Eurotopics.net

British Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced on Instagram on Wednesday that they intend to step back from most of their royal obligations. The couple want to work in future to become financially independent, commute between North America and Great Britain and continue to perform charitable tasks, they said in an offical statement. Commentators are having a field day.

After months of wrangling the Spanish parliament elected the leader of the Socialists Pedro Sánchez as head of government by a razor-thin majority on Tuesday. He will now govern the country together with the left-wing alliance Unidas Podemos in what looks set to be a minority government. Europe's press discusses whether this means a return to normality or the start of real trouble.

Iran has attacked US positions in Iraq in retaliation to the killing of high-ranking Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Tehran said the move was a slap in the face for the US, in response to which US president Donald Trump tweeted: "all is well". Europe's press discusses the motives for Trump's actions against Iran as well as the potential consequences.

Five years after the Islamist terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, France commemorates the twelve victims. President Macron, other politicians and members of the editorial staff laid wreaths in front of the former headquarters of the satirical magazine in Paris on Tuesday. Journalists are at odds over whether politicians have adopted the right approach in dealing with the Charlie Hebdo attack and subsequent terrorist attacks.

A 19-year-old British woman was given a four-month suspended sentence for false testimony after accusing 12 Israelis of gang rape. Seven of the men were temporarily taken into custody in the course of the investigation. The woman's lawyers say the police pressured her to withdraw her statements. Commentators are scathing in their criticism of the verdict.