Eurotopics.net

The UN Security Council concluded its meeting on Saturday without passing a resolution on Syria. Last week tensions between Washington and Moscow had already escalated over the situation in the country. The press finds the situation very worrying.

Hungary's biggest opposition newspaper Népszabadság was closed in a surprise move on Saturday. The owner announced that the paper was losing too much money, but the employees claim the closure was a putsch. The liberal daily was unflagging in its critical reporting on the Orbán government. Should Hungary fear the loss of its press freedom?

Speaking at the Tory Party Conference last week Theresa May promised more social justice. Interior Minister Amber Rudd announced plans to limit the number of work migrants taking jobs in the country. The UK is losing its status as a model for multicultural living, some commentators lament. Others hope Brexit will trigger economic reorientation.

The Portuguese politician António Guterres is poised to become the new UN secretary-general. After the Security Council voted in favour of the former head of the UNHCR his confirmation by the General Assembly is seen as a mere formality. Some observers are delighted to see that he won out against the candidate backed by Berlin and Brussels.

Washington has broken off talks with Moscow regarding a ceasefire in Syria due to the continued airstrikes on Aleppo. Prior to the announcement Russia had let it be known that it would suspend the pact with the US over the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium. How dangerous is the confrontation between the two great powers?

The government in Paris wants to buy 15 high-speed TGV trains to prevent the partial closure of the Alstom plant in the eastern French city of Belfort - and the loss of 400 jobs. The French train operator SNCF has indicated it has no need for the trains. Can the Belfort plant be saved? French commentators take opposing views of the crisis.