The Australian - Australia

The Australian is among the world's press to feature a cartoon focusing on US President Barack Obama and his first day in office.  The cartoonist suggests what Obama and his wife, Michelle, may have said to each other during their inauguration ball dance – continuing along the “Messiah” theme.  


Moscow Times - Russia
“Obama Must Mend a Sick World Economy”

The Moscow Times says there’s practically world-wide consensus that the US is largely responsible for the world’s economic problems – so it now it falls to the country’s new president to sort them out.  Obama is pictured drowning amid a sea of so-called “destructive bubbles” which the paper says the global economy is dependent on.


China Daily - China
“Obama may be more demanding”

China Daily compares a “superman Obama” with the Greek mythology character of Sisyphus – a man condemned by the gods to push a rock uphill for eternity. Each time, the rock rolls back down.  


Aujourd’hui en France - France
“Kerviel parle”
“Kerviel speaks out”

Blamed for the loss of nearly five billion euros at French bank Société Générale through a series of allegedly unauthorised bets, French trader Jérôme Kerviel appears before investigators for the last time before the case goes to court.  Speaking to Aujourd’hui en France he describes how he shared a small office with five other colleagues and everybody knew what he was working on. Kerviel insists his managers were aware of the transactions he was carrying out.  


Les Echos - France
"Zizanie sans précédent à l’Assemblée"
“Turmoil in the Assembly - as never seen before”

One of France’s most controversial debates is over whether there should be a limit to the amount of time the opposition can argue amendments to laws being passed in parliament.  The ruling UMP party argues time is often wasted and the law-making process is too complicated because there is currently no cut-off point.  The Socialists, meanwhile, believe setting a time-limit would be depriving the opposition of its democratic right to speak out against proposed bills.  By way of protest they recently sung the Marseillaise in the National Assembly and on Wednesday boycotted Parliamentary Questions for the first time since the session was instated in 1974.


Mail Online - United Kingdom
“The parrot given a red card for whistling like a ref”

The Mail Online reports on the confusion that arose during an amateur football match in Hertfordshire between Hatfield and Hertford Heath.  Despite no fouls being committed and no player going down with an injury, the whistle kept on blowing.  The referee – as confused as the players – decided to investigate.  It was later discovered a parrot, brought along by one of the spectators, had decided to imitate the referee’s whistle!