European Union

Following parliamentary elections in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative Likud party and its right-wing and religious coalition partners have won a majority of seats in the Knesset, prevailing against challenger Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White alliance. The Israeli prime minister is facing charges in three cases of corruption, however. Commentators explain Netanyahu's latest election victory.

In Estonia the Centre Party led by Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, the nationalist Ekre party and the conservative Isamaa party have signed a coalition agreement. Ratas rejected a grand coalition with the Reform Party, which won the election. Some commentators are upset that he is teaming up with the far right. Others point to the contradictions in this coalition.

For the first time a group of researchers has succeeded in producing a photo of a black hole. The image was obtained using data from the global network of radio telescopes Event Horizon. Black holes are extremely massive and exert colossal gravitational force. What does the photo mean for science and humanity?

The EU has presented ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence. Businesses, research institutes and authorities will now test the guidelines in a pilot phase after which legislation is to be drawn up. Politics and society are still far too passive when it comes to shaping the future, commentators complain.

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP