EUROPE
FRANCE
Crystal Foretia, Reporter
Politics: President Macron’s approval ratings have declined with those on both sides of the aisle. Critics of the president say that his way of governing, e.g. making decisions unilaterally, resembles a monarchical regime. This has led to the rise of #MacronMonarc.
Economics: President Macron postponed reforms to combat poverty until autumn. Macron’s administration initially created six working groups to make healthcare more accessible to the poor, but they are pushing back their results by six weeks. Le Figaro cites Macron’s resistance towards addressing “sensitive subjects” as the reason behind the delay and believes that this move undermines his credibility.
Culture: World champion Peter Sagan won the second stage of the Tour de France after sprinting uphill in La Roche-sur-Yon. Riders will have biked 35.5 kilometers on July 9th.
GERMANY
Tyra Gravesande, Senior Reporter
Politics: By taking a huge breather, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats declared that they reached a compromise on migration policy. However, they feel a crisis has just begun as they allow newly refugees to enter the country through holding camps. It was either this option, or the government falls completely apart.
Economics: With Germany exporting more goods than importing, it is putting many people at risk and causing an uproar in trading procedures; especially between the entire continent of Europe and the United States.
Culture: You may have seen her as one of the Dora Milaje warriors in Black Panther, nevertheless actress Florence Kasumba has picked up a leading role in Germany's longest running television show called "Tatort".
GREECE
Fatima Yousuf, Editor-in-Chief
Politics: Athens has decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country due to claims that said diplomats were interfering with national affairs and attempted to bribe state officials for information.
Economics: According the the country's most influential think tank, IOBE, Greece's economy with expand by 2% this year, which is likely due to Greece's agreement with the European Union to certain debt relief measures including a cash injection into the national economy.
Culture: An ancient tablet engraved with 13 verses from Homer's The Odyssey were unearthed in Southern Greece, and may just be the oldest record of Homer's verses to date. The tablet describes the return of Ulysses to Ithaca.