The body of former President Václav Havel was transferred to Prague Castle before his funeral on Friday, December 23.
A fine farewell – Mladá Fronta DNES
Five Polish soldiers have been killed by an explosive device in Ghazni. This is the heaviest loss in a single day for the Polish Army since World War 2, and reopens the debate on the country's participation in the war against the Taliban.
Tragedy in Afghanistan – Rzeczpospolita
Two Swedish journalists arrested in Ethiopia in July in the company of rebels have been found guilty of "supporting terrorism" and of illegally entering the country by a court in Addis Ababa. Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson could face up to 18 years in prison. Stockholm is urging Brussels and Washington to help secure their release.
Hope lies with EU and U.S. – Dagens Nyheter
"Cancelled rubbish collection, trains, flights, mail delivery ..." Belgium is paralyzed by a nationwide strike of public employees protesting the new government's pension reform.
Cancelled – De Morgen
A Soyuz spacecraft lifted off from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on December 21 to join the International Space Station. On board: three astronauts, including Dutchman Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency.
Ready to lift off – Trouw
Rejecting an appeal by Air America, the European Court of Justice has ruled that any airline using any EU airport will be subject to the environmental charge.
Holiday flights hit by EU green tax – The Daily Mail
The new Spanish prime minister, sworn in on December 21, has appointed Luis de Guindos, a former Lehman Brothers executive, as minister of finance. In 2012, his target will be to apply budget cuts in the public sector to the tune of 16.5 billion euros.
Rajoy chooses a technocrat to fight crisis – El País
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