Newshour

International pressure is ramping up on Israel over the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank.

France has formally recognised a Palestinian state, becoming the latest in a wave of countries to take the step. We’ll hear from Gaza.

Also in the programme: After President Trump told pregnant women they shouldn't take paracetamol, claiming the painkiller was linked to autism, we'll hear from an autistic activist who fears it could lead to greater stigmatisation; and we'll find out why the world's most valuable company, Nvidia, has announced it's investing up to a hundred billion dollars in another tech giant for what it calls the next generation of Artificial Intelligence.

(Photo shows the seat of the Israeli delegation at the United Nations in September 2025. Credit: Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA)

President Macron of France has formally recognised a Palestinian state. He made the announcement at a UN summit aimed at rallying support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. He began his speech by calling for the release of Israeli hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.

Also in the programme: Egypt's president has pardoned the jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who played a key role in the Arab Spring uprising of 2011; and South Korea's president tells the BBC of his hopes that North Korea will pause it nuclear weapon programme.

(Photo credit: EPA)

France is due to be the latest country to recognise the state of Palestine. But could it spark a backlash from Israel? Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said recognition gives "a huge reward to terrorism".

We hear from a member of France's national assembly, and from both Israelis and Palestinians.

(Photo:The Grabels mayor's house flies the Palestinian flag next to the French and European Union flags, in Grabels, Southern France on 22 September 2025. Credit: Photo by GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA/Shutterstock)

Portugal has joined Britain, Canada and Australia in formally recognising Palestinian statehood. It comes after their growing criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza -- and is meant to revive hopes of a two-state solution to the conflict. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a Palestinian state would not happen and denounced recognition as a huge reward to terrorism. Palestinian leaders welcomed recognition. We will hear from Palestinians and an Israeli official.

Also in the programme: We will hear from the Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio about his new film; Martin Luther King the Third on political violence in America and trying to bridge the divide; and talking statues of the gardens of Versailles.

(Photo credit: PA)

The British deputy prime minister, David Lammy, has insisted that now is the right time to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of an expected announcement by London later Sunday. We hear from a Palestinian representative and Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin was murdered by Hamas on October 7th.

Also in the programme: Moldova battles online Russian propaganda; we preview the Charlie Kirk memorial service.

(Picture: People participate in a "Free Palestine" protest in support of Palestinians, in Nairobi, Kenya, September 21, 2025. Credit: Reuters)

Several major US companies are said to have advised staff on highly skilled visas not to leave the United States after the Trump administration suddenly increased the annual visa fee to a hundred-thousand-dollars. Reports say the firms - including Microsoft and Amazon - told those outside the country to return before midnight on Saturday when the rules come into effect, fearing they will be barred entry. More than 70 percent of H-1B visa-holders are Indian nationals.

Also in the programme: Russian military jets enter Estonian airspace; and President Trump steps up his pressure on Venezuela.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order. CREDIT: REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)

Sudan's military rulers have condemned a drone strike on a mosque in El Fasher city in Darfur that it says killed more than 70 people and blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the attack. The leaders said targeting the people who were performing dawn prayers is a crime that shames humanity. The RSF has been fighting to take over the city from the army, as the civil war in Sudan rages. Newshour hears from a doctor who went to the mosque in the aftermath of the attack.

Also in the programme: the Taliban removes books written by women from universities; and Estonia requests urgent NATO consultations over a violation of its airspace by Russian jets.

The remarks come after pressure from the administration led ABC to suspend late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel. Mr Kimmel made comments about the Charlie Kirk murder suspect, saying Trump supporters had tried to "characterise this kid as anything other than one of them".

Also, we speak to Omar Barghouti who co-founded the worldwide movement to isolate Israel, through boycott, sanctions and divestment; and we head to Moscow to meet some of the musicians competing in Intervision, the Kremlin's counterpoint to Eurovision.

(Photo: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return from a state visit in Britain, 18 September, 2025. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The emir of Qatar has called last week's Israeli attack on his country a cowardly act of terrorism intended to derail peace talks. For his part, the Israeli prime minister has refused to rule out more attacks on Hamas leaders. Newshour hears from Qatar and Israel.

Also in the programme: China and the US secure a possible deal on TikTok; and Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov condemns Israel's actions in Gaza.

(Picture: Journalists watch on a screen as Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, speaks during the opening of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit, to discuss the Israeli attack on Hamas on the Gulf country's soil, in Doha, Qatar. Credit :Reuters)

Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer have spoken of the enduring friendship between Britain and America, on the final day of the US president’s state visit to the UK. At a joint news conference the two leaders addressed a range of issues, including Ukraine, Gaza and illegal migration which Mr Trump suggested Britain could solve by calling in the military.

Also in the programme: A day of protests over planned budget cuts in France and we hear from Brazil's president, Lula da Silva, on his relationship with his US counterpart.

(Picture: US President Donald J. Trump (L)and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R). Credit: Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)