Eric Swalwell is facing mounting calls to withdraw from the race to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor of California, following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from former staff members—claims he has firmly denied.

In a statement, Swalwell described the accusations as false and politically timed, saying they surfaced “on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor.” The allegations range from sexual harassment to rape, significantly intensifying scrutiny on his campaign.

The controversy quickly led to a wave of political fallout. Within hours, prominent Democrats—including Adam Schiff and Hakeem Jeffries—withdrew their support, increasing pressure on Swalwell to step aside.

The first public allegation was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. A former staff member claimed that shortly after joining Swalwell’s district office in Castro Valley, he made inappropriate comments, including requests for sex and explicit messages.

The accuser, who has not been identified, also alleged that in September 2019 she woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel room with limited memory of the previous night. She further claimed that during a later encounter at a gala several years afterward, she again felt uncomfortable, recalling that she pushed him away and said “no.”

Swalwell has stated he intends to defend himself with “facts” as the situation develops. The allegations and their political repercussions have introduced significant uncertainty into an already closely watched gubernatorial race.

Israel has instructed residents in several southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate, citing plans to carry out further strikes targeting what it describes as Hezbollah “military infrastructure.”

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the directive was communicated by spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who stated that the evacuation is intended to minimize civilian harm. He emphasized that Israel “does not intend to harm you,” urging residents to leave the affected areas immediately as a precaution.

The evacuation order applies to multiple neighborhoods in the southern part of the Lebanese capital, including Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Al-Lilaki, Hadath, Borj el-Barajneh, Tahwitat al-Ghadir, Shiyyah, and Al-Janah—areas known to be densely populated.

The announcement signals a potential escalation in military activity, with heightened concerns for civilian safety as tensions continue in the region.

Greece has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, in a move aimed at addressing growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the restriction, set to take effect from January next year, is intended to tackle rising levels of anxiety, sleep disruption and what he described as the “addictive design” of social media applications.

In a video message shared on TikTok, Mitsotakis said many young people feel overwhelmed by constant comparisons and pressure to remain online, while parents have raised concerns about poor sleep and increased anxiety among their children.

He described the planned measure as “difficult but necessary,” stressing that the goal is not to distance young people from technology entirely, but to protect them from harmful digital environments. “The addictive design of certain applications… takes away your innocence and your freedom,” he said.

The move places Greece among a growing number of countries seeking stricter controls on children’s use of social media. Australia recently introduced a law requiring platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face heavy fines. Other European nations, including France, Austria and Spain, are also pursuing similar restrictions.

In the United Kingdom, the government has launched a consultation on a potential ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are considering comparable measures.

However, social media companies have pushed back against blanket bans, arguing they may be difficult to enforce and could inadvertently isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is currently challenging Australia’s law in court.

Mitsotakis also signalled Greece’s intention to pursue action at a broader European level. In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, he called for a unified EU framework to strengthen protections for minors online.

Proposals include mandatory age verification systems for users under 15, a potential Europe-wide ban for that age group, and requirements for platforms to re-verify users’ ages every six months.