Eurotopics.net

The term "cancel culture" has become a buzzword in public debate. It refers to systematic damage to the reputation of persons who express unpopular positions, resulting in the restriction of freedom of opinion. While some commentators fear that "cancel culture" could have a devastating impact, others question whether it even exists.

The outcome after the presidential election in Belarus is still completely open: the mass protests are continuing, there are strikes in factories, but President Lukashenko has given no indication that he is willing to offer the opposition concessions, much less step down. Nonetheless many European media are already focusing on how things could develop in Belarus once his era is over.

When the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic engulfed Europe, the EU states responded individually and without coordination. Many countries opted for more or less strict lockdowns, while others didn't impose any lockdown. Borders were closed. The free movement of persons and goods came to a halt. Journalists warn that such a chaotic scenario must be avoided at all cost.

The key matches of the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League football tournament are currently taking place in Lisbon, albeit under special conditions due to the pandemic: all matches from the quarter-finals onwards will take place within just a few days without spectators and at the same venue, and the contest between two teams will be decided in a single match, as in the World Cup. Commentators discuss the future of this format.