The Romanian intelligence services suspect a Russian influence campaign on TikTok was behind the success of the far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election a fortnight ago. The General Prosecutor's Office is investigating the alleged attempts to manipulate the vote. A highly confusing situation ahead of the runoff election on Sunday.
One week after their surprise invasion of Aleppo, rebel groups have forced the Syrian army to withdraw from the city of Hama 130 kilometres to the south. Hama, the country's fourth-largest city, had been under the control of the Assad regime for the duration of the civil war that began in 2011. Commentators see the regime under mounting pressure.
The government in France has been ousted. The right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN) voted in favour of a motion of no confidence tabled by the left-wing opposition parties, securing a majority of MPs against the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Commentators discuss what comes next for France and President Emmanuel Macron.
For more than two years, the protection status S system has allowed refugees from Ukraine to be taken in by Switzerland in an expedited procedure. However, following Norway's example the Swiss parliament voted this week to restrict access to the protection status, stipulating that in future it will only be granted to Ukrainian refugees from occupied or disputed territories. The national press is divided.
In a surprise move, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law during a televised speech on Tuesday evening. He justified the decision by saying that the opposition sympathised with North Korea and was deliberately sabotaging his government. Just a few hours later the country's parliament voted in favour of lifting martial law, and the president subsequently withdrew it. Europe's press takes stock.
France's government is facing two no-confidence motions which are expected to be put to vote in parliament today, Wednesday. If the left-wing opposition parties and the right-wing populist RN vote against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet, President Emmanuel Macron will have to appoint a new head of government, whose parliamentary majority could again be uncertain. Commentators observe the situation with concern.
The social democratic PSD has emerged from Romania's parliamentary elections as the strongest party with 22 percent of the vote and could now form a four-way coalition with three other traditional parties. However, three right-wing populist parties together received around 32 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has approved the result of the first round of the presidential election, meaning that the far-right populist Călin Georgescu can compete in Sunday's runoff vote.
Australia has passed a law prohibiting all young people under the age of 16 from using social networks. The providers now have one year to introduce an effective age verification process, otherwise they will face fines. Similar steps are under consideration in Europe – prompting heated debate in the media.
A few weeks before the end of his term in office, US President Joe Biden has gone back on his word and pardoned his son Hunter Biden. In a statement on Sunday, the president wrote that his son had been treated unfairly and that the charges against him were politically motivated. Hunter Biden had violated gun control laws and pleaded guilty to tax offences. Europe's press takes a critical view of Biden's decision.
The Georgian government's announcement that it will suspend the EU rapprochement process has triggered widespread protest. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in recent days, while in Tbilisi there have been violent clashes between demonstrators and the security forces every night. Both socially and in its foreign policy, the country is at a crossroads.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that he would be willing to negotiate a ceasefire under certain conditions. The aim would be to pursue the 'diplomatic' liberation of the territories occupied by Russia and to place the rest of Ukraine under Nato protection, Zelensky explained in an interview. Commentators debate the significance of this statement.