Jul 24, 2026, 05:00 PM UTC

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially appointed Jürgen Klopp as the new head coach of the German men's national team, signing a contract running until 2030. The 59-year-old takes over on August 15, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann, who stepped down following Germany's round-of-16 elimination at the 2026 World Cup.

During his official presentation at the DFB campus in Frankfurt, Klopp described accepting the role as "a great honor," while also issuing a warning to media regarding his family's privacy.

Additionally, former national player Per Mertesacker will join the DFB as managing director of sport starting in January 2027. Mertesacker, who also signed a contract through 2030, will succeed Andreas Rettig following a transition period.

Sources: 444, Marca, Tagesschau

Hungarian Minister of Economy and Energy István Kapitány announced the dismissal of Gergely Jákli from his role as chief executive officer of Paks II Nuclear Power Plant Ltd. Kapitány delivered the statement via social media, confirming that Jákli’s tenure at the head of the expansion project company had come to an end.

The minister added that the name of the new chief executive officer will be made public on Friday afternoon. No immediate details were provided regarding the specific reasons for Jákli's removal or the selection process for his successor. The Paks II project involves the planned expansion of Hungary's sole commercial nuclear power plant.

Sources: 444.

At the Tusványos summer festival, Hungarian politician Zsolt Semjén acknowledged that the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) shifted toward the far right due to broader global political dynamics. Speaking during a panel discussion, the former deputy prime minister addressed an internal debate document proposing greater independence for the party following a recent electoral setback.

Semjén expressed support for the proposal, arguing that the party needs renewed autonomy to redefine its position. The remarks point to ongoing discussions regarding the party's future identity within Hungary's political landscape.

Sources: 444.

Imprisoned Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunash criticized the Azerbaijani government's suppression of independent journalism during an interview with AbzasMedia marking National Press Day. Elgunash, currently serving her second Press Day in detention, stated that the authorities fear free speech and seek complete control over information. Meanwhile, a report published by the Clooney Foundation for Justice's TrialWatch initiative concluded that the prosecution of AbzasMedia journalists violated international fair trial standards. The report characterized the judicial proceedings as an instance of "rule by law" rather than the rule of law, designed to silence critical voices and dismantle independent media in Azerbaijan.

Sources: Meydan TV

An Azerbaijani state prosecutor has requested long prison sentences for election monitoring activist Anar Mammadli and civic activist Anar Abdulla at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes.

During a court hearing on July 24 presided over by Judge Aygun Gurbanova, the prosecution demanded a 14-year prison term for Mammadli, who heads the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, and a 13-year sentence for Abdulla. The state prosecutor also called for both men to be barred from holding certain public or official positions for three years following their release.

The proceedings have been adjourned, with the court scheduled to reconvene on August 7.

Sources: Meydan TV