Argentinian programmer Roni Bandini created a device called 'Reggaeton Be Gone' to silence his neighbor's loud reggaeton music. The machine uses AI to detect the music and sends signals to the speaker to turn it off. Bandini shared his invention in a viral video, explaining the process and materials used. Despite the commercial potential, he has no plans to mass-produce the device.

Digital rights organizations, led by European Digital Rights (EDRi), have called for increased transparency and civil society involvement in the EU's High-Level Group on access to data for law enforcement. The group, launched in June 2023, aims to discuss law enforcement tools in the digital age but operates behind closed doors, raising concerns about privacy and online security. EDRi criticized the concept of 'security by design' and the rejection of their participation in the group. The European Commission responded by highlighting the HLG's diversity and plans to host an event for civil society input in February.

The German architecture firm Büro Ole Scheeren has been selected to design Tencent's new global headquarters in Shenzhen, featuring a futuristic complex called Tencent Helix. The design includes four towers emerging from a spiral-shaped base, symbolizing rapid growth. The campus, nearly twice the size of Apple Park, will host 23,000 workers and integrate various facilities like recreational areas, a health club, and collaborative offices. The project emphasizes merging technology with societal needs, featuring intelligent design principles for efficiency and simplicity.

Bourges, a small city in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2028. Known for its annual Printemps de Bourges music festival, the city plans to focus on environmental sustainability, with Mayor Yann Galut emphasizing the use of trains over planes and the reuse of abandoned spaces. Bourges was selected over other French cities like Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier, and Rouen. The European Capitals of Culture programme, initiated in 1985, aims to showcase cultural richness and promote shared values across Europe. The selection process involves a pre-selection and final selection by independent experts, with cities required to present a cultural programme with a strong European dimension and long-term impact.

Baldur's Gate 3, developed by Belgian company Larian Studios, won six awards at The Game Awards 2023, including game of the year. Alan Wake II by Finnish studio Remedy secured three awards, while Denmark's Geometric Interactive won best debut indie game for Cocoon. Other notable winners included Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Armored Core VI, Street Fighter 6, and Forza Motorsport. The event also featured announcements of new projects and game versions, including a teaser from Hideo Kojima and SEGA's revival of classic games.

The Game Awards 2023, now the most anticipated annual event in the video game industry following the cancellation of E3, will announce winners across 31 categories, including the coveted Game of the Year (GOTY). This year's contenders for GOTY include Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, and a remake of Resident Evil 4. The event will be streamed live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and can be watched for free on various platforms.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense is monitoring the island's surroundings in response to what it calls 'irrational activities' by the Chinese military. Despite not wanting to escalate the situation, Taiwan affirms its stance on the island's security and sovereignty. Professor Alessio Patalano from King's College London's War Studies Department suggests that China's military exercises aim to instill fear of inevitable reunification through hard power. He warns that prolonged exercises could significantly disrupt navigation and Taiwan's economy, especially since missiles are landing near major Taiwanese ports.

Paris maintains its iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Quai Branly Museum cool during summer using Europe's largest urban cooling system, managed by Fraicheur de Paris. The system, spanning 89 kilometers of underground pipes, utilizes cold water from the River Seine. It's noted for its sustainability, potentially reducing urban heat island effect and city temperatures by one degree. The Louvre has been benefiting from this network since the 90s, enjoying ecological and economic advantages. A plan to triple the network's size by 2042 aims to extend its reach to hospitals, schools, and metro stations to combat the effects of global warming on Parisians.

The debate over Spain's proposed law to abolish prostitution has reignited discussions on the best model to protect sex workers, predominantly women. Spain looks to the 'Nordic model,' which penalizes clients to reduce demand. Germany, where sex work is legal, will review its laws by July 2025. The EU faces a challenge with human trafficking and forced prostitution, with the European Commission recognizing it as gender-based violence. The European Parliament's 2014 resolution views prostitution as contrary to human dignity and gender equality. Models across the EU vary, with Sweden, France, and Ireland following the Nordic model, providing social assistance to sex workers. Germany and the Netherlands represent the regulatory model, with Germany requiring sex workers to register and the Netherlands lifting brothel bans in 2000. The effectiveness of these models is debated, with some advocating for the Nordic model and others criticizing it for failing to protect sex workers.