A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures soaring into the 40s. New weather maps show that parts of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Algeria could experience temperatures as high as 41°C this week. This extreme heat is worsening conditions in already stressed areas. Greece recently reported six tourist deaths due to record-breaking temperatures. The … Read more
A recent study by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change service has highlighted alarming trends in Europe’s climate. The continent is experiencing warming at twice the global average, with temperatures now soaring 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 2023 witnessed a record number of days with extreme heat stress, alongside a 7% increase in rainfall leading … Read more
A groundbreaking study by the European Environment Agency reveals that Europe is alarmingly unprepared for the climate risks it faces. This is the first comprehensive assessment of its kind by the EEA, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The report identifies 36 significant climate risks, with half posing severe consequences. Heat stress, floods, and the … Read more
In a recent development, messaging giant WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is set to lower its minimum age requirement across Europe, including Ireland, from 16 to 13. This change aims to establish a consistent global minimum age for users. The adjustment aligns with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), two new … Read more
On Valentine’s Day, delivery workers from major platforms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat went on strike in Dublin, joining a global movement demanding living wages. Organized by the English Language Students Union of Ireland (ELSU), the strike aimed to address the meager salaries of delivery workers. Previously earning a minimum of 4.29 … Read more
Dublin: A significant transformation is on the horizon for the European automotive industry as efforts are underway to produce and market electric vehicles (EVs) at more affordable prices. Leading car manufacturers are hinting that compact electric cars manufactured in Europe could soon be available for as low as €25,000. This development has the potential to … Read more
The Minister for Justice Simon Harris launches an awareness campaign highlighting that threatening to share intimate images of another person is a crime with potentially serious consequences. The ‘Serious Consequences’ campaign – which will run on TV, cinema, local and national radio, digital and social media – seeks to empower victims by making them aware … Read more
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined Facebook parent firm Meta €1.2 billion for violations involving the transfer of personal data from the EU to the US. It surpasses the previous record fine of €746 million, which was levied on Amazon in 2021, to become the highest EU privacy fine ever. As part of … Read more
New rules requiring airlines to use more sustainable fuels across the European Union have been agreed by negotiators from member countries and the EU Parliament in a bid to help decarbonise the sector. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said Wednesday that the deal reached by member states and the European Parliament demands that … Read more
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world economy should avoid going into recession next year, but the worst energy crisis since the 1970s will cause a sharp slowdown, with Europe being the hardest hit. The group urged central banks to keep raising interest rates as a defence against this. Global … Read more
Ireland will soon be able to practise water cremation, a novel method of final disposition also known as resomation. Water cremation is seen as an alternative to traditional fire cremation, and it has already gained popularity in the US and Canada due to it being a more environmentally friendly option for burial. As people prepare … Read more
Energy Ministers from the members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the European Commission have announced a significant increase in their collective ambition in the deployment of offshore renewable energy. At their Ministerial Meeting in Dublin, under the Irish Co-Presidency of NSEC, the NSEC ministers have – for the first time – agreed … Read more
Aer Lingus has cancelled all of its flights from Dublin Airport to the UK and Europe for the rest of the day, due to a “serious” connectivity issue with the airline’s online system. In a statement the airline company said, “Due to a major incident with a network provider, our cloud-based systems enabling check-in, boarding … Read more
Ireland has joined the EU Integrated Carbon Observation System – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ICOS-ERIC) which standardises emissions monitoring across Europe. Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, Eamon Ryan has welcomed the Government’s decision to join ICOS-ERIC. This will enable the State to consolidate and develop high-quality scientific climate measurements, so that we can … Read more
Ring, an Amazon company, has announced that it will hire its first 30 employees in Ireland. From its Amazon office in Cork, the home security business will provide about 30 technical customer support roles; however, the new workers are also permitted to work from home if they so choose. By the end of the year, … Read more