Israel has expanded its military offensive and declared almost all of Gaza a "combat zone". Its army hit a hospital in Gaza City again during air strikes. According to the UN, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are being forced into an ever smaller area because Israel wants to establish so-called security zones. Europe's press is increasingly critical of the Israeli offensive that began after the Hamas terrorist attack.
Just under a month before the early parliamentary elections on 18 May, the conservative Portuguese minority government has presented new figures pointing to a significant increase in immigration, with immigrants currently making up around 15 percent of the population. Commentators caution against an instrumentalisation of the issue.
In reaction to the Russian Orthodox Church's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the Estonian parliament has passed a law stipulating the separation of the Orthodox Church of Estonia from the Moscow Patriarchate and making the right to vote in municipal elections a prerequisite for membership of the clergy. This right to vote was recently withdrawn from residents with Russian citizenship.
The US has announced that it is withdrawing its troops from the military base in Jasionka, Poland, a key hub for supplying Ukraine. The Polish government and opposition have downplayed the impact of the move, saying that the transfers have long been in planning and will be offset by other Nato members. On the other hand, US media are reporting that the Pentagon is considering pulling out troops across Eastern Europe. Commentators take stock.
Germany has come a decisive step closer to getting a new government. Negotiators from the CDU, CSU and SPD have agreed on common goals and presented a coalition deal. Now the respective party committees just have to vote on it. The beginning of May is being floated as a possible date for the Bundestag to elect a new chancellor. Europe's press takes stock.
An estimated 13,000 Cypriots took to the streets of Nicosia on Tuesday to protest against the legalisation of the wearing of headscarves in Turkish Cypriot public schools, chanting the slogan 'Cyprus is secular'. High-ranking figures from across the political spectrum of the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island also took part. Media from the south put the rally in context.
The Ukrainian army has captured two Chinese soldiers in the Donetsk region. Kyiv also claims to have information that at least 155 other Chinese nationals are fighting in the Russian army. Beijing has dismissed the reports as unfounded. There are indications that those arrested volunteered in Russia of their own accord. Commentators nevertheless see cause for concern.
US President Donald Trump is suspending most of his controversial tariff package for 90 days. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has promised more than 70 countries talks on tariff agreements in the coming week. By contrast, China, which had retaliated with its own special tariffs of 84 percent on US imports, has been slapped with another hike – bringing tariff rates on its exports to 125 percent. What's behind the backpedalling and the crackdown on Beijing?
Elena Lasconi from the liberal USR party would have been in the run-off vote in Romania's presidential election in November had the first round of voting not been cancelled. The election will be repeated on 4 May, but the party leadership has now decided to pull its support for Lasconi who is polling at around just four percent - and has announced that it is endorsing independent Bucharest mayor and former USR founder Nicușor Dan instead.
In a surprise move, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić has appointed endocrinologist Djuro Macut, who has a good reputation as a doctor but has no experience in politics, to form a new government for the country, which has been rocked by continuous protests. Macut now has until 18 April, otherwise new elections will be held. Commentators take a close look at why Macut has been chosen for this role.
Most of the new tariffs announced by Washington last week are coming into force today, Wednesday. After China refused to withdraw its counter-tariffs, the US has upped the tariff rate for Chinese imports to a record 104 percent. Beijing vowed that it would "fight to the end" if necessary. Europe's press speculates on the consequences of a trade war between the biggest players in the global economy.
New punitive tariffs also apply to Europe - 20 percent for EU member states. Today, Wednesday, the EU is again meeting to discuss how best to respond. Until now Brussels had played the de-escalation game, but US President Trump has rejected its offer of a free trade deal. Europe's press explores the options.