During his trip through the Gulf region, Donald Trump met for the first time with Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Even before the talks, which took place in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the US president announced that all sanctions against Syria would be lifted. At the same time Washington is urging Damascus to improve its ties with Israel. Europe's press examines the far-reaching consequences.
Europe is heading for an electoral super Sunday this weekend: Romania will hold the second round of its presidential election, Poland the first, and Portugal will elect a new parliament. While many have decried the decisive role Tiktok allegedly played in the Romanian election campaign, commentators from Poland and Portugal criticise the lack of debate on substantive issues.
French film star Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set and given a suspended jail term of 18 months. The court in Paris also placed him on a list of sex offenders and ordered him to undergo psychological treatment. The media discuss France's shortcomings in the moral and legal assessment of sexual assaults.
Donald Trump was given a lavish welcome by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. After the meeting in the royal palace the White House announced a historic arms deal. Trump also seems likely to accept a luxury plane as a gift during his upcoming visit to Qatar. Europe's press ponders the consequences.
The banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced that it is disbanding. The move follows a call at the end of February by its imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan to lay down its arms. According to the Kurdish news agency ANF, the decision was made a week ago at a party congress in northern Iraq. A look at Europe's press shows why this news is provoking concern as well as relief.
