US President Donald Trump arrived in London for a state visit on Wednesday. King Charles III welcomed him at Windsor Castle and hosted a state banquet in his honour, and on Thursday Trump is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Thousands of people took to the streets in London to protest the visit. Commentators waver between unease and approval.
A commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has published a report which concludes that four of the five criteria for genocide listed in the UN Genocide Convention have been fulfilled: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing measures to prevent births. Reactions in the European press are mixed.
During his inaugural visit to Berlin, the new Polish President Karol Nawrocki reiterated Poland's demand for compensation of 1.3 trillion euros for the period of German occupation during the Second World War. Both German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rejected the demand, saying that in Germany's view the matter is closed from a legal perspective. Commentators take a closer look.
A Hollywood legend has passed away: American actor Robert Redford died on Tuesday at the age of 89. The screen idol starred in numerous blockbusters such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Three Days of the Condor. He also did much to promote the independent film scene and was a committed environmental activist. Commentators explain why he will be missed.
The Israeli army has launched a ground offensive in Gaza City that aims to completely eliminate Hamas forces in the area, according to a military spokesman. Hundreds of thousands of residents are trying to flee the city. The EU has called for a stop to the 'cycle of violence, destruction and suffering', while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed doubts that the Gaza war can be ended through diplomatic means.
More than 100,000 people took to the streets of London on Saturday in response to a call by British right-wing extremist Tommy Robinson. Alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, right-wing politicians from all over Europe, including France's Éric Zemmour, incited resentment against foreigners, the media and the British government. The commentaries reflect dismay, but not surprise.
After Russian drones entered Polish airspace last Wednesday, further incidents on Nato's external border are heightening the tensions between Moscow and the Western military alliance. The Polish army shot down a drone that had flown over government buildings in Warsaw on Monday night. Two Belarusians have reportedly been arrested in connection with that incident. A Russian drone also penetrated Romania's airspace at the weekend.
Austria's liberal education minister Christoph Wiederkehr has proposed fines of between 150 and 1,000 euros for parents who fail to cooperate with schools. The penalties would apply in cases such as parents refusing to talk to teachers when their children are suspended, or if they skip compulsory summer school without a valid excuse. Commentators debate the plan's merits and consequences.
The final stage of the La Vuelta cycling race was cut short in Spain on Sunday due to protests against the war in Gaza. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also called for Israel to be excluded from international sporting events and some countries are protesting Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, which they threaten to boycott. Europe's press discusses how to deal with Israeli athletes and artists.
The right-wing conservative US podcaster and activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead during an appearance at Utah Valley University last week. Kirk had close ties to US President Donald Trump and founded the organisation Turning Point USA, which is active at schools and universities. A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing. Commentators discuss the dangers of deepening polarisation.
In local elections in Germany's most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia the CDU has maintained its leading position, securing 33.3 percent of the vote. The SPD and Greens suffered losses with 22.1 and 13.5 percent respectively, while with 14.5 percent the AfD almost tripled its share compared to the last local elections. Commentators assess the results of this first test of public opinion since February's federal election.
US President Donald Trump has called on Nato countries to step up the economic pressure on Russia, and made new US sanctions contingent on their doing so. All allies must stop buying oil from Russia, Trump demanded on his online platform Truth Social. He also urged Nato countries to impose high tariffs on China as a bloc. Are his demands justified?