Eurotopics.net

China has been conducting military exercises encircling the island of Taiwan since Thursday. The country has reported dozens of violations of its air defence zone. Yesterday China threatened bloodshed and today a Chinese military spokesman said they were testing the China's ability to seize power over the self-governed island. The press takes a critical view of the latest developments.

The governments of Spain, Ireland and Norway have announced that they intend to recognise the state of Palestine in the coming days. Israel has condemned the move as support for Hamas terrorism and recalled its ambassadors from Dublin and Oslo. A similar decision is expected regarding Madrid. A glance at Europe's commentary sections shows how divided opinions are on the subject.

The rift had been apparent for some time, and on Tuesday Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) ended its cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Matteo Salvini's Italian Lega is also distancing itself from the German party. The move was triggered by certain remarks made by the AfD's lead candidate in the EU elections, Maximilian Krah, in which he downplayed the crimes of the SS during World War II. What comes next for Europe's far right?

At the international far-right gathering in Madrid last weekend, Argentina's President Javier Milei called Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, corrupt. Spain responded by closing its embassy in Buenos Aires, which Milei then described as "nonsense from an arrogant socialist". Spain's press sees only one side benefiting from this spat.