Press Review

FRANCE 24 English
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An overview of the stories making the French and international newspaper headlines. From Monday to Friday live at 7:20am and 9:20am Paris time.

  1. 9 hr ago

    'Relatable': Hit horror film 'Obsession' is resonating with girlfriends globally

    PRESS REVIEW – Monday, June 29: Papers discuss the ongoing search efforts in Venezuela and the government's "negligence”. Next: In Japan, maternity leave is a taboo topic. So are LGBTQ+ rights. Also: Le Monde analyses “Vladimir Putin or the solitude of homo sovieticus”. Finally, the hit horror film "Obsession" turns out to be quite relatable. The ongoing search efforts in Venezuela are making headlines. Spanish newspaper El País reads “Venezuela is saving itself with its own hands”, adding that search operations are “lacking resources”, while authorities there say they are recovering up to 20 bodies per hour. Survivors interviewed by French paper Libération also criticize “the negligence of a country ravaged by economic collapse, autocratic abuses, and US pressure”. Interviewees added that the country was “already in ruins” before the earthquakes. Venezuelan opposition leader Julio Borges Junyent wrote an opinion piece in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. He says that “the earthquake did not cause Venezuela’s destruction, but made it visible”. “Venezuela without leadership,” is the headline of an editorial in Venezuelan opposition newspaper El Nacional. The periodical says the country is faced with a government that's “illegitimate and incompetent”, but praises the courage of the citizens who “are now facing mountains of rubble, alone, armed only with their own resources”.  Turning to Japan: a mayor’s maternity leave has stirred debate. Her name is Shoko Kawata and she is the first mayor to take maternity leave in Japan’s history, The New York Times reports. Mayor of Yawata, a city in western Japan, her announcement that she would take maternity leave has been met with polarised reactions. Some celebrated her decision by sending baby gifts. But in Japan's patriarchal society, many men responded with anger, labelling her irresponsible and accusing her of putting her personal life above her constituency. The story has sparked a national debate about the difficulties working women in Japan still face. In Japanese, there’s even a special word for maternity harassment: matahara. On another form of discrimination, The Japan Times tells the story of LGBTQ families who are building lives invisible to Japanese lawmakers. Japanese law does not recognise same-sex marriages. Gay couples still exist, of course, but they face many challenges including visitation rights in hospitals; if a same-sex couple has a child; only the legally recognised biological parent can sign a consent form for care. Same-sex couples also don’t have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, despite surveys showing high public support for same-sex marriage. A survey released in May shows that 67 percent of those who responded support legalising it.  Next: An article in Le Monde analyses Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behaviour over the past several years. The headline reads “Vladimir Putin or the solitude of homo sovieticus”. The paper says that Putin is juggling denial of reality, a desire for revenge and carefully calculated messaging. With all that, he is trying to position himself as “the master of the game". Though after more than four years of war in Ukraine, these old tricks inherited from the Soviet past are showing their limitations, says the analysis. And the Kremlin’s strongman is losing credibility. Le Monde explains why and how Putin is now trapped in his own information bubble.  Finally, the surprise blockbuster "Obsession" is resonating suspiciously well with some girlfriends. The horror film about a young man whose wish that his crush would love him more than anyone else in the world comes true has received critical acclaim.  “Couples are creeped out by a hit horror movie they find a little too relatable”, reads the headline of The Wall Street Journal. After watching the film, many girlfriends are thinking, “This film was supposed to scare me, not expose me”. You can catch our press review every morning on FRANCE 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday

    6 min

  2. 3 days ago

    Arts and humanities graduates earn less than those who didn't go to university

    PRESS REVIEW – Friday, June 26: Papers discuss the scientific and political aspects of the earthquakes in Venezuela. Next: a new study sheds light on who makes the most money after university in the UK. Finally, we look at a heatwave headline that will make you giggle. International media discuss why the Venezuelan earthquakes were particularly catastrophic. NPR interviewed geophysicist William Barnhart. He explains that the earthquakes were especially deadly because they struck less than a minute apart – 39 seconds to be precise – and they were close to major population centres. Even one earthquake of a magnitude higher than seven would have been devastating. The Wall Street Journal explains the science behind what's known as a "doublet earthquake". The article explains that Venezuela sits on "one of the most active tectonic boundaries in South America," where the Caribbean plate slides up against the South American plate. The Times has a political angle examining how the earthquakes will test the new relations between Venezuela and the United States. The diplomatic ties between the two countries were already delicate, says the publication – only five months ago, the Trump administration captured former president Nicolas Maduro. Now, however, international help is essential, and the United States has the opportunity to define the role it wants to play in Venezuela. Therefore, US President Donald Trump's reaction to the disaster will dictate the next phase.  Next: British research sheds light on employability after university. The Times reports that, according to British government data, young men studying arts and humanities earn less on average compared to their peers who didn't go to university. In contrast, the highest earners studied economics at Cambridge University. Their average salary is more than £100,000 within five years of graduating. The Times created an interactive graph, where you can look at UK universities or specific degrees.  We end with a headline from Reuters to make you giggle: "Extreme heat panel cancelled due to extreme heat". That sums up our week-long heatwave here in Europe. You can catch our press review every morning on FRANCE 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    4 min

  3. 4 days ago

    UK report uncovers 'biggest childbirth scandal' in NHS history

    PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 25: UK papers discuss the Nottingham maternity care scandal. Next: is there going to be another heatwave in Europe this summer? Also: the Euclid telescope took extraordinary photos of the Milky Way. Finally, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's upcoming wedding is getting both Swifties and gamblers excited. British papers are discussing a report that has uncovered the biggest childbirth scandal in the history of the National Health Service: the Nottingham maternity care scandal. The Guardian writes that the report reviewed 2,500 cases between 2012 and 2025. The review found “deeply rooted and systemic” failures in the NHS system, sustained over many years. The report also found that women and families were consistently ignored when they raised their concerns. Women of colour and teenage mothers felt especially targeted. Chronic understaffing was another main factor. The review highlighted that significant psychological harm was caused by failings in post-death care. The Times adds that “more than 500 babies and mothers died or suffered serious harm” due to the systemic failures mentioned, and that doctors and managers could now be jailed. The board and leaders were aware of the situation but turned a blind eye for more than a decade. The Telegraph reports that parents fear that without an actual public inquiry, those who are responsible for the “biggest maternity scandal” may never be held accountable. The BBC writes that the report reveals the “shocking extent of the mistakes” that were made. Much of the harm and many of the deaths could have been avoided, but the NHS struggled to adjust to the modern era, caring more about its reputation than delivering safe healthcare. The BBC also adds that the service needs a “sustained and meaningful cultural shift”.  Next: Al Jazeera compares Europe’s heatwave to temperatures normally seen across the Middle East. Paris reached 41°C on June 24, making it hotter than Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Brussels temperatures went up to 37°C – more than Cairo in Egypt. And Berlin’s temperature was 33 degrees – one degree higher than Kabul, Afghanistan. Al Jazeera writes that “climate change is making heat waves more frequent, more intense and likely to occur earlier and later in the year.” Indeed, it is not the end of high temperatures for this summer, Le Figaro reports. Although temperatures are expected to drop next week, weather agencies warned that there’s a “high probability” that starting from July 10, we will see a return of extreme heat.  Turning to science news: new extraordinary photos show the centre of the Milky Way. The image quality is unprecedented for such a vast area of the sky, France Info notes. The photos were taken by the European Space Agency with the Euclid telescope. Capturing the image took 26 hours. The data will allow scientists to take a fresh look at exoplanets in the region.  In more star news, Taylor Swift is getting married to Travis Kelce any day now. The LA Times says that clues point to July 3 as the chosen date, with reports saying that the reception may take place at Madison Square Garden in New York. There will probably be another smaller, more intimate reception afterwards. Meanwhile, Swifties and gambling enthusiasts are buzzing on prediction markets. Vanity Fair reports that they are betting on every wedding detail – from the guest list and the venue, to whether she will be pregnant when she walks down the aisle. The pregnancy bet is hot on Polymarket with over 2 million dollars in wagers. But only 2 percent of the bets say she is already expecting. We will soon find out who is right. You can catch our press review every morning on FRANCE 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    6 min

  4. 5 days ago

    'Genocide': UN report says Israel 'deliberately killed Palestinian children'

    PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, June 24: Papers discuss the newest UN report that says Israel targeted and killed Palestinian children after the truce. Next: more than 40 people have drowned amid the heatwave in France. Also: France's national team coach Didier Deschamps will skip an important game following the death of his mother. Finally, we take a look at the world's loudest man. A UN report released on Tuesday accuses Israel's security forces of abuse and deliberate killings of Palestinian children, eight months after the Israel-Hamas truce in the Gaza Strip, The New York Times reports. The report concluded that the killings are a part of a wider strategy to destroy any future for Palestinians in Gaza, which amounts to genocide. The Gaza health ministry has estimated that more than 21,000 Palestinian children were killed during the Gaza war. Around 5,000 of them were under the age of five, and more than 1,000 were under the age of one. About 420 were newborns.  Right-wing Israeli paper The Jerusalem Post says the report has prompted a strong Israeli rebuttal. The article says "it is worth noting" that UN reports in general consider a "child" to be "every human being below the age of 18 years". The paper spoke to IDF soldiers who say that at least 40 percent of those killed in Gaza were Hamas soldiers. It also asserts that Hamas "systemically used human shields”. The paper puts the word children in quotation marks and claims a "significant chunk" of them were Hamas fighters aged between 16 and 17. The paper insists they posed an equal danger to IDF troops as Hamas soldiers over 18 did. Meanwhile, left-wing Israeli paper Haaretz reports that the new head of Israel's National Security Council called an urgent meeting on the issue of "encouraging the voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. This comes despite the fact that no destination countries have been found and the idea hasn't shown any practical progress so far.  We turn next to the heatwave in France. Le Parisien asks: "Why is the heatwave leading to a dramatic rise in fatal drownings?” In just a week, at least 40 people have died from drowning in France, according to PM Sébastien Lecornu. In another article, the paper reports that the body of a professional Ligue 2 football player was pulled from the Rhône River in a brain-dead state. He was swimming in a restricted zone near Lyon. French daily Le Monde tells the story of those who live under roofs where the temperatures reach 40°C, making homes unliveable. The paper interviewed Matthieu, a teacher who says that heatwaves usually hit during the summer break, when he is not teaching. Now he has to go through a whole day of work, having slept only a few hours. For Le Figaro, the extreme heat puts an end to a political taboo in France: air conditioning. The right-wing paper says that all political parties – including the Green ones – are being forced to "face reality” and acknowledge the need for air conditioning. Libération reports that the heatwave has given the French film industry a boost: since mid-June, there has been a 43 percent increase in cinema attendance.  Next, France head coach Didier Deschamps' mother died on Tuesday. Le Monde reports that he is going to miss France's final World Cup group stage game against Norway on Friday. He is going back to France for his mother's funeral. M6 shows a video of the French national team observing a minute of silence in her memory.  Finally, Canberra has a new Guinness World Record holder. The Associated Press reports that Joseph McGrail-Bateup, a professional air conditioning cleaner and an honorary town crier, has won the Guinness World Record for the world's loudest person. He managed to yell the word "now” at 122.4 decibels – the loudest ever shout by an individual. To put it in perspective, this is the noise range of a chainsaw or an ambulance siren at close range.  You can catch our press review every morning on FRANCE 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    6 min

  5. 6 days ago

    'Temu version': World's largest Messi statue mocked online

    PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, June 23: This Tuesday marks 10 years since millions of British people voted for Brexit. The milestone comes one day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's tearful resignation. Also, the internet goes crazy for "hot podium guy", a handsome sound engineer who sets up the lectern in front of 10 Downing Street for each big announcement. Indian leader Narendra Modi inaugurates three new Indian-made naval vessels in a move seeking to counter China's growing influence. Finally, a new statue in honour of Lionel Messi is ridiculed as a "Temu" of Messi statues! There are lots of reactions in the press after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's tearful resignation speech on Monday. The beleaguered Starmer "bowed out", conceding that he was "no longer the right man to lead the country", the Guardian says on its front page. It comes amid bittersweet timing: this Tuesday marks 10 years since the Brexit referendum. As Starmer finally falls on his sword, the pro-Brexit Daily Express calls on politicians to finally believe in Brexit and deliver the will of the people. The anti-Brexit paper Daily Mirror reminds readers that during his time in office, Starmer stood up to US President Donald Trump, lifted half a million children out of poverty and protected workers and renters. In the end, a decent man tried his best in an impossible job, it says sympathetically. Six British prime ministers will have come and gone in the space of 10 years. However, the internet is going crazy for a man who seems to be a constant presence every time a British prime minister resigns. The Times refers to "hot podium guy" or "HPG", aka Tobias Gough. He is a sound engineer from Kent who appears to set up the podium each time a big announcement is made from 10 Downing Street. As Katie Glass writes lustily: "Heaving that familiar wooden lectern, he looked like a cross between a choirboy and a Chippendale" with "muscular arms powerful enough to reach across any political divide". We stay in the UK for this next story: an HR consultant has won a court case using an AI law firm in what is being called a first for the legal world. The Guardian reports that a freelance HR consultant Tamires Camal Taquidir paid an AI firm to send a legal letter and issue court proceedings pertaining to a £7,000 debt. Garfield AI, the firm, has approval by the solicitors' regulation authority to make claims of up to £10,000. The firm prepared witness statements and documents for trial. It then sent a human lawyer to advocate in court. The AI firm says that their services will help small businesses who opt out of recovering debts for fear of the high cost of legal fees. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new naval vessels at the weekend, in a clear attempt to rival China's growing influence in the region. The Indian Express reports that Modi inducted three new naval vessels made and designed in India during a visit to Kolkata on Sunday, saying that India is no longer just a buyer but also manufacturer and seller of modern weapons. For The Daily Telegraph, the vessels reveal how India is preparing to defend an increasingly contested Indian Ocean. The so-called Chinese String of Pearls are a network of commercial ports and naval infrastructure – the ports stretch from Gwadar in Pakistan to Djibouti in East Africa. In terms of vessel numbers, China's PLA navy is the largest in the world. Modi's new ships aim to monitor, deter and if it comes to it, confront China's naval fleet. Finally, in football news: he is now the best goal scorer in the history of the World Cup, but Lionel Messi has been honoured with a not-so-flattering statue! On the weekend, in Argentina, a 26-metre statue of Messi weighing 70 tonnes was inaugurated. Sadly, it failed to impress, with some calling it the Temu version of Messi. If it's any consolation, attempts to honour fellow football legend Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal in 2017 at Madeira airport also was ridiculed. It seems that you have only succeeded when someone makes a terrible statue in your honour! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    5 min

  6. 22 Jun

    'Doomchessing' is the new digital addiction, as users flock to Chess.com

    PRESS REVIEW – Monday, June 22: Papers discuss the expected departure of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In France, the brutal heatwave didn't stop the massive street party, Fête de la Musique. Also: AI-generated influencers are flooding social media. Finally, can online chess mania replace doomscrolling?  Editor's note: This press review aired before Starmer announced his resignation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce his resignation this Monday. It's "Game Over", according to the Daily Mirror. Starmer is "on the brink" and is expected to set out an exit timetable, but he could stay on for three months. "Don and dusted", reads the front page of The Scottish Sun. The tabloid quotes US President Donald Trump, who has already acknowledged Starmer's departure in a Truth Social post, saying that he failed because of his immigration and energy policies. According to The Guardian, Starmer is expected "to clear the way" for his main rival, Andy Burnham, who is currently the mayor of Greater Manchester.  The Times reports that Burnham's "coronation"' will happen by September, just in time for the Labour Party conference. An internal document revealed by The Guardian shows that his future government aims to "reverse 40 years of privatisation", notably with a long-term plan to take over failing utilities in administration, by issuing "bonds for shares" and setting up state competitors. This is based on the principles of "Manchesterism" that go against the trend of privatising utilities.  We turn next to France, where a brutal heatwave is gripping the country. The front page of the left-wing paper Libération calls for the "politicisation" of the heatwave. The paper says that the government is avoiding an essential debate – how to sustainably adapt France to such heatwaves. It's a message echoed in the Communist paper L'Humanité. The headline reads "The government's empty rhetoric won't be enough to cool down the French". The analysis says that the government is overstating its response but, in reality, is failing to take action and is even backtracking on energy-efficiency renovation measures. The headline of an opinion piece in the right-wing Journal du Dimanche reads "stop treating the French like children". The paper says that France, as usual, seems to be giving in to collective panic and turmoil – "it's like we are back to the days of Covid", the author says. The paper says the French emergency measures lack any long-term vision. Despite the extreme temperatures, France's Fête de la Musique wasn't cancelled. Libération reports from Paris, writing that although selling and consuming alcohol on public streets was banned in departments under red alert, many people openly defied the rule. Many business owners weren't happy with the sudden ban, especially since they had already prepared their inventories. Many of the partygoers called the ban "patronising".  Elsewhere, The Guardian reports that AI-generated influencers are being used all over social media to promote products. The videos pretend to show genuine customer experiences and don't give any indication that the people who are featured are AI-generated. The Guardian also found that some of the content creators who are making these AI personas are forced to sign NDAs, meaning they cannot talk about their work. The issue has prompted calls for greater transparency. Finally, Le Monde tells us about an online chess addiction – from "doomscrolling" to "doomchessing", it says. In France, Chess.com has 2 million monthly active players. Because of the highly addictive interface, some of them just can't stop playing. A French content creator says that sometimes, when she is in the middle of a conversation with her boyfriend, he starts playing chess. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    6 min

  7. 19 Jun

    'New generation of moms' say weed helps them 'survive full-time parenting'

    PRESS REVIEW – Friday, June 19: Papers discuss the worsening fuel crisis in Russia. Also: the Major Oak tree from the Robin Hood legend is dead. Finally, articles discuss mums who use cannabis and ask how much is actually too much. Radio Free Europe's headline says that Russia's fuel crisis is spreading and the recent Ukrainian strikes are going to make it even worse. The article cites Russian media that describe long lines at fuel stations, while Tatneft, a Russian oil producer, imposed rationing across its petrol stations throughout Russia. Other fuel stations have had to close down. Meanwhile, an opinion piece in the Russian independent paper, The Moscow Times, says that the fuel shortages are "manageable", but the "Kremlin's options are shrinking". The article estimates that the current fuel crisis is not as bad as the one Russia saw last year, but the Kremlin needs to act now to prevent a bigger problem. The headline of Novaya Gazeta reads "Petrol by ration, water by the hour, stockpiling food". Russia is learning to live like this only now, it says. But for the occupied Donbas region of Ukraine, this has been the reality for a while now. The article says that it's time Russia learns to prepare as "war becomes part of everyday city life". Next: in England, a popular tree in the Sherwood Forest has died. The Major Oak is "the ancient tree of the Robin Hood Legend", The New York Times reports. It was between 800 and 1,200 years old and it outlasted the reigns of six King Henrys and two Queen Elizabeths. The legend is that Robin Hood himself hid in the trunk of the tree. That legend, however implausible, has turned it into a tourism magnet. It's what made it popular and also what, unfortunately, killed it. There were multiple factors: over-tourism, climate change and misguided efforts to save the tree. The good news is that its acorns have been planted all over Britain.  Finally, papers discuss cannabis use. The Atlantic talks about a new generation of mothers who get high. They say that weed helps them "survive full-time parenting". They call themselves "garden moms" and often post their "cannabis routines" on platforms like TikTok. For many who struggle with isolation, for instance, cannabis is the medicine they need to take before their work as a mother begins.  The Washington Post, for its part, writes about the newest research on cannabis. As weed enters the daily lives of a growing number of Americans, the article asks: "How much cannabis is too much for the brain?" It turns out that quantity isn't the most important factor, but instead which age group is consuming the drug. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    5 min

  8. 18 Jun

    'Catastrophic capitulation': Why US and Israel are the biggest losers in Iran deal

    PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 18: An Israeli paper slams the US's deal with Iran as a "catastrophic capitulation". While Trump sees the US as the big winner, the press says Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz shows that it has set a new status quo. Also, EU leaders scramble to find anti-China trade measures without provoking Beijing into a trade war. Plus, as a heatwave returns to Europe, French resort towns plan to fine men who go shirtless in public. There are lots of reactions to the Memorandum of Understanding that both the USA and Iran have signed. But few publications think this deal is actually good for the US. Libération, the left-wing French paper, says that even in the late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei's wildest dreams, he could not have imagined this outcome for a war that Donald Trump himself started. The conservative Wall Street Journal reminds us that Iran held the Strait of Hormuz hostage during the war and that the agreement will "formalise the extortion into a new, worse status quo" and empower Iran to "define the future administration of Hormuz." The Tehran Times uses the opportunity to take pot shots at Iranian opposition groups. It says that US and Israel relied heavily on exiled opposition figures to advance their regime-changing plans. Once the "geopolitical winds shifted, they were discarded without ceremony." The view from Iran, then, is that it is the one now holding all the power. From Israel, there is a lot of anger. An op-ed from the conservative Times of Israel calls Trump's deal with Iran a "catastrophic capitulation to Iran's aggressors" and one which leaves "Israel vulnerable". It laments Trump's new "reality challenged view of Israel as an ingrate and a warmonger" and Iran as "rational." Elsewhere, European leaders are meeting in Brussels this Thursday to figure out a way to reduce the trade imbalances with China. One number is key here: €32 billion – that's Europe's trade deficit with China, according to Eurostat. European leaders are meeting to figure out to respond. The EU Observer says the problem is how do Europe's leaders stand up to China without risking a devastating trade war? China, the website says, is like Voldemort, or rather, "He who shall not be named". As proof: when they sit down for dinner, they will not be discussing anti-China trade measures but rather "global macroeconomic imbalances". Call it what you will, the state-run Chinese daily Global Times says that for a long time, Europe saw China as a "receiver of international rules, not a maker of them". The tides have now turned: in rare earths and critical minerals, Europe is the one with structural dependency on China, not the reverse. In the World Cup 2026, there's good news for England, but not so much for Portugal. The front page of the day goes to The Sun for this inspired headline: "Texas Kane Score Massacre", after the Three Lions won their game against Croatia 4-2. It was not a great day for Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal after its timid 1-1 draw against DR Congo's Leopards. A Bola, Portuguese daily, is clearly concerned about Ronaldo's lack of form. Finally, Europe is set to suffer through yet another heatwave this week and the question is: what is acceptable attire? The Spanish daily El Pais has an existential article, wondering how many buttons men can undo to keep cool during the heatwave.  What is certain is that going shirtless will be a big no-no here in France this summer. The Times of London reminds us that men will be fined €150 if there is a nipple or two seen in public. To quote the brilliant Times journalist Carol Midgley: "Even when the pecs are so toned and sculpted they look like two taut buttocks gaffer-taped to a sternum, it's still not pleasant eating alongside a rippling torso sheened with sweat that puddles on the plastic chair and emanates a musky pong that says 'I take too much protein powder and have breath that could stun a rhinoceros'". You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    6 min
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About

An overview of the stories making the French and international newspaper headlines. From Monday to Friday live at 7:20am and 9:20am Paris time.

Information

  • Channel
    FRANCE 24 English
  • Creator
    FRANCE 24 English
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © France Médias Monde
  • Show Website
    Press Review

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