Latest update: 29/12/2011 

- Arab League - Barack Obama - Bashar al-Assad - Iraqi politics - Kim Jong-Il - Kim Jong-un - Nuri al-Maliki - Syria


Syria: 'Bogus witnesses'?

No Flash warning
To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player.

Doubts are being raised about the credibility of the Arab League mission in Syria. We look at coverage of papers in the US, Lebanon and Syria itself. Also, is Iraq on the brink of civil war? And will the New Year - the Chinese one - be auspicious for all? That's the focus for this look at the world's press, Thursday 29th December, 2011.

IN THE PAPERS
By Nicholas RUSHWORTH

The Washington Post headlines: “The Arab League needs to tell the truth about Syria”. It says the hopes of Syrians depend on the mission and that is “a very thin reed”.

The Lebanese paper L’Orient Le Jour is asking if the observers are “bogus witnesses”. It also has a photo from a video posted on You Tube reportedly showing defecting soldiers firing on Syrian troops near Deraa.

Al Thawra, a Syrian government newspaper, condemns the negative French and American reaction to the mission’s comment that the situation in Homs is "reassuring".

USA Today International has a cartoon on the political meltdown in Iraq. It shows an American motorist phoning “Uncle Sam’s Motors” where he’s just bought a car. He says: “That’s right … (it broke down) ... as soon as I left the showroom”. Meanwhile, the Khaleej Times in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates publishes a Newsweek piece headlined “Iraq brittle and on the brink”.

The Guardian in the UK wonders whether the funeral ceremony for late dictator Kim Jong-il was, in fact, broadcast live. It says the meticulous choreography was akin to Hollywood.

And The China Daily looks at the New Year, not January 1st but 23rd when the Year of the Rabbit ends and the Year of the Dragon begins. The paper says 2012 will be ‘auspicious’.

Racism in Israel: 'the price of incitement'
25/05/2012 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

Racism in Israel: 'the price of incitement'

Violence against African migrants this week in Tel Aviv has sparked angry debate in Israel. Haaretz is accusing members of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party of "incitement". That - and the latest on the Facebook IPO fiasco - is the focus for this look at the world's papers this Friday 25th May, 2012.
Air France: over-staffing and a jackpot bonus
25/05/2012 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

Air France: over-staffing and a jackpot bonus

The French press looks at the latest bad news for the economy. Air France is restructuring and layoffs are certain. Libération asks: what can the new left-wing government do? This as Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui-en-France reports on union anger that a former Air France CEO could, despite the economic crisis, get a "jackpot" bonus. That's the focus for this Friday, 25th May 2012.
'Egypt's revolution now seems light years away'
23/05/2012 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

'Egypt's revolution now seems light years away'

Today we focus on the Egyptian elections - will the military be the real winners? We're also looking at Quebec's student protests, and the race to save this year's Parmesan.
What does the new French government do, exactly?
23/05/2012 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

What does the new French government do, exactly?

The French press looks at the Egyptian elections, today's EU summit, and some of the rather poorly defined roles of the new French government.
(1) comment
'Obama's Afghanistan debacle'
22/05/2012 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

'Obama's Afghanistan debacle'

Has Obama's policy in Afghanistan been a disaster, why is Syria's conflict tipping over into Lebanon, and who's going to win the Egyptian election? It's all in the international press review.
(1) comment

Comments
Post new comment
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.

Related Content
Close