The US Congress passed the new tax and spending bill presented by President Trump as his "big, beautiful bill". Among other things, it provides for lower income tax rates, expanded tax breaks for businesses and higher child tax credits. These measures are to be partially offset by spending cuts, primarily in the areas of health and education.

The Turkish government is continuing its crackdown against the main opposition party CHP: 126 people were detained in a major police operation against the city administration of Izmir, a CHP stronghold, on Tuesday. There have been several such waves of arrests since the removal from office and imprisonment of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in March. Commentators analyse Ankara's actions and their consequences.

Stricter rules against tobacco consumption have come into force in France: smoking is now prohibited on beaches, at bus stops, in parks, around schools and on sports grounds. The tightened regulations are mainly aimed at protecting young people from active and passive smoking. Health Minister Catherine Vautrin wants France to have a new "tobacco-free generation" by 2032. The national press is unimpressed.

The EU Commission has set a new climate protection target: a 90 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels, by 2040. As of 2036, EU member states will be able to purchase up to three percentage points of their reduction target with credits from environmental projects in countries outside the EU. These "international credits" in particular are a source of controversy in Europe's press.

At a time when developing countries are struggling with massive debt and industrialised nations are cutting aid budgets, how can development cooperation continue? This is the question that dominated the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development which ended on Thursday in Seville. The US, which has scrapped more than 80 percent of USAID projects under Trump, didn't even send a delegation.

Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have nosedived after several Azerbaijanis were arrested in Yekaterinburg on Sunday for murders committed many years ago. Two of those arrested were found dead shortly afterwards - according to Baku as a result of severe physical abuse. In retaliation, several Russians - including employees of the Russian state broadcaster Sputnik - were arrested in Baku and subjected to brutal treatment. What is fuelling the conflict?