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 cooling pond there. Moscow, for its part, claims that Ukraine is planning an attack. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has found no indications of mines or other explosives at the plant so far. Commentators discuss how dangerous the situation at Europe's largest nuclear power plant could become.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has formally apologised for his country's role in the slave trade 150 years after the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies. Members of the government did the same in Suriname and six Caribbean islands. The king's apology comes after that of Prime Minister Mark Rutte in December 2022.

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.