Eurotopics.net

The military has seized power in the Central African nation of Gabon. The coup leaders justified the move saying that elections held four days ago in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been in power since 2009, was declared the winner, were not "credible" and that the opposition was being suppressed. This is the latest in a series of coups in states that are former French colonies. Europe's press discusses similarities and differences.

Several Russian locations have been attacked by drones in recent days. A drone strike which destroyed parts of a military air base in Russia's Pskov region is making big headlines. The base is located around 700 kilometers from Ukraine, but less than 50 kilometers from Estonia. According to the Russian news agency Tass, four II-76 military transport aircraft were damaged. What are the implications of such attacks?

Belgium's State Secretary for Asylum Nicole de Moor has announced that male asylum seekers without relatives in Belgium will no longer be allowed to live in state-run accommodation for asylum seekers. The rare places in such accommodation will be reserved for families with children, she explained, adding that the men must find their own accommodation or use emergency shelters for the homeless. The move has triggered outrage in the national press.

Former Slovak foreign minister Ivan Korčok has announced his candidacy for the post of President of Slovakia. Korčok adheres to the pro-Western course of Zuzana Čaputová, who has declined to run for re-election. The Slovaks elect a new president in spring 2024, but the parliamentary election will be held on 30 September, and in this election pro-Russian ex-prime minister Robert Fico could make a comeback.