360 bishops and other members of the Catholic Church have been discussing the Church's future over the last month at the Global Synod in Rome. A particularly controversial issue was the extent to which the Church should democratise and give women access to official positions within its institutions. Commentators discuss whether the final document offers cause for optimism or is in fact a setback for those calling for reforms.
Odair Moniz, a Portuguese citizen of African origin, was shot dead by a police officer in Lisbon on 21 October under circumstances that remain unclear. The incident triggered several days of unrest and rioting. On Saturday there were parallel marches in solidarity with the victim on the one hand and by the right-wing party Chega, which came out in defence of the police, on the other. Commentators take a look at the two demonstrations.
During a town hall event hosted by CNN on Wednesday, Kamala Harris said she agreed with the assessment that her rival in the race for the US presidency, Donald Trump, is a fascist. Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly had previously told the New York Times that in his opinion Trump "fits the definition of a fascist". Commentators see reasons to criticise Trump's behaviour but urge caution regarding this particular accusation.
The meeting of representatives from the nine members of the Brics alliance and other states potentially interested in membership in the Russian city of Kazan came to an end on Thursday. The alliance aims to create a multipolar world order. Europe's press discusses to what extent the group can be considered a counterweight to the "global West" and what the participation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signifies.
At least five people were killed and 22 others injured in an attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) in Ankara. Turkey has blamed the Kurdish PKK and responded with drone attacks on PKK positions in northern Iraq and northern Syria. Commentators discuss whether the timing of the attack was relevant in terms of the motives.
Georgia will elect a new parliament on Saturday. While Georgians have repeatedly expressed clear support for the path towards EU accession in polls, the Georgian Dream party which has been in power since 2012 recently pushed through laws resembling those in Russia that restrict the rights of the opposition and civil society. The EU responded by putting the country's accession process, which began at the end of 2023, on hold.
Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen has died in the US. The founder of the Hizmet movement has been deemed a major opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2013. His movement founded educational institutions in Turkey in the 1960s, and many of his followers went on to join the civil service. Charged with attempting to overthrow the secular state, Gülen left Turkey for the United States in 1999 and had lived in exile there ever since.
At their summit in Brussels, the EU member states have decided to "urgently" revise current legislation to speed up deportations of migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected. "New ways" to combat irregular migration are also to be considered. The setting up of asylum centres in third countries like those operated by Italy in Albania was also discussed. Europe's press takes stock.
Serbia has been an EU accession candidate since 2012. Now Croatian MEP Tonino Picula has been appointed as the permanent rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia. However the member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is unpopular in Serbia owing to his stance on Balkan issues. Does this make him unsuitable for the post?
The British House of Commons is debating a bill that would facilitate assisted dying. Under the draft law, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live who express the wish to die would be able to receive medical assistance once this has been confirmed by two doctors and a court. The parliamentary groups did not instruct MPs on how to vote, but Keir Starmer's Labour government supports the initiative. A similar bill was rejected by Parliament in 2015.
The citizens of the Republic of Moldova have voted by a knife-edge majority of 50.4 percent in favour of writing EU accession into the constitution as an irrevocable goal. The first round of the presidential election, which took place simultaneously, failed to produce a decisive result. Incumbent president Maia Sandu - who claims there is evidence that pro-Russian forces bought votes - faces a run-off vote. Europe's press takes a closer look.