This briefing paper analyses the protection offered by the Sale of Goods Directive, the Digital Content Directive, the Ecodesign Regulation, the Unfair Contract Terms Directive and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive against abandonware. Abandonware pertains to the situation where consumers’ use of goods with digital elements, digital content or digital services depends on their interaction with a trader’s network or services, and such interaction is discontinued or changed by the trader or the third party. As a result, the consumers are no longer able to properly make use of the goods with digital elements, digital content or digital services they have purchased. In addition, the paper considers policy options for amendments to the abovementioned legal instruments. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

[allAfrica] The UK government has confirmed sweeping reductions to its bilateral aid programme. Nine African countries are set to lose more than 80% of direct British assistance by 2029 as overseas development spending is cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income.

Papua New Guinea will close Taiwan's trade mission in the country, freezing out its fifth largest trading partner in a major strategic move designed to reaffirm ties with China.

The Bank of Dave hero has called for the return of his bin after he watched council workers toss it in their truck and hastily drive away.

The leading candidates to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee to challenge Sen. Susan Collins are presenting themselves as fighters in his mold and calling for ICE to be abolished.

Compared with May, exports rose by 5%

Yana Lantratova stressed that service to the Fatherland and responsibility for the fate of the country are among Russia’s traditional spiritual and moral values

If signed by the Russian president, the law will take effect on September 1, 2026

Nikita Poturayev believes that such a move could lead to the defeat of Ukrainian forces

The Kornet ATGM is extensively used by the Russian military

The victim, in her 40s, reported being touched on her bottom over her clothing by a man while she was in the sea.

The devastated parents of a toddler (pictured) who was killed by a Bulgarian migrant in a shocking car crash have revealed their heartbreak 15 months on from his death.

The Ukrainian property tycoon who was targeted in a bombing in Monaco has accused Kyiv 's military intelligence agency of being responsible for the attack.

The Makerfield MP will hark back to a time before the 'wrong turns' of the 1980s as his 'coronation' at the top of the party concludes.

Courtney Gartshore, 28, sobbed as she was led to the cells at the High Court in Aberdeen after being convicted of killing three-month-old Dahlia-Rose in September 2023.

Thames Water this week revealed it paid more than £4million in bonuses to its top officers. This would barely seem fair if Thames Water was doing its job properly. But it is not.

We hear a lot about infertility, miscarriage and stillbirth, but less about when a rainbow baby is born, only to then pass away. I want to be a voice for parents like me.

[allAfrica]

Kendall Jenner, Molly-Mae Hague, Nicole Kidman and Maya Jama have all appeared on Adanola's billboards in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Rachael Maskell became the first Left-wing backbencher to publicly criticise his potential choice and back Energy Secretary Ed Miliband instead.

Disappointed families' long-planned trips have been thrown into chaos after Network Rail imposed the ban amid fears of trackside fires during the ongoing heatwave.

The rise of influencers is surely the scourge of our times. They're undisciplined and unmonitored, sailing their little ships of personal greed upon a bubbling ocean of freebies.

There was a power outage at England's team hotel three days before the Argentina game. In hindsight, it became an unfortunate metaphor.

The Russian foreign ministry described Azerbaijan as Moscow’s important partner in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko pointed out that African countries «reject the diktat of their former colonial powers and any neocolonial ambitions pursued by the West»

Moscow's Permanent Representative to the organization Vladimir Tarabrin expressed hope that the parties would be able «to reach common ground and resolve all issues»