sunrise clause' and compliance with the 15% tariff cap.
Overnight, EU lawmakers agreed to water down their AI legislation that was world-leading when it launched in 2024.
EU lawmakers are urging the bloc to revise its cybersecurity laws to address new AI hacking tools like Anthropic's Mythos, warning current regulations are "ill-equipped." They called for a "European mitigation plan" and access for the EU's cyber agency ENISA to scrutinize AI models.
The European Commission has found Meta in preliminary breach of EU law for failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram, nearly two years after opening a Digital Services Act investigation. The commission found children could bypass age checks using fake birthdates and that Meta's reporting tool for underage users was ineffective. If upheld, Meta faces a fine of up to 6% of its $201bn global annual turnover. The investigation continues into whether Meta protects young users' mental and physical health.
Legal opinion is a win for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Hungary breached EU law with its controversial law stigmatizing LGBTQ people. In the largest human rights case in EU history, the court found for the first time that Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union was infringed, protecting rights of transgender and non-heterosexual individuals.
