TSIPRAS BACK AT THE HELM
A "vindicated" Alexis Tsipras will return as prime minister of Greece after his Syriza party's victory in yesterday's election, Kathimerini reports. The liberal party won just over 35% of the vote, leaving the center-right New Democracy party behind with 28%. But Tsipras' victory is less resounding than it was in January, with a record 44% of Greek voters staying home from the polls. Tsipras will form a coalition government with the Greek Independents, who were already part of his first government. Tsipras said obtaining debt relief was his top priority, though he will be expected to oversee the implementation of tough austerity measures and important reforms, as part of the third bailout he agreed to. And as today's editorial in newspaper To Vima puts it, "He is not allowed to fail." Read more in our Extra! feature.
20,000 REFUGEES ENTER AUSTRIA
Austria's resources are being stretched to their limits after more than 20,000 refugees arrived over the weekend. They came after Croatia sent them north to Hungary, which waved them on to Austria, The Local reports. Tensions between Hungary and Croatia have escalated in recent days, with the former accusing its neighbor, which is not part of the open-border Schengen Area, of a "major violation of international law" by allowing trains with refugees across the border, The Independent reports.
- A group of 13 refugees died Sunday after their boat collided with another vessel off the Turkish coast. They were heading towards the Greek island of Kos.
- An EU summit, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel will try to convince her eastern European partners to accept their share of asylum seekers, is planned for tomorrow.
DAVID "HAMERON"
An unauthorized biography of British Prime Minister David Cameron claims that as a university student he not only experimented with drugs but also once put his family jewels inside a dead pig's mouth as part of an initiation ceremony. Twitter is of course awash in puns about "piggate."
MY GRAND-PÈRE'S WORLD
SYRIAN WAR COULD ESCALATE
Rebels fighting against the Syrian troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters they would be faced with a tougher opposition now that Russia is boosting its support for Assad. But they've warned that it could lead to an escalation in the war if their Gulf backers also increase their military support. According to the news agency, "Rebels are evoking the Soviet failure in Afghanistan as a model for their struggle," a sign that the conflict could go on for years. The supply of Russian weaponry to the Syrian army is already enabling the government to strike ISIS in its de facto capital, Raqqa, and in Palmyra, where dozens of fighters have been killed. This comes amid reports that a group of 75 U.S.-trained rebels entered Syria from neighboring Turkey to support an anti-ISIS offensive in the Aleppo province.
WORLDCRUNCH-TO-GO
The world of rugby is not what it used to be. Artists gave way to men built like tanks, and the 2015 World Cup, kicking off in England, will take the Robocop scrum to a new low, Serge Raffy writes for L'Obs. "It's a sad statement that more and more matches look like a game of trench warfare between modern and ponderous gladiators who have but one obsession: keeping possession no matter what," he writes. "To win, you have to bury the ball deep in a pile of muscles. Make it disappear. Meaning you need big arms, Terminator biceps, so the leather ball never slips away. All the specialists agree: Rugby is now played solely with the upper body, the arms and torso. To those who don't have a Robocop-like thorax, stick to marbles. And what do we end up with? More and more stereotyped games, devoid of inspiration, blocked by strategies that paralyze the players."
Read the full article, How Rugby Became A Boring Game Of Terminator Trench Warfare.
A DEAL TO END BURKINA FASO'S CRISIS
A regional delegation seeking to end Burkina Faso's political crisis after last week's coup against interim President Michel Kafando presented a draft deal yesterday that they hope will restore calm in the country. But according to Radio France Internationale, plans to restore Kafando and to allow Blaise Compaoré, the leader deposed less than a year ago, to run in upcoming elections haven't gone down well. The African Union is expected to vote on the proposed deal tomorrow.
ON THIS DAY
Happy birthday to the man who gave us Meatballs and Caddyshack and so much more. Check out classic Bill Murray in today's shot of history.
POPE MEETS FIDEL IN CUBA
Pope Francis met former Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana yesterday in a highly anticipated visit during which the two exchanged books about religion, Cuban newspaper Granma reports. Their meeting came after the pontiff celebrated mass in front of thousands of people, and called on worshippers to serve one another and not ideology. "The importance of the person is always based on the fragility of brothers," he said. "Here we find the true fruits of humanity because he who doesn't live to serve doesn't deserve to live." Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in the United States tomorrow.
EMMY AWARD FIRSTS
Photo: Scott Varley/Los Angeles Daily News/ZUMA
Last night belonged to Game Of Thrones, as the fantasy drama won a record-breaking number of Emmy awards. Also particularly noteworthy is Viola Davis' win for best actress in a drama series for her role in How to Get Away With Murder. She's the first African American actress to win in that category.
