Eurotopics.net

Chemicals giant Bayer is suffering one legal defeat after another in the US over the weedkiller glyphosate produced by its subsidiary Monsanto. The company could end up paying a hefty price, not just as a result of damages running into the millions but also because Bayer share prices have plummeted. How should business managers and governments react?

Former Soviet defence minister Dmitri Yazov has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Lithuania for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court found him guilty for his role in the bloody quashing of demonstrations in Vilnius in January 1991. The 95-year-old was not present at the sentencing. Has justice been done?

In a bid to resolve the impasse on Brexit Prime Minister May has offered to resign - provided parliament accepts her deal. On Wednesday the House of Commons rejected eight Brexit alternatives in an indicative votes process. Commentators doubt that May's resignation would unravel the Gordian Knot of Brexit.

French President Emmanuel Macron invited Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Juncker to also attend his meeting on Tuesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. While in Paris Xi promoted Beijing's New Silk Road project. Some commentators see the meeting as a positive development for Europe. Others focus on what wasn't addressed at the meeting.

The EU is scaling back its Sophia rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea because Rome has voted against prolonging it in its current scope and the conflict over refugee distribution remains unresolved. The ships will be recalled and the waters off the Libyan coast will be monitored from the air instead. Is this a damning indictment of Europe?