EUROPEAN HEADLINES
FT Europe – UK blames Putin for spy’s fatal poisoning. Russian President Vladimir Putin “probably” approved the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with a radioactive poison in London in 2006, a UK public inquiry has found.
WSJE – UK inquiry targets Putin. Report says Russian President “probably” approved killing of exiled critic in 2006.
INYT – Inquiry sees Putin’s hand behind death of ex-agent. Judge in Britain says Russian leader may have cleared Litvinenko killing.
BBC Europe – Migrant crisis: EU at grave risk, warns France PM Valls. Mr Valls told the BBC Europe could not take all the refugees fleeing what he called terrible wars in Iraq or Syria. “Otherwise,” he said, “our societies will be totally destabilised.”
FRANCE
Le Monde – The great fear of a stock market crash. Since the beginning of the year, stock markets have lost 10% around the world. On Wednesday, stock markets took a massive nosedive.
Les Echos – Threats to world growth: Draghi promises “unrestricted” response. New measures to be taken into consideration in March. Stocks rebound. In France, business climate remains strong.
GERMANY
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) – Cameron: murder of Litvinenko was a state-sponsored crime. Judge: Putin probably approved the assassination. Moscow regrets the investigation.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung – Seehofer: coalition in serious situation. The CSU leader calls his relationship with Chancellor Merkel “cracked” because she does not give way in the asylum policy. The refugee cap in Austria leads to chain reaction on the Balkan route.
ITALY
La Repubblica – Stock markets: the downturn is global. The Milan stock market has tanked, losing 4.8%, like most of European and Wall Street’s markets. EC President Juncker breaks silence on conflict with Italy, claiming that relations are ok.
Il Sole 24 Ore – Draghi: Italian banks have a high level of guarantee. The ECB President tries to reassure markets, declaring that there will be no new requests for provisions nor added capital.
POLAND
Gazeta Wyborcza – Murder approved by Putin? A report published by the British yesterday reads that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably approved of a murder of Alexander Litvinenko, an officer of the Russian FSB secret service who fled to London in 2000.
SPAIN
El Pais – Rajoy finally launches the nomination process, with not enough votes to win. The current President states: “I will propose my candidature as I lead forces.” Rivera offers to be a mediator to put an end to “the cold war” between the PP and the PSOE.
Expansion – Stock Exchanges rebound, encouraged by Draghi. The ECB President considers new measures to be implemented in March, before oil prices collapse.
UK
The Times – Russia in the frame for string of murders. Russia could be linked to up to seven political assassinations as well as the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and another attempted murder in London, an official inquiry concluded yesterday.
The Guardian – PM urged to act as Putin is linked to Litvinenko killing. Alexander Litvinenko’s widow called yesterday for further sanctions against Moscow, after a public inquiry found that Vladimir Putin and his top spy chief had “probably approved” Litvinenko’s polonium murder.
