In the papers
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
By Jinty JACKSON/ FRANCE 24
The Times of India (India)
“SOMETHING BREWING IN LITTLE TIBET”
The Times of India goes into New Delhi’s Tibetan quarter, a hive of activity ahead of today’s Olympic torch relay in the Indian capital.
The police have locked down the area, but the Tibetans are ready to try to stop the flame at all costs. An astounding numbers of Tibetans from across the country have converged in New Delhi, 10, 000 by some estimates. Many are being accommodated by the city’s Tibetan community.
One man tells the paper, “If the police beat me, I will hurt myself with a knife and cause more pain. But we have to break the Olympic torch at any cost.”
China Daily (China)
These two headlines in China’s English-language paper appear to be part of an effort to spruce up China’s image.
“Tibetans Hold Top Government Posts”
It is an attempt to counteract accusations that Tibetans are oppressed in the province. However, the best example they come up with is a man who managed to become an official in the geological institute.
“Police Just Doing Their Job”
The paper quotes an American engineer who happened to be in Lhasa at time of the riots in March. From what I could make out, the “witness” watched the action from the roof of his hotel.
Le Figaro (France)
“THE FRENCH ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HOLIDAYS”
It is official. According to a study by the Harrison Institute, the French take on average 37 days of holiday a year. Spain is in second place with 31, Brits take only 26 and the Americans are the stragglers at 14.
The French are already famous for their long holiday, of course. The paper points out the economy is benefitting because, according to travel agents, the French also enjoy travelling inside their own country (much more so than their European neighbours do).
USA Today (United States)
“HARRISON FORD IS A PORTRAIT OF RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM”
The paper features a lengthy portrait of Harrison Ford. After a break of 20 years, his famous character is soon to hit our screens again in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, premiering at Cannes in May. Ford says he has not forgotten how to get inside the character…it comes back to you when you put on the hat.
Ford, now 65-years-old is looking good. It must be all that hiking he does on his private estate in Wyoming. He also flies a private plane in his spare time.
Asked if age was an impediment to playing Indiana Jones this time around he said, “Age is just another challenge”.
