Browsing: Politics

‘Russia launches record number of drones’ & ‘French mass rape trial concludes’ & ‘Merkel releases highly anticipated memoir’ – Paper Talk Europe EU

Russia’s record bombing of Ukraine leads much of the bloc’s major news sites this morning as Ukraine’s air force says it has shot down 76 Russian drones in 17 regions, whilst another 95 were lost from their radars or downed by electronic jamming defensive systems in overnights attacks.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel also dominates much of the European news. A formidable feature of European politics, Merkel served Germany for 16 years. Today, her memoir Freedom is released. The highly anticipated memoir confronts criticisms of her policies on Russia and migration, which some say left Germany overly dependent on Russian gas and has fueled the rise of the far right in the Deutschland.

The conclusion of the mass rape trial in France finds plenty of space as prosecutors demand the maximum sentence for Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband and women around the world protesting for an end to violence against women. Much of the European media – including the UK – are running various campaigns and stories around violence towards women, sexual assault and calls for governments to do better.

More than 140 flood warnings remain in place across England, Wales and Scotland as the after-effects of Storm Bert are felt. More rain is expected to fall today.

Politics leads the way in the media today – in print and online – as the prime minister makes pledges to get more people back into work with reforms to overhaul job centres and more mental health funding. Some of Britain’s biggest cultural and sporting institutions such as the Premier League and the Royal Shakespeare Company will hire teenagers to teach them skills in a drive to get young people into work or education.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended her budget yesterday as businesses continued to complain. The chancellor dismissed business warnings that tax rises in the budget will make it harder to hire more people. Reeves has promised that there will be no more rises during this government’s term.

Tuesday’s headlines report on a mix of domestic news and politics. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a speech to business leaders yesterday in which she promised no more tax rises amid backlash over her October Budget. By 2026, the public can expect to endure more public spending cuts.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed he will not leave young people behind in his bid to get more people into work. The Premier League and other cultural and sporting institutions in Britain have joined the government scheme to get the jobless back into work or education.

Only a handful of front pages have any meaningful coverage of international news, with the capture of a British soldier by Russia covered on one and reports Israel and Lebanon are edging closer to a ceasefire on another.

Romania set for right-wing runoff after PM eliminated EU

In the first round of Romania’s presidential election, a far-right candidate who opposes NATO has taken an unexpected lead.
Calin Georgescu, an independent, won 22.94% of votes in Sunday’s voting, knocking Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu out of the race.
Georgescu will face center-right contender Elena Lasconi, leader of the opposition Save Romania Union, in the presidential run-off on December 8.

Monday’s front pages lead with several domestic and international stories.

Ongoing backlash over the October Budget dominates a handful of front pages with several reporting on the ‘tax raid’ whilst others preview a speech by the chancellor in which she will say she had no choice other than raising taxes.

Several papers look ahead to Friday’s assisted dying vote in the Commons. The Cabinet appears to be split over the vote – but many of the papers are not.

Images of Storm Bert feature on many front pages as streets flood in the UK and at least five people died.

The weekend’s Premier League action dominates the back pages.