Aug 30, 2026, 05:00 AM UTC

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, has publicly called for steps to prepare the ground for future national elections.

Under Ukraine's current martial law regulations, national ballots remain suspended. Government officials have consistently pointed to severe security risks, constitutional restrictions, and logistical hurdles as the primary factors preventing elections during the war. Fedorov's public comments underscore an intensifying discussion in Kyiv concerning democratic continuity and wartime governance. Ukrainian officials have not yet issued an official response to his statements.

Sources: Le Monde

Seven key contenders for France's 2027 presidential election presented their economic platforms on Thursday during an event hosted by employer federation Medef at Roland-Garros.

The three-hour session featured Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Raphaël Glucksmann, Bruno Retailleau, and Marine Tondelier. Business leaders questioned the candidates on pressing economic challenges, focusing on public debt, pension policies, wages, and fiscal restraint. The forum marked the first major collective gathering of top political figures across the spectrum ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

Sources: Le Figaro, La Tribune, Le Monde, Libération, Politico Europe (Defense).

Devastating floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border have triggered growing casualty figures and fresh disaster warnings, as overflowing debris lakes threaten further flooding. Updated casualty estimates range significantly across reporting periods, with death tolls rising from initially reported figures of 100 to over 630 people, while missing persons estimates have climbed to as many as 2,400, including hundreds of foreign tourists.

Nepalese military units, comprising nearly 1,700 personnel, carried out overnight search-and-rescue operations in hard-hit villages such as Timure and Khalte, extracting survivors from thick mud. Prime Minister Balendra Shah's administration urged foreign governments to provide financial aid rather than personnel to streamline relief logistics. Meanwhile, Italian officials confirmed that two citizens caught in the landslides are safe, while efforts continue to locate others missing in the region.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

The Czech child protection system is under intense scrutiny following official reports revealing that over 10,000 children suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation last year—a multi-decade high. Additionally, authorities removed 3,616 children from their families, an increase of 300 from the previous period.

Experts debate whether this statistical surge indicates escalating social vulnerability or improved public detection. Advocacy groups highlight a critical shortage of specialized preventive services, forcing state welfare agencies to resort to child removals rather than early family support.

Concurrently, policymakers are debating a controversial proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for severe violent offenses. While supporters claim the modern generation matures earlier, legal experts warn that "we punish children we cannot help." Meanwhile, analysts note the national education system continues to exacerbate socioeconomic disparities rather than alleviating family hardship.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.

An investigation by European broadcasters has uncovered an informal money transfer network operating through a WhatsApp group chat. The 532-member group, titled "Traders of Greater Europe", allegedly facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of euros in untraceable cash across global borders.

According to the report, the hidden system was used to fund organised crime and extremism, bypassing traditional financial institutions and leaving no paper trail. Transactions arranged through the platform reportedly sent funds to international destinations, including British cities such as London and Birmingham. Broadcasters highlighted the group's role in moving illicit cash for criminal clients.

Sources: BBC News.