Le Parisien (France)
“Prices Have Gone Crazy”
Rising food prices are sparking riots in places like Haiti and Egypt. Here in France people are angry about the declining “pouvoir d’achat” (purchasing power).
Just how crazy are prices? According to Le Parisien inflation is running at its highest level in almost 2 decades.
Some concrete examples from the supermarket trolley: milk costs 11% more than a year ago and eggs 13% more.
Consumers told the paper their salaries are not keeping pace and while they are not contemplating rioting for now, they are having to cut back on their vacation budgets.
The Guardian (United Kingdom)
“US Prepares a Rapturous Welcome for World Leader. And the PM is there Too”
Gordon Brown touched down in the US just hours before the pontiff but who knew? The Guardian notes the huge coverage the pontiff has been getting in the top US papers for days now. Alas, the British PM just does not feature.
Downing Street nevertheless billed this as one of the most important state visits of his premiership so far.
British officials scheduled the visit before they knew about the papal competition and then it was too late to change it. The diary clashes just get worse.
On Friday Brown is supposed to be making a major foreign policy speech during which he will talk about reforming the UN.
Unfortunately, the Pope is addressing the UN general assembly the same day. Any guesses who will get the publicity?
The Moscow Times (Russia)
“Putin to Visit With Berlusconi”
Russia’s soon to be ex president, Vladimir Putin is to become the first world leader to meet Italy’s soon to be prime minister. Silvio Berlusconi and Putin are old friends and they will be taking up where they left off the last time Berlusconi was in office.
On Thursday they will meet in Berlusconi’s luxury villa on the island of Sardinia. Interestingly, Berlusconi’s advisors describe the meeting as “Two future Prime Ministers meeting each other”, glossing over the fact that Russia’s next president is, in fact, Dmitri Medvedev.
The Dominion Post (New Zealand)
“Monroe Sex Film to Stay Private”
New Zealand’s Dominion Post features the story of a businessman from New York who has just paid $ 1.5 million for a secret film of Marilyn Monroe.
The kinky 15 minute sex film shows the star in a compromising position with an unidentified man. It has been the properly of a memorabilia collector for years, who got it from someone close to the FBI.
Former FBI director J Edgar Hoover was apparently obsessed with it. He tried to use it to get at his rival John F Kennedy (rumoured to be one of Monroe’s lovers). Another one of Monroe’s former husbands, Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio tried to buy the film.
Its new owner (who remains anonymous) has said he will not be posting it on the internet. He is keeping it private out of respect for Marilyn.
