Eurotopics.net

The trial of those suspected of involvement in the murders of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnirová begins before a special court in the Slovakian town of Pezinok on Friday. In a move which surprised many observers, the court accepted the indictment on Thursday and set January 13 as the date on which the main trial will begin. Commentators' expectations are high.

Boris Johnson is not considered a friend of the BBC, which he accuses of biased reporting. In the election campaign he threatened to cut the broadcaster's main source of funding: public service broadcasting fees. Now a spokesman has confirmed that failure to pay the fee is to be decriminalized, meaning that the broadcaster could lose up to 200m pounds per year. Are the BBC's days numbered?

Europe's press is ambivalent about the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump recently passed by the US House of Representatives. The US president has said he wants to face the impeachment trial, which will decide whether he is removed from office on charges of abuse of power and obstructing justice, as soon as possible.

The Romanian Revolution, which culminated in the overthrow and execution of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, began in the city of Timișoara shortly before Christmas 1989. More than 1,000 people died in the uprising against the state. While the Romanian press asks whether the people of Romania have truly put the dictatorship behind them, international voices draw attention to positive developments.

Donald Trump has become the third US president to face impeachment proceedings after the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives voted for the move. The vote was preceded by a fierce eleven-hour debate between the two camps. Now the Senate will decide whether Trump is to be removed on charges of abuse of power and obstructing justice. Commentators find the whole affair worrying.