Eurotopics.net

The highly indebted Chinese property developer Evergrande can no longer service its debts in the US and filed for bankruptcy protection in Manhattan on Thursday, according to media reports. And now in China itself, Country Garden, another property giant, has run out of money. Is China's real estate business on the brink of collapse? Is a financial crisis looming? Probably not, commentators say.

The number of top international football players joining the Saudi Pro League is growing. Last Tuesday Neymar transferred from Paris St. Germain to Al-Hilal, one of Saudi Arabia’s four, mainly state-owned top clubs - for an annual salary of 200 million euros. And more and more younger players are also signing up with the absolute monarchy’s clubs. Money rules the football world these days, commentators observe.

On 21 August, the Czechs and Slovaks commemorate the suppression of the Prague Spring mass protests by troops from the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria in 1968. The tanks crushed the hope for a reformable "socialism with a human face". Commentators note that the war in Ukraine is proof that the Kremlin leadership has not changed over the decades.

The Spanish team won the Women's World Cup final 1-0 against England yesterday. Many are hoping that the tournament, which was held in Australia and New Zealand, will be a breakthrough for professional women's football, and the media have reported record viewing figures. Europe's press sees room for improvement and takes issue with a kiss.

Japan, South Korea and the US have pledged to cooperate more closely in the areas of economy, military and intelligence to strengthen their position vis-à-vis China and North Korea. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke of a new era of friendship at the first-ever summit between the three powers, although relations are still strained due to Japan's brutal colonisation of Korea between 1910 and 1945. Does this mark a new beginning?