Eurotopics.net

For weeks now, the Sea of Marmara has been covered by layers of algal slime called "sea snot" or "sea saliva". Gigantic white swathes of the slime can be seen in satellite images of the area. Conservationists, fishermen and politicians are alarmed. Turkish media complain about the abuses that are causing the problem and the government's seeming lack of concern.

The second round of local elections in Croatia ended on Sunday. The capital Zagreb now has its youngest mayor ever - 39-year-old Tomislav Tomašević of the left-wing, green alliance Možemo. The conservative ruling party HDZ also lost control of previous strongholds such as Split and Knin. Commentators are at odds over how much of an impact the election results will have on the country.

Giovanni Brusca, boss of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, has been released under a witness protection programme after 25 years in prison. Following his arrest in 1996 he confessed to detonating the 500-kilogramme bomb that killed the judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three bodyguards near Palermo. Brusca's testimony led to the convictions of other Cosa Nostra bosses.

Over two months after the last elections in Israel, a coalition aimed at ending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rule is forming. The liberal opposition leader Yair Lapid was able to secure the cooperation of the nationalist-religious Yamina alliance, in return for which its leader Naftali Bennett is to become prime minister for two years, alternating with Lapid as the country's leader. Europe's press doubts that Lapid's broad, multi-party coalition will last.

The conservative Disy party has emerged the strongest force in Cyprus's parliamentary elections, while the left-wing Akel has maintained its position as the strongest opposition party. However, both parties suffered losses compared to the 2016 election, and the far-right party Elam gained considerable ground. Commentators in Cyprus and abroad voice their concern.