Eurotopics.net

The last Friday in November has long since become established as Black Friday in the retail sectors of many European countries - with online and offline special offers, record sales and massive ad campaigns heralding the start of the Christmas shopping season. Commentators take a look at what's behind the colourful advertising.

Geert Wilders' right-wing populist PVV has emerged as the strongest party in elections in the Netherlands. But with just 37 of the 150 seats in parliament after almost all votes have been counted, Wilders needs several coalition partners to form a government. European commentators examine the reasons for and ramifications of his victory.

Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas group have agreed on a ceasefire to allow an exchange of hostages and prisoners. The ceasefire is expected to last at least four days, although there were conflicting statements about when exactly it would begin. According to Israel, 50 of the presumed 240 hostages held by Hamas are to be released on Friday at the earliest. Reactions from the media testify to a mixture of anxiety and relief.

Following a frenetic back-and-forth, Sam Altman is once again CEO of ChatGPT developer OpenAI after being sacked in a surprise move by the company's board of directors last Friday. Shortly after his dismissal it was announced that he was switching to Microsoft. But apparently the threats of many OpenAI employees that they would quit unless Altman was reinstated had an impact. The press observes the circus with concern.

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced that seven of the country's eight border crossing points with Russia will be closed. The Deputy Chancellor of Justice Mikko Puumalainen had so far prevented a complete closure of the borders. In November alone, several hundred migrants - mostly from the Middle East, Africa, Iraq and Yemen - have already crossed the Russian border into Finland without valid documents.