Eurotopics.net

A 19-kilometre bridge now connects the Russian mainland with Crimea, allowing vehicles to cross to the peninsula annexed four years ago by Russia. The US and the EU have criticised the project as they consider Crimea to be still part of Ukraine. What is Moscow trying to prove with this bridge?

A meeting between German national football team players Mesut Özil and İlkay Gündoğan and the Turkish president has provoked outraged reactions from the German public. Photographs of the two presenting Erdoğan with jerseys were interpreted as a show of electoral campaign support for the AKP leader.

The EU wants to adhere to the nuclear deal signed with Iran despite Trump's decision to pull out. EU Foreign Affairs Representative Federica Mogherini described the deal as "decisive for security in the region, in Europe and in the world". Journalists comment on a situation in which new alliances are being forged and hope Europe will stand up to the US.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate end to the "hostile acts" between Iran and Israel. Israeli forces bombed Iranian military targets in Syria on Wednesday night, after Israeli border posts on the Golan Heights were attacked from there. Commentators criticise Europe's unwillingness to intervene in the conflict.

A few days after fresh elections were under discussion the coalition negotiations between the far-right Lega Nord and the Movimento Cinque Stelle are now making progress. The two parties have announced their intention of working out a joint programme and a plan for the new cabinet by Monday. This is not necessarily good news for Europe, commentators say.