European Union

President persuaded Monique Barbut to stay on in a job that has seen already seven ministers come and go

The ministry returned to work one year after its dissolution

Following days of protests in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked Olexander Syrskyi and appointed General Mychajlo Drapatyj to take over as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The protests started when Zelensky dismissed the popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Following the removal of President Tamás Sulyok, chess champion Judit Polgár – Prime Minister Péter Magyar's favoured candidate for the job – has declined the nomination. Polgár explained that she did not feel strong enough to shoulder the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation. Commentators debate the reasons for her refusal and whether Magyar should reconsider his approach.

On Monday, Andy Burnham, the UK's new Prime Minister, made his inaugural speech outside 10 Downing Street in London. He announced plans for radical changes to the economic and political system, with decentralising government, reducing the cost of living, boosting the economy and easing the burden on the social welfare system as key goals. The press reacts with hope and scepticism.

An unidentified hacker has apparently deleted Romania's entire land registry database, bringing all property transactions to a halt and preventing notaries from certifying new sales or registering mortgages. The situation is particularly problematic right now because a tax hike on real estate purchases is due to come into effect at the end of the month.