Catalonia declares independence from Spain

Governments and international organizations have said Myanmar's most prominent pro-democracy figure did not receive a fair trial, and accuse the ruling junta of sacking the rule of law in a bid to hold power.

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly granted an interview to FRANCE 24 and RFI in Dakar, Senegal. Parly slammed a "disinformation campaign" aimed at creating "anti-French discourse" in Africa's Sahel region, as France reorganises its military presence there. The minister said she did not believe Russian Wagner Group mercenaries were in the Malian capital Bamako, but added that "that does not mean the current Malian authorities are not planning to bring them there". The arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali would be "simply unacceptable", she said.

Many experts agree that Germany's fourth COVID wave could have been avoided, as most of the recent deaths were among people not vaccinated. DW's Luisa von Richthofen met a woman who lost two close relatives early on in the pandemic.

German automakers are being hit hard by a semiconductor chip shortage. Suppliers are affected in particular.

France's 2022 presidential race "heats up a notch" after Valérie Pécresse becomes the right's first-ever female candidate and far-right Eric Zemmour holds a "sickening" first political rally. European papers hail Pope Francis for "forcing Europe to face its contradictions" in its failure to help refugees. There's anger and disgust in the US after a Republican poses with guns, just days after a school shooting. Finally, French oysters are to get vaccinated... against herpes!

The coronavirus Delta variant is spreading across Europe, with almost all new infections in people who have not been vaccinated. Yet many still refuse to be inoculated. Healthcare workers in France and Greece will soon have to decide: either be vaccinated or face unemployment. Is it the right way to go?