Islamic State terrorists in France: ‘It’s far from over’
The French press focused on the deadly knife attack carried out on Saturday by a Chechen-born man in central Paris. The attack, for which the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility, left four people injured and one dead. Libération and La Dépêche wrote that France remains a major target of the terrorist group. Libération lead with the headline “Islamic State: Why it’s far from over,” warning about the growing number of such “low-cost” attacks. Le Figaro raised questions about the country’s national security services, running the headline: “The Paris attack rekindles the debate on flagged individuals,” noting that the assailant had been flagged as radicalized.
Front pages focused on the deal reached on Sunday by the anti-establishment 5Star Movement and far-right League on a common governing platform and prime minister, whose name is due to be revealed later today. The deal emerged after a last-ditch effort to break a two-month impasse and avoid the Italian president imposing a “neutral government” or calling fresh elections. Il Gazzetino reported that the prime minister will be a politician. La Repubblica led with the headline “MS5 and League divided over immigration and security in their search for premier.”
The Spanish press was likewise dominated by a government breakthrough, after separatist and Puigdemont loyalist Quim Torra emerged as the likely new Catalan president. After Torra failed to obtain an absolute majority on Saturday, El Pais reported that the likely abstention of radical leftist Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) on Monday would hand “Catalonia’s government to Torra.” El Mundo pointed out that the CUP decided to abstain in order to allow Torra to “make the republic effective” and reported that the radical party plans to demand “actions to achieve independence.”
The Times focused on a speech to be given Monday by the head of the country’s spy agency, Andrew Parker, in which he is expected to address the March Skripal poisoning and accuse Russia of creating a “fog of lies.” The Daily Telegraph also focused on the speech, running the headline “M15 chief’s warning to Europe on security.” British papers also reported on the “legacy of Tessa Jowel,” after the former culture secretary died of a brain tumor over the weekend. The i reported on Jowel’s “victory” with news that the government plans to double its investment in brain cancer research, while the Guardian debuted its Grenfell Tower tribute series.
Der Tagesspiegel focused on the inauguration of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, set to take place today, writing that the move “raised criticism.” Papers also reported on Israel winning the Eurovision song contest on Saturday. Die Welt led with the headline “East Germany finally [set] to become a growth engine,” reporting on leading economists’ calls for “new approaches to economic consolidation and tax relief for companies” in the area.
Source: Politico
