South China Morning Post

Spam sandwiches least of the worries at quarantine hotel

Tensions are mounting for the 300 guests quarantined inside Hong Kong’s Metropark Hotel over fears they’ll spread flu across China. The building is at the centre of a media circus as photographers try to break through a protective barrier to snap the unlucky guests. Inside, temperatures are rising, with guests who were told they’d have to remain under lock and key for 24 hours now facing a week-long stay. One complaint is about the catering and processed pork sandwiches – a cruel irony given the pandemic is believed to have started in pigs.

Sunday News (New Zealand)

Save Egypt’s bacon

French movie icon and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has leapt to the defence of 300,000 pigs due to be culled by Egyptian authorities. Bardot has written to President Hosni Mubarak accusing his country – and by implication, him – of exploiting hysteria over flu to butcher the animals. Bardot claims it’s a political move, as even the World Health Organisation insists pigs cannot transmit the virus.

Daily Star (UK)

Someone here knows where our Maddie is

On the second anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, her parents refresh their campaign to find her with a media blitz: a reconstruction of her last moments at the Portuguese resort and an appearance on Oprah Winfrey are just two of the measures taken. Kate and Gerry McCann have also circulated a computer-generated image of how their daughter would look now.

Diario de Noticias (Portugal)

Madeleine ignored

The Portuguese press does not devote the same kind of coverage to the anniversary. In fact, this paper travels to the McCann’s home of Rothley, where it’s hard to find many reminders that this village was once at the centre of an international media frenzy. Few people want to talk about it, while the McCanns refuse interview requests.

The Jerusalem Post (Israel)

Israel’s press status downgraded to partly free

On World Press freedom day, Israeli newspapers take stock of their independence. Media watchdog Freedom House has downgraded Israel’s media status to “partly free”. The relegation follows Israel’s incursion into Gaza, during which journalists were banned from entering the combat zone, while the government was accused of gagging journalists and some newspapers even censored themselves.

The National (United Arab Emirates)

Gaza costs Israel its reputation for press freedom

Israel was the only country in the region with a media classed as “free” before its downgrading. It now joins the ranks of Kuwait and Lebanon – countries where the liberty of the press is severely compromised.

Sunday Herarld Sun (Australia)

First Lady Jen

Hollywood star Jennifer Garner thinks her husband, Ben Affleck, would make a good president while she would have a decent stab at being first lady. OK, so the remark in an interview is tongue-in-cheek, but surely Affleck running the Oval Office is only as fanciful as the Terminator – Arnold Schwarzenegger - becoming Governor of California. Affleck’s a proven political animal who’s made no secret of his interest in one day running for Congress.