Eurotopics.net

A school in Stäfa in the Swiss canton of Zurich was forced this week to cancel its annual Gender Day, which features discussions about role models and equality and had been held for ten years. After politicians from the right-wing conservative Swiss People's Party (SVP) publicly criticised the event, a wave of threats and abuse in the media ensued. Commentators complain about the increasingly aggressive tone of public debate.

As part of an austerity package the Czech government has more than doubled the VAT on printed newspapers, bringing it up to 21 percent from the previous 10 percent. Publishers fear that this will mean the end for these newspapers. Commentators criticise the measure as a declaration of defeat in the fight against misinformation.

Because neither candidate won an absolute majority in the first round of the Turkish presidential elections, a run-off vote will be held on 28 May. In the first round incumbent Erdoğan (49.5 percent) beat opposition candidate Kılıçdaroğlu (44.9 percent). The ultra-nationalist Sinan Oğan, whose voters could now tip the balance, garnered 5.2 percent of the vote. Europe's press sees the chances of a change of government receding into the distance.

Europe wants lead the way in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI): around two years after the EU Commission presented its Artificial Intelligence Act, parliamentary committees are calling for tighter regulations such as a ban on face and emotion recognition systems. A step in the right direction?

For several days now speculation has been rife that Alexander Lukashenka could be seriously and perhaps even fatally ill. The Belarusian leader was visibly ailing at the celebrations in Moscow on 9 May, after which he wasn't seen for almost a week. Then on Monday he visited an air force installation, looking pale and speaking very quietly. Commentators wonder what would happen if he was gone.