US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are apparently close to engaging in direct negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine. The meeting is expected to take place next week, although Putin has rejected the idea of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attending. Commentators see things moving forward despite the many obstacles.
Donald Trump's new tariffs against around 70 countries came into force on Thursday. Switzerland is among those hit hardest, with a 39-percent tariff now applying on Swiss exports to the US. Not even a lightning visit to Washington by President Karin Keller-Sutter was able to avert this serious blow to Switzerland's export-oriented industry. The national press examines the damage.
The municipality of Jumilla in south-east Spain has banned Muslims from using public facilities to celebrate religious festivals. The ban, which was introduced by the conservative People's Party (PP) and facilitated by the right-wing populist Vox, clearly violates the Spanish constitution. The Spanish Episcopal Conference has also protested the decision.
Representatives from around 170 countries have been attending a meeting in Geneva since Tuesday to discuss how to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. The last UN conference on the subject failed mainly due to resistance from oil-exporting countries. European commentators examine the options for an agreement.
The Japanese city of Hiroshima has commemorated the victims of the atomic bombing eighty years ago with the ringing of the Peace Bell and a minute's silence. Tens of thousands of people were killed when the US deployed a nuclear bomb as a war weapon for the first time. Against this backdrop, European commentators debate the dangers and the logic of deterrence.
Romania's first post-communist president Ion Iliescu died on 5 August aged 95, and will be buried in a state funeral today. He was under investigation for committing crimes against humanity during the 1989 revolution until recently. The national press gives conflicting accounts of his historical role.