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.
Up until now Russia has officially referred to its war of aggression in Ukraine as a "special military operation". Anyone in Russia who spoke about a "war" in public faced punishment. Now, however, the Kremlin itself is increasingly using the term. "There is a war going on, this is a real war," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, explaining this by pointing out that Kyiv was now being backed by "Berlin, Paris, The Hague, Oslo, and, unfortunately, Washington".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced another cabinet reshuffle as well as changes at the top of the law enforcement agencies. Zelensky explained that Ukraine was undergoing a strategic realignment, without giving any further details. All that is known so far is that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is to be replaced after only one year in office. Commentators discuss what other changes are on the cards.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen want to relaunch the reunification talks between the Greek-speaking south of the island and the Republic of Northern Cyprus – recognised only by Turkey – which have been on hold since 2017. Von der Leyen has declared the resolution of the conflict a priority for the EU, of which the whole island is a member under international law. What are the chances of success?
Ahead of today's World Cup semi-final between France and Spain, certain comments by former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy have sparked a heated debate in Europe's press and beyond. He wrote that France had "a top-level squad. That said, they don't have any French players". Aurore Bergé, France's Minister for the Fight Against Discriminations, condemned the politician for making racist remarks.
The Hungarian parliament on Monday passed several constitutional amendments that among other things pave the way for the removal of the president on the grounds of a 'serious loss of confidence' – a provision which the government camp intends to use to oust incumbent Tamás Sulyok, who has close ties to former ruling party Fidesz. If he refuses to endorse the resolution, impeachment proceedings will be initiated, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said. The press reacts with scepticism.
Oligarch Andrey Melnichenko, one of the wealthiest men in Russia with vast holdings in the fertiliser and energy sectors, has given an in-depth interview to The Economist. The British magazine also published an opinion piece by Melnichenko with the title: "Why a broken Russia is bad for the world". The media are divided over how to interpret this.
The Romanian state has accused businessman Viorel Pașca of running several retirement and care homes without a licence and depriving more than 400 people of their pensions and benefits. However, it has emerged that the vulnerable people in question were referred to Pașca directly by state institutions. For this and other reasons, commentators question what the real scandal is here: Pașca's behaviour or that of the state?