Eurotopics.net

After announcing in mid-December that he would withdraw US troops from Syria, Trump has now partially back-pedalled. The plan has met with massive opposition from his government and prompted Defense Secretary James Mattis to tender his resignation. Now Trump apparently wants to delay the withdrawal and reach an agreement with other countries. The president's zigzag course has commentators shaking their heads.

Robert Habeck, leader of The Greens in Germany, has deleted his Facebook and Twitter accounts. He explained the decision saying that Twitter made him "more aggressive, louder, more polemic and more exaggerated" than he cares to be. He also said he wanted to better protect his data, as he had also been a victim of the recent major hacker attack. Commentators discuss his move.

The Lithuanian parliament is currently debating a proposal put forward by the Radio and Television Commission aimed at banning information deemed to be damaging for the state. The way in which such content is being defined has commentators alarmed.

The US and China are making a fresh attempt to settle their trade dispute. A US delegation will be in Beijing for talks on Monday and Tuesday. Who is hardest hit by the trade war: Beijing, Washington or uninvolved third parties?

A major hacker attack against hundreds of German politicians and public figures became public on Friday. The authorities have confirmed that their phone numbers, addresses, copies of tenancy agreements and voice messages were posted online via Twitter. This sets alarm bells ringing for journalists.