Eurotopics.net

On the third anniversary of the Hamas attack, Israel is commemorating the victims. On October 7, 2023, terrorists from the Gaza Strip invaded Israel, murdering 1,221 people and taking 251 hostage. Israel reacted with a war which has claimed at least 70,000 lives in the Palestinian territories. Commentators explore how that day changed the country and its people.

After the AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, a member of the party – which is classified there as far-right extremist – has, for the first time in Germany, been elected as parliamentary speaker in the state parliament. Tobias Rausch received 48 out of 82 votes during the parliament's first constituent session. In addition to the AfD and BSW parliamentary groups, four representatives from other parties also voted for Rausch. Commentators take stock and examine the possibility of the AfD forming a government.

A laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Irkutsk, Russia, has died from a suspected case of pneumonic plague. As a result, several hospitals have been placed under quarantine for at least three weeks. According to official sources, no further cases of infection have been recorded, but the Russian authorities have disclosed very little information so far. The press discusses the risk of infection and calls for more transparency.

Local elections will be held in the Czech Republic on Friday and Saturday. However, due to a scheduling error, the election date clashes with President Petr Pavel's motorbike holiday in Morocco, so he won't be able to cast his vote. The head of state has said he regrets the mistake but does not intend to cut short his trip. Czech media have criticised the fact that the president, of all people, will be absent from the election.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced far-reaching reforms in areas such as care, pensions, energy and housing at the Labour Party Conference currently taking place in Liverpool. He explained that the UK has been on the wrong track for too long and that business as usual is no longer enough. Commentators concur that this is a turning point but take different views of the announced reforms.