Eurotopics.net

The collapse of Kakhovka Dam is widely seen in Ukraine and the West as an act of war by Russia, and the resulting devastation as an act of aggression. Among Russia's neighbours, concerns are now mounting that their own dams and other critical infrastructure may not be adequately protected.

In Annecy in eastern France, six people including four toddlers were injured in a stabbing attack on Thursday. Two are currently in a critical condition. The attacker, a Christian from Syria, shouted "Jesus Christ" before the attack. The attack drew immediate calls for a stricter immigration policy from the far right and on social networks. France's press makes a first assessment of the events.

The deficits in the provision of medical emergency care have reached dramatic proportions in Greece. On the popular tourist island of Kos, a woman died in a pick-up truck that was transporting her to hospital on Sunday. The island's sole functioning ambulance was unavailable. A few days later a 19-year-old pregnant woman near Athens and a tourist in Chalkidiki died after having to wait too long for an ambulance.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River has resulted in the flooding of vast areas of land in Ukraine and deprived thousands of people of their livelihoods. Many have sought refuge on rooftops and are waiting to be evacuated. Unease is growing about the colossal impact on the environment, drinking water supplies, agriculture and the cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. Commentators are also concerned.

The plans for a reform of the European asylum system could take concrete form at a meeting of EU interior ministers today. The proposals under discussion are, however, highly contentious: they envisage even stricter rules on migrants without real prospects of staying and mandatory solidarity with the overstretched states on the EU's external borders - either through refugee admissions or financial compensation.