President Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a drone deal in New York on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. Photo: Emmi Syrjäniemi / Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

Finland and Ukraine have signed a defence cooperation agreement that sets the framework for producing drones and other weapons systems in Finland, as Kyiv seeks more production capacity and Helsinki expands cooperation between the two countries’ defence industries.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the agreement in New York on Wednesday during the United Nations General Assembly. Stubb had travelled to New York for the UN’s high-level week, which runs from 20 to 24 September.

President of Finland Alexander Stubb speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on September 22, 2026 in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images via AFP / Lehtikuva

President Alexander Stubb called on world leaders to recommit to international law and proposed reforms to the UN Security Council as Finland launched its bid for a seat on the body for 2029–2030. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Stubb framed the choice facing governments as one between cooperation and conflict.

“Foreign policy is about a choice. Cooperation or conflict,” Stubb told delegates.

File photo of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Tony Webster via Flickr

The United States has prepared sanctions against the International Criminal Court that would target the tribunal as an institution, expanding Washington’s existing measures against individual judges and prosecutors.

The Trump administration plans to announce the measures soon, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the preparations. The timing has not been confirmed.

Top candidate of the left-wing Die Linke (The Left) party Elif Eralp (2ndL) and party members react after the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the electoral evening event of Germany's The Left (Die Linke) party following Berlin's state elections in Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin on September 20, 2026. Photo: Jens Schlueter / AFP / Lehtikuva

Germany’s Alternative for Germany won the state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday, while far-left Die Linke finished first in Berlin, dealing another electoral setback to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union.

The AfD secured about 38.2 per cent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats on 35.5 per cent, according to preliminary results reported on Monday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the foundation stone ceremony of the Innovation and Excellence Compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on September 9, 2026. Photo: Zain Jaafar / AFP / Lehtikuva

The European Union has called on the United States to reconsider visa restrictions on Palestinian officials ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to address delegates by video.

The EU said on Saturday that it regretted the continuation of restrictions for a second year.

Greenlands capital Nuuk. Photo: Odd Andersen / AFP / Lehtikuva

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement on Arctic security that gives Washington permanent military access to Greenland and restricts military activity and sensitive investment by countries outside NATO, while keeping the territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

US President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Friday after months of pressure on Copenhagen and Nuuk over Greenland’s status. Trump had repeatedly sought US ownership of the territory and had declined to rule out military force as part of that effort.

Spain's National Police officers stand as migrants wait on the sidewalk before being registered in Loma Colmenar district of Ceuta on August 31, 2026. Photo: Antonio Sempere / AFP / Lehtikuva

The European Parliament has called for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders and closer cooperation with Morocco after mass irregular crossings into the Spanish city of Ceuta, where 141 people died at sea during events on July 30 and 31.

Lawmakers adopted the resolution on Thursday by 339 votes to 225, with 16 abstentions. The text described Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish and European cities and called for their territorial integrity to be respected.

The Netherlands will also not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster said on August 24, 2026, saying the event can "no longer be considered neutral" given divisions over the Gaza war. Photo: Sander Koning / ANP / AFP / Lehtikuva

Ireland will stay out of the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year, with public broadcaster RTÉ confirming that it will neither participate in nor broadcast the 2027 competition in Bulgaria.

RTÉ announced the decision on Thursday and said its position had not changed since Ireland withdrew from Eurovision 2026.

Sweden's Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson speaks during the Social Democrats' election night party in Stockholm on September 13, 2026. Photo: Jonas Ekstromer / TT News Agency / AFP / Lehtikuva

Sweden’s opposition has won the parliamentary election by 176 seats to 173, according to public broadcaster SVT, prompting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to submit his resignation on Thursday.

The result gives the opposition parties a three-seat advantage in the 349-member Riksdag after a count that lasted for several days. SVT’s election results showed the Social Democrats with 99 seats, the Left Party with 30, the Centre Party with 25 and the Greens with 22.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) greeting Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney during her annual keynote address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France on September 16, 2026. Photo: Christophe Licoppe / European Union / AFP / Lehtikuva

US President Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs on the European Union after Canada welcomed a proposal for closer ties with the bloc, including a new form of associate membership.

The dispute emerged as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the European Parliament that Ottawa wanted deeper cooperation with Europe on trade, defence, energy, technology and critical minerals.