Eurotopics.net

After US troops began their withdrawal, the Turkish army on Wednesday launched a new offensive against Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Following airstrikes that went on for several hours, ground troops marched into the country in the evening. Thousands of civilians fled southward. The repercussions of this new escalation in Syria will also be felt in Europe and the US, commentators predict.

A heavily armed man shot two people in the German city of Halle on Wednesday after attempting an attack at a synagogue were worshippers were gathered for the traditional Jom Kippur festival. He posted live footage of the attack on the Internet and apparently also disseminated a far-right manifesto online before the attack. Commentators discuss the reasons for such violent anti-Semitism.

The Danish government is presenting a new security package today that among other measures foresees a massive increase in the number of CCTV cameras in public spaces. The country's press is firmly against increased surveillance.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is meeting his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar today, Thursday, to discuss the possibilities for Brexit with a deal. But in view of the British parliament and Johnson's opposition to a backstop and Ireland and the EU's determination to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, the chances of the two leaders reaching an agreement are not rated as high. The press is at odds over who is to blame.