Eurotopics.net

The meeting of the Brics emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in August in Johannesburg will take place in the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will participate by video instead, the Kremlin has announced. The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which South Africa would have been obliged to execute, is suspected to be the reason for the cancellation. Commentators disagree about the ramifications of Putin's absence.

The advance of artificial intelligence (AI) into many existential areas of life is sparking heated debates and concern about the future. Regulatory legislation is still in the early stages. Commentators examine whether we should fear being replaced in the working world or whether art will lose its value.

The Spanish parliamentary elections on Sunday could usher in a change of government, according to the latest polls. If the conservative People's Party (PP) under opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo wins the most votes, with the support of the right-wing populist Vox party it could oust socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his left-wing coalition. Commentators speculate on the repercussions of this potential shift to the right.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative allowing exports of Ukrainian grain, which has been extended several times in recent months, expired on Monday after Moscow refused to extend it again. Ukraine, however, wants to continue delivering grain even without security guarantees. The parties mediating between Ukraine and Russia - Turkey and the UN - want to continue negotiations. Europe's press assesses the new situation.