Eurotopics.net

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Iran not to interfere in Lebanon or impede the efforts to form a new government. And German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called for extensive reforms to make foreign investment possible during a visit to Beirut. What conditions are needed to ensure a successful fresh start for the country?

Russia has become the first country to approve a vaccine against the coronavirus for general use. Sputnik V is effective and offers sustainable immunity, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday. Scientific data on the vaccine has yet to be released. Journalists point to flaws in the test procedure and complain that the assessment of the vaccine does not focus on product quality.

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left Belarus for Lithuania on Wednesday. Before her departure she had tried to lodge a complaint with the election commission in Minsk against the official election results and was detained for seven hours. Commentators discuss what this means for the opposition movement in Belarus and call on Europe to adopt a clear stance.

Calm has not returned to Lebanon even after the government's resignation on Monday. In a speech made shortly before stepping down, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the political system was partially responsible for the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut. Observers expect the protests to continue and warn of the risks of radical reforms.