Eurotopics.net

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?

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.

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison. The court found the 70-year-old former president guilty of leading a conspiracy to remain in office after his election defeat in 2022, making him become the first former president in the country's history to be convicted of an attack on democracy.

The right-wing conservative US podcaster and activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot 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 as a suspect in the attack. How dangerous is the tense atmosphere in the US?