Eurotopics.net

Protests against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad have gained momentum in recent days. The devaluation of the currency and the scrapping of subsidies for fuel are exacerbating resentment among the population - and not only in the opposition's traditional strongholds. In the southern city of Suweida, for example, the local news station has reported protests with hundreds of people such as haven't been seen since 2011.

The evidence that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead is growing stronger. Russia's Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the plane that crashed on Wednesday and President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to Prigozhin's family. However, investigations are still ongoing and rumours are circulating that the whole incident was staged. Europe's press discusses the political fallout.

At their summit in South Africa, the five Brics countries have selected six new members from among a number of applicants. On 1 January 2024, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Argentina and Ethiopia will join the group of states, which sees itself as representing the "Global South" and will be called Brics+ in future. What to make of the expansion?

According to a new report by Human Rights Watch, Saudi border guards have killed several hundred migrants since the beginning of 2022. Most of them came from Ethiopia and were trying to flee their war-torn country and cross into Saudi Arabia via Yemen. For commentators, this, together with other serious human rights violations, means it's high time for a different approach vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia.