Eurotopics.net

According to research by The Citizen Lab think tank, the mobile phones of more than 60 Catalan separatists were tapped between 2017 and 2020. The Israeli spyware Pegasus was allegedly used, as reported in The New Yorker. The junior government partner Unidas Podemos is demanding that the Socialists, who have been in government since 2018, set up a parliamentary investigation. Who bears the responsibility here?

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared on Tuesday that the large-scale military operation against eastern Ukraine marked the beginning of a "new phase" in the war. The Russian forces are stepping up their attacks, the situation in the embattled port city of Mariupol is dramatic. Commentators debate anxiously over whether this new stage could involve nuclear weapons.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised in the House of Commons for his mistakes during lockdown. People "have a right to expect better of their prime minister", he said on Tuesday. The MPs will vote on Thursday on whether to set up an investigation committee. Europe's press comments.

Tesla founder Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter and has made an offer of 43 billion dollars. Prior to this he made himself the online platform's biggest shareholder by purchasing 9.2 percent of its stock. The billionaire has repeatedly criticised Twitter for restricting freedom of expression. Commentators are concerned for the platform's future.