Eurotopics.net

In a speech to the US Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US for its help so far, saying he hoped Congress would continue to provide Ukraine with bipartisan support; as of January the Republicans will have a majority in the House of Representatives. Europe's press takes stock of Zelensky's first trip abroad since the Russian invasion of his country in February.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have banned women from attending university. Female students will be excluded from university education with immediate effect. The country's Minister of Higher Education Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadim justified the decision by saying that allowing women to study was contrary to the Taliban's Islamic interpretation of the law - among other things because women often come to cities to study unaccompanied.

In its longest ever session, the Scottish Parliament on Thursday passed a new bill which will allow transgender people aged 16 and older to apply for legal recognition of their gender without the need for a medical diagnosis. On the same day, the government of Switzerland, the Federal Council, opposed the introduction of the category "Diverse" on identity documents. A fierce debate over the issue is raging in both countries.

There are festive meals to be planned, and gifts and Christmas trees to be bought, while at the same time war and inflation are weighing on our minds. Many people in Europe will no doubt find it especially hard to be merry over this festive season. But the pre-Christmas stress will still pay off, some commentators predict.