PRESS REVIEW: Tuesday, 29 April: Spanish and Portuguese press are covering the huge blackout which has caused chaos among locals. Papers look at who to blame, and how to make the most of a “medieval” lifestyle. Also, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists published a report highting how China represses dissent abroad. And, Sports fans look forward to a Champions' League game this evening. Finally, a student in Japan has to be saved from Mount Fuji, twice.
The massive black out in Spain and Portugal, is on all the front pages in Spain and Portugal. La Razon’s calls it total chaos and warns that people will still have to wait a few hours before power is completely restored. ABC calls it “el gran apagon” or the big blackout. La Vanguardia headlines simply with "Spain blacked out". In Portugal, the Jornal de Noticias says it is an Iberian Blackout, and blames the Spanish for it. The Portuguese paper Negocios says that the country is “close to a nervous breakdown” as people are so exasperated by the standstill.
Some papers are trying to understand whose fault it is. For the Spanish paper La Razon, blame lies with Spain’s President Pedro Sanchez. El Pais meanwhile, points the finger at “shortcomings in the connection between the Iberian Peninsula and the European electricity grid”. Sky News published an analysis piece looking at how electricity grids fail, and why restoring them is a nightmare. It says that a single localised event is unlikely to be the cause.
The news has not only been negative, some coverage has been looking at how people spent their time without power. Publico has a report on tram drivers, whose trams were left stuck in the middle of the street. They reportedly spent their time eating feta and playing cards. El Mundo celebrates a “happy and outrageous day in the Middle Ages”. The Guardian celebrates the community spirit on display in the streets of Madrid.
Also, a report published Monday by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists sheds light on China’s tactics to silence critics. They say they have discovered a “machinery of repression”.
Anticipation is building for the first leg of the Champion’s League semi-finals between PSG and Arsenal. The French paper Aujourd’hui en France says it is Go time. Meanwhile L’Equipe talks of an explosive challenge as they face off with the Gunners. The Star says Arsenal need to go in all guns blazing. The Mirror finally, hopes that Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta, will be able to make history.
The Tokyo Weekender brings us news that a university student was rescued from Mount Fuji twice in four days. Unfortunately, he realised he had lost his phone during the process, so he went back up, only to have to be saved, again, after suffering from severe altitude sickness.
You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.
English (US) · 