As the European Commission prepares to simplify digital rules with a new omnibus plan due to be presented on Wednesday, Berlin pulled out the red carpet in a glitzy summit dedicated to digital sovereignty.

“I’m very curious about what tomorrow will bring. Hopefully it’s a big bold step in the right direction,” said German Minister for Digital Transformation Karsten Wildberger on a panel at the Berlin gathering.

The European Commission has been working for months on a new proposal to “simplify” rules, reduce administrative burden for companies, in particular SMEs, which struggle to comply with complex EU rules, to keep talent in Europe and stay competitive in a global race.

The Commission, supported by France and Germany, hopes that the digital simplification plan that will be announced on Wednesday, after months of negotiations, will “save billions of euros and boost innovation”.

Still, the push text has been met with scepticism among the progressive forces of the European Parliament and civil society, citing a dismantling of protections.

The text proposes amending the rules on data protection and the recently adopted AI Act.

According to a draft version, the rules for “high-risk AI systems”, AI technologies used for sensitive purposes such as analysing CVs, evaluating school exams or loan applications, which were originally scheduled to take effect in August 2026, are now expected to be delayed until December 2027. The European Commission cites difficulties in establishing the necessary standards as the reason for the postponement.

Under the original text, the classification of the system as “high-risk” would have been evaluated by a national authority. The leaked draft, which is still to be officially approved, suggests that this provision would now be replaced by a simple self-assessment, potentially weakening the safeguards intended to ensure compliance with the rules.

Anne Le Hénanff, French minister for AI and digital affairs, said during the Berlin summit that she supports the postponement.

“The AI Act now comes with too many uncertainties. These uncertainties are slowing our own ability to innovate,” Le Hénanff said. “The United States and China are leading the way in the AI race. We simply cannot afford to hinder our companies’ ability to innovate.”

Germany’s Wildberger said that his country also supports a delay, adding that “it’s important to continue this conversation because the world is moving so fast that we have to continuously rework the rules.”

Wildberger said he prefers a “learn-by-mistakes” approach.

“We do not rule out ex ante all the risks. Let’s first build the products, and then take very seriously how these products work – that they are safe, that we have the right processes in place,” he added.

Resistance from the Parliament to open damaging Pandora’s box

Still, members of the European Parliament fear that the Commission’s proposal will open “pandora’s box”, increase risks for consumers and ultimately benefit US Big Tech.

MEPs consulted by Euronews who did not wish to be named as the Commission’s plan is not yet official and talks are ongoing.

They suggested Big Tech companies have been dragging their feet to avoid complying with the current rules and have paid more than ever in lobbying.

Members of the European Parliament from political groups ranging from the traditional majority, which includes The Left and centrist-liberal Renew, have already signalled their intention to vote against the proposal.

Other provisions include exemptions from reporting obligations for smaller companies, or the delay in the labelling of AI-generated content until 2027. Recently, deep fakes created with AI disturbed the Irish presidential elections with viral AI video depicting a fake version the presidential candidate Catherine Connolly saying she was withdrawing from the race.

Another part of the omnibus focuses on simplifying the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It aims to make it easier to access data for training AI models, reduce the number of cookies displayed to users, and harmonise GDPR implementation across all member states. At present, national authorities interpret data protection obligations differently, which can lead to inconsistencies.

Online rights advocates believe that the omnibus overreaches its mandate to the point of undermining fundamental rights.

A letter signed by three major NGOs and addressed to Commissioner Henna Virkkunen reads, “the legislative changes now contemplated go far beyond mere simplification. They would deregulate core elements of the GDPR, the e-Privacy framework and AI Act, significantly reducing established protections.”

On Wednesday, the Commission will also launch a “digital fitness check” to examine how effective existing digital rules, such as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, are, and explore areas where overlaps may be happening. This could prompt another wave of simplification from the Commission.

“We are going to have a deeper dive into our regulation also, and after that we will also propose the next simplification effort,” said Commissioner Virkkunen.

Sinclair, which owns and/or operates 185 television stations in 85 markets, has disclosed that it has taken an 8.2% equity stake in E.W. Scripps, with an eye toward acquiring the local broadcaster.

In a Monday filing with the Securities Exchange Commission, Sinclair reported it has picked up what amounts to $15.6 million in Scripps’ Class A common stock on the open market. The acquisitions were made “in contemplation of a possible combination with the issuer.”

In the same document, Sinclair went on to state that it has been “engaged in constructive discussions with [Scripps] for several months regarding a potential combination of the two companies.” Should an agreement be reached, Sinclair believes that a “transaction could be completed within nine to 12 months.”

Sinclair believes that a buyout of Scripps could unlock some $300 million in synergies. A takeover would add another 61 stations in 41 markets to Sinclair’s local TV portfolio.

Scripps also owns the Ion TV network, which in June hammered out a multiyear extension of its deal to carry Friday night WNBA games. Ion began partnering with the WNBA in 2023, inking a three-year pact worth $40 million. In the last month, Ion has averaged 549,000 viewers per day, making it the fifth-biggest broadcast draw behind NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox.

In addition to its WNBA slate, Ion also airs Saturday night NWSL doubleheaders.

Shortly after Sinclair filed its Schedule 13D form with the SEC, Scripps responded with a statement in which it emphasized that its board “will take all steps appropriate to protect the company and the company’s shareholders from the opportunistic actions of Sinclair or anyone else.”

Scripps went on to note that its board “has and will continue to evaluate any transactions and other alternatives that would enhance the value of the company and would be in the best interest of all company shareholders.”

The Sinclair gambit comes on the heels of Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of rival Tegna. While that deal awaits regulatory approval, FCC chairman Brendan Carr appears poised to eliminate or otherwise relax the legacy regulations that prohibit any station group from owning a portfolio that reaches more than 39% of all U.S. TV households. A review of the cap is currently underway.

Investors were bullish on the announcement, as shares of Scripps closed Monday up 39.87% to $4.28. On Friday, the stock closed at $3.06. Sinclair ended Monday’s trading up 4.91% to $16.87.

Sinclair owned the Bally Sports-branded suite of RSNs from August 2019 until late 2022, when subsidiary Diamond Sports Group moved to block its parent company from having any further say over the day-to-day operation of the channels.

Britons’ anxiety about climate change plays a big role in many mental health struggles among the country’s youth and can trigger guilt about having children, a new report has claimed.

The report by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also suggests that yoga and visiting “climate cafés” could help stave off this “eco-anxiety” and build emotional resilience in times of change.

“An awareness of climate and environmental change can also lead to emotional or psychological responses, such as eco-anxiety,” it reads, defining the term as distress caused by the threat of climate change.

The authors also reference “solastalgia,” which is the sorrow people feel when their familiar environments are degraded by environmental change.

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According to the UKHSA, reactions like this are not irrational but are natural responses to a destabilized world.

The data shown in the report, the Climate change and mental health: thematic assessment, also indicates that many young Britons are struggling with the psychological weight of environmental collapse.

For example, nearly 40 percent of survey respondents said that climate change made them hesitant to have children, citing fears about future safety, resources and quality of life.

“There is evidence that eco-anxiety is influencing reproductive choices for some individuals, as 39% of UK survey respondents described that climate change made them feel hesitant to have children due to concerns over the children’s future quality of life,” the report states.

In response to these findings, the UKHSA went on to recommend activities that promote community connection and resilience.

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“Participating in group and community-based activities, including yoga, citizen science, and climate cafés, was associated with reduced psychological distress,” the report notes.

The report has not escaped criticism, with Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, accusing the UK government of institutionalizing climate hysteria.

“The UK’s embrace of fringe terms like ‘eco-anxiety’ and ‘solastalgia’ shows how deeply climate propaganda has seeped into official policy,” he told the National Review.

Isaac argues that these are not legitimate medical conditions but rather the result of fear-driven messaging that makes people feel guilty about prosperity and family life.

“No climate café or government program will solve a mental health crisis created by the Left’s own apocalyptic narrative,” he added.

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Similarly, Bill Gates, also took a step away from climate alarmism and said he thinks climate change and global warming are both issues that “will not lead to humanity’s demise.”

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Despite the controversy, the UKHSA maintains that addressing the psychological effects of climate change is essential to public health.