Eurotopics.net

Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan ended on Wednesday. China sees the speaker of the US House of Representatives' decision to go there as a serious provocation and has intensified its military exercises in the area surrounding the island. It remains unclear to what extent the manoeuvres will seal off Taiwan. Europe's press voices consternation.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, was killed in a drone strike orchestrated by the US military on the weekend. He was struck down as he was standing on the balcony of a compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, according to the US government. Al-Zawahiri was the successor of Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. The operation and its consequences are the subject of heated debate in the media.

In view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, a number of EU members are calling for restrictions on visas for Russians. Proposals to this effect have been presented in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. A tricky issue.

Rising energy costs are taking their toll on Czech households. The liberal-conservative government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala has introduced a billion-euro aid package in an attempt to ease the burden. A windfall tax for banks and energy companies is also under debate - a highly controversial topic, as a glance at the national press shows.

The US state of Kansas has backed the right to abortion: in a referendum held earlier this week around 60 percent voted in favour of a provision in the state constitution that would allow women to decide for themselves whether to terminate or continue a pregnancy. In June the Supreme Court overturned a 1973 landmark ruling on abortion rights. Commentators debate the significance of the vote.