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Extra! How The World Press Reported Moon Landing 50 Years Ago

A half-century later, Neil Armstrong's 'great leap' still boggles the mind. Here's a look back at some of the headlines that followed the historic feat.

Buzz Aldrin making headlines
Buzz Aldrin making headlines

PARIS — The date was July 20, 1969, the clock read 10:56 p.m. on the East Coast of the United States, as much of the world tuned in by radio or television to follow NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong take that historic-making first step on the moon.

On the 50th anniversary of that historic landing, we look back at how the event was covered in the press. In a time before smartphones and the internet, people all over the world were united by the experience of watching or listening to Armstrong's "giant leap" — or reading about it just afterwards in the press.

As those first steps were broadcasted live, newspapers began reporting one of the most momentous events in human history. By the following morning, a Monday, headlines in papers from Mexico, to Bulgaria, to South Africa proclaimed Apollo 11's improbable accomplishment.

Below is a collection front pages (and a few magazine covers) from around the world announcing nothing less than the dawn of a new era.

THE UNITED STATES

The New York Times

The Miami News

The Daily Tribune

Chicago Tribune


MEXICO

El Universal


BRAZIL

O Povo

Folha De S. Paulo


IRELAND

The Irish Times

The Irish Press


THE UNITED KINGDOM

The Daily Post

Daily Express


FRANCE

France Soir

Le Monde

Le Soir


THE NETHERLANDS

Algemeen Dagblad

Trouw

Het Parool

de Buzz Krant

Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant


SWEDEN

Aftonbladet

Dagens Nyheter


NORWAY

Dagbladet


DENMARK

Berlingske Tidende


GERMANY

Bild

Der Abend


ITALY

Il Messaggero


AUSTRIA

Arbeiter-Zeitung


POLAND

Nowości


YUGOSLAVIA

Borba


BULGARIA

Rabotnichesko Delo


TURKEY

Cumhuriyet


SOVIET UNION (MOSCOW)

Pravda


ISRAEL

Haaretz

The Jerusalem Post


SOUTH KOREA

Kyunghyang Shinmun


JAPAN

The Japan Times

Yomiuri Shimbun​


THAILAND

The Bangkok Post


SOUTH VIETNAM

The Saigon Post


AUSTRALIA

The Sydney Morning Herald


SOUTH AFRICA

The Cape Times


MAGAZINES

FRANCE

Paris Match


THE UNITED STATES

Time Magazine


ITALY

Epoca


BRAZIL

Veja


GERMANY

Stern

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Geopolitics

D.C. Or Beijing? Two High-Stakes Trips — And Taiwan's Divided Future On The Line

Two presidents of Taiwan, the current serving president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou from the opposition Kuomintang party, are traveling in opposite directions these days. Taiwan must choose whom to follow.

Photo of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, is traveling to the United States today. Not on an official trip because Taiwan is not a state recognized by Washington, but in transit, en route to Central America, a strategy that allows her to pass through New York and California.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, arrived yesterday in Shanghai: he is making a 12-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese authorities at a time of high tension between China and the United States, particularly over the fate of Taiwan.

It would be difficult to make these two trips more contrasting, as both have the merit of summarizing at a glance the decisive political battle that is coming. Presidential and legislative elections will be held in January 2024 in Taiwan, which could well determine Beijing's attitude towards the island that China claims by all means, including force.

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