Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who was elected at the beginning of June, will be sworn in today. Like his predecessor Andrzej Duda, who was president for ten years, Nawrocki represents national conservative positions. The media concludes that the confrontation between the head of state and Donald Tusk's government will continue.
Just eight months after taking office, Lithuania's Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has resigned amid allegations of corruption and conflict of interests. Both President Gitanas Nausėda and his coalition partner had urged him to take this step. Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius has been appointed as acting prime minister.
Israeli media are reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to expand the military operations and take full control of the Gaza Strip. Europe's press debates the latest developments, including a declaration signed by the key Arab states Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan calling for the disarmament and disempowerment of the terrorist group Hamas.
Reports of a large drone entering Lithuania's airspace from Belarus triggered a massive search in Lithuania last week. The unarmed Russian Gerbera drone was eventually found on a military training site deep in Lithuanian territory. During the search the military and government authorities had voiced doubts about whether the reported object was actually a drone and not just a flock of birds or a cloud. The media are scathing in their criticism.
The European Court of Justice has tightened the requirements for authorities in accelerated asylum procedures. In future, the governments of EU countries must disclose which sources their classification of a country as a "safe country of origin" is based on. The court also ruled that for a country to receive this designation its entire population, including groups such as homosexuals, must be deemed to be safe there.
Following a verbal exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, US President Trump has announced that he will send two US nuclear submarines to "appropriate regions". The details remain confidential. Prior to this, Medvedev had criticised the US ultimatum to Russia to end the war in Ukraine, saying it was a threat and a step towards war, which Trump in turn described as "foolish and inflammatory". The European press takes stock.
Portugal's conservative government wants to reform the country's labour law: amendments that restrict strike rights and parental rights at work will make firing employees and outsourcing easier for employers. The aim is to create a more flexible, less bureaucratic labour market from which above all employers will benefit. The national press weighs in.
Romanian swimmer David Popovici won gold in the 100 and 200-metre freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore. He had previously spoken openly about the psychological pressure of competing and admitted that at one point he had looked for tickets to fly home before the competition - out of fear of success. The national press hails him as a role model: as an athlete, an individual and as a citizen.
In view of the crisis situation in Gaza, a growing number of countries are speaking out in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. Canada has now become the third G7 country after France and the UK to announce that it is willing to take this step. The press assesses the impact of the initiative and the preconditions for genuine statehood for Palestine.
