EUROPEAN HEADLINES
FT – ECB officials met bankers before big policy moves. Board members’ diaries reveal talks. Scrutiny rising over such contact.
WSJE – Google owner assails EU. Alphabet criticises antitrust charges and says “no basis” exists to warrant any fines.
INYT – US effort to train allies in Syria hits roadblock. Predominance of Kurds, not Arabs, could limit impact on ISIS battle.
FRANCE
Le Monde – Turkey in the hands of Erdoğan. The President achieves absolute majority once more.
Les Echos – Nuclear, air transport, climate change: Paris plays the Chinese card. COP21: Beijing takes an important step in order to find an agreement. Areva opens possibility of minority stake buy by China’s CNNC. China unveils its first modern airliner.
GERMANY
Frankfurter Allgemeine – Seehofer pleased with “clear positioning” of the CDU and the CSU. Paper foresees a reduction of the number of refugees. SPD continues to reject transit zones.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung – Gabriel attacks Merkel and Seehofer. The SPD chairman calls the plans for transit zones “in practice, nonsense, probably unlawful,” on which the chancellor and prime minister of Bavaria have agreed.
ITALY
La Repubblica – Vatican moles under arrest. Monsignor Lucio Balda and lobbyist Francesca Chaouqui were arrested in the Vatican. They are suspected of having leaked private documents and spied on Pope Francis.
Il Sole 24 Ore – Divisions between Renzi and regional governments on health and taxes. The presidents of the regions agree to increase taxes. Renzi declares: “Do not touch taxes, you will have more funds.”
POLAND
Gazeta Wyborcza – To the rescue of gymnasium schools. The number of online initiatives against the Law and Justice party’s plan to liquidate gymnasium schools is growing. Teachers pride in their achievements and pupils are also supporting them.
SPAIN
El Pais – New step towards secession due to the parties and the government’s hesitations. Forcadell imposes a new vote on independence, on November 9th. Rajoy and the political groups urge the Catalan Parliament to settle the case as they wait for a larger union.
Expansion – Bankia: more revenue. The group earned €885 million during the last nine months, meaning a 7% increase and results beyond market forecasts.
UK
The Times – Cameron backs down over plan to bomb Syria. Labour thwarts hopes of winning Common vote.
The Guardian – Cameron: UK won’t bomb Syria. Sizeable Tory rebellion make vote too tight. Backing from Labour MPs fails to placate PM. Situation is complicated by Russian airstrikes.
