Eurotopics.net

Russian President Putin spent around 90 minutes at the wedding party of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl on Saturday. The invitation was harshly criticised by politicians and media at home and abroad. But there are also those who praise the Russian leader's performance at the wedding.

The loan programmes of the euro bailout fund the ESM come to an end this Monday, meaning that for the first time in eight years Greece will have to finance itself on the markets from today. The country's economic data has improved of late but one in five of its inhabitants is still unemployed and the national debt is still 180 percent of its GDP. Has Greece really been saved?

The Hungarians commemorate today the founding of the Hungarian state by King Stephen I, who was canonised on 20 August 1083. He was the first Christian king of the Hungarians and his crown is featured on the country's national coat of arms. Hungarian commentators take widely diverging views of the significance of this day.

Finger pointing is dominating the political debate in Italy following the collapse of the motorway bridge in Genoa. Economic Development Minister Di Maio has blamed the motorway operator Autostrade while Interior Minister Salvini complained that EU budget constraints were making Italy unsafe. Commentators say the Italian state is also to blame for the tragedy in which 40 people died.

Media across the US have taken concerted action to defend themselves against the attacks of President Donald Trump. On the initiative of the Boston Globe, roughly 350 newspapers took a stance in their leading articles against the accusation that they spread fake news. Journalists in Europe show solidarity with the action, but not without voicing some criticism too.

In addition to high-ranking members of government Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a guest at the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl on Saturday. Putin's attendance is viewed as an official engagement. For both sides his visit is in keeping with a long tradition, commentators explain.