These are excerpts from editorials in newspapers from around the world that may be of interest to Royal Gazette readers:

The Independent, London, on the Golden Jubilee:

Britain returns to work today after an unprecedented four days of celebration and pageantry that marked not only the Golden Jubilee of the Queen, but a reaffirmation of our nationhood. Whatever misgivings we may harbour about the institution of the monarchy or the dissonance between even a pared-down aristocracy and the democratic reality of the 21st century, the size and palpable delight of the crowds in central London this weekend should give even the most cynical pause for thought.

That the jubilee defied all forecasts of damp-squibbery to become such an unqualified success is a tribute above all to the public relations effort mounted by the palace since the dark days that followed Princess Diana’s death.

<$>Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, Sweden, on China and democracy:<$>

Thirteen years ago the Chinese people’s dreams of freedom were crushed under the tanks on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Economically, China has made great progress, but politically not much seems to have changed since the violent days 13 years ago. At the same time as the police state remains intact, reports of police corruption affecting common citizens are on the increase. That is not how a stable market economy should develop. The surrounding world must continue to press for democracy and human rights in China. The Olympic Games must not become an excuse for keeping silent about the persecution.

<$>Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, on the World Cup ticket problem:<$>

The World Cup ticketing fiasco has produced an extraordinary and ridiculous situation. Even as myriad soccer fans have been frustrated in their efforts to buy World Cup tickets amid a rapid sellout, thousands of the stadium seats remained empty.

The most serious problem has involved tickets sold abroad through British-based Byrom Inc., the ticketing agency approved by FIFA, the world soccer governing body. Japanese World Cup organisers (JAWOC) has asked Byrom for the unsold tickets, but, for some reason, the tickets were not quickly turned over.

Was it wise to have Byrom sell half of the World Cup tickets at the outset? Were the arrangements between JAWOC and Byrom good enough to enable the Japanese organisers to sell any number of unsold tickets efficiently?

Behind the ticket-sales disaster could be the huge revenues from broadcast rights and official sponsorships, which yield far more than ticket proceeds. If so, management of the event is far out of perspective in terms of benefit to spectators — a key element of the matches.

Fortunately, it is still early in the tournament, with games involving the Japanese team and the second round yet to come. JAWOC must act promptly and insist that FIFA and Byrom ensure an efficient system for selling the remaining tickets.