Eurotopics.net

The repeated shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which has been occupied by the Russian army since the beginning of March, is causing alarm worldwide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a nuclear disaster. According to media reports, Russia has now said it will allow international experts to inspect the plant. Europe's press tries to work out how far Putin is willing to go with this game.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has appointed a caretaker government to lead the country until snap parliamentary elections are held in October. The move comes after the liberal-socialist coalition of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov was toppled by a vote of no confidence after only half a year in power. Bulgarian commentators see hard times ahead for the country.

The US is in turmoil after it emerged that the FBI searched Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The former president has accused President Joe Biden of being aware of the operation and his supporters have taken to the streets to protest. Commentators in Europe take different views of this unprecedented step.

In Madrid, wholesalers can't keep up with ice cube deliveries and restaurants are struggling to meet demand. Now reports about shortages have triggered panic buying. Commentators recall the empty toilet paper shelves at supermarkets during the pandemic and suspect genuine fears underneath the ironic tone of this summer debate.

Across Europe, farmers are grappling with the consequences of drought this summer: in Romania, for example, sunflowers and maize are drying up in the fields, and in Italy's Po Valley the rice harvest has been written off entirely. In almost all of France's 96 departments there are already restrictions on drinking water. Europe's media examine the omissions of the past.