Brazil's Supreme Court has imposed a nationwide block on the online social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The platform has refused to block accounts that spread conspiracy theories and fake news and to pay outstanding fines and appoint a legal representative in the country. Its owner Elon Musk says the court's orders hinder freedom of expression. Commentators praise the courage of the Brazilian judiciary.
A proposal in the run-up to the autumn meeting of the Swedish Church has caused a commotion: members of the Church have called for the tradition of the father leading the bride down the aisle to be banned on the grounds that it stems from a patriarchal system which is no longer in keeping with modern society. Commentators say the issue raises legitimate questions, but call for balanced responses.
The European press is closely following developments ahead of Sunday's state elections in Saxony and Thuringia. Commentators are seeking explanations for the high poll ratings of the AfD, which is classified as a suspected right-wing extremist party by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and the new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). There is also advice on hand for what will likely be complicated coalition negotiations after the votes are counted.
Israel has launched a major military operation in the West Bank; at least nine Palestinians have been killed so far, apparently including a Hamas fighter. The UN sharply criticised the operation for causing unnecessary loss of life and called for the protection of civilians. Israel has declared that it is looking for those behind an attempted suicide bombing on 18 August and has accused Iran of trying to establish a terrorist network in the West Bank.
Telegram boss Pavel Durov, who was arrested in Paris, has been released on bail for five million euros, however, he is not allowed to leave France. The French judiciary has accused the billionaire, who has Russian and French citizenship, of assisting and complicity in serious offences, including child pornography, which were coordinated via Telegram; proceedings against him have been initiated.
Poland's state election commission has withdrawn the election campaign subsidy from the right-wing conservative PiS party and barred it from receiving government political party funding for three years. The commission found several points in the bookkeeping for last year's parliamentary election campaign to be questionable, in particular the misuse of state funds for party purposes. What are the consequences?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to open up a new chapter in relations between his country and Germany. However this new start does not aim to reverse Brexit, he explained during his inaugural visit to Berlin. Closer cooperation is planned, particularly in the areas of trade, defence and migration. Commentators consider what this means for the two countries and for Europe.
Following the extensive attack on large areas of Ukraine by Russian missiles and drones, the Nato-Ukraine Council met on Wednesday. The Nato states pledged greater support for Kyiv but were still unable to agree on lifting the remaining restrictions on using Western weapons against Russia. Russia launched the attacks in response to Kyiv's offensive in Kursk and is also advancing further in the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law banning religious organisations from having links with Russia. They have been given nine months to put an end to such ties, failing which they will face a ban. The law first and foremost targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - not to be confused with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine - which has been formally independent since 2022 but is considered to be affiliated with Moscow.
On the pretext that Ukraine has stationed up to 120,000 troops on the border to his country Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenka has now deployed his military in the Gomel region, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported. Kyiv has warned Minsk not to make a tragic mistake and succumb to pressure from Moscow, demanding that the Belarusian troops be pulled back beyond the firing range of their missiles.
A good two months ahead of the US presidential elections, European commentators are debating what candidate Kamala Harris stands for. At the close of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, she explained that she wanted to overcome the divisive conflicts of the past and to bolster the middle classes in particular. Harris called for a ceasefire in the Middle East and said that she would not pander to tyrants like Kim Jong-un.