Eurotopics.net

France's Constitutional Council has blocked the social media ban for under-15s which was passed by parliament in July, ruling that it constitutes a "disproportionate infringement" on freedom of expression and communication. French President Emmanuel Macron has now asked his government to rewrite the legislation to make it "legally viable". The European press draws its own conclusions.

Jason Arday, a Cambridge professor who resigned in early August following allegations of plagiarism and inaccuracies in his biography, was found dead at his London home on Friday. In 2023, at the age of 37, the sociologist of education became the youngest Black professor to be appointed at Cambridge. University Chancellor Chris Smith condemned what he described as a 'racist feeding frenzy' prompted by the allegations against Arday.

Shortly before joint US-South Korea military exercises are due to begin, US President Donald Trump has ordered them to be scaled back, citing both the costs and his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. He said their relationship was now "very good". The media examine the implications of Washington's U-turn.

With Europe facing record temperatures, drought and wild fires, calls for concrete measures to tackle the increasingly evident effects of climate change are growing louder. In the Czech Republic, the National Coalition to Combat Drought has been reconvened, and Prime Minister Babiš has announced plans to identify sites for 20 new water reservoirs. Berlin has tabled an action plan aimed at better protecting workers and the elderly against the heat, among other measures.