Eurotopics.net

The results of the 2025 Pisa study, for which 760,000 15-year-olds from 91 countries were tested, were published on Tuesday. The international trend pointed to a further decline in performance in reading, maths and science. In Europe, countries such as Estonia, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland did well whereas Germany's results hit an all-time low. The press looks at causes and consequences.

The UK has announced plans to ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is part of a wider re-calibration in its relations with Israel, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Tuesday in London. France, Canada, Denmark and other countries have also announced import bans and sanctions. Will this have an impact on the upcoming elections in Israel?

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky in Kyiv on the weekend to discuss how to end the war between the two countries. Afterwards, Witkoff called on both sides to make compromises. Zelensky said that security and economic guarantees for Ukraine had been discussed. Moscow described the talks as "extremely frank" and "constructive".

After the AfD's strong performance in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Europe's media are looking at why so many people voted for a party that has been officially classified as right-wing extremist. They home in on the weaknesses and failings of the other parties.

The German Government is holding Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The findings of the intelligence agencies clearly point to "Russian involvement", Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, and announced further sanctions, including the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the termination of the lease for the Russian House in the centre of Berlin. We are not at war with Russia, but we are a "target of war", he stated. What comes next?