Like the fearful Sicilian aristocracy in the 1958 epic novel, Europe clings to the status quo. But managed decline is not the only option

Just past the quarter-mark of the century, Europe appears to be at a turning point. For decades its share of global GDP has been shrinking and its geopolitical influence eroding. At a certain point, relative decline can turn into absolute decline. That moment may be approaching.

The US, Russia and China are openly engaged in a “scramble for Europe”. Moscow seeks to reassert hegemony in the east. Beijing wants Europe’s industry; Washington demands obedience – and Greenland. Germans have grown anxious about the future. A disoriented France can’t fix its budget. Desperate for growth, Brussels dismantles climate legislation it passed only a few years ago while bending over backwards to appease Donald Trump. Little remains of European dignity – a sense of déclassement is beginning to take hold.

Joseph de Weck is a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute

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When André Ricciardi found out he had cancer, he asked a friend to film his final years. André Is an Idiot, the result, mixes in stop-motion puppetry to create an astonishing record of an extraordinary life

When André Ricciardi turned 50, his best friend Lee made an unusual proposition: how about they go and get a colonoscopy together? The pair had reached the qualifying age for men in the US to access the health check, and Lee had visions of them farting merrily on adjacent toilets while the medication flushed out their bowels, then chatting on hospital beds as tiny cameras travelled through their anal passages. André was always up for ridiculous stuff, but on this occasion he surprised Lee: he said no.

“I was 100% shocked,” says Lee today. “I actually got jealous because I assumed he must have organised to go with somebody else!” But André had not made other colonoscopy plans. He just thought it was a crazy idea and for once, he was being sensible. That turned out to be the stupidest thing he’d ever done. Eighteen months later, perturbed by blood in his stools, André did go for a colonoscopy. It turned out he had stage 4 cancer.

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The British papers are in agreement that Keir Starmer faces a likely backlash from unhappy Labour MPs and members

The decision by Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) to block Andy Burnham from standing in a parliamentary byelection prompted a wave of headlines about Keir Starmer’s leadership and potential rifts in the party.

“Labour faces risk of party civil war after PM blocks Burnham’s return” is how the Guardian framed the vote to reject Burnham’s request to seek selection in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Burnham said he was “disappointed” by the NEC’s decision, and hit out at “the way the Labour party is being run”.

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Authorities unveil giant billboard with direct threat to US as warships head to region

Iranian authorities unveiled a new mural on a giant billboard in a central Tehran square on Sunday with a direct warning to the United States to not attempt a military strike on the country, as US warships head to the region.

The image shows a bird’s-eye view of an aircraft carrier with damaged and exploding fighter planes on its flight deck. The deck is strewn with bodies and streaked with blood that trails into the water behind the ship to form a pattern reminiscent of the stripes of the US flag. A slogan is emblazoned across one corner: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”

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Op de A20 is ter hoogte van de Blankenburgverbinding bij Vlaardingen zondagavond een automobilist de macht over het stuur verloren. Richting Rotterdam raakte de auto door nog onbekende oorzaak de vangrail aan de linkerkant.

Het is een bewolkte en koude dag vandaag met vanochtend eerst lichte vorst en vanmiddag slechts een temperatuur van 2 graden boven het vriespunt. Wel blijft het droog op deze maandag en is het rustig weer met weinig wind.

In Gaza blijven mensen sterven – door bombardementen, maar ook doordat het mensen ontbreekt aan eten, zorg en andere basisbehoeften. Terwijl de aandacht van de wereld verslapt, profiteert Israël van een gevaarlijke illusie: ‘terug naar normaal’.

An ongoing personal series of sports icons illustrations....