Abusive men in England and Wales will walk free from court under a new sentencing policy that flies in the face of ministers’ claims to take domestic violence seriously, an independent government watchdog has said.more
Kerbside collections for small electrical goods such as toasters and hairdryers could be rolled out across the UK from 2026 under government proposals to boost recycling.more
Fireworks and firecrackers will be banned in many cities on New Year's Eve. Throughout Germany, the ban on pyrotechnics applies all year round near places such as churches, hospitals, orphanages and nursing homes, as well as thatched houses, reports dpa.more
A new National Council of Police Chiefs (NPCC) guidance says officers should prioritise attending the scene of a domestic break-in within an hour of the report, increasing the chances of solving the case.more
In California, which has struggled for decades to provide over 39 million residents with access to potable water, water recycling is nothing new. The Ontario Reign hockey team uses treated wastewater to make ice for its rink, the Soda Springs ski resort uses it to make snow on its slopes, and farmers in the California Valley use it to irrigate their fields. more
The amount at which theft ceases to be a misdemeanor and becomes a crime increased in October this year. from PLN 500 to PLN 800. The Polish Association of Employers Ochrona claims that the new regulations may result in an increase in shoplifting, especially around Christmas.more
The British Ministry of Home Affairs withdrew from the - announced at the beginning of December - and causing great controversy - raising by more than one hundred percent the income threshold required for Britons to be able to bring a foreign family member.more
Officials from the government's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have officially banned one of Rimmel London's advertisements. The reason was the cosmetics manufacturer's suggestions that young girls need makeup to be successful.more
The Irish Government announced yesterday that it had lodged a complaint against the UK under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to a law that allows for an amnesty for offenders committed for political motives during the Northern Ireland conflict.more
The Greek Parliament voted yesterday to amend the law so that illegal immigrants will be able to apply for a three-year residence and work permit, the Kathimerini portal reported. The government of Kyriakos Micotakis wants to solve the country's labour shortage in this way.more
The Minister of Agriculture, Piet Adema, proposes to introduce a mandatory course for anyone who wants to buy a dog. The head of the Ministry of Agriculture informed the lower house of parliament (Tweede camera) about this initiative.more
A US computer scientist has lost a case in the UK Supreme Court concerning the registration of patents on inventions created by his artificial intelligence system. This is the first case in the UK relating to whether artificial intelligence can have patent rights.more
A new EU digital border system that will require fingerprints and facial scans to be taken from British travellers on first use is expected to launch next autumn, according to reports.
The entry/exit system (EES) is earmarked to start on 6 October 2024, according to the i and Times newspapers, citing Getlink, the owner of Eurotunnel. The Guardian has contacted Getlink for comment.more
Teachers in England do not have to comply with requests from students who claim to be of a different gender than their biological gender, and parents must generally be informed by schools if their children question their gender identity, according to guidance published today.more
The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings in which it will assess whether the "X" platform (formerly Twitter) violated the Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to respond to illegal terrorist and manipulative content appearing on it.more
Rishi Sunak is considering limiting social media access for teenagers under the age of 16 to try to protect them from online harm, with reports suggesting a potential ban is on the cards.more
The Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced the extension of stationary controls at Germany's borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland for three months - until 15 March. These controls are an effective measure in the fight against people smugglers and illegal migration, justified the head of the German Interior Ministry Nancy Faeser (SPD).more
James Cleverly’s package of policies, aimed at bringing about “the biggest ever reduction in net migration”, has provoked a widespread backlash in short-staffed sectors across the economy. Here are some of its potential implications.more
Labour mayor of London Sadiq Khan has blocked a plan to send cars to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped on the grounds that they do not meet London's emissions standards, the 'Daily Telegraph' revealed on Saturday.more
With tougher penalties in the fight against gangs, Sweden needs to triple the number of prison places over the next 10 years. The government in Stockholm is looking for alternative solutions, so it is considering, among other things, renting cells abroad and putting convicted people on ships.more
Sadiq Khan has warned that the Government’s changes to migration rules could cause a “full-blown recruitment crisis” in vital sectors of London’s economy.more
Britain's Prince Harry won the lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of, among others, tabloid "Daily Mirror". A court in London today found that newspapers published by MGN tapped his and other celebrities' phones and awarded Harry 140,600. pounds compensation.more
Human rights report also identifies over 90 worker deaths in different sectors around the world in the past year mainly linked to health and safety breaches.more