What Europe writes about: US attacked Iran for the seventh night, Burnham heads to Downing Street, Drammen burns

• 18.07.Spahn finally stepped down from CDU/CSU faction leadership — Merz wants successor decided by July Handelsblatt ↗Tagesschau ↗
• 18.07.Two more American soldiers killed in Iranian war — strike on base in Jordan Süddeutsche ↗
• 18.07.AfD launches campaign in Saxony-Anhalt — congress in Magdeburg Tagesspiegel ↗
• 18.07.Regional leader Vincentz prevails at AfD congress in North Rhine-Westphalia — dispute over candidate resolved Süddeutsche ↗
• 18.07.Attack on train employee near Karlsruhe — suspect passenger released, fell from moving train after incident Spiegel ↗
• 18.07.AfD MP compared Merz to former East German leader Ulbricht Tagesspiegel ↗
• 18.07.1,300 people demonstrated against social cuts — "Communities on the Edge" Die Zeit ↗

• Merz and Macron announce closer defense cooperation including nuclear deterrence — after failed joint fighter jet plan, now forging a "nuclear pact" Spiegel ↗
• Jens Spahn case (CDU) won't go away — politician faces criticism for child fathered via surrogate mother in USA, party colleague demands his resignation Spiegel ↗Tagesschau ↗
• Iran claims "explosion" of tankers in Strait of Hormuz, USA denies Spiegel ↗
• AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia embroiled in fierce power struggle over candidate Tagesschau ↗
• New findings from NSDAP membership files: "old Nazis" ran Austrian FPÖ in its early years Der Standard ↗
• Shooting at mother-child facility in Stade (6 dead) — background of suspected shooter revealed Spiegel ↗
• Uncontrolled forest fire in Müritz National Park continues to keep firefighters busy Tagesschau ↗

• 18.07.Hungarian President Sulyok signed amendment stripping him of office — Magyar achieved his goal Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• 18.07.Russia preparing mobilization of 500,000 according to Kyiv — some could quickly end up on the front Rzeczpospolita ↗
• 18.07.Ukraine sets conditions — Polish MiG-s could end up in another EU country Onet ↗
• 18.07.Volhynia massacre: Ukrainian IPN will issue permits for further exhumations immediately Rzeczpospolita ↗
• 18.07.Kaczyński wants to exclude Morawiecki, Tusk abandoned government reconstruction Onet ↗
• 18.07.Commentary: "Tusk suspended democracy in Kraków" — after banning the march Rzeczpospolita ↗

• Crisis in PiS delights Confederation: "it is the beginning of the end of the duopoly" Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• Israeli parliament dissolved before elections, shortly before passing controversial laws Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• Preferences for Tusk's government and personally are falling, trend continues since April Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• Kaczyński's meeting with Morawiecki ended — decision on associations "still relevant" Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• Polish psychologist in Germany: many delay life hoping to return to Poland — "not worth it" Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• New EU rules for single-use packaging from August 12 Rzeczpospolita ↗

• 18.07.Sulyok signed amendment — his presidential term ends Népszava ↗
• 18.07.Magyar: parliament must elect new president within 30 days Magyar Nemzet ↗
• 18.07.From Monday, Ágnes Forsthoffer takes over presidential duties Népszava ↗
• 18.07.Orbán: "Arbitrariness is no longer a threat, but reality — no one is safe anymore" HVG ↗
• 18.07.Political Capital: "Government won this battle" Telex ↗
• 18.07.Tisza-government signals major changes to electoral system and Rákosrendező solution Portfolio ↗
• 18.07.Head of foreign affairs committee in Washington dealing with tariffs on Russian energy imports Portfolio ↗

• Fedorov's successor as head of Ukrainian defense ministry comes from SBU — Yevhen Chmara Telex ↗
• Escalation of US-Iranian conflict, both sides targeting the other's infrastructure Telex ↗
• Hungarian government wants to return "wrongfully removed" military employees Telex ↗
• Zelenskyy faces unprecedented criticism from departing official Telex ↗
• Fidesz-KDNP spent nearly 1.7 billion forints on campaign for 2026 elections — from public budget Index ↗
• Trade union gave IKEA a week to reach agreement, otherwise strike continues Telex ↗

• 18.07.Iran suspends framework agreement with USA — seventh night of attacks Kleine Zeitung ↗
• 18.07.Two more American soldiers killed in Iranian war ORF ↗
• 18.07.Footballer dies after settler attack on West Bank Der Standard ↗
• 18.07.Mikl-Leitner on federal ÖVP: "We are far from favorable winds" Kurier ↗
• 18.07.Venezuelan morgues confused the dead after earthquake Die Presse ↗

• Is right-wing violence escalating in Austria? — analytical question Der Standard ↗
• Protests "Google, go home" against data center near Linz Der Standard ↗
• Exceptionally intense forest fire season in Austria Der Standard ↗
• No long-distance trains via Brenner from Saturday for two weeks Der Standard ↗
• USA launches new attacks on Iran ORF ↗
• Trade in services growing faster than trade in goods Die Presse ↗

• 18.07.Third day of protests for Fedorov's return, "Syrsky out" Censor.NET ↗
• 18.07.MPs initiate petition to Zelenskyy to dismiss Syrsky Censor.NET ↗
• 18.07.Russian strike on amusement park in Odesa region — two dead, child among wounded Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• 18.07.Attack on Kharkiv region — 11 wounded, including 5 police officers Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• 18.07.Botswana: Russia recruiting its citizens "at alarming pace" for war against Ukraine Kyiv Independent ↗
• 18.07.Poland may hand over MiG-29s to Bulgaria if no deal with Ukraine Censor.NET ↗
• 18.07.Pro-Russian camp in Russia turns anger on Kremlin Kyiv Independent ↗

• Kyiv protests continue second day in support of dismissed Fedorov Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Zelenskyy proposes Kachannikov for EU ambassador and gives him another role Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Sociologists record record pace of Putin's trust decline since start of war Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Apartment for smartphone price: brother of DBR director was buying dozens of apartments for $932-1856 — corruption case Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• NATO and EU pressure Greece to hand Patriot missiles to Ukraine Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Le Pen at the helm of France: what is the probability and what does her victory threaten Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Finnish PM ready to resign from parliament over corruption scandal Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Russians drone-attacked people in Kherson, woman killed, 6 wounded Ukrainska Pravda ↗

• 18.07.Middle East: 2 American soldiers killed, one missing and 4 wounded after Iranian strikes in Jordan BFM TV ↗
• 18.07.Iran's Supreme Leader threatens USA with "unforgettable lessons" BFM TV ↗
• 18.07.Iran threatens UAE ports and airports in case of further American strikes BFM TV ↗
• 18.07.Brazil: court bans Argentine President Milei from visiting Bolsonaro BFM TV ↗
• 18.07.Botswana accuses Russia of recruiting mercenaries for Ukraine "through fraud" Le Figaro ↗
• 18.07.Fires: endless delays in reform financing angered firefighters Mediapart ↗

• "Libertine" rape case in Gironde: historic indictment of 19 men for sexual crimes with torture Le Monde ↗
• Jubillar case: bone investigations closed, accused "tangled up in lies" 20 Minutes ↗
• Fontainebleau fire: caused by construction work, two workers charged; over 6000 volunteers helping animals 20 Minutes ↗20 Minutes ↗
• Storms claimed lives in Haute-Vienne and Isère Le Monde ↗
• Trump in speech to nation questions elections and accuses China of interference Le Monde ↗
• Mayor of Alès threatened by "DZ Mafia" — two 9mm bullets fired into his house 20 Minutes ↗
• Freezing of Agirc-Arrco pensions: unions turned to court Le Monde ↗
• Xi Jinping calls for global cooperation in AI with "human-centered approach" Le Monde ↗

• 18.07.Iranian attack in Jordan: 2 American soldiers dead, 4 wounded ANSA ↗
• 18.07.Khamenei: Trump's signature on the memorandum is worthless ANSA ↗
• 18.07.Tehran hawks fear a "soft coup" ANSA ↗
• 18.07.Cuba on its knees: blackouts and protests plague the regime ANSA ↗
• 18.07.Outrage over questionnaire calling to "map Jews in Italy" — criminal report threatened Il Giornale ↗
• 18.07.Salvini visited jeweler Rogger in prison TGCom24 ↗

• Morandi Bridge: verdict reveals final truth — "in 2010 I knew it could collapse, but I kept quiet, I was afraid for my job" Corriere della Sera ↗
• Rogger case: pressure for clemency, Mattarella is cautious, Quirinal decides Corriere della Sera ↗
• Ranucci case: Lavitolu's houses reveal ties to gang accused of attacking journalist Corriere della Sera ↗
• Trump threatens in address to nation to revoke licenses from media that did not broadcast his speech TGCom24 ↗
• Meloni on security law: "whoever commits crimes cannot be compensated" TGCom24 ↗
• Invalsi test: nearly every other child fails to reach basic level in Italian and mathematics Corriere della Sera ↗
• Electoral law: 145,000 students away from home will be able to vote at their place of study Corriere della Sera ↗

• 18.07.Iran "suspended" ceasefire with USA, accuses them of killing 50 people in three weeks El País ↗
• 18.07.Two American soldiers dead after Iranian attack in Jordan ABC ↗
• 18.07.Fire near Uncastillo: residents and farmers defend the town, "fatigue is starting to weigh" eldiario.es ↗
• 18.07.Vox mayor accused in La Mierla fire denies being at the fire's origin eldiario.es ↗
• 18.07.Netflix documentary about Miguel Ángel Blanco (ETA) — sister: "if his death served to end ETA, so be it" El Confidencial ↗
• 18.07.Thermal camera revealed two teenagers as suspects in Benalmádena fires ABC ↗

• Triple fire crisis: Sierra Norte de Guadalajara (2000ha, 6 evacuated towns, El País ↗), Orés/Aragón (12,000 ha, threatens Uncastillo, El País ↗), Lozoyuela (700ha, suspect detained, El País ↗)
• Begoña Gómez (wife of Prime Minister Sánchez) to go before a jury for influence peddling and embezzlement El País ↗
• EU court confirmed amnesty — "oxygen bomb" for the government and Catalan CDR El País ↗
• Puigdemont: Puente calls on him after SDEÚ ruling to return to Spain El País ↗
• Number two of Civil Guard speaks of "smear campaign" in Leire case El País ↗
• USA bombs bridges and infrastructure in Iran El País ↗
• Almaraz nuclear power plant one step closer to extending operations until 2030 El País ↗
• Circus owners sentenced to 76 years for exploitation of family and sexual abuse of minors El País ↗

• 18.07.Iran withdrew from ceasefire after continued American attacks De Standaard ↗
• 18.07.Vandenbroucke admitted air tax was reduced under Ryanair pressure De Standaard ↗
• 18.07.Spain's training before final cancelled due to "life-threatening" weather in New York Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
• 18.07."117 meters of arrogance": Venice rebels against giant yacht of Trump's envoy 7sur7 ↗
• 18.07.Zidane takes over French national team — start date is known La Libre ↗

• Ukraine claims it hit two Russian tankers and an oil refinery De Standaard ↗
• Budget minister too warns of "Greek conditions" in Belgian finances De Standaard ↗
• Whoever pays will see Trump's posts on Truth Social before others — stock market advantage De Standaard ↗
• Sanctions network around Sudanese genocide militias tightens, Britain too targets trader of "blood gold" De Standaard ↗
• Russian blogger criticizing Putin and the war in Ukraine detained De Standaard ↗
• Several dead in American ICE detention centers in a few days — violence accompanies deportation chain De Standaard ↗
• Excess mortality after June heatwave reached 2,000 cases 7sur7 ↗
• Explosion in Brussels Forest district — pyrotechnic residues found 7sur7 ↗

• 18.07.Iran's Supreme Leader suspended deal with USA and harshly attacks Trump NOS ↗
• 18.07.Hungarian president signed law ending his own term de Volkskrant ↗
• 18.07.Unrest and violence in Ukrainian streets over controversial recruitment method — "young men forced to the front" De Telegraaf ↗
• 18.07.In Kharkiv, war is everywhere and anger turns on recruiters NU.nl ↗
• 18.07.Merwede Bridge "about to collapse" — Netherlands faces major bridge and viaduct repairs AD ↗

• Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian ports on Black Sea, three dead NOS ↗
• Polish president blocks same-sex partnership law NOS ↗
• Municipalities withdraw documents with personal data after NOS investigation — data breach including BSN numbers NOS ↗
• "Password manager Passwork" allegedly hiding ties to Russian secret services NOS ↗
• Major forest fire in Spain destroyed 12,000 hectares, still uncontrolled NOS ↗
• Russian politician Nadezdin fined, barred from elections NOS ↗
• Twenty children killed in school bus accident in Uganda NOS ↗

• 48th day of protests against government continues, demonstrators demand Rama's resignation — "no negotiations" Gazeta Shqiptare ↗
• BIRN: European Commission criticizes political attacks on anti-corruption prosecutor SPAK in case of minister Balluku Gazeta Shqiptare / BIRN ↗
• Assassination in Sarandë has dark background — victim linked to Dubai real estate and Spain's largest cocaine seizure in history Balkanweb ↗

• Jeweler who shot three robbers sparked Italian political dispute over pardon Politiken ↗
• Russia reports 7 dead and 24 wounded from Ukrainian attack Berlingske ↗
• Australia tightened travel advisory to Laos after methanol case Politiken ↗

• Hungarian president has today's deadline to sign law ending his own term Yle ↗
• Brazilian Supreme Court suspended Bolsonaro's visits for 30 days Yle ↗
• Finnish armed forces restrict sea area in eastern Gulf of Finland — fighter jets heard Yle ↗

• Iran warns of "complex attack" if USA continue strikes Naftemporiki ↗
• EU again called on Israel to stop expanding settlements on West Bank Naftemporiki ↗
• Trump blames Canada for smoke reaching USA Naftemporiki ↗

• 18.07.Burnham preparing "policy blitz" and move of Miliband to Foreign Office before first day in office The Independent ↗
• 18.07.Johnson and Sunak advising incoming Burnham The Independent ↗
• 18.07.Two American soldiers killed, one missing in Jordan after Iranian attack BBC News ↗
• 18.07.Thousands evacuated ahead of 30,000-acre fire in popular Spanish destination The Sun ↗
• 18.07.Water company chiefs receive multi-million pound payments that regulator cannot ban Daily Mail ↗

• Andy Burnham became Labour leader and is to take over as Prime Minister on Monday — five challenges awaiting him BBC News ↗
• Man accused of helping Iranian intelligence service BBC News ↗
• Why British Steel was nationalized BBC News ↗
• Fire in Cairngorms burning for third day, nearly 4 miles BBC News ↗

• Seventh night in a row of USA attacks on Iran, Strait of Hormuz "frozen" CBS News ↗
• Trump threatens Canada with tariffs over fire smoke CBS News ↗
• AIPAC halted funding for Democrats who refused Israel aid The Hill ↗
• ICE shared Medicaid data with Palantir without authorization NPR ↗
• Strong earthquake on Mexico-Guatemala border, tsunami warning cancelled CBS News ↗

🔁 Cross-country topics

• USA-Iran escalation (7th night of attacks, Strait of Hormuz, attacks on Kuwait/Bahrain/Jordan) — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇧🇦 BA · 🇧🇬 BG · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇩🇰 DK · 🇪🇪 EE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇬🇷 GR · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇮🇸 IS · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇺 LU · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇲🇪 ME · 🇳🇴 NO · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇸🇮 SI · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇺🇸 US (27 countries)
• Andy Burnham became Labour leader, set to become UK Prime Minister on Monday — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇮🇪 IE · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇳🇴 NO · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇬🇧 UK
• Trump's address to the nation — questioning elections, accusing China — 🇺🇸 US · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇱🇺 LU · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇸🇮 SI · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇮🇹 IT
• Earthquake in Venezuela — casualties exceeded 5,000 — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇪🇪 EE · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇳🇴 NO · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇭🇷 HR
• Catastrophic fire in Drammen (Norway), 100+ homes destroyed — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇩🇰 DK · 🇪🇪 EE · 🇮🇸 IS · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇳🇴 NO · 🇸🇪 SE
• Canadian forest fires — smoke over USA, Trump threatens tariffs — 🇭🇷 HR · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇺🇸 US
• Merz-Macron: closer defence/nuclear cooperation — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇲🇪 ME · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇸🇮 SI
• Earthquake in Mexico (7.3–7.4) — 🇧🇦 BA · 🇪🇪 EE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇹🇷 TR
• Kyiv protests calling for removal of Defence Minister Fedorov — 🇪🇪 EE · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇺🇦 UA
• Rolling Stones match Beatles record — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇬🇷 GR · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇩🇰 DK

🌐 Worth attention

• Albania, 48th day of protests — EU criticizes political attacks on SPAK Gazeta Shqiptare / BIRN ↗ — SK/CZ media practically do not cover Albania's domestic political crisis, yet it has escalated to the level of European Commission criticism towards the government.
• Morandi Bridge — final truth in the verdict Corriere della Sera ↗ — Italian court revealed that the former motorway company chief knew of the collapse risk back in 2010 and remained silent.
• Begoña Gómez to face jury El País ↗ — Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez's wife faces charges of influence peddling, concurrent with the court confirmation of amnesty by the EU court.