Eurotopics.net

Campaigners for a free Internet suffered a defeat in the US on Thursday. The country's top media regulator, the Federal Communications Commission, voted to dismantle the strict rules that ensure that all data is treated equally on the web. Commentators look at what the abolishment of net neutrality means.

With the votes of the Social Democratic and liberal ruling parties the Romanian House of Deputies has approved a controversial judicial reform. The EU has criticised the amendments for endangering the independence of the judges and giving corrupt parliamentarians immunity from prosecution. The vote in the Senate is scheduled for next week. Romania's media are already incensed.

The British parliament has secured the right to have a say on the Brexit deal. On Wednesday a majority of MPs voted in favour of an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill to this effect - against the government's will. Is this a bitter defeat for Prime Minister Theresa May, or is she secretly delighted?

On a visit to Syria on Monday President Putin announced plans to withdraw most of Russia's soldiers from the country, pointing out that the Russian and Syrian army had jointly destroyed most of the terrorists in Syria. Soldiers will remain stationed at the air base in Hmeymim and the naval facility in Tartus. What does the announcement mean for the region?

Israeli flags were burned and anti-Semitic slogans chanted at protests in Berlin against US President Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. In Gothenburg masked youths hurled burning objects at a synagogue, although no one was injured. Commentators warn of widespread, deep-rooted anti-Semitism.