Eurotopics.net

On 24 August 1991 the parliament of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declared its separation from the USSR and Ukraine's independence. Kiev is marking the anniversary with a big military parade and international guests such as US presidential advisor John Bolton. Just under five years after the start of the Ukraine war commentators paint a grim picture of the country.

Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen has incriminated the president while under oath, admitting that hush money was paid to two women who wanted to make their affairs with Trump public during the election campaign in 2016 - in violation of campaign financing laws. In a separate hearing, Trump's ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort was found guilty on various counts of fraud. Will Trump manage to stay in the White House?

This summer's droughts have ruined harvests in many places in Europe, with huge losses for farmers. In Germany, the state has promised its support, and the EU Commission has also pledged financial aid. While some commentators believe farmers should adopt new practices others make the point that consumers and retailers also need to change their ways.

In a televised interview Liviu Dragnea, the leader of Romania's ruling party PSD, has claimed that he was the target of a murder attempt in 2017 and implied that US billionaire George Soros was behind it. According to prosecutors, however, the case was never reported. Newspapers in Romania doubt the veracity of the allegation and wonder what Dragnea could be up to.

Trumps Ex-Anwalt Cohen hat den US-Präsidenten vor Gericht schwer belastet: An zwei Frauen, die ihre Affären mit Trump im Wahlkampf 2016 öffentlich machen wollten, seien Schweigegelder geflossen und damit sei gegen Gesetze zur Wahlkampffinanzierung verstoßen worden. Wahlkampfmanager Manafort wurde zudem wegen diverser Finanzvergehen schuldig gesprochen. Kann sich Trump noch länger im Amt halten?