Today’s front pages
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GreeceNew billion-euro hole in Athens budget
According to a report in the August 18 edition of Der Spiegel, the Greek government will have to cut spending by €14bn, and not €11.5bn as previously forecast, if it is to fulfill the commitments that it has made to the troika.
Original article in Die Presse de LinkDie Presse Vienna -
GreeceMerkel outside, Hydra inside
With only a few days left before his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 20, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is to present a further cost-cutting plan that will reduce Greek public spending by €11.5bn between now and 2014. In a separate story, a riot broke out on the island of Hydra when police attempted to arrest a restaurant owner who failed to deliver receipts.
Original article in Ta Nea el LinkTa Nea Athens -
United KingdomAssange’s pulpit
The WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange gave a ten-minute speech to supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has been holed up for two months while dodging an extradition warrant to Sweden. He called on the US to end its “war on whistleblowers” and “witch-hunts against WikiLeaks”, but failed to address the Swedish sex assault claims that have led to the extradition warrant being lodged.
Original article in The Independent en LinkThe Independent London -
PortugalSurveillance boost on Spanish coasts pushes drug traffickers to Portugal
As the Spanish coast is watched more closely by authorities, Moroccan hashish is finding a new gateway into Europe through the Algarve, in southern Portugal.
Original article in Diário de Notícias pt LinkDiário de Notícias Lisbon -
BelgiumRepeat offenders to be locked up for longer
Belgian Justice Minister Annemie Turtelboom has pledged to firm up the country’s parole law after 5,000 people took to the streets of Brussels on August 19 to protest against the release from prison of Michelle Martin, the former spouse and accomplice of Marc Dutroux, who raped and murdered several young girls in the 1990s.
Original article in La Libre Belgique fr LinkLa Libre Belgique Brussels -
RomaniaProof of fraud in referendum
On the eve of a constitutional court ruling on the validity of the July 29 referendum to depose President Traian Băsescu, a man from Onești, in the east of the country, stands accused of voting eight times. The man denies the allegations, but his is just one in the many cases of fraud that have been reported.
Original article in Adevărul ro LinkAdevărul Bucharest -
SpainGovernment backs down and allows Bolinaga access to parole
The concession for the convicted ETA member is said to be justified as he is currently suffering from cancer, and follows a hunger strike by ETA prisoners, which called for him to be given access to the parole process. There has been political and social controversy over a judicial decision on prison conditions and regulations governing treatment of ETA prisoners.
Original article in El Mundo es LinkEl Mundo Madrid
