Eurotopics.net

Poland's media regulator has slapped a fine of just under 1.5 million zloty (around 350,000 euros) on Polish TV broadcaster TVN24. It accuses the leading independent news broadcaster of violating the rules of good reporting with its coverage of the protests that broke out in the Polish parliament over the media reform in December 2016. Last week commentators close to the PiS called for measures against anti-government media. Poland's independent media sound the alarm.

News of a breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations triggered a wave of relief last week. Brexiteers were delighted at the prospect of the start of negotiations on the UK's future trade relations with the EU. In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland many were happy with the promise that there would be no hard border. But many questions and problems still remain unresolved, Europe's journalists stress.

The price of the bitcoin has risen by 1,700 percent since the start of the year. In particular its launch on the futures market, which enables investors to speculate on the cryptocurrency's future value without purchasing actual bitcoins, has led to a new surge in its value. But investors will soon be disappointed, analysts predict.

Beijing wants to expand its "New Silk Road" and plans to invest roughly three billion Euros in infrastructural projects in Southeast Europe. A key goal is to speed up the transport of Chinese goods delivered via the Greek port of Piraeus to Central Europe. Journalists believe the cooperation could have drastic consequences for Europe and the existing world order.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is closing in on US President Trump's inner circle in the investigation into alleged Russian influence in Washington. Trump's former security adviser Michael Flynn admitted on Friday that he lied about his contacts with Russia. In the meantime media have reported that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner encouraged Flynn to seek contact. What do these developments mean for US politics?

A trial in which the Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab is testifying opened on 30 November in New York. Right at the start of the proceedings Zarrab gave evidence that compromises Turkish President Erdoğan and some of his close confidantes, claiming that they benefited or at least approved of transactions that were carried out in violation of the sanctions against Iran. The trial could prove dangerous for Turkey in several respects, commentators stress.