Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Sasha Mezhevoy was five years old when she, her older brother and sister were sent to an orphanage in Moscow. They were told they were going to be adopted by a Russian family. But they were not orphans. They were Ukrainian children who had been forcibly removed from their father. Sasha grew up in Mariupol, the port city that endured more than 80 days of bombardment in one of the bloodiest and most destructive chapters of the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15. Such a measure would be the most sweeping step yet by a European Union nation to limit use of social media among teens and children.

Under Ukraine's constitution, elections cannot be held under martial law. That clause exists for a reason. No democracy can conduct a free and fair national vote when its territory is being actively invaded, millions of citizens are internally displaced, and enemy forces continue to occupy towns, destroy critical energy infrastructure, and deport civilians. But Kyiv has never ruled out elections.

Iceland has become the fifth county to announce it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week. Despite boycott threats from several broadcasters over Israel's actions in the war in Gaza, Israel's entry was cleared after members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) chose not to hold a vote on banning the country. Following the EBU's decision Spain, one of the so-called "Big Five" largest contributors to Eurovision, said it would boycott the 2026 event because of Israel's participation.

In its reply to the General Court, CISPE argued in a statement that Broadcom's aim to increase EBITDA by 60 to 80 percent in three years in a market growing 5-8 percent annually could only be achieved through "aggressive monetization of VMware's locked-in customer base through steep price rises and forced bundling." It thereby created "a powerful financial incentive to extract cash rapidly from VMware's installed base," CISPE said.

The single-vehicle collision took place on the N23, Lisheenbaun, Castleisland at approximately 11.40pm. The female driver and sole occupant of the car was removed from the scene to Kerry University Hospital. She remains in critical condition. The road is closed pending a technical examination to be conducted by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place via Currow Village.

Antin is a European infrastructure investor with offices in Paris, London, and New York. The company focuses on investments in sectors such as digital infrastructure, energy, transportation, and social services. In the digital domain, Antin has previously invested in data center and connectivity companies in various European countries, including a regional data center platform in the United Kingdom. This has given the company experience in scaling up colocation and network services within regulated and competitive markets.

Referring to the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the Commission said Hungary "fails to comply with requirements relating to the public service media," adding that it, "does not comply with provisions regarding interference in the work of journalists and media outlets in Hungary, restricting their economic activities and editorial freedom." A statement on the Commission's website said, "Hungarian law does not offer an adequate protection of journalistic sources and confidential communications, nor effective judicial protection when these rights are breached."

An eight-year-old boy from Wexford waited over an hour and a half for emergency services after suffering a serious injury in his home.

For years, Western Europe enjoyed a kind of monopoly on the expat imagination. Portugal had the beaches, Spain had the lifestyle, Germany had the salaries, France had the fantasy, Italy had the charm. But as 2026 approaches, a quiet shift is happening. People are discovering that the most livable, affordable, sustainable, and downright enjoyable expat life isn't in the postcard destinations - it's in the places you hear fewer people bragging about on Instagram.

The strategy of appeasement towards Donald Trump from the NATO Summit to deregulation of digital, artificial intelligence, and environmental rules, including the Turnberry tariff humiliation is not working. Concessions and accommodation have neither reduced Trump's unpredictability and hostility. On the contrary, they have deepened Europe's strategic vulnerability, have produced an unacceptable capitulation plan for Ukraine, and a political declaration of war on the EU

Tadgh and his grand-aunt Mary Holt died from their injuries after the room they were in was set alight in the "callous and murderous attack" at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry on Saturday night, December 6. The funeral mass for Tadgh from Killane Drive in Edenderry will take place tomorrow at midday in St Mary's Church in Edenderry, followed by burial in St Mary's cemetery.

Portugal is bracing for a widespread impact nationally from its first general strike in 12 years, as unions urge action against the centre-right minority government's planned workers' rights reforms. Heavy disruption is expected for public transport, schools, courts and hospitals on Thursday, as workers protest against a draft law aiming to simplify firing procedures, extend the length of fixed-term contracts and expand the minimum services required during a strike.

Joining forces with REEN is a defining step for both companies. Together, we can scale faster, serve customers better, and lead the transformation of how cities and companies manage resources.

Almost a year ago now, the couple began the ascent of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3,798 m or 12,461 ft), via its southwest ridge a long, complex route with sections that are especially treacherous in winter. They began their ascent at 6:45 a.m., and shortly after 1:00 p.m. they were less than 250 meters from the summit. At that point, coinciding with the most difficult section of the route, their progress stalled, and nightfall soon overtook them.