Eurotopics.net

Several countries are once again reacting to surging Covid infections with drastic restrictions. This is exacerbating social tensions between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, as well as between supporters and opponents of new lockdowns. Commentators from Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Spain, which is unusually united on this issue, have their say.

Several journalists covering the far right are facing intimidation attempts in France. A StreetPress writer received death threats after writing about armed supporters of Eric Zemmour and a Mediapart journalist was attacked several times by far-right Youtubers after reporting on Zemmour's links to the far right. Does Paris need to do more to stop attacks against press freedom?

The trial of 24 aid workers in Greece who worked for a humanitarian NGO on Lesbos has been adjourned only shortly after it began on Thursday. The aid workers are facing charges of human trafficking, money laundering and espionage. The climate in the country has also worsened for other activists such as sea rescue coordinator Iasonas Apostolopoulos.

Citing human rights abuses, the US is considering not sending an official delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, although US athletes would still be allowed to compete. Europe's press is also alarmed by the disappearance of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai after she made allegations of abuse against a former high-ranking Chinese politician.

Scepticism prevails shortly before the 26th UN World Climate Conference which begins on Sunday in Glasgow. According to a new UN report the world's governments plan to produce twice as much oil, gas and coal by 2030 as the Paris Agreement allows. Commentaries in European media are also filled with fatalism, but there are still those who see potential for success.