At a conference in New York on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France's recognition of Palestine as an independent state, describing this as a necessary step on the path to peace. Canada, the UK, Australia and Portugal had already recognised Palestine shortly before, while Belgium and Monaco made the move after France. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss an end to the Gaza war and the goal of a two-state solution.
As the mood on the world stage shifts from diplomacy and international cooperation towards aggression and isolation, world leaders are meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York today. Eighty years after its founding, the United Nations seems less influential than ever. What role does the organisation play in today's world?
Russian fighter jets reportedly violated Estonian airspace last Friday. According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the incursion by the three MIG-31 aircraft lasted twelve minutes. Tallinn has requested consultations under Article 4 of the Nato treaty. Russia has denied any violation of Estonia's airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained that his country would not hesitate to shoot down intruding fighter jets.
Since he began his second term as US president, Donald Trump has been taking action against journalists and media outlets that he claims spread lies or are biased against him. Only recently, a court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Trump against the New York Times, and he has threatened to have the broadcasting licences of TV stations ABC and NBC revoked. Commentators discuss the consequences of this policy.
Tens of thousands of people attended a public memorial service for murdered right-wing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. US President Donald Trump described the influencer as a "martyr for American freedom" and repeated his claim that the "radical left" was responsible for the murder. Europe's press voices concern.
Published by the former President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi on 9 September 2024, the report on the future of EU competitiveness was supposed to bring growth, stability and resilience, setting out numerous proposals to put the EU on a solid footing. Commentators take stock one year later and reach a sobering conclusion.
US broadcaster ABC has cancelled the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live. On Monday's programme Kimmel commented on the killing of Charlie Kirk and suggested that Trump's allies were trying to exploit the murder. The US president himself praised the move, which leading Democrats have criticised. Commentators take a look at how freedom of expression is faring in the land of liberty.
Hundreds of thousands of people went on strikes and demonstrated across France on Thursday to protest the government's austerity plans. Local transport was severely disrupted, many schools and pharmacies remained closed and blockades were organised at companies. Commentators see the country facing major problems.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact, whereby an attack on one of the countries will be considered an attack on both. The agreement comes days after Israel's attack on Hamas representatives in Qatar. Commentators see potential power shifts across the region.
US President Donald Trump has ended his state visit to the UK with the signing of a multi-billion-dollar trade agreement. The deal will involve mutual investments of around 300 billion euros, Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at a joint press conference on Thursday. Trump had also been received with much pomp by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on the first day of his visit. Commentators take stock.
A commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has published a report which concludes that four of the five criteria for genocide listed in the UN Genocide Convention have been fulfilled: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing measures to prevent births. Reactions in the European press are mixed.
During his inaugural visit to Berlin, the new Polish President Karol Nawrocki reiterated Poland's demand for compensation of 1.3 trillion euros for the period of German occupation during the Second World War. Both German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rejected the demand, saying that in Germany's view the matter is closed from a legal perspective. Commentators take a closer look.