International

• Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard will visit New York from September 22 to 26 for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. • The organization argues that the United Nations is currently at one of its most critical junctures since its founding over 80 years ago. • This advocacy emphasizes that the next UN Secretary-General must be a staunch defender of international law to address mounting global threats.

• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized global powers that violate international law while holding seats on the UN Security Council. • Guterres explicitly called for a redistribution of power to address current geopolitical divides. • This critique highlights a systemic tension where the bodies responsible for global security are composed of nations accused of breaking the rules they enforce.

• Several countries, including Nepal, Singapore, Israel, Romania, South Korea, and Chile, have submitted their official entries for the 2027 Academy Award for best international feature film. • Turkey selected the social drama "Like a Limbless Tree," directed by Tunç Davut, as its official representative for the competition. • These submissions determine which global films will compete for one of cinema's most prestigious awards, impacting international distribution and visibility for the filmmakers.

• A new 34-country survey released ahead of the United Nations General Assembly found that preventing wars and conflicts is the top priority for international cooperation. • Support for global cooperation rose to 61% in wealthier economies but fell to 53% in developing economies this year. • These shifting priorities indicate a growing divergence in how different economic regions view the effectiveness of global partnerships.

• The euro area recorded a €14.2 billion surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in July 2026. • Exports of goods rose 9.0% compared to July 2025, reaching a total of €276.0 billion. • This increase in the trade surplus indicates stronger export performance for European markets compared to the €10.7 billion surplus seen in the previous year.

• The UK Cinema Association and other European nations reported record-breaking summer movie theater attendance. • More than 17 million people visited cinemas in the UK last month alone. • Strong attendance figures in France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands indicate a recovery for the European theatrical market.

• An international court in The Hague sentenced former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison for war crimes committed during the 1990s conflict with Serbia. • The Trial Panel acquitted Thaçi of crimes against humanity because prosecutors failed to prove a widespread or systematic attack against civilians. • This ruling establishes criminal responsibility for high-level leadership during the violent break from Serbia.