Eurotopics.net

Voting in Russia's parliamentary elections began on Friday morning. Over the course of three days, voters will elect the 450 members of the Duma, 39 regional parliaments and eleven governors. It is already taken for granted that the ruling United Russia party will emerge as the winner. Yabloko, the only party to openly criticise Russia's war in Ukraine, was barred from the election.

The European Commission plans to drastically restrict children's use of social media with the EU Kids Act. The legislation sets a minimum age of 15 for creating a social media account and bans addictive features. The initiative aims to prevent the serious health consequences, including depression and sleep deprivation, experienced by young people as a result of social media use. Europe's press takes stock.

Incidents involving drones are on the rise in Europe: a train travelling from Kyiv to Warsaw was attacked, Nato fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace, and another drone containing explosives was found and defused at Leipzig airport. Commentators examine the background to these incidents and the impact on different regions.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced in the European Parliament in Strasbourg that she wants to bring the EU's relations with Canada "to the highest level possible". In the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney she stated that she wanted to open the door for Canada "to be the first associate member of the EU". While commentators are clear on the motives behind the plan, some puzzle over the details.