Eurotopics.net

After the summer break political life has resumed in the EU and is dominated by the elections to the European Parliament next May. The haggling over the top EU posts has begun, and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is pressing ahead with plans to abolish daylight saving time. Commentators observe how two opposing camps are positioning themselves for battle.

Half a year after the poison attack on the former Russian double agent Sergey Skripal and his daughter, Scotland Yard has named and posted photos of the two suspects. They are thought to be affiliated with the Russian military intelligence agency GRU, Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Wednesday evening. Does this mean the Skripal case is solved?

Denmark has been rocked by a scandal over welcome rituals at grammar schools. According to reports one of the rituals involves 15 and 16-year-old girls starting upper school being selected to be waitresses at a dinner for pupils of the graduating classes. They are made to follow a dress code that includes wearing red panties and are often subjected to sexual harassment. Danish media are appalled.

The Syrian regime and Moscow are apparently set to carry out an offensive against the last major rebel stronghold, Idlib. Damascus has gathered its troops and the Russian air force carried out preliminary strikes on Tuesday. The UN has warned that the operation could result in a humanitarian catastrophe in view of the roughly three million civilians living in the province. Commentators ask how such an outcome can be avoided.