Le Royaume-Uni vit peut-être ses derniers jours tel que vous le connaissez

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are for the first time led by parties favoring a break from the United Kingdom, and their leaders have met to demand their right to self-determination.

• The United Kingdom comprises four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland • Since 1999, the latter three have had autonomous parliaments and governments (health, education, housing) • Defence, diplomacy and constitutional matters remain managed at the British level

• Scotland and Wales cannot hold an independence referendum on their own • Britain's Supreme Court confirmed this in 2022 for Scotland • In Northern Ireland, the 1998 peace agreements allow a reunification referendum if the British government believes a majority supports it

The 1998 peace agreements were signed after 30 years of conflict between supporters of the United Kingdom and advocates of a unified Ireland.

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met for the first time in Cardiff to sign a joint statement on their right to self-determination.

• John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland • Rhun ap Iorwerth, First Minister of Wales • Michelle O'Neill, First Minister of Northern Ireland • All three from independence parties or parties favoring Irish reunification

• Affirms that their nations have the right to self-determination • No British government should be able to obstruct democracy • Calls on the British government to prepare for and facilitate future constitutional changes

• Scotland seeks a new independence vote, hoped for within two years by John Swinney • A previous vote in 2014 saw 'no' prevail with 55% of votes • Wales mainly defends greater autonomy in the short term • Northern Ireland seeks a reunification referendum, which Michelle O'Neill sees as possible by 2030

The three nations believe their future lies in the European Union and argue that Brexit has damaged their economies.

The joint statement affirms that Brexit, the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020, has damaged their economies and reduced certain opportunities.

• Scotland and Wales would like to join the EU as new independent member states • In case of reunification, Northern Ireland would join the Republic of Ireland, already an EU member

• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed his strong belief in the United Kingdom's unity • His position on Scotland has evolved: initially opposed to a referendum in July, he now considers a vote if there is clear consensus among the population • In Northern Ireland, the different mechanism leaves room for maneuver for the British government

This summit comes shortly after Donald Trump made comments favoring Irish reunification, welcomed by the independence camp.

During a visit to Ireland, American President Donald Trump said that reunifying the island would be 'fantastic' and that 'it's going to happen eventually'.

These comments were welcomed by the independence camp but were not directly commented on by the British side.

• For now, a break from the United Kingdom is not imminent • According to an expert, it is difficult to imagine a British leader formally accepting to dismantle their own country • Even with a vote, an independence majority would be needed • The signed statement does not currently change the legal status of the territories

Ursula von der Leyen announced a proposal to better protect children and teenagers on social media.

• Ban social media for under-13s • For ages 13-15: mini accounts controlled by parents, limited features, usage limited to 1 hour per day • For ages 15 and up: reinforced security measures by platforms to protect minors • Reject access to addictive features or violent and extreme content

• France had proposed a law banning social media for under-15s • The Constitutional Council struck it down for disproportionate infringement of freedom of expression • Emmanuel Macron submitted his proposals to Ursula von der Leyen

The European Commission must formalize its measures and will submit the official draft law as soon as Thursday.

At least 40,000 American bombs are set to be delivered to Israel, which continues bombing Gaza despite the ceasefire in effect since October 2025.

• $2.8 billion sale including 40,000 bombs • Including 20,000 MK84s, approximately 1-ton bombs among the most powerful in the American arsenal • Can project deadly shrapnel up to 370 meters from impact point

• The U.S. Congress could theoretically oppose arms sales but the government has ways to circumvent this rule • American weapons deliveries to Israel accelerated after October 7, 2023 • Their delivery had been suspended by Joe Biden two years ago, but Donald Trump lifted this suspension

Since October 2023, over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza according to Hamas's health ministry, the only available on-the-ground source deemed reliable by the UN.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Istanbul and Ankara since Sunday, including many LGBTQ+ activists.

• Arrests began Sunday in bars and homes of LGBTQ+ activists • Stated reasons: obscenity, aiding prostitution, financial links with foreign entities • 106 people arrested Tuesday in Istanbul for protesting these operations • 29 of them summoned before a judge Wednesday • Many accounts of human rights defenders and media outlets were blocked

• Amnesty International denounced the crackdown and called on authorities to end it • The European Union criticized the blocking of websites

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regularly targets LGBTQ+ individuals, calling them perverse and blaming them for declining birth rates; homosexuality is not criminalized in Turkey but homophobia is widespread.

Former Culture Minister Rachida Dati and ex-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn appear starting Wednesday in a corruption case.

• Rachida Dati allegedly received approximately 900,000 euros in legal fees from Renault Nissan between 2010 and 2012, while serving as a European Parliament deputy • According to judges, these payments actually served to fund lobbying activities in the European Parliament • Carlos Ghosn is accused of authorizing the payments • Carlos Ghosn, who lives in Lebanon, will be tried in absentia

Rachida Dati contests the accusations and claims she genuinely worked as a lawyer for the group, work she deemed compatible with her parliamentary mandate.

• Up to 10 years in prison for both defendants • Rachida Dati also risks an ineligibility sentence of up to 5 years • This could prevent her from serving as mayor of Paris's 7th district or running for office

The band Kneecap was removed from the opening slot of Ed Sheeran's American tour after taking multiple stances in support of Palestine.

• Removed from the MetLife Stadium stage in New York on September 4 and 5 • Had called for Palestine's liberation and wanted to remind Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank that they were not forgotten • The Boston stadium owner allegedly asked Ed Sheeran not to have them perform, accusing them of promoting antisemitic rhetoric

Ed Sheeran responded that the contract was signed with the promoter and the removal was the promoter's decision, adding that he was not complicit and had his own personal views on the conflict.

Several artists announced their departure from the tour in support, including Finneas, Lucas Grainger, Aaron Rowe, and Irish band Bijork.

A 15-year-old was found alive on September 7 off the coast of Alaska after surviving 3 days clinging to the hull of an overturned fishing boat.

• The boat capsized in the icy waters of the Bering Sea • The three men set out Friday for a fishing trip and were supposed to return Sunday morning • A fishing line allegedly got stuck in the engine before the boat capsized due to bad weather

• A Coast Guard plane spotted the overturned boat • The teenager was alone on the hull, suffering from hypothermia • He had neither eaten nor drunk since the shipwreck

His 35-year-old brother and his cousin, who were on board with him, died in the accident.