Germany creates centralised council to improve security planning
The German government on Wednesday approved the creation of a permanent National Security Council aimed at strengthening the country’s medium- and l...
U.S. diplomats have been ordered to campaign against the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the law stifles free speech and imposes costs on American tech firms.
The directive, dated 4 August and seen by Reuters, instructs U.S. embassies across Europe to lobby national governments and regulators to repeal or amend the DSA, a landmark EU law requiring tech firms to tackle illegal online content such as hate speech and child sexual abuse material.
Signed by Secretary Rubio, the State Department cable describes the DSA as “undue” and a threat to free expression, particularly for American users and businesses. It also directs diplomats to report cases of censorship affecting U.S. citizens or companies.
“Posts should focus efforts to build host government and other stakeholder support to repeal and/or amend the DSA,” the cable said, citing concerns about overly broad definitions of “illegal content” and financial penalties.
The European Commission has rejected accusations of censorship and said the DSA is not under discussion in trade negotiations with Washington.
“Our legislation will not be changed. The DMA and the DSA are not on the table,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in March.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have criticised the DSA publicly, claiming it suppresses conservative voices. In February, Vance met with Germany’s far-right AfD party and accused the EU of democratic backsliding.
The cable reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to export what it describes as “America’s free-speech tradition,” a stance that has caused friction with European allies.
Tech firms including Meta and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have also raised concerns about the DSA, with some calling its content moderation rules incompatible with U.S. free speech protections.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced on Tuesday that municipalities affected by 113 wildfires this summer have been officially designated as emergency areas.
The German government on Wednesday approved the creation of a permanent National Security Council aimed at strengthening the country’s medium- and long-term security planning.
Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman who was killed Monday at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, had spent months capturing the daily hardships of civilians while living in a makeshift tent and struggling to provide for his family.
More than 100,000 people in Ukraine are without electricity after Russian forces carried out extensive overnight drone attacks on energy and gas transport infrastructure across six regions, causing significant damage in Poltava, Chernihiv and Sumy on Wednesday.
Head of the Catholic church Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged the global community to push for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, calling for the release of hostages and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment