Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 10: Papers focus on Hungary’s opposition leader, Peter Magyar, as he confronts Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Sunday’s crucial election. Magyar is hoping to capitalise on a wave of discontent over Orban's rule. In the US, First Lady Melania Trump has convened the press at the White House to deny any ties to Jeffrey Epstein – but was it a ruse to divert attention from Donald Trump’s chaotic war in Iran? And finally, a new study sheds light on a community of chimpanzees that waged a bloody civil war among themselves. Hungarians head to the polls this Sunday in legislative elections shaping up to be a tightly contested race. The battle for the premiership pits incumbent strongman Viktor Orban against his younger ally-turned-rival, Peter Magyar. Polls this week suggest Magyar and his party have taken a narrow lead over Orban. Pro-government newspaper Magyar Nemzet has launched a vitriolic attack on the challenger, accusing him of crushing his party’s narrative and predicting heavy losses on Sunday. The paper has endorsed the prime minister, warning voters against handing power to what it calls a “Brussels puppet”, and urging them instead to back a leader who, it argues, has the “experience, ability, knowledge and courage” to navigate even the most severe crises. The election, it says, is a question of Hungary’s very survival. The Budapest Times focuses on Orban's response, highlighting his insistence that “no election is decided until the people vote”. In an interview, he added that it was disrespectful to voters to suggest the outcome had already been settled. French magazine Challenges turns its attention to Magyar’s rapid rise. It portrays the conservative MEP as a figure seemingly destined for leadership – even noting that his surname, “Magyar”, literally means Hungary. It also points to his modern campaign strategy and carefully managed image, contrasting his polished appearance with an ageing Orban. The Guardian offers a more personal perspective, recounting how Magyar once had a poster of Orbán on his bedroom wall – a symbol of a post-communist Hungary full of promise. Now, he stands at the centre of another potential political shift, seeking to unseat the man critics say has turned the country into a “petri dish of illiberalism”. In the United States, First Lady Melania Trump made a rare and striking appearance at the White House on Thursday, publicly denying any connection to Jeffrey Epstein. She delivered a six-minute statement to reporters, saying she had no relationship with Epstein, was not his friend, and had no knowledge of his crimes. She added that she wanted to clear her “good name” after what she described as “fake images and statements” linking her to him. The intervention has dominated the UK press, with The Times and The Belfast Telegraph reporting widespread shock at the unusually forceful denial. The New York Times focuses on the substance of her remarks, while The Guardian raises a broader question: whether the timing of the statement – and the media attention it generated – may have diverted focus from the fallout of Donald Trump’s war in Iran. It asks whether the move was coincidental, or something more calculated. Finally, a new study sheds light on a remarkable – and violent – episode among chimpanzees. Reporting in Discover, researchers detail a 30-year study of the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Uganda. The findings document a brutal “civil war” that erupted after a once cohesive group split into rival factions. Over several years, both adult and infant chimpanzees were killed in sustained attacks, leaving one faction significantly weakened. While such intra-group conflict is rare, researchers warn that habitat loss and climate change could increase the likelihood of similar clashes in future – intensifying what is ultimately a Darwinian struggle for survival. 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, April 10: We bring you world reactions after the US and Iran signed a fragile two-week ceasefire. Many papers condemn Donald Trump's claims of victory and highlight how once-fervent MAGA supporters are now openly criticising him on Truth Social. Also: a French magazine officialises far-right leader Jordan Bardella's rumoured relationship with an Italian socialite. A day after Iran and the United States concluded a fragile ceasefire, Lebanon faced intense bombardments from Israel. The Lebanese French-language daily L’Orient le Jour summed up the outrage with its headline: “The other countries sign and Lebanon bleeds.” Hundreds of people died in Israel’s 10-minute attack across the country. Israel, backed by Washington, has declared that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon. The Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, close to Hezbollah, accused Israel of “blowing up the ceasefire agreement.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Tehran Times hailed the country’s “forty days of resistance,” accusing Israel and the US of violating the ceasefire hours later and justifying Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In Israel, the press paints a different picture. Right-wing Israel Hayom says the ceasefire leaves Israel weaker and will prevent it from achieving its objectives, warning there will be “a very heavy price to pay.” Centre-left Haaretz urges Israel’s “government of eternal darkness” to give diplomacy a chance, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risks dragging Israel further into a disaster and must at least preserve appearances. Netanyahu is seen as having dragged the US into an "unwarranted and reckless adventure", it said adding that if he does the same in Lebanon, he will make Israel the main culprit in the unfolding disaster. In the United States, opinion pages have been highly critical of Donald Trump. The Atlantic slams his “hollow” claims of victory, arguing the conflict gave him none of his intended gains. Trump went to war to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb, but Tehran emerged with what the paper calls “an arguably more powerful weapon of deterrence against future attacks”: control over the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times reports that even once-fervent MAGA supporters are criticizing Trump’s war on his social media platform Truth Social. After analysing some 40,000 posts, the paper notes that the platform’s small user base – around six million – amplifies the perception of direct access to Trump, allowing supporters to interact with him personally. Finally, French far right leader Jordan Bardella has been photographed with his rumoured new girlfriend, Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon Two Sicilies, on the cover of Paris Match. The Italian socialite is the daughter of the Duke of Castro, Prince Carlo. After weeks of speculation, the pair were spotted together in Corsica and Monaco. Bardella, known for emphasising his working-class roots, has faced questions about whether the high-profile relationship is “too bling bling” for a party claiming to represent ordinary citizens. Huffington Post frames it as a carefully curated pre-electoral strategy, noting that the princess recently posted a photo with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.   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, April 8: Papers discuss US President Donald Trump's mental health after his "stunning" threat to wipe out Iran. While attention is on the Middle East, the Epstein investigation continues: we take a look at the latest. Finally, an iconic duo graces the cover of Vogue Magazine... Papers discuss US President Donald Trump’s violent rhetoric before the ceasefire announcement. The New York Times says that his “stunning” threat to wipe out a whole civilisation goes “beyond bluster”. The paper says his aggressive rhetoric “risks damaging his credibility as a negotiator and the country’s standing in the world”. French paper Le Monde is more blunt – it writes that Trump’s rhetoric raises questions about the state of his mental health. Massachusetts Governor Jim McGovern said that the president is “clearly insane”, while members of Congress have started discussing the 25th Amendment that would allow them to declare the president unfit for executive powers. The Daily Beast quotes Trump’s former press secretary, Stephanie Grisham. She warned that “this isn’t just Trump being Trump”, adding that he is “clearly not well” in a post on X. The former press secretary who worked with Trump during his first term adds her voice to an expanding list of former Trump supporters who are asking for an intervention against the president.  While attention is on the Iran war, the Epstein files investigation continues. Politico reports that Bill Gates will testify before the House Oversight Committee on the 10th of June. Gates has been put under the spotlight after appearing in many of the Epstein files. A spokesperson for Bill Gates says he welcomes the chance to speak, although he has never witnessed or participated in any illegal conduct. French left-wing paper Libération investigates how doctors helped the billionaire control the health of the young women he abused. The paper says Epstein created a network of healthcare professionals who provided “luxury medical care”. This means they exercised total control over the women’s bodies, in violation of the ethical standards of the profession. All procedures were performed outside of hospitals, at Epstein’s private villas.  Finally, the iconic duo of Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep graced the cover of Vogue Magazine. The “Devil Wears Prada 2” is out at the end of April. The two women chatted about power, age, fashion and culture. Anna Wintour spoke about the women whose style she admires. It is a major moment for the fashion history – it is the first time the former editor-in-chief of Vogue, Wintour, appears on her own magazine’s cover. 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, April 7: Donald Trump's blatantly disregards accusations of war crimes as he vows to bomb Iran's energy infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Australia's most decorated military veteran is arrested and charged with alleged war crimes during the war in Afghanistan. Le Monde looks at how the secret construction of a military base in Somaliland could serve the US, the UAE and Israel. And: Gen Alpha rediscover the joys – and challenges – of landlines! IN THE PRESS - Australia's most decorated war vet has been arrested over war crimes, and it is dominating the press there. Ben Roberts Smith, who is a recipient of Britain’s Victoria Cross medal, was arrested and charged with five counts of war crime murders. It pertains to the deaths of five people during his stint in Afghanistan in the early 2000s. The Sydney Morning Herald reminds us that Roberts Smith unsuccessfully sued the paper for defamation in 2018 over the reporting of these allegations. At the time, the AUS$25 million civil case was the first time in history a court examined claims of war crimes by Australian forces. His final appeal was dismissed last year. The paper publishes the chilling, gruesome details of his alleged crimes. It begins with the most high-profile murder of a farmer in Darwan who was kicked off a slope and then shot in the head. Roberts Smith is also accused of having killed a man with a prosthetic leg and then using the prosthetic as a novelty beer drinking vessel. The Herald writes: If evidence follows in the same way, the jury will hear how "Australia’s most decorated living soldier is a serial killer who relished his crimes". The paper also details the lengths to which he went to justify or cover up the alleged crimes. To the war in Iran where Donald Trump said he is not concerned by war crimes. It comes after the US president threatened to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure if the regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s statement has prompted French paper Liberation to declare, "Donald Trump – the lunatic" on its front page. A very nice play on words – the word “lunaire” is juxtaposed with the successfully flyby of the moon by NASA’s Artemis II crew. The Times of London publishes this front-page photo – Donald Trump, Melania and the Easter Bunny posing during festivities on Monday. The Guardian’s columnist here writes that Trump began easter Monday at the White House standing next to a giant bunny and boasting about the war in Iran to a group of children conjuring a "fitting image of a US president falling down what people would call the rabbit hole". It adds: "Blatant and brazen, Trump seems to take every crude stereotype the world has about American chauvinism, jingoism and imperialism and sets about proving them true." Trump's blatant disregard for war crimes accusations is highly ironic, according to a writer for the Australian think-tank Lowy Institute. He has threatened a "bridge and power day" in Iran. Yet, in November 2022, when Russia deliberately targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the Pentagon called it a war crime. The article says: "Those words are now the measure by which America’s own threatened campaign will be judged, by allies, adversaries – and history." As the Guardian reminds us, it puts US service members in an unthinkable dilemma: disobey orders or commit war crimes. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the US’s estrangement with the EU has it looking to other partnerships, in Africa. Le Monde's reporters travelled to Somaliland and exposed a hidden construction site on the outskirts of Berbera, a coastal city in the self-proclaimed republic. Its airport is being transformed into a military base for three of its allies, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Israel, the latter was the first and only country to recognise Somaliland’s independence last December. Le Monde says that Somaliland has piqued the interest of its allies because of its proximity to the strategic Bab el Mandeb strait. It could serve to launch attacks on Yemen. Currently, neighbouring Djibouti – where there is a US base – does not allow this for fear of reprisals. But Somaliland may be more compliant, in exchange for a US recognition of its sovereignty. Finally, the Wall Street Journal details how parents in the US are increasingly putting landlines back in homes to dissuade their kids from getting smartphones! The paper recounts how parents have purchased modern versions of the humble old landline – equipped with Wi-Fi but no screens. It has become a handy tool for their kids to use to talk to friends but without fearing an addiction to screens. Companies have piggybacked on the popularity, producing enticing versions of the landline. There are challenges though – children discover that landlines come with some etiquette. One child learned that it is not OK to call 17 times on the landline. While others discover that if you hold the landline receiver in front of your face like a cell phone, there is no sound! Mind you, it costs more – but at least parents say they can delay the transition to a smartphone for just a little bit longer!  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, April 6: Ahead of the Hungarian elections, we take a look at the satirical "Two-Tailed Dog Party", who are promising free beer for all while demanding anti-corruption measures. Meanwhile, the police have finally caught up with a French academic who earned prestige and recognition for an award he made up – one he then awarded to himself! And, as Easter Monday approaches, we explore how the resurrection of Christ, millennia on, continues to inspire cartoonists. As Hungary prepares to go to the polls, a journalist from Politico joined members of the Two-Tailed Dog Party on the campaign trail. While their campaign promises may seem lighthearted – such as free beer for everyone – their critiques of Viktor Orban’s government are far more serious. On their campaign bus, filled with arcade-like games, visitors can steer a well-known Orbán associate around a course, collecting coins, or race one of his aides to parliament while dodging homeless people along the way. The activists strongly denounce corruption under the current leadership and are calling for more redistributive politics, as well as measures to tackle corruption in public procurement. Prime Minister Orban is trailing in the polls ahead of Sunday’s vote, having suffered a significant setback last week from an investigation published by Polish news site VSquare. Leaked audio and transcripts of phone calls between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov reveal Hungary’s efforts to act in Russia’s favour – seeking, and at times successfully obtaining, the de-listing of Russian oligarchs and entities from EU sanctions. In France, Le Monde has uncovered the dubious story of Florent Montclair, the academic who was awarded the so-called "Philology Gold Medal" in 2016 at a ceremony held at the French National Assembly. Previous laureates of the award include renowned linguist Noam Chomsky, who travelled to Paris the following year to collect the prize in front of a 200-strong audience. However, when a Romanian academic was nominated for the award in 2018, journalists discovered that the prestigious medal – which purportedly dated back to 1967 and was supposedly affiliated with Delaware University – was a complete fabrication. Montclair had created the award, and he is now under investigation by French prosecutors for using a false title. Lastly, this Easter weekend, The Week features cartoons poking fun at the policies of Donald Trump’s Christian nationalist regime, as Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Meanwhile, cartoonist Martin Perscheid offered a humorous take on a priest regretting the purchase of an IKEA crucifix – requiring him to nail Jesus to the cross himself.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 3: The papers reflect on 1,500 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Libération and Les Échos report an improving outlook in Kyiv, despite four years of bombing and devastation. In other news, Germans are venting their frustration over delays on the Deutsche Bahn – using fictional money to bet on when trains actually arrive. And finally: “Houston, we have a problem – it’s the toilet.” The papers look back on the 1,500 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Libération and Les Échos highlight an improving outlook in Kyiv, despite years of bombing and devastation. In other news, Germans are venting their frustration over delays on the Deutsche Bahn — but with a twist. According to the Times, a website allows users to place bets in fictional money on the actual arrival times of trains, in a country where only 58.5% ran on time last year. Finally, “Houston, we have a problem: it’s the toilet.” Journalists at the New York Times provide a deep dive into Artemis II’s space toilet, designed for the weightless environment of orbit. One astronaut joked the crew was “pretty fortunate… to have a toilet with a door,” an innovation that cost $30 million, according to the Guardian. Shortly after launch, the toilet malfunctioned, forcing the astronauts to alert mission control, who were able to troubleshoot the problem. The Daily Mail captures the incident in a cartoon, showing an astronaut looking sheepish as two aliens comment, “They want to use our loo.”

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, April 2: Donald Trump hails what he calls the successes of the war in Iran in a televised address. Earlier, he once again threatened to pull the United States out of NATO – a move the Wall Street Journal has described as the “dumbest” in history. Also, Gizmodo celebrates “humanity’s epic return” to the Moon, as NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully lifts off from Cape Canaveral. And finally, an elderly dog fights off a hungry bear to save her family’s farm. Reactions are pouring in over Donald Trump’s threats to pull the United States out of the NATO alliance. The British daily Metro delivered a memorable headline: Trump throws a “star-spangled spanner” in the works! Trump made these threats ahead of his televised address to the American people on Wednesday night, in which he hailed the successes of his war in Iran. The Independent highlighted the belligerence of his statements: “I will bomb Iran into the Stone Age – and I may quit NATO.” Much of the focus in the press has been on Europe’s response. The website EU Observer notes European leaders’ reaction as “fear but not panic.” Politico takes us behind the scenes of meetings between EU leaders, reporting that they are not waiting for Trump to act on his threats. As one official put it, NATO is already under strain, and leaders will not wait for the alliance to crumble completely. They are instead seeking inward solutions, such as boosting national defence budgets. Remarkably, Politico adds, the EU has remained united in refusing to help the US with the war in Iran. Even if Trump wanted to leave NATO, it would not be as simple as he suggests. According to Politico, he has made similar threats in the past without following through. Withdrawing from NATO would require discussion with US lawmakers and a well-thought-out plan – something that has not yet happened. The wsj’s editors are blunt: “This would be the dumbest alliance breakup in modern history.” Could the Iran war achieve what even Vladimir Putin could not – the breakup of NATO? The editorial asks. Doing so, it warns, would be “the height of folly and only serve to help Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing.” Moving on, joy and awe dominate coverage after NASA’s Artemis II mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral, marking the first Moon mission in over half a century. Gizmodo hailed humanity’s “epic return” to the Moon, 53 years after the last mission. Four astronauts have embarked on a ten-day NASA voyage, designed as a test run for a Moon landing planned before the end of the decade. The website tracks each moment of the mission since Wednesday’s launch. “It’s about time!” declares the Wall Street Journal in its editorial. With China planning to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030, the editorial adds, this is a chance to recapture the spirit of the old space race: “Are Americans really going to let Beijing beat them to the first lunar base or Mars landing?” And finally, a heartwarming story of courage. Honey, a half-blind and elderly dog in New Mexico, fought off a hungry bear attempting to break into her family’s chicken coop. According to the New York Post, Honey sustained life-threatening injuries in the battle but successfully defended the farm. She has been nicknamed “the Bear Slayer”. To end on a lighter note, two giant pandas at Washington’s National Zoo were caught last month flirting through their enclosure doors. Watch the adorable video on Smithsonian Magazine’s website. 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 1 April 2026: First, as energy prices continue to rise, Donald Trump slips in the polls. Also, a large-scale scam operating at the highest altitudes has been uncovered among some Everest guides. In sports, four-time world champions Italy have failed to qualify for the third consecutive tournament. Meanwhile, Trump’s new library hits the front page of the Financial Times. And finally, papers take a look at the origins of April Fools’ traditions. A month after the first US-Israeli attacks, energy prices continue to rise, a headache for both drivers and Donald Trump, according to the New York Times. The Guardian reports on Trump’s latest tirade, which pushed oil prices even higher. Trouble abroad is compounded by trouble at home, writes Edward Luce in the Financial Times. He argues that rising oil prices are not the only factor behind Trump’s slide in the polls – his trade and immigration agendas are also facing judicial and popular resistance. Elsewhere in the press, the Times reports on the dangers of climbing the world’s tallest mountain – and not for the reasons you might expect. Investigators uncovered more than 300 fake rescue flights between 2022 and 2025, resulting in a fraud bill of up to $20 million. Italian papers are mourning the end of Italy’s 2026 World Cup campaign. Corriere headlines, “Everyone is heading home,” saying the team must scrap everything and start over. Tutto Sport declares, “Everyone out.” La Repubblica is scathing: “Our Habit of Mediocrity Is Our Downfall,” while Il Gazzettino warns that Italy continues its descent into hell. It might be hell for Italy, but paradise for the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has qualified for the first time in 52 years after beating Jamaica in extra time, reports Flashscore. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s plan for a new library makes the front page of the Financial Times. Not everyone is convinced; the Miami Herald quips that “Trump library looks more like an ego tower than a museum, even by Miami standards”. Finally, it’s April 1, and April Fools’ Day. National Geographic explores the history of April 1 pranks. La Provence highlights the French tradition of the “poisson d’avril,” or “April fish,” stuck to people’s backs without their knowledge. Meanwhile, The Conversation questions the future of April Fools’ in the age of fake news. Finally, it’s April 1, and April Fools’ Day. National Geographic explores the history of April 1 pranks. La Provence highlights the French tradition of the “poisson d’avril,” or “April fish,” stuck to people’s backs without their knowledge. Meanwhile, The Conversation questions the future of April Fools’ in the age of fake news. 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, March 31: Donald Trump fumes at the Supreme Court as its judges prepare to hear arguments in a constitutional case over his 2025 executive order on birthright citizenship. Also, the Financial Times alleges that Pete Hegseth sought to make investments in defence companies right before the US's war on Iran. Plus, a chilling trial begins in France into a freemason mafia accused of murder and assault. US President Donald Trump has heckled US Supreme Court judges on his social media platform Truth Social. It comes as they begin hearing arguments on April 1 into Trump's birthright executive order. USA Today reminds us that Trump's order was signed on the first day of his second term and aims to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States when a children's mother was in the country illegally, or visiting temporarily. It's now up to Supreme Court justices to decide on the constitutionality of the executive order.  The Washington Post explains that the case is pivotal because the definition of a US citizen was established in the 14th amendment and has been interpreted by the Supreme Court for more than 125 years. The Post predicts that Trump's chances of winning are very low, even if its editors concede: "There are reasonable policy critiques of birthright citizenship in its current form." Trump's argument is that the amendment extends birthright only to the children of citizens and permanent legal residents. The text doesn't specify either way – and opponents of the order saw laws are already in place to combat the practice of "birth tourism". In his trademark blunt style, Trump took to Truth Social to rant against birthright citizenship as being "about the babies of slaves". He added: "Dumb judges and justices will not a great country make." As the Wall Street Journal explains, Trump's relationship with the Supreme Court has never been more toxic. It now risks getting worse – several conservative justices have hinted that they may be sceptical about the validity of his order. In other news, the Pentagon has demanded a retraction after a Financial Times report alleging that a broker for defence chief Pete Hegseth sought to invest in weapons companies shortly before the war on Iran. The British daily reported that Hegseth's broker at Morgan Stanley contacted global asset manager BlackRock in February about a multimillion-dollar investment in major defence companies. The investment didn't go ahead because the fund was not yet available, but the timing of the investment is controversial – taking place just as the defence secretary's own department was preparing a large-scale military campaign in Iran. Here in France, a murder trial has begun involving a chilling freemason mafia network near Paris. Le Monde reports that twenty-two people are on trial, including soldiers, businessmen, a doctor and former intelligence agents. Prosecutors accuse them of murder, attempted murder, assault and criminal conspiracy on behalf of a mafia network inside the Athanor lodge in the western Parisian suburb of Puteaux. The network is accused of having ordered several hit jobs. The Times of London explains that authorities were tipped off after a botched contract killing in July 2020. Two "bored spies" were arrested with possession of weapons near the home of Marie‑Hélène Dini, a business coach. According to the paper, the pair, who "dreamt of going undercover", were asked to join a secret mission. They say they were told it was a hit job ordered by the French government on Dini, who was said to be an agent for Israel's Mossad. She was in fact simply a rival business coach. The network is also accused of other hit jobs, including the murder of a racing car driver. 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 30: Papers discuss the use of artificial intelligence in war and the ethics behind it. Staying with AI, German actress Collien Fernandes says Germany is a haven for perpetrators, after she revealed her husband has been sharing deepfake porn of her. Next: a story about squatters living in Gangnam, the richest part of Seoul. Finally, scientists have mapped the nerves of the clitoris for the first time. Papers are discussing the use of artificial intelligence in warfare. The title of French daily Libération's front page reads "AI, war in automatic mode". It's an analysis piece that says AI now plays a significant role in military operations, including in Gaza, Iran and Ukraine. It talks about the many different uses of AI, like US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's "AI first" approach. What has changed with AI is that there's no need for data analysts to analyse information collected by satellites or video anymore – it's now AI's work, so "in practical terms, AI accelerates the kill chain". Read moreStreamlining the kill chain: how AI is changing modern warfare The article also talks about the cognitive gap between the person who launches the attack and the victim. A study by King's College London says that AI models appear to make decisions that lead to escalation much faster – they threaten to use nuclear weapons in nearly 95 percent of the simulated scenarios. Le Monde interviewed a philosopher who specialises in military ethics. She believes that "the use of lethal autonomous weapons controlled by AI goes against the principles of a just war". She says that in order to ensure the proportionality of the strike, data needs to be verified in advance by humans, in order to carry out what's been dubbed "effective human oversight".  In some shocking news, German actress Collien Fernandes revealed publicly last week that her ex-partner had been spreading deepfake pornography of her – a case dubbed "digital rape". Der Spiegel reports that she said Germany is a haven for perpetrators and only 2.4 percent of digital violence is reported. She says that her own experience with law enforcement has been discouraging. In other AI news, it turns out it's not a good idea to ask AI bots for personal advice. Twelve percent of US teenagers turn to chatbots for emotional support advice – they ask for relationship advice and even draft breakup texts. The problem, however, is that AI usually validates user behaviour and doesn't provide the "tough love" that's sometimes needed. AI just convinces people they are right and makes them less likely to apologise.   Moving to South Korea, The New York Times reports about "the squatters living in the richest part of Seoul": the Gangnam district. The feature article follows the story of Miss Lee. The government has offered more than $3,000 for her hut and told her to vacate or face eviction. But owning a home is a struggle and she has "nowhere else to go," so she is fighting to stay. In Gangnam, which inspired the K-pop hit "Gangnam Style", prices have been spiking faster and higher than anywhere else in Seoul.  Finally, there's some good news for women around the world: The Guardian reports that scientists have finally mapped the nerves inside the clitoris. This comes almost 30 years after they did the same thing for the penis. This is beneficial and not only for orgasms – understanding this organ could help prevent poorer sexual function after pelvic operations. It could also help with reconstructive surgery after female genital mutilation – "one of the most extreme examples of cultural misogyny". The Guardian writes that a cultural taboo around female sexuality has held back scientific investigations. The clitoris only entered standard medicine textbooks in the 20th 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 – Friday, March 27: We look at reactions in the Indian press after parliament approved a controversial law which critics say will curtail the rights of transgender people. The International Olympic Committee makes a landmark ruling to forbid transgender female athletes from participating in female events, beginning with LA's 2028 Olympics. A bandaged Lindsey Vonn graces the cover of Vanity Fair and talks about her Winter Olympics ordeal. Plus: Japan's viral Punch the monkey has found love! India's parliament has passed a law that will roll back rights for transgender people. The move is sparking a lot of reaction. As Human Rights Watch explains, the bill amends the 2014 law in which the Indian government recognised transgender people as a third gender. Under the controversial legislation passed this week, it will now remove the right to self-identify and limit recognition to those defined by physical or biological traits. There are an estimated 2 million transgender people in India, although the real number is believed to be much higher. Indian MP Derek O'Brien writes in the Indian Express that the bill will require the mandated reporting of gender-affirming surgery by the medical board and local authorities. He says this will violate the principles of personal liberty and essentially force people to disclose their transgender identity. Authorities say it will better protect them, but O'Brien argues that it will reinforce the conditions that make protecting them necessary. The Hindu, another Indian paper, reports that the bill now awaits the approval of Droupadi Murmu, the Indian president. Amidst widespread protests, the All Indian feminist alliance penned a letter to her, urging not to sign it. They condemned the "undue and unjustifiable haste" with which the bill was passed. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has moved to ban transgender female athletes from competing in future women's Olympic events. The Guardian reports that Kirsty Coventry, the IOC president, said the landmark decision was taken because it is not fair for biological males to compete in the female category. The IOC's decision will ban transgender women athletes from the female category of events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games. Athletes who wish to compete in the female category will have to undergo a one-time SRY masculinity gene test. The decision also extends to DSD athletes, those with differences of sexual development such as Caster Semenya, the South African athlete who identifies as female but has some male chromosomes too.  The Guardian, in an analysis piece, calls the decision "seismic". It notes that four and half years ago, the IOC was hailing the participation of Laurel Hubbard, the transgender weightlifter from New Zealand. Now with this decision, it has made one the most astonishing U-turns from a governing body in modern times. The decision also reflects a changed political climate.  Elsewhere, Vanity Fair's new cover features Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, just weeks after her horrific crash in Milan Cortina. She talks about the moments after that crash, the pain, nearly losing her leg to amputation, her long road to recovery and why she hasn't ruled out a comeback. Finally, a baby macaque at a Japanese zoo who went viral for cuddling a plush toy has reportedly found love. You might remember Punch the monkey – we talked about him here on the press review several weeks ago. He melted hearts with his cuddling of an orangutan plush toy after being rejected by his tribe. The Times of London says Punch's many superfans can rejoice because it appears he has found love with another primate. He's been seen getting cosy with a female macaque at the monkey mountain enclosure. In an Oedipal twist, it appears that his new lady looks a lot like his mother! 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, March 26: We look at reactions after Meta and YouTube were found guilty of social media harms in what is being hailed as a "landmark" trial. Will it give impetus to thousands of other lawsuits in the waiting? Also: Italy's Giorgia Meloni headed to Algeria in a lightning-quick diplomatic visit aimed at securing gas supplies. Plus: Vogue's publisher Conde Nast goes to court with a canine magazine called... Dogue. We start with reactions to the landmark US trial that found Meta and YouTube guilty of facilitating social media addiction. A Los Angeles jury has found Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram; and Google, which owns video platform YouTube, guilty of negligence and ordered them to pay $6 million in damages. The plaintiff, known as Kaley at trial, said she got hooked on social media at the age of six, when she began using YouTube. At the age of nine, she circumvented parental restrictions and started using Instagram. She argues that social media use affected her mental health and self-worth. Could this be social media's "Big Tobacco moment?" Fortune magazine calls the verdict a "bellwether case" that could set a precedent in thousands of similar lawsuits and force Silicon Valley to rethink features that keep users endlessly scrolling. The Washington Post says the verdict will boost hopes that courts will deliver what is seen as a long-sought reckoning over the harms of social media. It comes right after a jury in New Mexico trial found Meta guilty of endangering children and ordered it to pay $375 million in damages. However, not everyone sees this as a positive outcome. The Wall Street Journal argues that this verdict will be the beginning of a "shakedown of social media" companies. It says that trial lawyers will use the LA verdict to "recruit more plaintiffs" and ironically may even use social media to do so. The paper sees the verdict as encouraging a shakedown more than enacting sweeping social change. In other news, Italy's Giorgia Meloni has met with Algeria's president in a diplomatic visit aimed at securing gas supplies. The Italian prime minister made a "lightning-quick" visit to the capital Algiers on Wednesday. La Repubblica explains that she had one purpose: securing gas supplies. The war in Iran has severely dented Qatar's liquified natural gas shipments, on which Italy depends. Meloni and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced a plan to develop joint gas exploration projects. The bad news, though, is that Algeria has little surplus gas ready for export. Ahead of elections next year, La Repubblica says this visit was also about Meloni showing voters that she is trying to fix the problem, as the gas energy crisis could be a big electoral issue. In the Algerian press, El Watan says Algeria "honours its responsibilities" on its front page, echoing comments by Tebboune at a joint press conference with Meloni on Wednesday. Akhbar El-Youm, an Arab-language Algerian daily, sees Algeria as a trusted partner of Europe. Elsewhere, the People's Choice winner from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards has been announced for 2026. The competition run by Britain's Natural History Museum awarded Austrian photographer Josef Stefan with the People's Choice prize. His stunning photo was taken in Spain and features a young Iberian lynx tossing a rodent into the air before killing and eating it. This year's runner-up photo is also stunning. "Beauty Against the Beast" by Swiss photographer Alexandre Brisson depicts a flamboyance of flamingos standing out against the bleak industrial backdrop of power lines at a bird sanctuary in Namibia. Finally, the Times of London reports that Vogue magazine's publisher has filed a lawsuit against a parody fanzine dedicated to dogs. Olga Portnaya set up the brilliantly named Dogue, a free online magazine, in 2019 as a joke. She puts labradoodles in trenchcoats and greyhounds in opera gloves. But Conde Nast, which owns Vogue, has filed a lawsuit saying that Dogue's logo intended to confuse its readers by suggesting a link between the two and accusing it of trademark infringement. The problem is that in 2024, Vogue's website published a digital issue dedicated to celebrity dogs which was also called Dogue. Portnaya says they are just jealous that they did not think of the idea first and is vowing to fight the complaint on behalf of all independent creators. We will see if Vogue has a leg to stand on in this paw-suit. 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, March 25: Papers discuss Donald Trump's 15-point plan and the US's "fog of diplomacy". Could it be staged for the global markets? Also: brick workers are coerced into selling their kidneys in Pakistan. Finally, Democrat Emily Gregory wins the hotly contested race for the Florida House in a "Mar-a-Lago flip".  An analysis piece in The Guardian says that US President Donald Trump's "rehashed 15-point plan will unlikely appease Tehran". According to diplomats with knowledge of the matter, Trump's latest plan on Iran is probably based on an outdated framework from May 2025. The analysis says that reusing an old plan suggests either a lack of seriousness about the talks or a "desire by Trump" to pretend he has made more progress than in reality. According to The Wall Street Journal, this "fog of diplomacy" might be staged for the markets. An opinion piece says that Trump's incentive is to "calm the markets with news of diplomatic progress" while Iran's incentive is to "deny, deny, deny" and keep the markets in shambles. The article says that this is what Trump does: "offer relief as the trading week begins and bring the pain as it ends".  Papers are also reporting that the markets reacted even before Trump's announcement of talks with Iran. Independent US media Common Dreams writes that "traders placed massive bets just minutes before Trump's post on Iran". The bets were worth around $580 million, to be precise, according to The Financial Times. The move in the market that followed allowed those traders to make a huge profit. US Senator Chris Murphy called the market move a "mind-blowing corruption". An exclusive report by CNN says that a trader made nearly $1 million on Polymarket with "remarkably accurate Iran bets". He has been betting since 2024 and predicting US and Israeli military actions against Iran. The trader won a "staggering 93 percent" of his bets about Iran, although he was betting on "unannounced military operations". CNN says that this highlights concerns that insider trading is on the rise.  Next, in Pakistan, illegal kidney trade criminals are targeting brick kiln workers. A feature article in The Guardian tells the story of illegal kidney traders who approach desperate workers. The paper interviewed a man who works at a brick factory. He was offered 400,000 rupees, or around €1,200, for one of his kidneys. He said yes in hopes of repaying his debt that kept rising, but at the end of the process he was worse off than before. A Pakistani association believes that thousands of brick workers are being coerced into selling their kidneys, a "decision driven by debt, poverty and fear". Finally, we end with a story that wouldn't please Trump. It's a "Mar-a-Lago flip", reports Politico, as Democrat Emily Gregory defeated the Republican state House candidate in a hotly contested race for the Florida House district. That's the area where Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is located. Gregory is a first-time candidate with a background in public and mental health, and now runs a fitness centre for postpartum mums. She said that her win "demonstrates where the Florida voter is".  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, March 24, 2026: First, French papers are dedicating their front pages to former prime minister Lionel Jospin, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Next, Italian front pages discuss the results of Monday's failed referendum. Also, the Financial Times looks into the misuse of public funds in Hungary. Finally, not all climate news is bad news. Most French front pages are remembering former Socialist premier Lionel Jospin, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Libération remembers him as the incarnation of seriousness in politics and a bastion of the French left. In Switzerland, Le Temps calls him a figure of the "all-powerful Socialist Party".  In Italy, a judicial reform referendum did not go Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's way, as almost 54 percent of voters rejected the proposal. Opposition paper La Repubblica headlines with a great big "No"! Il Fatto Quotidiano headlines with "Italy wakes up". Domani, meanwhile, headlines with "an Italian miracle" and says the result puts an end to "Meloni's illusion of invincibility". On the right, Libero regrets the "survival of an ailing system". La Verita decries one of the "most misleading referendum campaigns in history".  Things are heating up in Hungary in the run-up to April 12 elections, where Viktor Orban's future hangs in the balance. The Financial Times investigates 13 of Orban's associates and how they have fraudulently obtained huge government contracts since he came to power in 2010. According to The Wall Street Journal, corruption investigations are the least of Orban's worries, as the premier battles with voter discontent and economic problems. Finally, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization has released its latest "State of the Climate" report. CNN notes that people have become almost blind to bad climate news. It's not all bad news, though: a one-eyed dog in Northern Ireland has become a conservation hero, as the BBC 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 – Monday, March 23: France's municipal elections are all over the French front pages. International papers try to make sense of the results, as all sides seem to be claiming victory. Next, Hittler is elected as mayor of a small French town, beating out Zielinsky. Finally, the first ever British SNL episode aired at the weekend, and critics are divided. The French municipal elections are all over the country's front pages. Aujourd'hui en France presents the eclectic collection of France's new mayors. Left-wing website Mediapart headlines with "a big confusion" and describes a fragmented political landscape. Liberation talks about "relief" on the left. L'Humanité celebrates the left's victories in French big cities. On the right of the press, l'Opinion says left-wing alliances between France Unbowed and the Socialist Party were mostly punished by voters. Le Figaro also mentions anti-left-alliance blockades on its front page. Libération sums up the situation by saying it is a "cacophony of contradictory self-satisfaction".  In the international papers, Politico chooses to give its own pick of the winners and losers of this election. Le Belgian paper Le Soir says that right-wing parties were able to capitalise on the political tension in the country, despite a big loss in Paris. The Financial Times says that the National Rally's wins in the south of France will come in useful for 2027.  Meanwhile, Le Parisien reports that Hittler has retained his mayorship.  In the UK, a lot of ink has been spilled over the first ever British edition of "Saturday Night Live". The Guardian gives it three stars. The Times says it is not funny yet. Variety magazine calls it "the TV equivalent of taking a photo in a red phone box next to Big Ben, before going to eat a burger in Five Guys". 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, March 20: Donald Trump is turning to "online diplomacy" to defend his actions in Iran and lambast his critics on Truth Social. The Times of London looks at how Monica Witt, a US servicewoman-turned-spy for Iran, could play a crucial role in the war. Also: a Belgian court charges a former diplomat with involvement in the killing of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of independent DR Congo. Plus: a little possum is found among plush toys at an airport gift shop in Australia. There's lots of focus on the growing cost of US President Donald Trump's war in Iran. The Guardian puts forward one figure: $12.7 billion, or the total amount spent by the US on the sixth day of the war. That sum is likely to have exceeded $18 billion now. The paper asks: where are America's war dollars going? It says that the same amount of money could have funded new subsided housing, the annual salary of half of America's firefighters or annual medical coverage of 3.6 million children. Amid growing criticism of the war, Trump has taken to his own social media platform, Truth Social, to narrate the conflict and defend his actions, whether that means threatening Iran or railing against NATO or the media. It is what The Wall Street Journal calls a new form of "online diplomacy". Trump has posted 90 times about Iran, Israel and war-related topics since late February. The Journal explains that never before has a US president so openly shared his thoughts about war planning and decision making in real time. Staying on Iran, the Times of London talks about Monica Witt, a former US counterintelligence agent-turned-Iranian spy. She was a decorated US veteran with access to top secret information who was recruited as an Iranian spy by agents linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In 2013, Witt defected to Iran, in what was one of the biggest intelligence betrayals in recent American history. Experts say she could be a deadly secret weapon for the Islamic Republic and could be guiding or informing some elements of Iranian military strategy. A six-month stint in Iraq proved pivotal: this was when Witt started taking an interest in Islam, eventually converting to Islam. Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what is known today as DR Congo, was assassinated 65 years ago. A Brussels court ruled this week that a former Belgian diplomat should stand trial over his murder. This story makes the front page of the French-language version of German daily Deutsche Welle. Former Belgian diplomat Etienne Davignon, 91, is the only person alive of the 10 people accused by the Lumumba family of involvement. He was charged with war crimes this week. A former vice president of the European Commission, Davignon has denied the charges. The New York Times recounts Lumumba's brutal assassination in 1961. He was beaten, tortured and executed by firing squad. His body was dissolved in acid and a UN report blamed Belgian mercenaries and local officials. Lumumba had led a national political party pressing for independence. As the first prime minister of independent DR Congo, his government failed to gain control of the military and, as a result, was never stable. Nonetheless, he is revered as the Nelson Mandela of his day: charismatic, with a distinctive style and incendiary speeches – including one delivered before Belgium's royal family, in which he described Belgium's rule as "humiliating slavery". Finally, The Guardian reports that a little possum found its way onto the most improbable of shelves at an Australian airport. The little brushtail possum nestled up among plush toys at the Hobart Airport gift shop this week. A passenger reported that the possum had taken up residence amid the most Australian of plush toys: kangaroos, bilbies, dingoes and Tasmanian devils. The little marsupial remained calm as it was escorted out of the terminal. Staff at the shop say they will vote on a name and put up a photo of the possum in remembrance! 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, March 19: We look at why Russian oil is the big winner from the US and Israel's war in Iran. Also, the New York Times reveals sexual assault and rape allegations against the late US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. In Mexico, the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is a US-born citizen, which will complicate efforts to eradicate him. Plus: researchers reveal the science behind bad jokes in the workplace. The war in Iran has sparked an unprecedented energy crisis around the world and one country stands to profit from it: Russia. The energy crisis is dominating the British dailies after Israel struck the world's largest gas field in Qatar. The Guardian calls it a dangerous escalation in the war. Iran and Qatar share the Pars site, which accounts for 70 percent of Iran's domestic supply and contributes significantly to Qatar's gas exports. The Middle East conflict is providing an unexpected boom for Russian oil. The Wall Street Journal focuses on Etibar Eyyub, an Azeri oil trader whose main client is the Russian oil company Rosneft. Described as Moscow's "shadow fleet kingpin", he is responsible for finding buyers for the $50 billion of oil produced each year by Russia. Ships he controlled via shell companies were sitting pretty with millions of barrels of unsold oil. Now with the Strait of Hormuz closed, the only way for global oil supplies to get close to meeting demand is for the Russian crude that he handles to reach world markets. In the process, Eyyub and Russian oil prices are experiencing a "second awakening." Russia seeks to benefit from the war, but has no intention of come to its ally Iran's aid. Foreign Affairs magazine explains why Russia is "watching Iran burn."  Despite Tehran providing support to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Russia has provided little support to Iran – beyond helping with targeting data and advance drone tactics. Foreign Affairs explains that when Russian's friends are in need, it does nothing. It was the same for Bashar al-Assad's regime, toppled by rebels in 2024, and in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2023, as well as the US's abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Kremlin's impotence – and refusal to help – also lay bare the limitations of Russian power to shape outcomes around the world. The New York Times publishes damning evidence of sexual abuse allegations against a beloved civil rights leader. Cesar Chavez, who died in 1993, co-founded the United Farm Workers labour union. For decades, he helped improve wages, living conditions and health care while elevating the status of Latino Americans. He also coined the phrase, "Si se puede" which later inspired Barack Obama's "Yes, We Can" slogan. Behind the scenes, several women say he sexually abused them while they were teenagers and in some cases raped them. Due to his status within the union and fears that they would not be taken seriously, the women were forced to live with the trauma for decades. Their stories are revealed in the Times. Turning to Mexico, the alleged new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is a US-born citizen. The Wall Street Journal recounts that no sooner was El Mencho buried in a gilded coffin this month, than his stepson began ascending to the throne. Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez was born in California – meaning an American citizen now appears to be in charge of Mexico's most powerful drug cartel. This could potentially complicate US efforts to eradicate the narcotics trade. The rules for surveiling US citizens are very bureaucratic and could only take place if authorities prove Valencia Gonzalez is acting as an agent of foreign power. It could also complicated Trump's efforts if he follows through with his publicly expressed desire to carry out targeted assassinations against Mexican drug lords.  Finally, a new study shows that lame jokes can actually serve a purpose, at least in the workplace! The Times of London reports that researchers tracked the use of humour to combat tedium across 531 talks at 14 biology-related conferences. They observed how often scientists tried to make a joke. Men attempted it more than women. Some 870 jokes were attempted and about 580 landed mildly or fell flat. Just one in 10 elicited real laughs, but researchers concluded that even the lame jokes served to break the ice! We leave you with a few science jokes:  Why did the biologist break up with the physicist? They had no chemistry. Why can't you trust atoms? Because they make up everything. 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, March 18, 2026: The Africa Cup of Nations has seen another unbelievable turn as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of their 2025 African Champions title, to give it to Morocco. Also, the Guardian reveals that the UK took part in negotiations between Iran and the United States in Geneva and had judged a war unnecessary. Next, The New York Times has a long read about weapons being smuggled from the US to Mexico. Finally, Banksy's identity is revealed.  The Africa Cup of Nations has taken another mind-boggling turn. It's "the joke of the century", according to the Senegalese daily Le Soleil. Le Dakarois reports that the Confederation of African Football's appeal board decided that Senegal were "declared to have forfeited the final" by walking off, and therefore automatically lose 3-0. The Guinean website Le Djely calls it a disproportionate decision. The mood in Morocco is quite different. Moroccan news site 360 says that CAF has "saved African football from the grip of unsportsmanlike conduct".  Meanwhile, an exclusive report in the Guardian reveals that the UK's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, attended the US-Iran talks in Geneva in late February, after which he judged that Tehran's offer had been significant enough to prevent a war in the Middle East. This in part explains the UK government's reluctance to back the US attack on Iran.  A long read in The New York Times looks into the American weapons being smuggled into Mexico and used by violent drug cartels. Firearms are sold in American gun shops and on websites and phone apps and are then funnelled to Mexican cartel members. The paper says as many as 1 million weapons could be being smuggled into Mexico every year.   Finally, in the UK, one of art's worst kept secrets has just been solved. Reuters has uncovered Banksy's identity. The Times, though, says that the street artist's identity has been known since the early 2000s: "he's a shortsighted bloke from Bristol called Robin". The Wall Street Journal explains that although anonymity helped Banksy move undetected, it did make art collectors uneasy and his art is now going to sell for a lot more. For Sky News, the revelation of Banksy's identity will only add to his legacy as an artist of the people.   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, March 17: Donald Trump has called on US allies to help the US secure the Strait of Hormuz as the energy crisis intensifies. But after those allies refused to help, Trump promptly threatened NATO. In the midst of the EU's energy crisis, Belgium's prime minister has suggested "normalising" relations with Russia, which sparked outrage in the Belgian press. Plus: Britain scrambles to control a meningitis outbreak and a new letter reveals just how poor Claude Monet was in the early part of his career. France, the UK, Germany, Japan and other US allies have refused to respond to Donald Trump's calls to secure the Strait of Hormuz. They say they will not be dragged into the war against Iran, at the risk of provoking the ire of the US president. The Financial Times headlines on allies' refusal to "send warships" and quotes the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as saying that NATO is a "defense alliance", not an intervention one. The paper also evokes Trump's "coalition of the unwilling." In the Italian press, Il Fatto Quotidiano accuses Trump of pyromania – seeking help to extinguish the fire that he himself started. Trump responded by blackmail and threatened a "very bad future for the NATO alliance". The Independent's opinion writer Sean Grady wryly notes that Trump has gone from his cry-baby phase, where he would throw a tantrum if he didn't get his way, to his "surly teenager" phase. In the wake of soaring energy prices due to the US war on Iran, Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever has faced backlash for suggesting that Europe should normalise relations with Russia to help secure cheaper energy options. Politico reports that he made those comments at the weekend to L'Echo newspaper. De Wever called the suggestion "common sense" and added that in private, EU leaders agreed with him. Politico says that the PM's high support in his native Dutch-speaking Flanders region but also French-speaking Wallonia could explain his willingness to push a politically sensitive argument. French magazine Courrier International has compiled reactions from the Belgian press, who have been quick to condemn his comments. De Standaard explains that de Wever's five-party coalition already caused controversy on the question of recognising the Palestinian state six months ago. It lamented that "Belgian diplomacy looks more and more like a Mexican army" – a French phrase referring to a group of barely organised people. An opinion writer says de Wever is seeking a seat at the peace table at the worst time, noting that extending an olive branch to Russia at the moment when energy prices are rising makes Europe look like beggars. In the UK, a meningitis health crisis has already killed two people and there's panic on the front pages. The Daily Mirror evokes "terror on campus" as unprecedented measures are being taken in Kent to contain the meningococcal infection before the Easter break. The outbreak is believed to have spread at a nightclub two weeks ago. A college student and a high school student named Juliette have both died. The Daily Star relays Juliette's father's devastation, while her picture is splashed across other newspapers. Meningitis, commonly treated with antibiotics, is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord – but can be deadly if untreated. There's also criticism after British health authorities waited for the weekend before informing the public about the outbreak, leading possibly to a larger spread of the disease. The Guardian describes Covid-era like scenes of panic at the University of Kent as students queue for antibiotics. Finally, a new letter going up for auction details just how poor famed French impressionist artist Claude Monet was. During his early career, Monet faced severe poverty. He was forced to secure a loan of 1,000 francs from Gustave Manet, the brother of fellow artist Edouard Manet in 1875. The Daily Telegraph recounts that Manet drove a hard bargain and insisted on receiving the proceeds of 35 of Monet's paintings in payment – the current-day value is over €1 billion! A letter signed by Monet in 1875 details his trials and tribulations: his sick wife and a cruel landlord threatening eviction. That letter is on sale now for around €100,000. The deal with Manet included Monet's painting "La Japonaise", depicting his wife Camille in a kimono. It's now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and is valued at around €100 million. The letter is proof that Monet was the original poor, starving artist. 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 16: French papers analyse the first round of the country's municipal elections. Next: Cubans protest amid worsening economic conditions. Also: The New York Times tells the story of a difficult recovery after an act of violence. Finally, researchers look into the delayed "maturation" of men and its effect on women's willingness to become mothers. French papers are reacting to the first round of municipal elections. Les Echos writes that there's a sharp drop in voter turnout – to only 56 percent – despite it being "one of the French people's favourite elections". In an editorial, the paper says that we are seeing the "rise of extremes" – a worrisome signal ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. La Croix sees no "clear trend" emerging on a national level and calls the first round "scattered". The Catholic paper writes that the second round is shaping up to be intense. Right-wing paper Le Figaro's headline reads "the major shake-up of the first round". The "solid position" of the far-right National Rally and the "spectacular rise" of the far-left France Unbowed show an "increasingly fragmented political landscape". This assessment is echoed in the left-wing paper Libération. The paper says that after two terms under President Emmanuel Macron, "the democratic crisis has worsened under his rule".  In Cuba, people have taken to the streets to protest against worsening living conditions. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cubans are blaming the authoritarian regime for their "dire living conditions". In Moron, residents sacked the headquarters of the ruling Communist Party over the weekend and made a bonfire with the furniture. Meanwhile, El País reports that Havana has confirmed that it is in talks with the United States. People are protesting because Cuba's economy is on the brink of collapse, after an oil blockade was recently imposed by the Trump administration. Spanish newspaper Diario de Cuba quotes a pro-Kremlin Russian writer who says that Russia may lose one of its historical partners: the Cuban regime. The Russian writer says that Russia has invested "tens of billions of dollars in Cuba since the Soviet era". In other news, The New York Times tells Emine Yilmaz's bittersweet story of recovery after she was pushed into a passing subway car – an act of violence that left her severely handicapped.  Finally, researchers in Britain are studying why fewer women want to have babies. British paper The Times says that around 3 million women across the UK will miss out on motherhood and "immature men" could be to blame, according to the research.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.