Swiss voters have clearly rejected a massive green overhaul of the economy in a referendum held on the weekend. Around 70 percent of those who took part voted against the initiative, according to which Switzerland's economic activities would be adapted within the next ten years so that only as many resources are consumed and pollutants released as nature's limits allow.
In December, the dispute over the French budget led to the fall of the government under Michel Barnier. After a fierce struggle his successor François Bayrou has now overcome that hurdle. He made it through two votes of no confidence in the National Assembly, after which the Senate approved the budget. Commentators conclude that the situation remains far from stable.
The student protests in Serbia continue unabated: demonstrators blocked a bridge on the weekend, pensioners took to the streets in support of the students and further actions are planned. Commentators explain why the public anger goes far beyond the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that triggered the protests in the first place.
During a visit to the US by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump floated the idea of the US taking control of the Gaza Strip in order to repair the war damage and turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East". The White House later explained that this would be for the purpose of reconstruction, with "temporary" relocation of the population. Europe's media discuss the motivations and viability of the proposal.
More than four months after Austria's parliamentary elections, the quest to form a new government continues. Initial coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS failed. Now talks between the right-wing populist FPÖ, which garnered the most votes in the election, and the conservative ÖVP, which came in second, are stalling. The national press sees potentially irreconcilable differences.
The Greek Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea has been hit by a series of earthquakes over the last two weeks. Experts have issued warnings and thousands of residents and tourists have left the popular holiday resort island of Santorini, which was hit on Wednesday by the strongest quake so far, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale. Man and nature don't always get along, commentators stress.
President Donald Trump has effectively frozen US development aid. Most of the staff at the government agency USAID have been placed on leave, its website has been closed for maintenance and payments have been suspended for 90 days. During this time the agency's programmes are to be reviewed, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been appointed by Trump as its acting director. The media examine the repercussions.
Last week, in the middle of the election campaign, Germany's Bundestag voted on proposals to tighten migration policy brought by the CDU/CSU opposition parliamentary group. An initial motion was supported by a fiercely debated majority achieved with the support of the AfD, which is suspected of right-wing extremism by the country's domestic intelligence agency. Another motion on specific changes to the immigration laws failed two days later. Europe's press takes a worried look.
At least eleven people were killed and several others wounded in a mass shooting at an adult education centre in the Swedish city of Örebro on Tuesday. According to the police, the perpetrator was probably among the dead. So far there are no indications that the attack was motivated by terrorism. Commentators take stock.
Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on goods coming from Mexico and Canada on the weekend, only to suspend the measure for 30 days after talks with the countries' leaders. New tariffs against China came into force, to which Beijing responded with counter-tariffs. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on the EU "pretty soon." Commentators discuss how Europe should react to a looming trade war with the US.