Several world leaders are formally recognizing a Palestinian state on Monday, a day after major Western powers including Britain, Canada, and Australia made the same announcement.

New York

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Several major Western powers have begun formally recognizing the state of Palestine, joining around 150 United Nations member states that already do so. Despite this recognition, Palestine currently holds only observer status at the UN, lacking voting rights, and full membership remains unlikely due to the United States' veto power in the Security Council.

Recognition is seen by some countries as a way to increase pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza and halt settlement expansion in the West Bank. For Palestinians, recognition is tied to their right to self-determination. However, practical changes remain limited, as Israel controls access to Palestinian territories and the Palestinian Authority's international status is constrained. Israeli leadership opposes statehood recognition, while some Western countries argue it supports peaceful coexistence.

What does recognition of Palestinian statehood mean?

The United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine. Amid the devastating war in Gaza, a growing number of major Western powers are formally recognizing a Palestinian state. Let's take a look at what that means for the region. Today, about 150 of the 193 United Nations member states recognize an independent Palestinian state. There is a State of Palestine delegation at the U.N., but only with observer status and no voting rights. Getting full membership will be tricky. Here's Victor J. Willey of the Middle East Institute Switzerland. Ultimately, in order to have full U.N. membership, you need the U.N. Security Council resolution. And there you have the United States that has a veto power. Palestinian diplomatic missions worldwide run by the Palestinian Authority are recognized internationally. The PA, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank under agreements with Israel. As for the Gaza Strip, that's been controlled by Hamas since it won a civil war there in 2007. Countries like Britain say the recognition of a Palestinian state puts pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war. They also want to stop Jewish settlements from taking over Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. Armed conflict researcher Wolf Christian Pease. If Palestine is recognized as a state, violation of Palestinian territories would then be considered, of course, violations of the territory of a sovereign state. France says recognition would also come with commitment by the PA for reforms, to make it a more credible partner for the post-war administration of Gaza. For Palestinians, it's about their right to exist. Houssam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission to the U.K. It is about ending the denial of the Palestinian people's inalienable right to freedom and self-determination. Palestine exists. It has always existed. And it always will. In countries recognizing its statehood, Palestinian diplomatic missions are expected to get a status upgrade to full embassies. But it's not likely those countries can open embassies in the Palestinian territories, where Israel controls access. Bilateral relations will still be limited for the PA, without a full seat at the U.N., and with its borders controlled by Israel. Still, analysts say countries may now be forced to review aspects of their ties with Israel. And those planning recognition, as well as the PA itself, say it's more than an empty gesture. I think it will be the starting gun for what we hope to be a sprint, not even a march, towards implementing the two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now said there will be no Palestinian state. He's calling Palestinian recognition a huge reward for Hamas militants who attacked Israel in October 2023. Though, in announcing its recognition, Canada said it was empowering those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. Other countries have made similar statements. The U.S. opposes the recognition move by Western allies. President Donald Trump said last year he was not sure a two-state solution is going to work.

President Trump announced Monday the FDA believes pregnant women should not take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming there could be a link between the medication and autism, despite objections from medical experts.

Washington

Trump, FDA tell pregnant women not to take Tylenol

ABC announced Monday that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return to the air Tuesday night (September 23). The network pulled the show last week following a remark from Kimmel about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel returning to air

As leaders from around the globe come together at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine continue to rage.

World leaders come together at UNGA as global tensions rise

Monday marks the second day of strike action after a similar walk-off was called on Sunday by the southern European country's largest trade union, the Italian Confederation of Labour (CGIL).

Rome

Thousands strike across Italy in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza

The Trump administration is adding $100,000 to the existing fee for H-1B visa applications, taking aim at a program that is used to attract highly skilled workers to the U.S.

Trump administration to add $100,000 fee for H-1B visas

President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi in a social media post to move forward with cases against several people connected to the U.S. government. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more.

Trump urges Pam Bondi to go after his political foes

Russia is denying that its planes entered Estonian airspace on Saturday, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, but Estonia's foreign minister is saying the government has "irrefutable evidence" of the incursion.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russia denies violating Estonian airspace

U.S. President Donald Trump was the final speaker at a politically charged memorial service for conservative activist and MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk that also included words of forgiveness from Kirk’s widow as well as remarks from the vice-president and one of Trump’s sons.

Glendale

Trump closes out Charlie Kirk memorial

Media mogul Lachlan Murdoch and business leaders Larry Ellison and Michael Dell would be involved as U.S. investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States, according to President Donald Trump speaking to Fox News channel.

Trump says Murdochs would be involved in TikTok deal

Portugal, the UK, Australia and Canada joined over 150 countries that now recognise a Palestinian state. The announcements come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in the week ahead.

Lisbon

Portugal formally recognises Palestinian state

Police say a 23-year-old was arrested and charged Sunday night with second-degree murder after one person was killed and several others were injured in a shooting at a New Hampshire country club. Witnesses say the shooter said “free Palestine” and before opening fire.

Nashua

Suspect yelled 'free Palestine' before country club shooting

President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department go after his political rivals following a shakeup in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Eastern Virginia. Willie James Inman reports.

Trump pressuring Justice Department to pursue his political foes

President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several others remembered Charlie Kirk at a memorial service in Arizona that was attended by thousands.

Phoenix

Trump, others remember Charlie Kirk at memorial service

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia officially recognized Palestine as a state Sunday, a move that has long been opposed by the U.S. and Israel. More countries are expected to do the same this week as world leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel continuing assault on Gaza after countries recognize Palestinian statehood

A group of US Republicans has sent a letter to France, Canada, the UK and Australia, urging them to re-consider their decision to recognise a Palestinian state.  It's warning there may be consequences if the countries move ahead with plan at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

US Republicans warn allies over decision to recognise Palestinian state

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday (September 21) in a move borne out of frustration over the Gaza war and intended to promote a two-state solution, but which is also bound to anger Israel and its main ally, the U.S.

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognize Palestinian state

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will address the UN on Monday, after the General Assembly voted to allow him to join remotely. The U.S. has refused to issue him a visa to attend in person.

UN approves video address by Palestine’s Abbas after U.S. visa refusal

Sixty nations have agreed to a new treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. But the strength of the deal governing the high seas is uncertain as some of the world’s biggest players - including China, the U.S., Russia and Japan - have yet to ratify.

Nations ratify world's first treaty to protect international waters

A cyberattack on a provider of check-in and boarding systems has disrupted operations at several major European airports including London's Heathrow, the continent's busiest, causing flight delays and cancellations on Saturday (September 20).

London

Travelers stranded as cyberattack disrupts major European airports

The high seas will soon have their own Conference of the Parties (COP). This new body will oversee the implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which is scheduled to enter into force in early 2026 after the legally required 120-day period.

Manhattan

Optus, Australia's second-largest telecom carrier, promised on Saturday "full cooperation" with official investigators, after an outage disrupted emergency call services for 13 hours. Four people died amid the technical failure, including an eight-week-old boy.

Melbourne

Telco vows to cooperate after deadly outage

Dozens more Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive. Amid mounting international criticism of Israel, there has been a renewed push for a two-state solution, with Portugal being the latest advocate.

Two-state solution gains support as IDF moves on Gaza City

Charlie Kirk will be mourned in a massive public memorial in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday. With U.S. President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials attending, the event is expected to bring significant security concerns.

Thousands set to attend Charlie Kirk's public memorial

Russia has launched more than 600 attacks on multiple cities across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is renewing calls for more support, and warning allies that defending Europe means defending Ukraine.

Kyiv

Russia launches mass strikes across Ukraine

A cyberattack has disrupted air traffic at several airports in Europe. Check-in and boarding systems went down in London, Brussels and Berlin. Europe’s aviation safety organisation says airlines were asked to cancel 50% of their flights to reduce pressure on the system.

Heathrow Airport

Flight chaos as UK, European airports hit by cyberattack

Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on Friday in an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, its government said, the latest in a series of recent military actions by Russia that have rattled the alliance.

Tallinn

Russian jets enter Estonia's airspace in latest test for NATO

President Trump said Friday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping "made progress" on a deal over TikTok ownership, and that he would visit China early next year.

Trump says he and Xi Jinping 'made progress' on TikTok deal

The apparent remains of Travis Decker, the man suspected of killing his three daughters in Washington state, have been located and are undergoing DNA testing. A manhunt has been underway for Decker since his daughter's bodies were found in June.

Remains of father suspected of killing 3 daughters found

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets lingered in NATO-member Estonia's airspace for several minutes on Friday, according to Estonian authorities. Italian F-35s responded.

NATO defences triggered amid Russian airspace violation

Fellow comedians Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon mocked U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled off the air on Wednesday by ABC following Federal Communications Commission pressure.

What does recognition of Palestinian statehood mean?

Breakdown

See The Full Story

Middle East Conflict