Japan’s faceless heroes

A group of 50 Japanese workers have decided to stay behind at the Fukushima power plant, in a bid to prevent a massive radiation leak. Workers’ names haven’t been revealed but they are thought to be volunteers, firefighters and police officers. Prepared to risk their lives and face Japan’s worst catastrophe in decades, the workers are seen as heroes.

IN THE PAPERS

Japan’s neighboring countries are closely monitoring the situation. The nuclear threat is on the front page of JoongAng Daily (S.Korea), The Moscow Times, the China Daily, and The Bangkok Post.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (Asia) focuses on life in Iwaki, a city located just outside the 20km evacuation zone, on the coast of Northeastern Japan.

The New York Times reports about the “faceless 50”, ready to sacrifice themselves for the good of the country.

The Independent notes that the health of those workers will determine the seriousness of the leak. The more ill they get, the higher the radiation levels...

Five days after the earthquake and the tsunami, the death toll keeps rising. According to The Guardian, local authorities are considering mass burials as opposed to traditional cremations.

And finally, a sign of hope published in The Daily Mirror.

24/05/2013 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

Olive oil U-turn: virgin on the ridiculous?

WORLD PAPERS, Friday 24 May: British papers continue their coverage of the brutal murder of a soldier in London; the New York Times looks at opposition to a new ruling that will allow openly gay youths to join the US Boy Scouts; and it's a big news day for "Olive Oil Times", with new olive oil rules on the EU agenda.

24/05/2013 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

'I've only got €100 million left!'

IN THE FRENCH PAPERS, Friday 24 May; Libération questions how security forces can guard against "lone wolf" terrorists; Le Figaro criticises the French president for "waxing lyrical" at a Social Democratic Party convention in Germany; and Aujourd'hui en France has an exclusive interview with businessman Bernard Tapie, who claims "I only have 100 million euros left!"

23/05/2013 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

'It was better they aimed their weapons just at me, rather than everybody else'

IN THE WORLD PAPERS, Thursday 23 May: British papers are dominated by the brutal murder of a man in south-east London. The Telegraph interviews one passer-by who tried to get the suspects to put down their weapons. Also, The New York Times looks at declining drone strikes over the past 3 years and The Guardian looks at why French TV programmes are a gamble for UK broadcasters.

23/05/2013 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

French kids don’t know their onions... or many other veggies!

FRENCH PAPERS, Thurs. 23 May: One lady graces the front pages of most papers this Thursday: IMF chief Christine Lagarde. Libération carries a profile of her on the day she answers questions on alleged involvement in fraud; The Huffington Post has all the details of the case itself. Meanwhile, Aujourd’hui en France looks at the role of French jihadi fighters in Syria; and could your child identify an artichoke? According to the same paper, not enough French kids can!

22/05/2013 - IN THE WORLD PAPERS

Calling from the top of the world

International papers are speculating on the upcoming elections in Iran, after former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is excluded from the vote. Columnists in the US are still up in arms over attacks on press freedoms, in the wake of a wiretapping scandal involving the Department of Justice and the Associated Press. And a high-altitude phone call lands one mountaineer in big trouble in Nepal.