Eurotopics.net

After several rounds of voting by Tory MPs, only two candidates are left in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister: former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Conservative Party members have until September to decide which of the two will lead the party and consequently the government. Commentators see few signs of a fresh dynamic in the Tory party.

The crisis involving Germany's largest gas supplier Uniper is coming to a head: due to reduced Russian gas supplies the listed company has been forced to buy gas on the expensive spot market over the last few weeks in order to meet its delivery obligations, and is suffering enormous losses as a result. Its largest shareholder is the Finnish Fortum Group. The government in Helsinki has so far refused to intervene on the company's behalf, saying that this is Berlin's responsibility.

The prominent Greek actor and director Dimitris Lignadis, who had been sentenced to up to twelve years in jail for the rape of two underage men, has been released pending appeal. The cultural sector has reacted with protest actions and the nation is embroiled in a heated debate. Is the former head of the Greek National Theatre profiting from his frequently cited ties to the conservative government?

The heat wave continues to keep Europe in suspense: in Portugal alone, more than 1,000 people have lost their lives, Germany is reporting highs of up to 40 degrees, in the UK train services had to be partially suspended, and forest fires continue to rage. Commentators call for a radical rethink in dealing with climate change.