European Union

This global tax rate for multinationals could yield up to €64bn annually. Yet, the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán has been blocking it for months. The impotency of the EU to strike a deal is irresponsible and incomprehensible.

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MEPs reached a provisional deal with Council on new measures protecting consumers from credit card debt, overdrafts and loans unsuitable for their financial situation.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

MEPs reached a provisional deal with Council on new measures protecting consumers from credit card debt, overdrafts and loans unsuitable for their financial situation.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

During the French President's state visit to the US, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron demonstrated unity and assured Ukraine of their joint support. Immediately before the meeting Macron had described the US subsidies for American producers of environmentally friendly technologies as "super aggressive". Commentators fear a new trade dispute in which Europe will be at a disadvantage.

Following air strikes against the Kurdish PKK and YPG in Syria and Iraq, Turkey is now considering deploying ground troops there. Ankara has justified the strikes saying they are a reaction to the attack in Istanbul's İstiklal pedestrian shopping street, although both Kurdish militias have denied being behind the bombing. For many media outlets, the reasons for Turkey's strikes lie elsewhere.

In Russia, the regulations on "foreign agents" (inoagenty) were tightened on 1 December. Among other things, documented financing from abroad is no longer necessary for a person or organisation to be classified as such. All it takes is for the authorities to declare that they are "under foreign influence". In addition, there is now a public central register listing the 350 or so persons and organisations currently affected.

The artisanal know-how and culture of the French baguette has now been added to the Unesco "intangible cultural heritage" list. Each baker creates a unique product from the four ingredients flour, water, salt and yeast, the application stated. The national press examines the social aspects of the baguette.