French President Emmanuel Macron announced at the UN General Assembly that France officially recognizes the state of Palestine. This decision was made to preserve the possibility of resolving the conflict based on the two-state solution.
Louis Vuitton has unveiled two exclusive cases for storing the Ballon d'Or awards, which will be presented at the 69th ceremony on September 22, 2025. The cases are adorned with Monogram canvas and a golden V motif, symbolizing "Victory" and "Vuitton."
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the confiscation of frozen Russian assets contradicts international law and could lead to "complete chaos. " He emphasized that international obligations cannot be ignored even in the situation of the war in Ukraine.
The French championship match between "Paris Saint-Germain" and "Marseille" has been postponed to Monday evening due to a storm, coinciding with the Ballon d'Or ceremony. This will prevent PSG players, including 10 nominees, from attending the event.
Great Britain, Canada, and Australia have officially recognized the state of Palestine. The prime ministers of these countries made relevant statements, emphasizing the desire for peace and conflict resolution through the creation of two states.
The Russian Federation has deployed a large-scale network of fake websites called CopyCop, using AI to create fabricated news. These sites target the US, France, Canada, and Norway with the aim of discrediting politicians and radicalizing public sentiment.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce the official recognition of Palestine as a state on Sunday. This comes after Israel rejected his statement, and Benjamin Netanyahu accused Starmer of justifying Hamas terrorism.
French President Emmanuel Macron instructed the Minister of Justice to improve the response to antisemitism and its new forms. This happened on the eve of Paris's announced recognition of Palestine.
The International Skating Union (ISU) mistakenly published a video of "neutral" figure skater Petr Gumennik's performance set to a Ukrainian song by the band Kazka. The video was removed, and the ISU apologized for the inappropriate music choice.
The Estonian Defence Forces published a map of the flight of Russian MiG-31 fighter jets, which on September 19 entered the country's airspace without permission for 12 minutes. The planes flew from east to west, parallel to the Estonian border, without flight plans and with transponders turned off.
Federal law enforcement officers in Chicago used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse about 100 protesters near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. Demonstrators tried to block the entry and exit of government SUVs and chanted the name of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was fatally shot by an immigration officer.
A high-ranking French military-space official has reported an increase in hostile activity in space, particularly from Russia, reflecting conflicts on Earth. Western countries note the rapid development of China's space programs and the increasing number of anti-satellite weapons in orbit.
The United Kingdom has expanded sanctions against Russia, adding two oil tankers and Georgian politicians to the list. These measures are aimed at limiting the financing of the war in Ukraine and countering pro-Russian disinformation.
On September 18, 309 participants of mass protests against cuts in state benefits were detained in France, which covered more than 700 settlements. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau noted that the actions were less intense than expected, thanks to the preventive presence of more than 6,000 law enforcement officers.
Today marks Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, Smiley Face Birthday, and International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Orthodox Christians also commemorate the blessed Grand Prince of Kyiv and Chernihiv, Igor.
Alla Belinska became the world champion in wrestling in the weight category up to 72 kg at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb. This is the first world gold in the athlete's career and the first for Ukrainian wrestlers at this championship.
The Ukrainian national team dropped to 28th place in the FIFA ranking, losing two positions after defeats in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Spain topped the ranking for the first time since 2014, displacing Argentina.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a lawsuit against American far-right influencer Candace Owens, who claimed that the French first lady was a man at birth. The couple promises "scientific" evidence to refute the defamation.
In France, trade unions have announced a nationwide strike against cuts in state benefits. Over 800,000 people are expected to join the protests in 250 cities on September 18, posing the biggest challenge yet for new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate held a private meeting with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania. Trump was an admirer of Prince William, highly praising their conversation.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed support for the deployment of nuclear capabilities in his country, counting on France. He emphasized that Poland should be involved in the nuclear weapons deployment program.
The European Commission is developing plans to use frozen Russian assets to provide €170 billion in reparations loans to Ukraine. These plans involve transferring Russian cash to Ukraine without formally seizing the assets.
The head of the CCD, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that European armies are not ready for a modern technological war with Russia, as they are poorly acquainted with the realities of drone warfare. He noted that Moscow uses Europeans' fear of war to exert pressure, and also supports pro-Russian politicians in Europe.
This summer, climate change caused 16,500 deaths in European cities, more than three times the projected statistics. The study covered 854 urban areas where temperatures were 3.6°C higher.
The head of the occupation administration, Denis Pushilin, met with foreign journalists and politicians from various countries. The Center for Countering Disinformation notes that these are marginal figures, and Russian propaganda uses such events to spread fabrications.
Sunflower oil prices are rising due to an expected low harvest in Europe and a dry summer, leading to reduced production. Experts predict that oil production in 2025–2026 will be below the average of the last five years.
Spain has joined the countries threatening to boycott Eurovision-2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. This is the first country from the "Big Five" to put forward such a condition, which could influence the organizers' decision.
Greece, Italy, France, Hungary, and Spain blocked the EU decision to restrict visas for Russian citizens. Greece vetoed this decision for the first time since 2022, citing economic benefits from Russian tourists.
On September 16, the first round of the 2025/2026 Champions League begins, where for the first time since the 2005/2006 season there are no Ukrainian clubs. However, Ukrainian footballers will play as part of European teams, including Trubin, Sudakov, Lunin, and Zabarnyi.
Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, called on NATO to step up efforts to be ready for war and expressed confidence that the Russian drone attack on Poland on September 10 was directed from Moscow. He supported Donald Trump's call for NATO countries to stop importing Russian oil.
