Andy Burnham will take over as the UK's new prime minister today. The former mayor of Manchester, who was recently made leader of the Labour Party, will be the seventh head of government in ten years. He succeeds Keir Starmer, who resigned in June following months of pressure. The press explores Burnham's options.
The Fifa World Cup has come to an end with Spain’s victory over Argentina. Superstar Lionel Messi failed to secure a win for his team in the final – and Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, giving the Spaniards a 1-0 lead. European commentators interpret the messages sent out by this World Cup beyond the sport results.
Eight people died in Ukrainian drone attacks on two logistics centres belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries on Saturday when a large warehouse in Elektrostal, near Moscow, was completely destroyed by fire. Another strike on a warehouse complex belonging to the company on the outskirts of the Russian capital followed on Sunday night. The media debate the legitimacy of such attacks.
After years of debate, France's National Assembly has voted to pass a law that will permit assisted dying for the terminally ill. Under the strict conditions that each case is assessed by an interdisciplinary panel that includes a medical professional. Since the Senate has already rejected the bill several times, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu plans to refer it to the Constitutional Council.
For many Ukrainians Mykhailo Fedorov was the political star of the new generation. As digital minister he introduced the Diia smartphone app, which drastically reduced visits to authorities. As defence minister he pushed for increased drone usage and for shutting down the Starlink satellite internet service for the Russian invaders. Now, after just a few months in office, he has been ousted as part of government reshuffle, sparking protests throughout the country.
After their 2:1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-finals, Argentinian players brandished a banner on which was written in Spanish "The Falklands are Argentine" – a direct violation of the ban on political statements in the tournament. The incident has put the territorial dispute over the archipelago off the Patagonian coast in the South Atlantic, which belongs to the UK, back in the media spotlight.
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume has announced that the company will axe up to 50,000 jobs – in addition to the 50,000 already agreed on. The aim is to slash the costs of Europe's largest car manufacturer to a 'competitive level'. Four German plants are reportedly at risk of closure. Commentators debate the implications beyond Germany and what steps to take next.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has suffered a defeat in parliament over a key point in her planned electoral reform. With 188 votes to 187, the Chamber of Deputies rejected a draft amendment proposed by her ruling party, Fratelli d'Italia. The amendment would have allowed voters to use preferential votes to rank individual candidates within a list.
Border controls between Spain and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar have been abolished. A post-Brexit agreement negotiated between London and Brussels that came into force on Wednesday also provides for the removal of the border fence erected in 1908. For commuters in particular, this means an end to hours of waiting at the border. Commentators take a closer look at the ramifications.
The latest film by star director Christopher Nolan (the Batman trilogy and Oppenheimer) is now screening in cinemas. By choosing Homer's Odyssey – a classic more than 2,500 years old – as the basis for his story, Nolan has sparked a vigorous discussion: can an ancient epic be brought to life with the spectacular animation fantasy worlds of a contemporary Hollywood blockbuster? The Greek press weighs in.
Several European countries have agreed in Paris to form an alliance with Ukraine for joint missile defence, with the declared aim of deterring and neutralising threats. In addition, the Coalition of the Willing declared its readiness to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a ceasefire and announced multinational military exercises in Poland.