The face-off in the tariff war between the US and China continues. First US President Donald Trump progressively increased the additional tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent. Then he announced temporary exemptions for the large electronic goods sector. Beijing has retaliated with counter-tariffs which are currently at 125 percent, and is also seeking economic alliances in other countries.

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 This right to vote was recently withdrawn from residents with Russian citizenship.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.