Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, March 3: Papers discuss the new war in the Middle East and what it could mean for Russia's war in Ukraine. Also: Russian independent paper Meduza analyses the narrative of Russian state TV. Finally, did Jim Carrey attend the César Awards... or was it his clone?  International papers focus on the new war in the Middle East. "Struck at its heart, Iran is choosing a strategy of chaos," reads the headline on the front page of French daily Le Figaro. The paper says that the Iranian regime is "faced with an existential threat", so it chose to set the Middle East "on fire", trying to save itself. "Devastating" reads the headline on the front page of the left-wing British daily Morning Star. The paper reminds us that "Iran has long threatened to drag the region into total war" if it gets attacked. Meanwhile, the title of a feature article in The New York Times reads "As Maduro and Khamenei learned, it's harder than ever for leaders to hide". The article explains how a surge in sensors, cameras and artificial intelligence has transformed US intelligence. Today, it's much easier to track foreign leaders in real time. The New York Times writes that this ability opens up new horizons for presidents like Trump who wish to change "the attitude of foreign regimes – or change their leadership".  Papers are also discussing the impact of the conflict on Russia's war in Ukraine. Politico writes that "Trump's Iran gamble risks leaving Ukraine as a forgotten war". The paper says that Europeans are struggling to deal with Trump's "inflammatory interventions", but there is one thing that's worse: losing his attention. European officials fear that the new war will distract Trump, who will lose interest in ending Russia's war in Ukraine.  If the US gets itself into a long war in the Middle East, Ukraine may lose access to American-made weapons as well. It's an analysis echoed in The Kyiv Independent, too. The Ukrainian paper discusses how Zelensky's backing of Trump will impact Ukraine. It says that for Kyiv it's a logical choice, since Iran is a Russian ally and Volodymyr Zelensky wants to show that his country is reliable. However, it's unclear whether the strategy will work, because Trump's hostility towards Iran or Venezuela hasn't affected his relationship with Russia.  The Russian independent paper Meduza analyses the narrative of Russian propaganda about the new war. Russian state TV channels are saying that "diplomacy is ruined" and "what is happening is reminiscent of wars in Iraq and Libya". They paint America as a "predator" and as someone who's been planning the war in Iran for a long time. State media also warn that Russia needs "to draw conclusions" from what is happening in Iran. The fear of Russia being the next target is also present in an illustration called "Panic in the Kremlin" by Ukrainian cartoonist Serhiy Kolyada. We see Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov watching the news from Iran, looking scared behind their desks.  Finally, a conspiracy theory surrounding Jim Carrey's appearance at France's César Awards has gone viral. Many people think that a clone went to the awards and not the actor himself. Vogue France says that it all started as a joke, with people saying he got botox or a full facelift. The joke then turned into a more intense theory: what if this isn't the real Jim Carrey? Drag artist Alexis Stone posted a picture on Instagram suggesting that he had impersonated Carrey, fuelling even more conspiracy theories. Gregory Caulier, the general delegate of the awards ceremony, had to send a statement to Variety Magazine calling the rumours a "non-issue" and speaking about the actor's dedication to learning his speech in French. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, March 2: We look at reactions from across the Middle East to the killing of Iran's supreme leader and ahead to what might be next for the region. Meanwhile in the Western press, US President Donald Trump is slammed as seeking a "Nobel War Prize". Read moreLive: French FM Barrot calls for ‘Lebanon to be spared from this regional escalation’ The Tehran Times, loyal to the Iranian regime, bears a sobre, monochrome photograph of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on its front page, with the headline "For Iran's independence and glory". Over in Lebanon, Hezbollah-aligned Al-Akhbar leads with a drawing of Khamenei, with the headline "Resist".  Staying in Lebanon, L'Orient-Le Jour hails "the tearing of the axis", celebrating Khamenei's death as a blow to the Islamic Republic. On the inside pages, journalists break down various possible outcomes to the current crisis: the capitulation of Tehran as supplies run out, the backing down of Washington should its allies in the Gulf lose patience, or the toppling of the Iranian regime from within. The commentator deems the latter scenario the least likely.  In Israel, Haaretz focuses on Israeli casualties in the Iranian missile strikes, and comments on an Iranian regime showing "no signs of surrender".  Meanwhile in the West, indictments of Donald Trump are abundantly available: French paper L'Humanité says that the US president is seeking a Nobel Prize for War, while The Times jibes that "less than two weeks after the first meeting of his Board of Peace, President Trump grew bored of peace."  Finally, commentary in the US is sharply divided between those who take Trump's motive of liberating the Iranian people at face value, and those who fear that this weekend's interventions will not bring an end to the tyranny.

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 26: We look at reactions from the Indian and Israeli press after Narendra Modi's speech to the Israeli parliament. His visit is controversial back home. Also: the Berlin Film Festival's future leadership is in jeopardy after a film director's anti-Israel speech at last weekend's closing ceremony. Plus: superhero fatigue is here! A survey shows that teens want more sensitive portrayals of male heroes in the media.  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to the Israeli parliament is making a lot of front pages. The Indian PM is on a two-day diplomatic visit aiming to strengthen trade and defence ties. Modi told lawmakers in Jerusalem that India stands "firmly with Israel" after Hamas-led October 7 attacks. He did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Gazans killed since then. The PM did say however that India backs the Gaza peace plan, the Deccan Chronicle reports. He began his speech by affirming that India's connection to this land was written in blood and sacrifice. Modi reminded lawmakers that 4,000 Indian soldiers died in the region during the World War I. The Indian Express headlines on his words "blood and sacrifice." An opinion writer for The Hindu notes that Modi's visit comes just after India signed a joint declaration at the UN criticising Israel's actions in the West Bank. The writer says Modi's objective will be to boost India's trade ties with Israel while also balancing West Bank tensions. In the Israeli press, The Jerusalem Post analyses one particular phrase uttered by Modi in his speech. He ended with a phrase in Hebrew, saying "Long live the Israeli people". The writer notes that this phrase would never have been spoken by India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister after India's independence. Both were firmly against Zionism, so the fact that Modi concluded with this phrase is all the more significant. Modi's visit has indeed been extremely controversial back home. The Indian Telegraph reports that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi from the Indian National Congress criticised the PM's visit to Israel, as did the communist party. India's official stance has always been to back Palestinian independence and a two-state solution. The communist party says Modi's visit was a betrayal of that cause. Moving on to another controversy, the Berlin Film Festival wrapped up last weekend – but comments by an award-winning director about Israel have prompted questions over the festival's future leadership. The Guardian reports that Germany's federal government commissioner for culture and media convened an emergency meeting with a state-owned company that manages the festival to debate its future direction. At Saturday's closing ceremony, Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah al-Khatib accused Germany of being complicit in what he called Israel's genocide of Gaza. His comments prompted a walkout by Germany's environment minister. As the Guardian explains, the Berlinale sees itself as an overtly political film festival. However, the war in Gaza has been a point of contention – with international artists rubbing up against a strong pro-Israel consensus among the political authorities who fund the festival. German paper Bild reports that the government intends to dismiss Tricia Tuttle, the American director of the festival, over Saturday's night controversy. The conservative daily calls al-Khatib's speech "a hate speech against Israel and Germany". It alleges that the government wants a fresh start after the festival's grand stage was "repeatedly misused for blatant anti-Semitism and propaganda".  Finally, a survey of teens shows that superheroes are no longer in fashion! Gizmodo reports that Gen Z and Alpha were surveyed over what kinds of male representations they want to see in the media and their responses were unwavering. They want less emotionally stunted superheroes and more emotionally sensitive males on screen. The teens surveyed favour male characters who express their feelings, men taking care of others, fathers enjoying parenting and men seeking help or mental health care. Superhero fatigue is well and truly present! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 25, 2026: The prospect of war between the United States and Iran is getting a lot of coverage. But first, French papers discuss the municipal elections, which are taking place in a few weeks' time. Also, a report about the future of AI causes a few wobbles in the stock market. Finally, a baby giraffe with a strange haircut is the new internet sensation. French papers are focusing on the country's municipal elections, which are just over two weeks away. Libération's front page has a photo of far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen and says that "The National Rally is not proud of its mayors". Le Parisien talks about France's largest cities and their financial management. La Croix, meanwhile, looks into what it is like to be an opposition politician in local politics. Le Figaro investigates the demographics of France's mayors. Public Senat has found that 55 percent of French people would like a new mayor after the next elections.   Meanwhile, the prospect of war between the US and Iran is getting a lot of coverage. The New York Times reports that "Iranians are bracing for war beneath a veneer of normalcy". In Spain, El Pais reports that Iran has finalised the purchase of supersonic missiles from China in response to the US military escalation. The Financial Times says that this is a crisis of Donald Trump's own making. Politico gets its experts to weigh in on the risk of a full-out war.   Elsewhere, a concerning blog post about the future of artificial intelligence spooked the stock markets on Monday. The Guardian breaks down why. It explains that it all stems from the mass use of "AI agents", which are autonomous AI systems, which could lead to a "never-ending downward spiral". The Atlantic, however, goes over a new book that "punctures" that scary AI bubble. It makes the case that AI will never truly be able to replace humanity, but that we must defend our emotional space and ability to connect to other humans.  Finally, the Good News Network reports that the internet has found another adorable animal to gush over. This time, it's a baby giraffe with an unusual haircut.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, February 24, 2026: First, the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine makes the front pages in France and Europe. Elsewhere, the British front pages discuss the arrest of former British ambassador Peter Mandelson over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Next, the US's hockey teams may have won Olympic gold, but Donald Trump seems to value one more than the other. Finally, Paris's Tour Montparnasse gets a new look. The fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine is being marked on several front pages. Libération has a Ukraine special edition and its headline reads: "Four years of war, keep holding on". Elsewhere, Le Figaro headlines with: "Lessons on Ukrainian resistance". La Croix focuses on Russia, and what it calls a "death economy". In Switzerland, Le Temps describes "four years of blood and tears".  Cartoonists have also put their pens to paper. The Guardian shows Zelensky struggling up the long road to peace, the Telegraph imagines Putin celebrating the fourth anniversary in his bunker, and L'Opinion sees Trump and Putin sitting across from each other without saying a word.  Meanwhile, the British front pages are discussing the arrest of Peter Mandelson. The Daily Mirror puts it quite simply: "Mandelson is arrested". The Daily Mail says it is now Mandelson's turn to face the music. The Financial Times says that the former UK ambassador and minister was arrested on the same charges as the former prince Andrew. Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that Mandelson was released on bail at around 2am this morning.  More Epstein revelations are appearing elsewhere. In France, Le Monde looks at what it calls "Jeffrey Epstein's troubling intimacy with the Lang clan". Mediapart, meanwhile, digs into Epstein's personal connections with banker and heiress Ariane de Rothschild.   Over in the US, Donald Trump's comments seemingly mocking the US women's hockey team have upset many people online, according to People Magazine. Mashable reports that the women's side have since declined a half-hearted invitation to Trump's State of the Union address, citing "timing issues".  Finally, The New York Times reports that the world's ugliest building in the world's most beautiful city is getting a revamp.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, February 23, 2026: First, ahead of the four-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, papers discuss Russia's war plans, and their new agents. Next, the Guardian takes a closer look at "El Mencho". Also, as the Olympics come to an end, Olympians are celebrated in papers around the world. Finally, the final candidates for European Tree of the year have been named!  As we approach the four-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, two long reads stand out. The New York Times looks at Russia's new strategy to carry out its shadow war in Europe. Ordinary European residents are being recruited to serve as intermediaries between Russian intelligence services and their personal network of petty criminals. The Guardian has another interesting long read. It discusses "how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin's Ukraine plans and nobody believed them”. Meanwhile, the Mexican army has killed the leader of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels, and while there is not much information about him, the Guardian has published a profile of him. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, aka "El Mencho", was the co-founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a powerful criminal organisation known for its aggressivity and violence. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina came to an end on Sunday and the Italian front pages are celebrating their Olympics. Aujourd'hui en France celebrates the French biathlon team who took home 13 medals. The New York Times takes a closer look at the medal table, where Norway finished top with 18 gold medals. Finally, the Atlantic highlights some of the most creative photos of the Olympics.   Finally, the Olympics may have finished, but there is a new competition to look out for, as the BBC reports: the 2026 European Tree of the Year competition!  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, 20 February 2026: British newspapers tear into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following his arrest yesterday. Beyond the front pages, opinion pieces examine the impact of the crisis on the royal family. Elsewhere, an Austrian man has been found guilty after abandoning his girlfriend on the side of a mountain. Finally, The Guardian features a touching story about Kyiv’s zoo and its efforts to care for animals during the war in Ukraine. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's arrest yesterday is all over the British front pages this morning. The Daily Star headlines with “Taxi for Andy”. The Sun references his infamous interview with Emily Maitlis. The Daily Mail has a historical edition today and discusses Andrew's downfall. The Daily Telegraph says Andrew is the first senior member of the Royal family to be taken into custody in modern history. The Guardian quotes King Charles, who said: “the law must take its course”. The Daily Express points out that it happened to be Andrew’s 66th Birthday.   Beyond the headlines, a number of analysis pieces react to the arrest. The Times calls it the worst constitutional crisis in a century. An opinion piece in the Guardian says that "Andrew is entering a new era, and so is Britain". The Daily Express meanwhile says that this is an opportunity for the royals to come out stronger. Alongside the commentary, several papers – including The Independent, The Guardian and The Times – feature striking political cartoons. Elsewhere in the press, the world of mountaineering has been rocked by a legal case in Austria. The New York Times reports that an Austrian man has been found guilty in the death of his girlfriend after abandoning her on Austria’s highest mountain. He has now been found guilty for “gross negligent manslaughter” and given a suspended sentence of five months in prison.  Finally, the Guardian features a moving report from Kyiv’s zoo, highlighting how staff continue to care for the animals despite the war in Ukraine. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 19: A landmark climate trial begins in France which will pit Paris City Hall and environmental advocacy groups against oil and gas giant TotalEnergies. The company stands accused of neglecting due diligence laws on respecting the environment through its business activities. Also, locals in Wellington, New Zealand are furious over sewage seeping directly into the sea after a wastewater treatment plant collapsed. Finally, Punch the baby macaque wins the internet's hearts. We start with early reactions in the Korea Times and Korea Joongang Daily after former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison. He was found guilty of trying to paralyse the functions of the National Assembly and disturbing the constitutional order, notably with his declaration of martial law, the papers note. Yoon was found guilty of "masterminding an insurrection." On FRANCE 24's website, we can read about the career of Yoon, a "self-styled anti-corruption crusader" who rose from star prosecutor to president in just a few years, before his downfall. In France, the papers focus on a landmark climate trial against oil and gas giant TotalEnergies. Paris City Hall is leading the charge in this trial, which will centre on corporate social responsibility. A coalition of environmental advocacy groups and Paris City Hall want the courts to oblige TotalEnergies to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by cutting its hydrocarbon production in order to meet the Paris Agreement targets set in 2015. Le Monde explains that the case is based on France's law of due diligence, which requires large corporations in France to identify risks and mitigate serious violations of human rights, health and the environment linked to their activities. L'Humanité, the communist paper, headlines with "Total in the dock." Le Monde notes that in an unusual move, the prosecutor's office intervened earlier this month as a joint party, aligning with TotalEnergies. They want to argue that the law of due diligence does not apply to climate change. This position, for L'Humanité, brings "unambiguous support for TotalEnergies". The French giant was the world's sixth-largest producer of oil and gas in 2024. L'Humanité reminds us that TotalEnergies has been the object of several trials in the past, notably in Uganda and Mozambique. In Mozambique, it was accused of war crimes, torture and forced disappearances last year after Mozambican civilians were tortured by soldiers guarding Total's gas site in 2021. Staying with the environment, the Guardian reports on a catastrophe engulfing the New Zealand capital of Wellington. More than two weeks after the catastrophic collapse of a wastewater treatment plant, toilets in Wellington continue to flush directly into the ocean. Millions of litres of raw and partially screened sewage have been pouring into reef and marine reserves since the beginning of the month, sparking anger and frustration at local authorities. There are fears for the safety of marine ecosystems – and local species like the little blue penguin. The Guardian explains that water management has long been a contentious issue in New Zealand, with a battle between national and local authorities over who centralises control of the services. Finally, a baby macaque has gone viral after being abandoned by its mother. Vanity Fair and Mashable report that the "internet is rooting for Punch". He's a six-month-old macaque living at a zoo in Chiba prefecture in Japan. As he was abandoned by his mother, zookeepers are hand-rearing him. To ease his anxiety and facilitate his social reinsertion, they gave him an orangutan plush toy, which Punch now takes everywhere with him. Videos of him snoozing with his orange toy have gone viral and have been viewed over 2 million times. Internet users have also rallied behind him under the hashtag ##HangInTherePunch! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 18, 2026: The killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque has plunged France into political chaos, as one of the suspects was revealed to be working for the far-left France Unbowed party. Meanwhile, as tributes for civil rights activist Jesse Jackson continue to fill the papers, so too do analysis pieces about his contribution to US politics. Finally, in football, the Champions League is rocked by a racist incident during a playoff match.  At least nine people have been arrested in connection with the fatal beating of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque. The political fallout is all over the French front pages. Le Figaro headlines with: "Quentin: the net is closing in on la Jeune Garde and LFI", referring to the far-left France Unbowed party, known by its initials LFI in French, while L'Opinion headlines with "The left's guilty silence about LFI". Libération's front page features a photo of the heated debates that happened in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Finally, Mediapart says that Quentin's death has sparked a cultural war; one that sacrifices truth and seeks to profit from tragedy.   Meanwhile, tributes are still pouring in for US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday at the age of 84. The Washington Post features an article written by a journalist who covered Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign and who describes the blatant racism the Democratic candidate had to overcome, even from his own party. The BBC discusses Jackson's lesser-known experience as a hostage negotiator. He helped negotiate the release of two US soldiers who were held captive by Yugoslav forces in 1999. The Guardian calls Jackson a "living bridge between Martin Luther King and Barack Obama".   In football news, a racist incident during a Champions League game on Tuesday is getting a lot of coverage. Spanish sports paper Marca headlines with "Executioner and victim". It all happened during the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, where Benfica played Real Madrid. Brazilian international Vinicius Jr was reportedly insulted by a Benfica player. The Athletic reports that the game had to be stopped for 10 minutes, and a red card was handed to Benfica staff. Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has called for the Benfica player in question to be banned from the Champions League.   Finally, the Guardian has a photo report of the first half of the annual Shrovetide Football event, which has been played in England since the 12th century.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, February 17: It's been one year since the Trump administration dismantled USAID, the agency for international development. The press looks at how South Africa, a country which relied on US aid, is faring and the impact it has had on HIV/AIDS prevention. Also, the EU's climate advisory board says Europe should prepare for a three-degree increase in temperatures by the end of the century. Plus: the Olympics' curling scandal plays out in the Swedish and Canadian press. It has been one year since Donald Trump's administration dismantled USAID, the agency responsible for US humanitarian aid. The decision has had a huge impact on countries who relied on it, both economically and socially. The Belgian paper Le Soir quotes a Boston University study which shows that 265,000 adults and 551,000 children have died as a result. The British medical journal The Lancet predicts that if all USAID programmes remain suspended, the number of deaths could rise to over 14 million by 2030, including 4.5 million children. Le Soir's editorial condemns this "selfish strategy" and warns that it could backfire. It notes that since access to treatments against TB and HIV have been curtailed, this could lead to a global resurgence in the diseases, which could impact the West as well. One of the hardest-hit countries is South Africa. In 2022, there were 8.5 million HIV-positive people, according to the development website Devex. The website cites OUT, an LGBTQ clinic specialising in protecting gay men, as a case study. OUT cut 93 percent of its workforce after USAID closed. It's now in the process of having to rebuild, refinance and reassure a stigmatised community who relied on them for safe sex education and for whom seeking help was not easy. In other news, the Guardian reports on the EU's climate advisory board's warning that the continent will have to prepare for a catastrophic 2.8 to 3.3°C increase in global temperatures by the century's end. A member of that board says leaders' efforts in Europe so far have been ineffective and ill prepared. Climate scientists have been surprised by the weather extremes in Europe in recent years – deadly rains but also forest fires in Spain, Portugal and Germany. We turn next to the Winter Olympics, where the press is still talking about a cheating scandal engulfing curling. There's no love lost between Canada and Sweden in these Winter Games. Last Friday, Sweden accused the Canadian men's team of double touching the curling stone – a big no-no in the sport. This led to a hot mic F-bomb moment on the ice and angry denials by Canada. Then the drama escalated when the women's team were accused of double touching in their match against the Swiss, while Team GB's men's team were accused of double touching in their game. They will play Canada this Tuesday, in what will be perhaps a highly watched event. In The Curling News, Michael Fournier, a former Canadian player, pens an opinion piece in which he says that Sweden's Oskar Erikkson making his accusation on the ice was "unethical". Swedish sports paper Sport Bladet reacts on its front page by reminding readers that Eriksson accused Fournier of cheating 10 years ago!  As Le Devoir, a Canadian website says, it's the stupidest way to cheat anyway. It quotes a commentary on Radio Canada that puts it down to a bad habit rather than actual cheating. In any case, the internet's had a riot and you can check out the memes here. Finally, we look at the winners from the open competition of the Sony World Photography awards. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, February 16: We look at reactions in France after the death of Quentin Deranque, a French activist close to the far right. He died of his injuries after being attacked at a protest over a speech given by a far-left MEP at Lyon's political science university. Also, five countries including Britain are mulling extra sanctions on Russia over a report that a deadly frog toxin killed Alexei Navalny. Plus: Olympics records tumble for France, Norway, Italy and Great Britain at the Winter Games. We start with the death of Quentin Deranque, a young activist close to the far right in France. Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right nationalist activist, was beaten by a mob on Thursday during a protest against far-left politician Rima Hassan at Lyon's political science university. He died a day later of his injuries. As Le Figaro reports, the French government says ultra-left activists were behind his killing. The editor of Le Figaro says that in this tragedy, Quentin was "not a militant killed in a street fight but a martyr for freedom of expression." This is something that the far left wants to replace with its "hideous pack mentality", he claims. The right-wing daily accuses the far-left France Unbowed party of "feeding the political violence that was at the heart of this deadly event." Business paper Les Echos says February 14, the date of Quentin's death, will mark a "turning point in French politics – that extremism kills." Also, the editor says, it will be a date to remember, 15 months before the French presidential elections. From the left-wing papers: Libération condemns the "unbearable climate of intolerance in which French politics has been conducted for a long time now". Communist paper L'Humanité shares that vision. It sees Quentin's death as a "climax of political violence" and a tragedy that is "shamefully being manipulated politically". Also in the headlines, five European nations are considering extra sanctions against Russia in the wake of new information around opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death. British paper Metro relays a statement from the British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, who said the UK would likely be imposing new sanctions on Russia. A European investigation showed that the 47-year-old Russian opposition leader, who died in prison exactly two years ago today, was killed by a dart frog toxin administered to him. Russia has always maintained that he died of natural causes. Staying with Metro, the paper headlines on records tumbling for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics as it celebrates its most successful Winter Games campaign in history. Team GB picked up its first gold medal on snow, thanks to Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale who won the mixed team snowboard cross. But it turned out to be a legendary day, with Team GB winning a second medal of the day in the skeleton event, bringing its gold tally to three. France, too, has beaten its medal tally record from four years ago. It stands at 15 medals, with one more week to go, L'Equipe says on its front page. Host nation Italy already has its biggest medal haul of all time, with 22. Italian skier Federica Brignone picked up her second gold medal in the giant slalom three days after winning her first in the super-G. The Games have also cemented an all-time champion. Norway pays tribute to cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. He picked up his fourth fold medal this weekend, helping Norway to gold in the cross-country skiing men's team relay event. With nine gold medals, he is now the all-time gold medal leader in the history of the Winter Olympics. Dagbladet, the Norwegian newspaper says: "No one stands next to him or above him." Finally, the Guardian has tested a new fashion trend that is less than glorious. Thanks to Rich Pelley, you do not have to test the new Crocs/Lego contraption. These clunky Lego shoes or Jenga towers, as he calls them, retail at £200. After a day in the "Jenga towers", he realised they are not shoes but a "performative art piece". Perhaps they would best be in a gallery and not a shoe shop! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, February 13: The European press comes down hard on the IOC's decision to disqualify Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych over his helmet. Also, we look at new and unexpected applications of artificial intelligence, as well as its colossal water and energy cost. Finally, we bring you the latest in the world of love, in the countdown to Valentine's Day.  European papers show sympathy with Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian athlete disqualified from the Winter Olympics over a helmet the IOC saw as political. Support for the skeleton slider has created a moment of national unity for Ukraine in trying times, according to Le Parisien, and in the absence of his shot at an Olympic medal, President Volodymyr Zelensky is awarding Heraskevych the Order of Freedom, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.  Also in the news, The Financial Times reports on how Australian farmers are putting an end to "decades of rows over miscounts" of sheep which have "stoked distrust in the outback". That's right: they're using AI to count sheep. Meanwhile, journalists at French Catholic paper La Croix have been asking priests about their use of artificial intelligence. The consensus seemed to be that it's a helpful assistant in everyday working life, but its attempts at sermon writing come out as "bland" and "derivative".  But there's a dark side to all this too: a cartoon in French paper L'Humanité parodies the recently publicised companionship AI necklaces, reinforcing the wearer's fears that no one likes them!  Libération has a two-page feature on a vast sprawling data centre complex in the Nevadan desert. The US state is experiencing a big tech gold rush with its below-average electricity prices and enormous tax incentives, but locals fear the data centre infrastructure will put undue pressure on an already depleted water supply. Meanwhile, in the world of romance, you've heard of Valentine's Day on February 14, but did you know that February 16 is the number one day for sending apology cards? The Times has this scoop from online greetings card company Moonpig. Furthermore, the two weeks before Valentine's Day see a spike in Google searches for "how to break up". At least those dark weeks are coming to an end.  Finally, after only 18 percent of weddings in Spain were church weddings in 2024, the Spanish clergy are trying to entice couples into the sacrament of holy matrimony using an online video game for couples, as the Guardian explains. It involves exercises on "communication, fidelity, "the beauty of sexuality" and "conflict resolution". We must add, though, that other Valentine's Day activities are, of course, also available. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 12: Gisèle Pelicot gives far-reaching interviews in the French press ahead of the release of her upcoming book. Also, Donald Trump's climate and energy policies continue to reject scientific consensus. Finally, we bring you the story of the figure skating coach at the Winter Olympics who's working with 16 athletes from 13 countries. Gisèle Pelicot opens up to French paper Libération about her life before and after she discovered her (now ex-)husband had been drugging her and inviting strangers to join him in raping her. She describes a trial at which she was repeatedly subject to humiliation, but where, by refusing a closed-door procedure, she made her contribution to the cause of women. She said the idea of the "triviality" of rape was on trial, and of "violence as a weapon of male domination". The Guardian quotes excerpts from her upcoming book, in which she explains why it was so important for the more than 50 men to be tried out in the open, for all the world to see: if not, she said, "not a single woman could walk in and sit in the courtroom and feel less alone". She told Le Figaro that she does not want "victim status" anymore, and that this book is about reclaiming her story, and stepping out of the victimhood box that was assigned to her by these men's crimes. Meanwhile, the US administration is once again rejecting scientific consensus on climate science, as the EPA is set to appeal the so-called Endangerment Finding: the scientifically proven fact that greenhouse gases "threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations". In doing so, Politico explains, the agency is "revoking its own authority to regulate" planet-warming gases, and "cutting the legs out from under US climate change rules". This comes the same week that President Donald Trump issued an order to the Pentagon to prioritise buying coal power. The Washington Post argues that such an order is tantamount to subsidising the heavily polluting and waning energy source. The US has been successful in shifting away from coal this century, with the fossil fuel going from 50 percent of the national energy mix in 2000 to 17 percent today, but the current administration does not see this as positive. A so-called fact sheet on the White House website calls to strengthen national defence through "America's Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet", dismissing the factual scientific consensus that coal is, by definition, a dirty energy source. In Italy, La Repubblica journalists at the Winter Olympics are reporting on the figure skating coach working with 16 athletes from 13 countries, and the sheer logistical challenge this entails: constantly changing puffer jackets from the stands in order to show support to his contestant and their country. On Wednesday alone, he had a quick change between Georgian and French merchandise, as contestants performed back-to-back. Benoît Richaud is a sought-after French coach and choreographer, with eggs in many baskets and an arsenal of warm winter coats. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 11, 2026: The Financial Times suggests Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might hold elections in the spring amid US pressure. Also, US authorities have released footage of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper. Next, social media is accused of being addictive and dangerous in a Los Angeles court. Meanwhile, a "top of the flops" exhibition opens in Paris. Finally, Estonians can drive on the sea. The Financial Times has published an exclusive article on Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president is reportedly planning "spring elections alongside a referendum on peace deal after US pressure". The paper notes that holding elections would be a dramatic pivot for Zelensky, who has previously said that elections in the country are impossible while it remains under martial law.  Meanwhile, footage of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper has been released. The New York Times reminds us that she disappeared on February 1 and has not been seen since, in what is suspected to be an abduction. CNN analyses the footage and says that the abduction was "highly premeditated and very poorly planned". NBC reports that a man has been detained in connection with Guthrie's disappearance.  A number of papers are discussing a landmark social media trial in the US. The Atlantic says the jury will decide whether Instagram can ruin your life. The BBC reports that Instagram and YouTube have been called "addiction machines". The New York Times quotes YouTube's lawyers, who claim that "infinite scroll and video recommendations are meant to help users, not harm them".   The Times reports on a "top of the flops" exhibition, which is on in Paris at the Musée des Arts et Métiers and features a collection of the world's biggest design flops. Meanwhile, it is so cold in Estonia that locals can drive from one island to another across a 20km stretch of frozen sea, the Guardian tells us.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, February 10: Police in Senegal have arrested over a dozen men, including a well-known TV presenter and a musician, in a case involving "unnatural acts" – parlance for gay sex. The New York Times calls it Senegal's most high-profile anti-gay case in years. Also in the country, a horrific paedophile ring spearheaded by a French man leads to multiple arrests. Finally, who is Ilia Malinin, the US figure skater who is revolutionising the sport? Senegalese police have arrested several men for allegedly committing "unnatural acts" – a reference to gay sex. Among those arrested are Pape Cheikh Diallo, a "beloved" TV presenter and Djiby Dramé, a musician. The pair appeared alongside 10 other men in court near Dakar on Monday. The website Sene News reports that Cheikh Diallo and Dramé have been deferred to prison while awaiting trial. The New York Times explains that the case is the most high-profile anti-gay case in years. According to police, an HIV-positive individual admitted to knowingly infecting other men who were contacted through WhatsApp. The identity of the suspect was not revealed, but the Times notes that the arrests come as part of a crackdown on homosexuality in Senegal, which has become "increasingly intolerant of gay and gender fluid people in recent decades." Cheikh Diallo interviews celebrities on TFM, Senegal's most watched TV channel, which was funded by the musician Youssou N'Dour. He has 3 million followers on TikTok and is particularly popular with young viewers. News website Sene Web quotes the head of Stop Homophobie, a Paris-based gay rights group which regularly comes to the aid of victims of discrimination in Senegal. The group condemned the arrests, saying it will expose LGBTQIA+ people to further stigma in a devoutly Muslim Senegal, where homosexuality is punishable by prison. Staying in Senegal, major arrests have been made in what being called a sickening paedophile project. Wakat Séra, a pan-African paper based in Burkina Faso, reports that 14 people were arrested at the weekend after months of investigation in both France and Senegal. They are accused of organised paedophilia, pimping, rape of minors, sodomy and the intentional transmission of HIV/AIDS. The men are accused of forcing boys to have unprotected sex with HIV-positive men and filming it. Four of the men were reportedly acting on the instructions of a French man in exchange for money. That man was arrested in France last year. According to Le Parisien, the network appeared to target a particularly vulnerable part of the Senegalese population called talibé. They are children who are sent to Koranic schools but often find themselves forced to beg on the streets. Finally, US superstar ice skater Ilia Malinin is getting a lot of attention in the press. Malinin is the new star of ice skating after being the first skater to land the sport's most difficult jump: "a quadruple axel". He did this while competing in the Team USA event at the Winter Olympics, helping them secure the gold medal. The quadruple axel is a four-and-a-half rotation in the air.  As The New York Times reports, the self-proclaimed "Quad God" is the son of two Russian-born Olympic figure skaters who competed for Uzbekistan. Malinin was left out of the US Olympic team four years ago due to inexperience, but has spent four years making a name for himself. At the weekend, he also performed the first legal backflip in Olympic ice-skating history. As NPR explains, French figure skater Surya Bonaly landed a backflip on one blade in 1998's Nagano Games despite it being completely illegal. She knew in her routine that she wouldn't get a medal, so she did the backflip anyway. It cost her points, but cemented her trailblazing legacy, especially as a Black athlete in a sport not known for its racial diversity. Canadian sports website TSN reminds us that the backflip became known as the "Bonaly flip" and some say Malinin owes his feats to those who came before him and paid the price for it. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, February 9: The British Prime Minister is on thin ice after his chief of staff resigns. Elsewhere, centre-left candidate Antonio Jose Seguro has won a comfortable victory in an extremely rare second round of Portugal’s presidential election. In France, nine members of the riot police go on trial on Monday over allegations of police violence during the 2018 gilets jaunes protests. And finally, the corporate craze for beehives on office rooftops is booming. Keir Starmer’s precarious position is splashed across the UK front pages, with editorials looking ahead to how he might go, when, and who could replace him. Meanwhile, in Portugal, Sunday was described as a “good night for democracy”, according to Publico, while Antonio Jose Seguro was presented as a “safe choice” on the front page of Diario de Noticias. Expresso, however, remarked that Ventura appeared anything but defeated, suggesting that he and his party had lost the battle but not the war. In France, nine CRS officers are on trial over the violent beatings of gilets jaunes protesters in 2018, who had sought refuge from tear gas inside a Burger King. Images released by Libération in recent days show protesters being knocked to the ground, kicked, and repeatedly struck with police batons. The officers face up to seven years in prison. Finally, The Guardian has covered the buzz in the corporate world: a growing number of companies believe employee wellbeing and productivity can be improved by installing beehives on and around the workplace, a practice frowned upon by many who warn that an overpopulation of honeybees is endangering other insect populations.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, February 6: As Japan heads for snap general elections this weekend, the press looks at "Sana-mania". Incumbent Sanae Takaichi, the country's first female prime minister, looks set to win that vote. Also: Libération reports on Belarusian woman Karyna Shuliak, who played a key role in Jeffrey Epstein's activities and inherited a large portion of his wealth. Plus: the Winter Olympics begins and we look at winners from the Close-Up Photography awards. We begin with the Japanese press ahead of general elections there on Sunday. The incumbent ultra-conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to win. The Japan Times focuses on the Komeito party, which ended its 26-year coalition with the ruling LDP last year over corruption scandals and Takaichi's commitment to reform. This election will play out in terms of who gets those precious votes, the paper says. Japan Today's website headlines with US President Donald Trump's endorsement for Takaichi, who he described "strong, powerful and wise". He also announced her upcoming visit to Washington next month. Some hot-button issues will be foreign residents' caps and nuclear policy. The paper explains that Takaichi is a security hawk and is expected to update key defence and security documents in the face of growing threats to Japan's security: an assertive China, but also North Korean missiles and nuclear threats. Her party has advocated the sharing of nuclear-powered submarines with the US and seeks to deepen that alliance.  In the international press, there is a lot of focus on Takaichi's charisma. The Times of London says the two-week electoral campaign is the shortest in modern Japanese history. It has generated "little policy debate" but instead has "become a pageant of celebration for Takaichi." The Guardian documents the "Sana-mania" gripping Japan – voters are obsessed with everything about her, from her choice of outfits and train journey snacks to the pink pen she uses to take notes in parliament. Despite a very conservative outlook, Takaichi has ignited interest among young voters by leaning into her feminism and playing on what she is not: "a hereditary, male politician."  Here in France, Libération is headlining on a new development in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The paper hones its focus on an enigmatic woman: Karyna Shuliak, a Belarusian and sort of successor to Ghislaine Maxwell. Shuliak featured prominently in Epstein's will – she was his girlfriend at the time of his death and reportedly the last person to speak to him. He bequeathed his luxurious Parisian apartment and diamonds to her. Her entry into his world began with her rebuffing his advances and refusing to become one of his victims. She later became a main administrator in his criminal activities, of which she denies a role. Shuliak has for the moment has not been convicted for her role in Epstein's crimes.  A quick word now on the sports front pages ahead of this Friday's Winter Olympic opening ceremony. There's much excitement over the "big show in the cold", according to L'Equipe, the French sports paper. The German daily Der Tagesspiegel is also giddy ahead of the "fun, games and excitement" that will take place over the next fortnight.  Finally, we look at the winners of the Close-Up Photography Competition. The competition is in its seventh year and received more than 12,000 entries from 63 countries this year. Australian photographer Ross Gudgeon won the grand prize for his photo, an extreme close-up of the inside of a cauliflower soft coral in Lembeh Strait in Indonesia. You can check out other winners in Gizmodo.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 5: Are Keir Starmer's days as British prime minister numbered? That's what the British papers are asking after the latest scandal involving ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Also, "bloodbath" and "murder" are the words used to describe mass layoffs at The Washington Post in what some think is owner Jeff Bezos's attempt to appease Donald Trump. Plus, an Armenian political party wants to create a ministry of sex to keep women satisfied. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is getting some serious heat over his knowledge of Labour Lord Peter Mandelson's connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Guardian says that Keir Starmer's days as prime minister could be numbered, according to opposition MPs and some of his own Labour MPs. The scrutiny centres on Starmer's appointment of Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US in 2024. Files pertaining to Epstein revealed this week that Mandelson leaked confidential financial information to Epstein as minister during the financial crisis of 2009-10. He also maintained a friendship with the disgraced paedophile even after his conviction. On Wednesday, Starmer admitted to knowing about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein when he appointed him to the plum diplomatic post, but maintained that Mandelson lied about how close the pair were. Nonetheless, the Financial Times calls it a torrid day for Starmer – painting it as the beginning of the end for the British prime minister.  The conservative press focus on a revolt led by Angela Rayner, the former Labour deputy prime minister, against Starmer in parliament. The Daily Mail reveals that Rayner essentially forced the prime minister into allowing a parliamentary committee to decide which documents pertaining to Mandelson's appointment would be released, in order to abate fears of what some fear is a "cover-up." The Daily Mail notes the fact that Rayner is widely seen as a successor to Starmer and that her revolt could indicate that the PM's end may be close. The conservative Daily Telegraph is also focusing on Rayner's showdown with Starmer in parliament, wondering what possessed him to make the Mandelson appointment. Meanwhile, the editors at the Times of London say that Starmer can't absolve himself of this crisis. It adds that "there's blood in the water" and someone is going pay – not only Mandelson. Over in the US, The Washington Post has laid off a third of its staff, a decision that was a long time coming but has nonetheless sent shockwaves through the paper's newsroom. There is very little mention of this in The Washington Post's Thursday edition. More than 300 people have been laid off, including all Middle East correspondents and editors but also the sports department and literary section. It's a sad ending for a paper whose reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein made history for their coverage of the Watergate scandal. The reactions are muted in the Post but elsewhere, The Atlantic calls it the "murder" of the Washington Post. The New Yorker blames owner Jeff Bezos, who was brought in to save the paper but instead contributed to its decline, it says. Some staff at the Post reportedly feel "betrayed" by Bezos's lack of communication and silence around the layoffs, the International Business Times reports. One former staff member accused Bezos of focusing on "surviving Trump" rather than protecting the paper's independence.  Finally, an insurgent political party in Armenia wants to create a ministry of sex. The Daily Telegraph reports that Sargis Karapetyan from the Strong Armenia party suggested creating the ministry to ensure all women are sexually satisfied in the country. But it's not coming from the kindness of his heart or concerns about female pleasure. Rather, he appeared to refer to previous comments by a sociologist that the rise in activism among middle-aged, White women is because they are not sexually satisfied. Women's rights groups have rightly taken issue with Karapetyan, with one even lodging a criminal complaint, according to the pan-Caucasus website Jam News. Is it perhaps just a ploy to get people talking about the party ahead of June elections? You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Team USA's Olympics base camp is making headlines since it had to change its name from Ice House to Winter House. But first, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the country is planning a social media ban for under-16s. Next, Russian athletes could soon be back competing under their national flag. Meanwhile, the 2030 Olympic Games in France are off to a slow start. Finally, scientists study what love might look like in space. The Spanish government plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16. La Vanguardia quotes PM Pedro Sanchez, who says that he wants to protect minors "from a space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation and violence". El Pais celebrates the policy and says that "it is good to see the global debate on teenagers and social media finally moving towards holding companies accountable for their harmful practices". El Mundo is slightly more sceptical when it comes to implementing the ban. Meanwhile, the idea seems to be spreading throughout Europe. According to Diario de Noticias, Portugal is also considering a ban. The concept has spread to Greece as well, with Kathimerini reporting that the government is about to announce a Greek version of the plan.  The first events of the Winter Olympics begin this Wednesday, a few days ahead of the opening ceremony. Athletes have already arrived at their Milan base camps, but Team USA's base has been getting a lot of coverage. The New York Times reports that Team USA's club house has had to be renamed. Initially called the "Ice House", it has now been re-baptised "Winter House". The Guardian, for its part, looks at Team GB's home base, which it describes as being full of 5,000 teabags, 130 kilos of porridge and tons of popcorn.  Meanwhile, Russian athletes at the Olympic games are in the spotlight again. This year, they will still be competing as Individual Neutral Athletes. The Athletic goes over the various bans that have been imposed on the country since 2016. The Guardian reports that Russian athletes could be competing under the Russian flag soon. L'Equipe's cartoonists suggest Vladimir Putin might be next up for the FIFA Peace Prize. In France, though, the 2030 Winter Olympics are not going according to plan. L'Equipe reports that three senior officials have quit in the last two months amid rising tensions within the organising committee. Le Monde reports that the French Games are already behind schedule.  Finally, scientists are planning for humanity's future as a space-travelling species, as The Times reports. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, February 3: The British and Norwegian papers examine the fallout from the latest release of the Epstein files, which are incriminating Labour peer Peter Mandelson and the crown princess of Norway. In Italy, anarchist protesters' clashes with police make front-page news. A new social media platform is raising eyebrows because it's for AI bots only. Finally, a 91-year-old British man wins a trampolining championship in Portsmouth! Backlash continues over the Epstein files, which are continuing to engulf European nations, from palace to parliament. Lord Mandelson, a high-ranking Labour Party member, is splashed across the front pages. He was revealed to have passed on confidential information pertaining to a €500 billion bailout of the euro to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a cabinet minister in 2009-10. The papers focus on British MPs seeking a police probe against him. The conservative tabloid Daily Mail calls him a "dark lord". In the Norwegian press, meanwhile, there is a lot of focus on the crown princess's connections to Epstein. Mette-Marit was mentioned 1,000 times in the latest documents, which indicate the nature of their relationship. As the daily Dagbladet notes, the tone is "flirtatious and intimate". The exchanges were clearly written by someone who didn't believe that the correspondence would ever come to light. One exchange about infidelity is "fit to make someone blush." For this paper, the revelations are damning – not least of all because it counters the palace's previous statements that the princess had met Epstein just a few times in social settings. Elsewhere, the Italian city of Turin has been the theatre of violent protests between anarchists and police. Il Manifesto reports that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is fast-tracking a security decree in the wake of the weekend's violence. Over 100 officers were injured in the clashes and one policeman was beaten with a hammer. Protesters were opposing the eviction of a left-wing social centre. The paper slams Meloni's security measure, saying it will not impact security but will further restrict the right to dissent. On the other hand, a conservative Italian daily applauds the government's initiative. The editors say it should be implemented "as soon as possible."  The New York Times focuses its attention on Moltbook, which is a social network... for AI bots. Moltbook was launched much in the same vein as Facebook or Reddit – it's a social media platform, but one in which humans are not allowed. This one is only open to Moltbots – an AI assistant very common in Silicon Valley. Since its release, more than 10,000 Moltbots have had automated chats with each other on the platform. Us humans can only watch on the sidelines in "awe and dread." In any case, the bots knew that humans were eavesdropping on their conversations – as demonstrated by a screenshot of one such conversation posted on X. Finally, a great-grandfather has won gold in a British trampolining competition. As the Daily Mail reports, Peter Quinney is 91, a former champion gymnast and a Royal Air Force veteran. He won the British Men's Trampolining Championships in 1960. Forty years after his last competition, he entered the over-40s trampolining contest and won two gold medals in the team and individual categories. He wowed judges with a 360-degree spin and a seat drop. According to the Daily Mail, he says he'll ring in his centennial birthday with 100 backflips!  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.