Eurotopics.net

The US administration is upping the economic pressure in the conflict with Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated on Monday President Trump's "economic D-Day" threat, stressing that the goal is to cut Iran off from all sources of income, and called on countries that maintain trade ties with Iran to immediately suspend them.

The crisis-hit VW Group is planning drastic cuts. According to CEO Oliver Blume up to 50,000 jobs could be lost and several factories are on the brink of closure. Growing competition from China in particular is putting the group under pressure. The press sees tough times ahead.

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe was in Moscow on Tuesday for talks. The visit was unofficial and unannounced, but the media got wind of it when a large US military cargo aircraft was spotted flying from Washington via Riga to Moscow on Flightradar24. The Kremlin later confirmed the visit, saying there had been "talks between the intelligence services".

There has been a surge in the number of serious accidents in the UK and Ireland involving teenagers who steal cars and post videos of their joyrides on social media. After twelve people were recently killed in two accidents involving cars driving in the wrong direction on the motorway, the British press examines how to end the joyriding trend.

Belgium's largest wildfire in more than a century has already destroyed an area of around 30 square kilometres in the High Fens nature reserve near Germany's border, and is still not fully under control. Around 500 people are working to contain the flames, and many residents have been forced to evacuate the area. Commentators discuss what the rest of Europe can learn from the disaster.