Aujourd’hui en France (France)
“La Société générale finit par capituler”
"Société Générale ends up capitulating"

The three main French papers are this morning leading with stories to do with the economy. This comes after top executives at the banking giant Société Générale handed back thousands of stock options after pressure from the French government. The bank received state loans worth 1.7 billion euros to help it through the financial crisis. The French daily Aujourd’hui en France tells the story of the four executives, including the company president, who ended up handing back their stock options.

Le Figaro (France)
“Lagarde prepare une loi sur la remuneration des grands patrons”
"Lagarde prepares a law on top executives’ pay"

 
Le Figaro, France’s main conservative newspaper, publishes the whole letter in which Société Générale’s executives explain their decision to hand back their stock options. According to the daily, the French government and the finance minister now want to create a law to cap top executives’ pay packets.

Libération (France)
“Paradis fiscaux: La chasse au trésor”
"Tax havens: The treasure hunt”

 
The French left-wing daily Libération leads on the economy but from a different angle to the rest of the French newspapers. Ahead of the G20 summit in London on April 2, the paper examines the tax haven status of countries like Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Lichtenstein. This comes against the backdrop of a Franco-German offensive against tax havens.

Der Tagesspiegel (Germany)
“Das billigste Auto der Welt”
“The cheapest car in the world”

On the day of the launch in Mumbai of the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, German daily Der Tagesspiegel has its own analysis of this revolutionary vehicle. Author Carsten Brönstrup starts his article with the words “No, it’s not pretty.” He describes what he considers its ugly shape, ugly colours, and the plastic used both inside and outside the car. The article goes on to describe how the Tata could in fact help the German economy. German technology is used in the Tata Nano but all parts are built in India. Brönstrup asks how an entire car could cost as little as a GPS in a German car.

The Times of India (India)

"IPL becomes NRIPL"

On its front page, The Times of India leads with the fate of the Indian cricket Premier League. It announces that “the second season of the Indian Premier League will go ahead, but in England or South Africa.” The league, the most glamorous and most costly of recent years, has not been given government approval. This is because it clashes with the upcoming Indian general election and serious security fears.

The Hindu (India)

"IPL to be played overseas"

The Hindu, published in Chennai, leads with the same story. It says “the show must go on” even though the tournament looks like it will now take place outside of India. The whole league, along with its stars including England duo Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, is being moved to another country. England is currently the favourite due to the Indian diaspora based in the country.

 
The Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom)

"Counties could rescue Indian Premier League”

The Rajastan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Bangalore Royal Challengers could well all be based in the United Kingdom from April 10 for the whole length of the Indian Premier League season. It looks like England could be able to help out. India would be staging the elections and, sadly, be exposed to serious security fears. England would get the cricket tournament and the glamour it brings with it.

 
Daily Star (United Kingdom)
“Life and death of ultimate BB star”

After seven years spent in the glare of the public eye and exposed to the British tabloids, Jade Goody has died aged 27. The reality TV star is on the front page of the Daily Star. The tabloid’s obituary is entitled “Life and death of the ultimate Big Brother star.” Jade Goody shot to fame after her appearance on Big Brother in 2002. She died after a widely publicised battle with cancer.

 
Daily Express (United Kingdom)

"My beautiful Jade is at peace”

According to another of the United Kingdom’s leading tabloids, Jade Goody’s death “sparked an extraordinary outpouring of grief across Britain.” Celebrities and politicians paid tribute to Goody, whose battle against cervical cancer was carried out very much in public.

The Guardian (United Kingdom)
“At peace – and finally out of the limelight”

The Guardian is the only broadsheet to lead with the death of Jade Goody. The left-wing paper’s Lucy Manghan writes that Goody’s “15 minutes of fame turned into a seven-year-stretch.” She says that the “broadsheets deplored her loudness and her apparent lack of talent.” Now, though, the UK’s broadsheets think it's time to reflect upon their own coverage of Goody’s seven years in the spotlight. The Independent, another left-leaning British daily, says “this big-mouthed woman reflected our own bigotry and stupididty.”