Eurotopics.net

After a year of stalemate Israel finally has a government again: Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) will be head of government for 18 months and then Benny Gantz (Blue-White List) will take over for the next 18 months. The coalition plans to implement a peace plan proposed by US President Trump which envisages the creation of a Palestinian state but also the annexation of Jewish settlements on the West Bank. Commentators take a critical view.

The CEO of French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, Paul Hudson, caused indignation by saying that if the company succeeds in creating an effective coronavirus vaccine the US will likely have first access because of its financial support for Sanofi's research. Although Hudson has since backed down, manufacturers and politicians alike are facing the question of health and fairness.

In the US presidential election on November 3, Democratic challenger Joe Biden, ex-vice president under Barack Obama, will face Republican incumbent Donald Trump. The election campaign has so far been overshadowed by Covid-19, which has claimed more victims in the US than any other country. Against this background, what are the two candidates' chances?

Airlines plan to gradually to resume their flights to Estonia. However, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs has banned scheduled flights from Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Turkey, Russia and Belarus - countries where the government believes there is a high risk of Covid-19 infection. Estonian media are incensed by the decision.

After a break of more than two months Germany's Bundesliga is resuming play - the first top football league to do so in Europe. But football as we know it is not yet an option: the stands are empty, interviews are conducted at a distance and hugs and high-fives are forbidden. Fan organisations are criticising the spectatorless 'ghost games' and sports commentators also seem to be divided on the issue.