The West Africanation of Mali is in the grips of its worst military conflict in years. Radical Islamists and Tuareg separatists have joined forces to fight against the military government that has been in power since a coup in 2020. What does the conflict mean for the Russian Africa Corps, which backs the military junta in Bamako, and for Europe?

Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut has been released as part of a prisoner exchange after five years' internment in Belarus. Poczobut (53), who is a reporter for the Gazeta Wyborczaewspaper and a member of the country's Polish minority, was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to eight years in a labour camp in 2023. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed him in person at the border.

The Iran war has put an end to the popularity of the Gulf states as a tourist destination, social media checks for visa applications in the US are provoking protests and people are tightening their purse strings. European commentators examine what the global political and economic situation means for tourists and holidays.

Croatia has faced a flood of bomb threats over the past week. Hospitals, shopping centres, editorial offices, airports, schools and kindergartens have had to be evacuated and searched more than 700 times – but in each caseo explosives were found. Theational press talks of a systematic attack on state and society.