● DAILY MAIL British Airways in price fixing probe

British Airways was at the heart of a major criminal price-fixing investigation yesterday amid allegations it has been ripping off customers for years. In a shocking statement, Britain?s flagship airline admitted that it has been forced to suspend two top executives during an investigation into extra costs levied on long-haul flights.

● LA TRIBUNE Pour les Français, Sarkozy et Royal incarnent le plus la réforme

Nicolas Sarkozy et Ségolène Royal sont les deux personnalités politiques qui incarnent le plus la réforme aux yeux des Français, selon un sondage Ifop pour Acteurs publics en partenariat avec Metro et LCP. Selon cette enquête, les deux candidats qui font la course en tête au sein de leurs camps respectifs dans la perspective de l?élection présidentielle de 2007 se détachent nettement. Le président de l?UMP est cité par 76 % des personnes interrogées et la députée socialiste par 65 %, devant le Premier ministre Dominique de Villepin (55 %) et Jean-Marie Le Pen (49 %), président du Front national.

<B>● THE NEW YORK TIMES Lethal injection challenged

A flood of lawsuits challenging lethal injection as cruel and unusual has stalled executions in home states and may prompt others to abandon them. A Supreme Court ruling last week made it easy fo death-row prisoners to file such suits, but medical experts say the current method of lethal injection can in fact easily be changed to make suffering less likely.

<B>● SOUTH AFRICA POST Engaging China

This week?s visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to seven African countries, including SA, is a highly strategic one. Chinese leaders are reaching out to Africa to dampen worries about China?s rise on the continent, and to build influence. Wen?s visit follows hard on the heels of that by China?s president, Hu Jintao. In November, China will host a summit for more than 40 African leaders.

<B>● BELFAST TELEGRAPH Germany have taken over the mantle.

Amazing really given that from Berlin to Munich a few weeks ago, the people here didn?t give their boys a chance. Now everywhere you go the flags are flying in anticipation You recognise a taxi here not by its speed around the corners of busy side streets, but by the German colours fluttering on top of the roof. And the kids have gone face-painting crazy. It all adds to the occasion of course.

<B>● BAGHDAD DAILY Saddam?s daughter and the woman behind her

Saddam Hussein?s trial resumed this week. The prosecution presented a summary of its case and demanded the death sentence. It has been a long and rather boring trial, with the result is known in advance. In the absence of any real innovations, this trial has in the meantime provided a few refreshing curiosities. One of them is Attorney Bushra Khalil, the only woman on Saddam?s defense team. Khalil is a Lebanese Shi?ite, which means she should be among the last of the attorneys willing to defend Saddam. However, Khalil, who receives death threats daily, is a family friend. Saddam?s daughter Raghad asked Khalil to defend her father, after Khalil took part in demonstrations against the sanctions on Iraq.