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Russia has cut off gas supplies to several EU countries, and Germany remains concerned about how much gas will be delivered by Nord Stream 1. The gravity of the situation prompted the EU Commission to present an emergency plan on Wednesday. The member states are required to reduce their gas demand by 15 percent by March next year and to help out in case of shortages. Can the plan work?

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has failed to patch up his crumbling government alliance. In a Senate vote on Wednesday, three major coalition partners - Lega, Forza Italia and Cinque Stelle - refused to give him their vote of confidence. The press examines what the prime minister's imminent resignation means for Italy and Europe.

After several rounds of voting by Tory MPs, only two candidates are left in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister: former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Conservative Party members have until September to decide which of the two will lead the party and consequently the government. Commentators see few signs of a fresh dynamic in the Tory party.

The crisis involving Germany's largest gas supplier Uniper is coming to a head: due to reduced Russian gas supplies the listed company has been forced to buy gas on the expensive spot market over the last few weeks in order to meet its delivery obligations, and is suffering enormous losses as a result. Its largest shareholder is the Finnish Fortum Group. The government in Helsinki has so far refused to intervene on the company's behalf, saying that this is Berlin's responsibility.

The prominent Greek actor and director Dimitris Lignadis, who had been sentenced to up to twelve years in jail for the rape of two underage men, has been released pending appeal. The cultural sector has reacted with protest actions and the nation is embroiled in a heated debate. Is the former head of the Greek National Theatre profiting from his frequently cited ties to the conservative government?