Eurotopics.net

Three years have passed since the mass protests that erupted in Belarus in August 2020 after the presidential elections were brutally quashed by long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenka. Europe's press sees a connection with Russia's war against Ukraine and expresses hopes that change will come to the country.

The Taiwanese corporation TSMC is building a new semiconductor plant in Dresden. TSMC has a market share of almost 60 percent in the semiconductor sector, which is vital for microelectronics. Germany has agreed to provide five billion euros in subsidies for the plant after promising US company Intel ten billion for a plant in Magdeburg in June. Commentators discuss how much sense the subsidy policy makes in the context of "de-risking" vis-à-vis China.

Five days after the devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, hundreds of people are still missing. Authorities fear that the death toll - currently at 93 - could rise significantly. The town of Lahaina was almost completely destroyed. Europe's press voices fears that such disasters will become increasingly frequent.

Ukraine launched its long-awaited counter-offensive in its defensive war against Russia on 4 June. But unlike last autumn, it has so far failed to make significant territorial gains and the Ukrainian army is coming under extreme pressure on several sectors of the front. Commentators assess the developments and discuss what they mean in terms of support from the West.

Fernando Villavicencio, one of the candidates in Ecuador's upcoming presidential election, was shot dead at a campaign event in Quito on Wednesday. Six suspects who have been identified as members of organised crime gangs by government sources have been arrested. Villavicencio (59) had made the fight against corruption one of his central goals. Commentators examine the background to the assassination.