Eurotopics.net

As the US and Nato troops withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban are expanding their sphere of influence. They have now taken control of large swathes of the country and are fighting the Afghan security forces in several cities. The countries of Europe will not be able to avoid further engagement in the region, commentators write.

Racist abuse has given the Euro 2020 football championship final a bitter aftertaste. After three young black members of the England team failed to score in the penalty shoot-out against Italy, they were targeted with a slew of racist abuse online. Calls for violence against black people led to several assaults, according to media reports.

Three weeks ago, the Netherlands lifted almost all its Covid-related restrictions. Clubs and discos were allowed to reopen for the first time in over a year. Last Saturday, however, the country's health authority reported 10,000 new infections and Prime Minister Mark Rutte was forced to backpedal. He and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge apologised on Monday for the "yo-yo policy".

The Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which is close to President Maia Sandu, clearly won the Moldovan parliamentary election on Sunday with 52.8 per cent of the vote. The communists and socialists under Sandu's predecessor Igor Dodon only achieved 27.2 per cent. With their previous parliamentary majority, Dodon's supporters had blocked the formation of a government for months. Is the way now clear for reforms?

After four years of trials Iceland is introducing a four-day workweek. Around 86 percent of the country's employees will now have the right to work a 35-hour week instead of the previous 40 hours - with full pay. Trials with one percent of the workforce testified to fewer cases of burnout, higher job satisfaction and equal or even improved performance. The model is stimulating debate in other countries.