Newspaper headlines: Global alarm over nuclear power plant strike

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Member of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces guards a checkpoint in central Kyiv (3 March 2022)Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

A member of Ukraine's defence forces guards a checkpoint in central Kyiv

The huge ball of light created by a Russian shell exploding at Ukraine's largest nuclear power station is pictured on several front pages.

In their headlines, the i newspaper, external and the Guardian pick up, external on the words of the US envoy to the UN who declared that a nuclear catastrophe was narrowly avoided.

The Financial Times repeats, external Boris Johnson's condemnation of the strike as "reckless". The Daily Star, external calls President Vladimir Putin a "nuclear nut job."

In its editorial, the Sun insists that it was, external only luck that "prevented a catastrophe 10 times worse than Chernobyl" and that it was a "terrifying rain check" for anyone still thinking President Putin was working to a meticulous plan.

The Daily Mail says it, external shows the Russian president's "utter disregard for the consequences of his warmongering".

The Daily Telegraph has a reporter, external in Marhanets - a city close to the plant. He has spoken to the local mayor, Gennady Borovik, who has arranged for free anti-radiation iodine pills to be handed out to people in the area as a precaution.

Mr Borovik explains that contingency plans were put in place after Chernobyl.

A photo showing the anguished face of a woman next to a house in flames destroyed by a Russian missile appears on the front of the Times, external - with the headline: "Welcome to hell, Russians".

The words are taken from a banner in President Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine. People living there are preparing for Russian troops by digging trenches, tank traps and barricades.

In an interview with the Daily Express,, external Boris Johnson says that the outlook for Ukraine is "very, very bleak". The prime minister said that the UK would keep trying to supply the country with defensive weapons but time was very tight.

The Daily Mirror mocks up, external a wanted poster for Mr Putin.

The paper says calls are growing for him to be put on trial - with ex-PM Gordon Brown demanding a tribunal deal with his actions, a Russian businessman offering a million dollar reward for his arrest, and British police helping the war crimes investigations.

The Mail focuses, external on the UK extending the time Ukrainian refugees can stay here to three years with the headline - "kindness amid the carnage".

The paper suggests making the terms of the emergency programme "much more generous" came "unexpectedly".

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Many papers report on the death of legendary Australia cricketer Shane Warne from a suspected heart attack age 52

The papers all offer their tributes to the Australian cricketer, Shane Warne. The Telegraph, external and Mail both call him, external the King of Spin; the Star calls him, external "the greatest"; and the Guardian a, external "once in a century player".

The Sun uses the, external player's own understated words for its front page headline: "I smoked, I drank, I bowled a bit".

Piers Morgan, who revealed in the Sun that, external he had been in contact with Warne only a day earlier, called him a genius who never really grew up because he never really wanted to.

His death takes precedence on the Australian news websites.

His manager tells the Age, external and the Herald that, external Warne had been watching Australia play Pakistan on the TV when his friend discovered him unconscious.

The Sydney Morning Herald says that, external fans had placed not only flowers at the foot of his statue at Melbourne Cricket Ground but a cricket ball with the words "thank you", a can of Australian beer, a packet of cigarettes and a meat pie.