Switzerland has unveiled Apertus, its first fully open-source multilingual large language model, positioning the Alpine nation as a challenger to American and Chinese AI dominance with a privacy-focused alternative built for transparency and regulatory compliance. The announcement on September 2 marks a milestone in the global AI race, as Switzerland joins the growing movement toward … Read more
As far as I observe, most Turkish commentators on social media were interested in the diplomatic power play. Public interpretation of this photo centers on its strong symbolism in international relations and current events. Here are the main themes: Showcase of Western Unity: The image is widely discussed as a message of unity and coordinated … Read more
Exploring Europe’s Decline in Tech Dominance and the Factors Behind Its Absence in the Global Digital Landscape. 00:05 Europe’s absence in global tech is striking despite its historical contributions. – Most top websites are American, with only Yandex and Naver as notable exceptions, indicating a lack of European presence. – Historically, Europe led tech … Read more
For whatever reason, it is good to hear about this, as Gazans are subjected to mass starvation. France’s decision—announced by President Emmanuel Macron—to recognize the State of Palestine has sparked significant criticism and debate on the international stage: Israel and the United States have been the most vocal critics. Israel strongly condemned the decision, interpreting … Read more
Denmark is pioneering groundbreaking legislation that would grant citizens copyright protection over their own body, face, and voice to combat the rising threat of AI-generated deepfakes12. This represents the first law of its kind in Europe and marks a significant shift in how personal identity rights are protected in the digital age34. Legislative Details and … Read more
In May 2025, a video clip of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a diplomatic train journey to Kyiv became the centerpiece of a viral disinformation campaign. The claim: the leaders were caught with cocaine on the table, attempting to hide evidence of drug use. … Read more
As Turkey ranks 21st from the bottom in the press freedom index, the European Parliament issued a statement in early May 2025: Latest European Parliament Statement on Turkey’s EU Membership Process The European Parliament made a new and significant statement regarding Turkey’s EU accession process in early May 2025. This statement came in the form of … Read more
In a major legal and political development, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, has classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an extremist threat. This designation follows years of investigation and a detailed 1,100-page report outlining serious concerns over the party’s ideology, rhetoric, and actions. Germany’s decision to classify the Alternative for Germany … Read more
Electricity has been restored to nearly all of Spain and Portugal following the massive blackout that began on Monday, April 28, 2025. By early Tuesday morning, power grid operators in both countries confirmed that supply was back to normal or near-normal levels. Summary of the Incident On April 28, 2025, Spain and Portugal experienced one … Read more
The protests in Serbia, particularly the recent rally in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, have been described as the largest in the country’s history. The demonstrations were sparked by the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 15 people and is widely attributed to government corruption and … Read more
European Alternatives is a project by Constantin Graf that collects and analyzes European alternatives to digital services and products, such as cloud services and SaaS products. We regularly receive advice and suggestions from European Alternatives users, so feel free to reach out! Read more here Here is the growing list of alternatives categories.
In the last week, the U.S. government has taken several significant measures against the Zelensky government in Ukraine: Suspension of Military Aid: Following a heated Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the U.S. halted all military assistance to Ukraine. This decision affects hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons … Read more
The US is breaking up with its allies… Economists and experts overwhelmingly disagree with President Trump’s tariff policies, citing numerous negative consequences for the U.S. economy and consumers123: Economic Impact Inflation: Most economists believe the tariffs will increase inflation and slow economic growth1. Consumer Costs: The typical U.S. household is expected to face over $1,200 … Read more
Europe declares strongly its support to Ukraine125. The European Union (EU) and its 27 member states have provided unprecedented assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion. This support encompasses several key areas: Financial Aid The EU and its member states have made available close to $145 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee … Read more
Russian agents could not better! This is a good summary of the recent past: Here is a recap of the Ukraine situation, for those choosing to reject propaganda and continue seeking truth: December 1994, Ukraine agrees to give up its nuclear arsenal in return for security guarantees from the US, UK, France, China and Russia. … Read more