Eurotopics.net

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.

The EU Commission has concluded that Hungary's reforms in the fight against corruption are inadequate and has consequently recommended freezing 7.5 billion euros in funding for Budapest. At the same time, it has spoken out in favour of adopting Hungary's Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is linked to the disbursement of 5.8 billion euros in Covid aid. Europe's press comments as the EU finance ministers get ready to vote on the two recommendations.