The Independent (Britain)
“President shot dead in palace as rebel troops take revenge”
The president shot dead in his palace and the army chief of staff killed in a bomb blast leaves no one in charge in Guinea-Bissau, writes the Independent. Their correspondent offers an analysis on this "narco-state" where “drug barons have almost entirely eaten away any form of legitimate state". Every day an estimated one ton of Colombian cocaine is flown in by light aircraft.

Libération (France)
“Militaires et politiques font parler la poudre en Guinée-Bissau”
Libération highlights the poverty and instability in Guinea-Bissau, where 80% of the people live on less than a dollar a day. The political situation is chaotic, writes the French daily, like a “deadly chess game” in which players wait for the opponent to make a mistake.

Moscow Times (Russia)
“A new role for France in NATO and Europe”
In an opinion piece, Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, writes that in these times of economic crisis, "visionary French leadership is needed again". In an accompanying cartoon, the Ukrainian premier tries to hitch-hike to Europe in a French car. Tymoshenko wants to improve relations with Europe, especially on the economic level. This firm advocate of free trade warns that it is not in Europe's interest for Eastern and Central European states to feel abandoned when they see Russia conclude bilateral partnerships with Germany.

China Daily (China)
“Patriotic bidder thwarts relics sale”
The mysterious bidder who bought two bronzes, of a rabbit and a rat head, at an Yves Saint Laurent art auction has explained why he now refuses to pay for them. Cai Mingchao says that China has the right to retrieve the two art pieces. This well known art buyer also serves as an adviser to the National Treasure Fund set up to retrieve looted goods. The fund's deputy director said that Mingchao chose an "extraordinary method in an extraordinary situation", and it worked.

South China Morning Post (China)
“Art collector’s fake bid does little to help resolve the bronze saga.”
The South China Morning Post condemns Mingchao’s actions, arguing that Chinese buyers might now face tougher credit and background checks in international auctions.

Il Giornale (Italy)
“Pelé, una leggenda in pensione 995 euros al mese e tram gratis”
Pelé calls himself the King, and the king has spoken. As a pensioner, he earns "995 euros a month plus free tram rides", but adds that there is no need to worry for him. Pelé likes to remind people that he has earned enough for his grandchildren never to have to work. He also likes to stress that he's more than just a football legend: apparently Barack Obama has invited him for coffee at the White House. Pelé has accepted, as he did when Kennedy, Nixon and Clinton asked him to come round to Washington. He has, however, warned Obama that the new US president might become more famous than him in a few years, but for now he isn't: there's only one king, and that's Pelé.