justice – ASCRIBE

The Elkem Silicones plant in Lyon’s Chemical Valley, a site of a deadly explosion and now at the center of a major safety overhaul.

Lyon’s Chemical Valley Shock: Elkem Silicones Explosion Sparks Safety Overhaul

The blast at Elkem Silicones’ pilot workshop in Saint‑Fons on 22 December 2025 sent shockwaves through Europe’s “chemical valley” and forced more than 100 000 residents to shelter in place. Four workers were hurt,…

Mathieu Roussel December 27, 2025

A cleaning worker in France, whose wages may be at risk due to subcontractor failures, performs her duties in a well-lit, tidy home environment.

Politics

Unpaid Cleaning Workers: The Untold Story Behind France’s Subcontracting Crisis

Cleaners across France are waking up to a nightmare that reads like a script for a dystopian drama: their paychecks vanish, overtime disappears and, when the subcontractor that hired them…

Ana Beltrán December 21, 2025

Elite male sprinters from around the world compete in a symbolic showdown over fairness and inclusion in sports, a central issue in the legal battle surrounding trans athletes like Halba Diouf.

Politics

Trans Athletes Fight for Fair Play: The Halba Diouf Court Battle

Halba Diouf, the 23‑year‑old French sprinter who burst onto the national scene with a 100‑metre dash that hinted at Olympic promise, is now front‑and‑centre of Europe’s most contentious sporting lawsuit. In…

Tom O’Rourke December 17, 2025

These ubiquitous plastic water bottles are at the center of a major scandal in France, revealing deceptive labeling, environmental harm, and a troubling cost to consumers.

Politics

Bottled‑Water Scandal Rocks France – Who’s Really Paying the Price?

The Perrier plant in Vergèze has been forced to halt operations after a prefectural notice exposed a breach of wastewater‑treatment limits, reigniting a long‑running dispute over whether the iconic brand…

Mathieu Roussel December 16, 2025

Workers in a Shein factory assemble garments under the glow of fluorescent lights, highlighting the labor behind Europe's low-cost fashion.

Politics

Inside Shein’s Chinese Sweatshops – How Low‑Cost Fashion Exploits European Consumers

Shein’s ultra‑cheap dresses are stitched on 14‑hour shifts, with no weekends and salaries of barely €500 a month – a reality that European shoppers rarely see behind the glossy Instagram…

Mathieu Roussel December 13, 2025

The Spanish bank Plus Ultra, at the center of a major EU money-laundering probe, is pictured in its opulent, illuminated headquarters.

Business

Spanish Bank Plus Ultra Under Probe – Money‑Laundering Scandal Hits EU Finance

Investigators have opened a formal probe into Plus Ultra’s alleged misuse of EU rescue funds, linking the airline’s €50 million COVID‑19 aid to a web of shell companies that funnel money to…

Mathieu Roussel December 12, 2025