23/11 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT – Hollande calls for “sense of urgency” in fight against Isis. French President steps up diplomatic efforts. Brussels locked down over terror threat.

WSJE – Pfizer, Allergan close in on merger. Deal, valued at more than $150 billion, would create world’s biggest drug maker by sales.

INYT – Officials say Isis wing is dedicated to terror abroad. Training and funding centrally planned, while operatives choose targets.

BBC – Brussels lockdown: Belgian police arrest 16 in anti-terror raids. Suspected Paris attacks gunman Salah Abdeslam remains at large, the authorities have said. Some 22 raids were carried out Sunday across Brussels and Charleroi, the federal prosecutor’s spokesman said.

FRANCE

Le Monde – The aftermath for France. MPs from all sides observe the fear that has taken the French society and wonder about its political consequences.

Les Echos – Brussels, experiencing major jihadist threat. Brussels maintains the highest terror alert level which has been paralyzing the Belgian capital since Saturday. This week, Paris tries to engage the international community in the fight against Isis.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine – Brussels paralyzed by terror alert. Manhunt for several suspects. “Relatively accurate information” about imminent attacks by Parisian pattern.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung – A global alliance is taking shape to fight against Isis. UN calls on the US and Russia to work together to combat extremisms. Barack Obama: to destroy the Islamic State is a realistic and achievable goal.

ITALY

La Republica – Brussels: a city under siege. After two days of state of emergency, police forces have undertaken a certain number of operations across the city. 16 suspected militants were arrested but Salah Abdelslam has evaded capture so far.

Il Sole 24 Ore – The IMU and TASI rates keep on increasing. Even though the tax on the first property (TASI) will end next year, more than 25 million of owners will have to pay the TASI and the IMU for 2015 on December 16th.

POLAND

Gazette Wyborcza – Code to democracy. Internet users gather up and set up a Committee for Defending Democracy (KOD) in feedback to the first week of the new Government’s rule. In just seven days, PiS deprived PSL party of the Sejm’s Speaker, opposition – of a head of special services, passed changes to the Constitutional Tribunal and appointed author of SKOK cooperative financial institution Grzegorz Biernacki as head of the Senate Finance Committee.

SPAIN

El Pais – France is waiting for Spain’s reply regarding relief in Mali. “We are going to see what Spain offers and if the European forces will relieve the French troops,” French Defence Minister said.

Expansion – Large companies go back to dividend in cash. Santander, BBVA, Telefonica and La Caixa give up on scrip dividends.

The Times – Cameron’s £178 billion defence overhaul. David Cameron will vow to place the fight against Islamic State-style terrorism at the heart of Britain’s £178 billion defence overhaul today, amid firm signs that parliament is ready to sanction airstrikes against the militants in Syria.

The Guardian – Lockdown in Brussels over terror threats. Armoured cars patrol streets of EU capital amid fears of multiple attacks.