Eurotopics.net

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned of the danger of a Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station and says that Russian forces have mined the plant's cooling pond. President Zelensky said on Tuesday that objects resembling explosives had been placed on the roofs. Meanwhile Moscow claims that Ukraine is planning an attack on the plant. Commentators are divided on how dangerous the situation really is.

There were fierce clashes between demonstrators and police in French cities on Thursday night, including in the Paris suburb of Nanterre after a march in memory of 17-year-old Nahel, who was shot and killed during a traffic check on Tuesday. Police checks in France have repeatedly resulted in deaths and riots. Commentators draw parallels and call for consequences.

A Court of Appeals has ruled that the UK is not allowed to outsource asylum procedures to Rwanda, as had been decided in 2022. It judged that Rwanda cannot be considered a safe third country because deficiencies in the asylum procedure there could lead to legitimate asylum seekers being deported to their countries of origin. The decision can still be appealed to the UK's Supreme Court.

The press in the West and all over the world is rife with speculation about how Putin will deal with those within his own ranks who were implicated in the aborted Wagner uprising. The disappearance of General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine who according to press reports has been imprisoned on suspicion of complicity is further fueling speculation.