Eurotopics.net

Robert Abela, a 42-year-old lawyer and politician, will succeed Joseph Muscat as Malta's prime minister. He was elected as leader of the ruling Labour Party on Monday and then appointed head of government. Muscat resigned in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, in which confidantes of his have been implicated. Maltese media call for a new start at all levels.

The British have been waiting with bated breath for the Queen Elizabeth's reaction to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's announcement that they intend to step back from their royal obligations and become financially independent. On Monday the Queen announced that her family will support the couple in their desire to create a new life for themselves. Commentators speculate about the future of the royals.

The district court in the Swiss municipality of Renens, near Lausanne, has acquitted twelve climate activists charged with trespassing. In November 2018 they stormed a Credit Suisse branch and played tennis there in an action targeting star tennis player Roger Federer, who does ads for the bank, whitewashing its involvement in environmentally harmful businesses. Is the ruling just?

Lisbon is the 2020 European Green Capital. The title is awarded by the EU Commission to cities it deems to be taking an exemplary approach to combining environmental protection, quality of life and economic growth. Portuguese media discuss whether the city deserves the title, and what it can do for the country.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has advised his successor Francis not to alter the Church's celibacy rules. Statements to that effect can be found in a book Benedict is said to have written together with the conservative Cardinal Robert Sarah. Last year Francis initiated a discussion on priestly celibacy. Is Benedict's meddling jeopardising an urgently needed reform?

Iran has admitted that it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed last Wednesday in Tehran. The regime said the plane was downed as a result of a communication error that led it to believe it was being attacked by the US. Commentators discuss the ramifications.