Eurotopics.net

The Belarusian authorities have blocked news website tut.by - the country's most popular online media outlet and one of the last independent sources of information. Its editorial offices and the flats of staff were also searched, and several employees were arrested. The official line is that they are suspected of tax fraud. The authorities justified the blocking of the website by saying that it had published "prohibited information".

Around 8,000 migrants have arrived in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the Moroccan coast in recent days. The government in Rabat apparently reduced the military controls on the border with the enclave in retaliation for Spain allowing Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario Front Western Sahara independence movement, to receive treatment in a Spanish hospital. Commentators suspect there is more behind this diplomatic crisis.

While the UN Security Council was still unable to agree on a joint statement in its fourth emergency session on the conflict over Gaza, individual international players have taken action. The US has called on Israel to de-escalate, China has invited both parties to negotiations, and Turkey's President Erdoğan has raked Israel and the West over the coals. Europe's press comments.

Joe Biden has announced that the US will not impose sanctions on the operator of Nord Stream 2 for the time being. He justified the decision pointing to overriding national interests such as maintaining good relations with Germany. The controversial new pipeline is set to begin transporting gas from Russia to Germany this summer. Observers say this is by no means the end of the issue.

As the situation escalates in the Middle East, Europe has seen a spate of anti-Israeli demonstrations and anti-Semitic attacks in recent days. Commentators voice concern and discuss strategies to combat anti-Semitism.