22/05 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Hong Kong turmoil as new sell-off wipes USD 16 billion from Goldin’s value. Exchange policy of non-intervention questioned a day after Hanergy tumbles 43%.

WSJE – – Treasured Syrian site now in militants’ hands. The 2,000-year-old historical ruins of Palmyra, one of the Middle East’s most important archeological sites, were under the control of Islamic State militants on Thursday after Syrian government forces pulled out of the city.

INYT – Behind badge, a quick trigger. Even after a boy’s death, Brazilians face killings by police as a way of life.

FRANCE

Le Monde – The Syrian city of Palmyra falls in the hands of the Islamic State. The city, which was home to one of Bashar al Assad’s dreadful prisons, has been seized

Les Echos – Real estate: buyers are back. New home sales jumped by more than 10% during the first quarter. The tax aid package for rental investment purposes, Pinel, begins to bear fruits. Project developers warn about a risk of shortage of projects

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) – The “Islamic State” in Syria keeps gaining ground. The IS controls more than half of the national territory; destruction of Palmyra feared.

Suedeutsche Zeitung – Inequalities undermine economy. The difference between rich and poor is as important as it was 30 years ago – in Germany and throughout the western world. This dampens growth, warns OECD

ITALY

La Repubblica – Pier Carlo Padoan deplores that the Constitutional Court didn’t assess the cost its decision on pensions would generate. In an interview with La Repubblica, the Minister of Economy criticises the lack of collaboration between the Constitutional Court and the other State’s services.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Tougher penalties to fight corruption and false accounting. The Italian parliament approved the anticorruption law aiming at introducing tougher penalties. Matteo Renzi says he is satisfied and the country must change “at all costs.”

MALTA

The Times of Malta –V18 chief Jason Micallef blames PBS chief executive for Malta’s Eurovision result. In a post on Facebook, Mr Micallef published a photo of Mr Attard and said “this man” had to answer for another Eurovision failure by Malta.

POLAND

Gazeta – TNS polls after second Presidential debate. President Komorowski has a slight advantage ahead of the second round of Presidential elections on Sunday 24 May.

SPAIN

El Pais – “The stability and solvency of the Finance Ministry are at a stake.” Statement by candidate for Madrid City Council Esperanza Aguirre.

Expansion – Mandarin buys the Ritz. Historic sale in Madrid’s hotel industry.

The Times – Cameron’s whirlwind EU tour. PM heads to a series of capitals in search of support for reforms.

The Guardian – Tory attack on May’s “threat to free speech.” Exclusive: No 10 warned over plan to turn Ofcom “from regulator to censor.”