US President Trump and Chinese President Xi have held several rounds of talks behind closed doors. Although little is known about what was discussed, both parties later emphasised their constructive cooperation. Trump spoke of friendship and a "great future". Xi said that the two countries could strengthen each other. Europe's press tries to figure out what is going on behind the scenes.
Andriy Yermak, former Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and a close confidant of President Volodymyr Zelensky, has been remanded in custody for two months by the High Anti-Corruption of Ukraine. However, he could be released on bail for the equivalent of about 2.7 million euros. He and five other people are accused of money laundering in connection with the construction of a luxury residential complex.
After two terms in office, Jerome Powell will resign as US Federal Reserve Chair this Friday. His track record as head of the US central bank is mixed. Critics accuse him of mistakes, particularly in the fight against inflation. But when Donald Trump threatened to undermine the Fed's independence, he stood firm against the US president. Powell will be succeeded by Trump's preferred candidate, Kevin Warsh.
On Saturday, hundreds of hardcore Slavia Prague fans stormed the pitch carrying lit flares and attacked the team and fans of Sparta, their local rivals. A 3-2 lead shortly before the final whistle would have secured the league title for their club. Instead, the match was suspended and the opponents were declared the winners. Slavia must now play four home games without spectators and pay a hefty fine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that his friend, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, could act as a mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine. In an address after Saturday's military parade in Moscow, Putin said he could envisage the former SPD leader acting as an intermediary in talks with the European side. Commentators debate whether this is a good idea.
Despite Labour's heavy losses in local elections and demands that he step down, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intends to remain in office. While acknowledging his responsibility for Labour's poor performance, he also emphasised that it was his duty to deliver the changes that the party had promised. But the pressure is mounting: four ministers have now resigned.
There has been huge pushback against the official participation of Russia and Israel at this year's Venice Biennale. The jury of the Golden Lion all resigned, and the EU withdrew two billion euros worth of funding. The Russian pavillion was forced to temporarily close during a protest by the feminist protest groups Pussy Riot and Femen. Voices in the press are divided.
According to a proposal by the governing coalition, the Czech parliament is to take a stance against plans for a meeting of Sudeten Germans in Brno at Whitsun. This would be the first such event to be held on Czech soil. A draft resolution calls for the organisers to be urged to cancel the event. Sudeten Germans were expelled from what was then Czechoslovakia after Nazi Germany's defeat. The opposition has so far blocked the vote.
The Finnish government led by Prime Minister Petteri Oreo has proposed a child benefit reform under which parents would receive a flat rate of 100 euros per month for each child up to the age of 18 – regardless of how many children live in the household. Child benefit currently ranges between 95 to 192 euros, depending on the number of children, and is paid for children up to the age of 17.
Russia held its traditional military parade on 9 May - during a three-day ceasefire - to celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany. President Vladimir Putin gave a speech explaining that the Russian army was fighting "aggressive", Nato-backed powers in Ukraine. At the press conference afterwards, however, he said he thought that 'the matter' was coming to an end.
In last week's local elections in Britain, the far-right populist party Reform UK led by Brexiteer Nigel Farage made significant gains. The ruling Labour party under PM Keir Starmer, by contrast, suffered bitter losses. Calls within the Labour party for Starmer to resign are growing louder, but Sir Keir has vowed to fight on.