12/11 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT Europe – Shire agrees takeover of US’s Baxalta in $32 billion deal. Pharma M&A appetite remains. Move follows five-month pursuit.

WSJE – EU rules tax deals illegal. Agency says Belgium’s break for multinationals distorted competition.

INYT – David Bowie, pop visionary, dies at 69. David Bowie, the infinitely changeable, fiercely forward-looking songwriter who taught generations of musicians about the power of drama, images and personas, died on Sunday, two days after his 69th birthday.

BBC Europe – At least 10 dead in blast in central Istanbul Sultanahmet district. Foreign tourists are reportedly among those hurt in the blast, which occurred in the city’s historic Sultanahmet district, near the Blue Mosque. Fifteen people were also wounded in the blast, the Istanbul Governor’s Office said in a statement on its website.

AUSTRIA

Salzburger Nachtrichten – Istanbul bomb: most victims are German. Suicide attack in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday leaves at least ten people dead.

FRANCE

Le Monde – David Bowie, the legend. The musician, aged 69, died on Sunday due to cancer.

Les Echos – Life-insurance: setbacks in this much-appreciated investment. The average rate is estimated to be 2.25% in 2015, compared to 2.54% in 2014. In an environment of low interest rates, life insurers remain cautious. Nevertheless, this investment continues to attract new investors.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) – New proposals facilitating deportations as soon as this week? Justice Minister Maas: Very constructive discussions in the coalition. Gauck: A little bit of serenity.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) – Hunter: Cologne Police have failed in their action. Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia sees “serious mistakes” of police officers, and no failure by himself. The Federal Government is considering assigning a residence to recognised refugees.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Turmoil in the Five Star Movement. Mayor resists Beppe Grillo. The mayor of Quarto, affiliated with the Five Star Movement, stands against Beppe Grillo after being accused of not having denounced pressures from the Camorra.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Oil price leads to the collapse of stock markets. Another nightmarish day for Chinese stock markets as Shanghai crashed down 5.33% and Shenzhen 6.6%.

IRELAND

Irish Times – Scenes of desperation as aid convoys enter Syrian towns. Delivery of food packages follows international outcry over deaths from malnutrition.

POLAND

Gazeta Wyborcza – Provocative prosecutors. Under a-to-be amended Act concerning Public Prosecutor’s Office in Poland, Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro will be appointed General Prosecutor. Equipped with new competences, he will be allowed to order Police and special services to organise provocative actions – a conduct Mr Ziobro was to be held responsible for before the State Tribunal.

SPAIN

El País – The Public Treasury and Public prosecutor put pressure on judges for the Princess to be exonerated. The defence of the King’s sister presents a report that lowers her responsibility. The government states it is sure the case will be “fairly judged.”

Expansión – Bankia: Commercial offensive. The bank removes commission in favour of 2.4 million customers, i.e one third of the total.

The Times – All children should have “tiger mums” – Cameron. Parents must push hard for work and discipline.

The Guardian – David Bowie 1947-2016. David Bowie was defined by an elusive, unknowable start quality right until the end.