Eurotopics.net

More and more companies are luring consumers with sales offers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday before the Christmas shopping season actually begins. Commentators take a critical look at the shopping frenzy mentality that is often encouraged by e-commerce.

According to a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada, Russia has intentionally manipulated doping test results. Its compliance review committee has therefore recommended that Russian athletes be banned from participating in all major sports competitions for four years - an unprecedentedly harsh punitive measure. The final decision is to be made in December. Is a ban justified, and does it make sense?

The European Parliament has elected Ursula von der Leyen as the new President of the EU Commission with nine votes more than she needed. Since the heads of government ignored the actual lead candidates for the top EU post many MEPs only decided to vote for the German politician at the last minute. Reactions in the press to her election are divided.

After ten months in office France's Environment Minister François de Rugy has resigned over a spending scandal. According to French online magazine Mediapart Rugy invited guests to lavish dinners on several occasions at the expense of the state. De Rugy has announced that he will bring an action for libel. Was he condemned prematurely?

Donald Trump tweeted that four rising Democrats should go back to where they come from and solve problems there instead of trying to tell the US what to do. Although he mentioned no names, he was clearly referring to four Congresswomen of colour known as "the squad". For commentators, the episode speaks volumes about the current state of US politics.