What will it be like to have the UN Security Council chaired by Trump?
What did the Salzburg summit say about May’s negotiations tactics?
How should Germany react to the rise of the far right?
Did social media kill the celebrity interview?
Why is the nuclear deal not a love affair?
Cue fireworks as ‘lord of misrule’ Donald Trump chairs UN security council
The Observer
Trump will be in New York for the annual UN general assembly of world leaders. Some 84 heads of state, 44 heads of government and senior ministers from the UN’s 193 sovereign states are due to attend.
Although the UN gathering will discuss a range of worthy subjects, including poverty and climate change, drug trafficking and gender equality, all eyes will inevitably be on Trump’s antics. The White House has already indicated that his main target on Tuesday will be Iran. Trump will accuse Tehran, in trademark confrontational terms, of supporting terrorism, lying about nuclear weapons, and fomenting regional instability.
But it is the unprecedented spectacle of Trump chairing a security council session, scheduled for the following day, that could attract most attention. Since he apparently believes he is the No 1 world leader, here is his chance to prove it.
Salzburg delivers Britain home truths about Brexit
Financial Times
Brexit has reached a critical point of clarity. For the past year and a half EU negotiators have consistently said there are only two viable trading relationships for the UK after exit: continued membership of the single market and customs union (the Norway option) or a looser arrangement based on a free trade deal (the Canada route). Yet Theresa May has squandered much political capital on advocating bespoke proposals for a midway option, keeping the UK aligned to the EU for goods.
Negotiations are entering the final stages, but hard choices still lie ahead
Read more on the views on Brexit after Salzburg in this article on the Financial Times
R.I.P., the Celebrity Profile
New York Times
Since the 1960s, in-depth interviews have been a crucial part of the star-making process, but also a regular feature of high-level celebrity maintenance — artists didn’t abandon their obligations to the media just because they had reached the pinnacle of fame. Answering questions was part of the job.
This generation is one of all-access hyper-documentation, making the promise of celebrity journalism — emphasizing intimate perspective and behind-the-scenes access — largely irrelevant.
Sometimes, social media posts take the place of what was once the preserve of the tell-all interview. Today these stars have become hermetic. It’s a shame: We’ll never know the answers to the questions that aren’t asked.
Read more about the future of celebrity journalism on this article in New York Times.
The Nuclear Agreement Is Not a Love Affair
Der Spiegel
The nuclear deal with Iran is limping on even after the United States’ withdrawal. DER SPIEGEL spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about the agreement, what Europe’s options are and his country’s growing influence in the Middle East.
Keep your nerves Germany!
DW
For the first time, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party is polling ahead of the Social Democrats. The country’s political establishment must remain calm and show strength, says DW’s Jens Thurau.
