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News of Kennedy's death generates headlines around the world

E-mail|Link August 26, 2009 03:11 PM

By Jack Nicas and Michaela Stanelun, Globe Correspondents

The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a liberal icon from a storied family who spent decades as an influential lawmaker in Washington, generated headlines today on news websites from Mumbai to London to Rio de Janeiro.

In Ireland, where many feel a special tie to the Kennedy family because of their roots in the country, Dublin’s largest newspapers, The Irish Times and Irish Independent, led with the story.

“Veteran Irish-American senator hailed as a liberal standard-bearer and great statesman,” The Irish Times said. The newspaper also offered a story speculating on the end of the Kennedy dynasty: “Senator Edward Kennedy's death may mark the twilight of one of America's most fabled political families, with no heirs to the Kennedy name poised to emerge with the same mix of gravitas, ambition, and celebrity,” it read.

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The Independent ran a series of stories on Irish statesmen’s tributes to Kennedy, and links to several videos of famous speeches by Kennedy and his brother, the late President John F. Kennedy.

The Times of London splashed with “'Heartbroken' Obama leads tributes to Ted Kennedy." The Guardian also focused on Obama’s response, proclaiming, “Obama leads tribute to Ted Kennedy.”

Tom Baldwin of The Times analyzed what Kennedy’s death meant in his story, headlined, “Edward Kennedy, liberal lion whose roar echoed down the decades.”

“The death of Senator Edward Kennedy marks the end of an era in which much of America has been held in thrall to the triumphs and tragedies – as well as scandals – that have punctuated his family history for half a century,” Baldwin wrote.

In Rome, La Repubblica's headline read, “Addio a Edward Kennedy – patriarca della politica Usa” (Farewell to Edward Kennedy – patriarch of US policy). In Paris, Le Monde wrote, “Edward Kennedy, symbole d’une Amérique ouverte sur le monde" (Edward Kennedy, symbol of an America open to the world).

The Middle Eastern news agency, Al Jazeera, wrote on its English-language website, “US senator ‘Ted’ Kennedy dies at 77."

“Kennedy was a great friend of Israel,” said the Jerusalem Post, with the sub-headline: “Lieberman, Netanyahu, Peres express condolences over death of US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy”.

The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, carried the headline, “US Senator Edward Kennedy Dies,” alongside a photo of the senator. The English-language Straits Times in Singapore featured the death as one of its top stories.

In Africa, The Times of South Africa, based in Johannesburg, wrote about the African National Congress honoring Kennedy. Their headline: “ANC Pays Respect to Ted Kennedy.”

"Kennedy was among leaders who championed the opposition against the apartheid regime in South Africa," the African National Congress said in a statement to The Times.

The Times of India, based in Mumbai, carried a Kennedy story at the top of their “World” page online, headlined, “US Senator Edward Kennedy dies."

In South America, the Jornal do Brasil newspaper in Rio do Janeiro, ran the story on its World News page, headlining it “Câncer mata Ted Kennedy e deixa Obama de 'coração partido',” which roughly translates to "Cancer kills Ted Kennedy and leaves Obama 'heartbroken.'"
El Pais, Madrid’s largest newspaper, carried a video story with the headline “Muere Edward Kennedy."