Eurotopics.net

Exactly 180 years after crude oil was successfully drilled for the first time ever in Baku, the COP29 world climate conference is taking place there. The focus is on the question of how to finance global climate measures - especially now that the US is considered an uncertain partner following Donald Trump's election victory.

On the evening of 9 November 1989, the authorities of the communist German Democratic Republic opened the border crossing points to West Germany and West Berlin. Less than a year later, Germany was unified and the East-West conflict seemed to be a thing of the past. The historic date prompts Europe's press to take a critical look at old and new dividing lines.

Almost two weeks after flash floods that claimed more than 200 lives, over one hundred thousand people took to the streets in Valencia and other Spanish cities on Saturday calling on regional president Carlos Mazón to resign over his late and inadequate response to the disaster. Commentators analyse the demands.

After the collapse of the traffic light coalition between the the Social Democrats (SPD), Liberals (FDP) and Greens, Germany seems to be heading for new elections. Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to wait until January to call a vote of confidence and put other important decisions to parliament in the meantime, but opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) is pushing for elections as soon as possible. Europe's press looks on in concern, but also sees opportunities.