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. 12H AGO

    Austrian paraglider unscathed after terrifying mid-air collision with plane

    PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, May 26: We look at reactions in the Senegalese and French press after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye appoints a new prime minister after firing his former mentor Ousmane Sonko. Also, papers react to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on the dangers of AI and the need to "disarm". Finally, an Austrian paraglider survives a terrifying mid-air collision and Thai police officers pose in drag after a sting operation to arrest a drug smuggler. In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appointed Ahmadou ‌Al Aminou Lo as prime minister after firing Ousmane Sonko as PM last week. Lo is an economist and former executive at the Central Bank of West African States, where according to Le Monde, he played an important role in shaping monetary and economic policies at a regional level. "An economist for prime minister," the Senegalese daily Le Soleil headlines, portraying him as a seasoned specialist who has been "at the heart of the government" since the first day of Faye's presidency. Although this news is about the nomination of a new prime minister, it is also about the "breakup" between Faye and Sonko. The two men were very close: Faye even named one of his children after Sonko, his one-time mentor. As FRANCE 24 notes, Faye essentially became president because Sonko was barred from running. The suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF aid programme due to corruption allegations under former prime minister Macky Sall proved a turning point, however. The two men fell out over how to handle Senegal's public debt crisis – Faye wanted to discuss a new aid programme with the IMF, while Sonko favoured a more domestic, sovereign approach. For the pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique, Senegal has been preparing for months for this "breakup". It means that the president will have the tricky task of governing with a parliament that is largely loyal to Sonko. It's going to be a tough fight, one observer is quoted as saying.   Moving on, there are lots of reactions in the press to Pope Leo's first encyclical, in which he warned of the dangers of artificial intelligence. In the encyclical – an open letter penned by the pope himself – he called for, among other things, government regulation of private AI companies, protection of workers' jobs, education to facilitate critical analysis of AI and action to protect children from harmful AI-generated content, as The New York Times notes. French paper La Croix reminds us that, with this letter, Pope Leo really became Pope Leo XIV. The encyclical follows in the footsteps of Pope Leo XIII, who wrote the encyclical "Rerum novarum" in 1891, addressing the condition of the working class. Times of London columnist Peter Schrank welcomes the encyclical, saying that allowing a few super-rich weird nerdy misfits to decide what is and isn't ethical would be madness. He hails the pope's comments that AI should be disarmed as a "historic intervention". The Times of London also reports that a paraglider in Austria had a near-death experience at the weekend. She's now shared a video that has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. The paraglider, known as Sabrina, was gliding over the Austrian Alps when a Cessna 172 plane ripped through her chute, sending her plunging down with the sail. You can see her regaining control by activating her back-up chute and landing safely in a forest. She was visibly shaken but had nothing more than a few scratches and bruises. The pilot was also unharmed: according to him, he was unable to swerve in time. Sabrina had been gliding on her birthday – one she'll no doubt never forget! The video was uploaded to Instagram and has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Finally, police officers in Thailand recently went uncover in drag to catch a suspected drug smuggler. Five burly male officers and one female officer dressed as a female dance troupe to ensnare their target during a street dance festival in the country. The officers then posed in their sequined outfits behind the suspect at the police station. They were clearly not ready to give those costumes back! As The Telegraph explains, Thai police have a habit of dressing up to catch their suspects, dressing up as lion dancers or even dragons for previous arrests. 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. 1D AGO

    'Self-destructive' Putin loses home support as Ukraine war rages on

    PRESS REVIEW – Monday, 25 May 2026: First, papers discuss whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost support from his backers. Next, a police raid of opposition party headquarters in Turkey is getting considerable coverage. Also, the Enhanced Games do not lead to the many breakthroughs that were expected, with only one new world "record". Meanwhile, a 99-year-old breaks records in the sky. Finally, actors called Chris and talking animals are more likely to make it in Hollywood than women over the age of 60. The Russian strikes on Ukraine over the weekend are still being discussed in the papers. The Guardian quotes Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, who called the attacks "deranged" in a social media post. The paper also suggests that Russia's Putin is "trying to keep up appearances" despite losing the trust of his supporters. Fortune magazine describes an increasingly alarmed Russian elite. The Atlantic says that Putin can no longer hide his catastrophe, and that he has lost control of the narrative.  In Turkey, the Turkish state paper Daily Sabbah reports that police officers evicted the headquarters of the main opposition party, the CHP. Libération also reports that Istanbul's private Bilgi University was closed on Friday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has since announced it would reopen. Libération suggests that these events are a continuation of Erdogan's "authoritarian turn". The Frankfurter Allgemeine says that for Erdogan, all means are acceptable to hang on to power.  The controversial Enhanced Games took place over the weekend in Las Vegas, with the last events held in the early hours of Monday morning. The Economist has a long read which explains that 50 athletes took part, with more than $25 million in prize money up for grabs. The Enhanced company is hoping to tap into the $6.8 trillion industry of wellness supplements and life-extending products. At the time of recording, the competitions had not yet led to the breakthroughs that were expected. Later, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev became the only athlete to "beat" a world record at the Enhanced Games, winning the men's 50m freestyle at the divisive event where competitors were allowed to take performance-enhancing substances that have sparked health concerns.  Meanwhile, one man really is breaking records. Harry Heasman has become the oldest person to perform a wing walk, a few days ahead of his 99th birthday, according to the Times.  Finally, the Cannes Film Festival wrapped up at the weekend. The Telegraph reports that "Fjord" took home the top prize, despite being the most divisive film of the season. Elsewhere, a recent study found that films are more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60 years old.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    7 min

  3. 4D AGO

    Ex-reality TV star Spencer Pratt is 'running Trump's playbook' in LA mayoral race

    PRESS REVIEW – Friday, May 22: Some 13 candidates are vying to defeat Karen Bass next month for the Los Angeles mayorship. Among them is former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt, whose social media savvy and debate skills have garnered support. Also, the controversial pro-doping Enhanced Games begin this weekend in Las Vegas. Plus the satirical parody Cockroach Janta political party in India becomes a viral sensation.  There is much focus on the LA mayoral race, which is heating up ahead of the vote next month. Los Angeles Magazine reminds us that Democrat Karen Bass became the first female mayor of LA when she was elected in 2022. She is hoping to be re-elected in the June 2 first round. The mayoral race has become one of the "weirdest ever" – with no less than 13 hopefuls competing in a race which the incumbent usually wins quite easily. There are four notable candidates: council member and former ally Nithya Raman, businessman Adam Miller, progressive housing advocate Reverend Rae Huang and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, all of whom are profiled by the magazine.  The Los Angeles Times says the stiff competition could be explained by the fact that a lot has happened in the city – devastating fires in 2025, ICE raids and a $1 billion city budget deficit. Furthermore, the next mayor will also have to steer the city through the 2028 Olympics. One of the frontrunners is Spencer Pratt, a reality TV villain-turned-Trump-endorsed Republican candidate. The Times recalls that he lost his home in the Palisades fire and is using, it says, his Hollywood savvy, social media skills and innate rage to emerge as an unexpected and polarising contender. He has outpaced his rivals in fundraising and put in assured debate performances. He is also vitriolic: he has depicted the streets of LA as a "dystopian hellscape menaced by drug addicted zombies". According to Time Magazine, it is very unlikely that any candidate will win the mayorship in the first round. It is most likely that the top two finishers will face a runoff in November during the midterms, when California will also be deciding a host of congressional races and voting on Governor Gavin Newsom's replacement. If Pratt does become mayor, he would be the first Republican mayor of the city since the 1990s. Elsewhere, the Guardian reports that the much-criticised Enhanced Games will see 42 athletes competing this Sunday at a specially built arena in Las Vegas. There will be swimming, track and field, weightlifting and strongman events in a doping free-for-all event. Athletes are allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs that are normally outlawed from competition and importantly, outlawed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The prize money is lucrative, too: $250,000 per sport for winners, an extra $250,000 if they break a world record and $1 million for the winners of the 50m freestyle and 100m sprint events. The Guardian interviews Christian Anger­mayer, the colourful German bil­lion­aire behind the Enhanced Games. He made his fortune in biotech and bitcoin and is now looking to venture into sports. The Games have been described as pioneering a new era in athletic competition that embraces science to push the boundaries of human performance. Finally, a satirical Indian political party has gone viral. The Cockroach People's Party began as a satirical online project after India's chief justice minister compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. But the Guardian notes that CPP has now become a real party in India. Its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, is a political communications student at Boston University. He says he did not intend for his party to become so popular – it was merely set up to reflect mounting frustration among young Indians.  The Telegraph India notes that the party's X account was blocked in India on Thursday – hours later, a new account was launched with the handle #cockroachisback. They may be a parody party, but they now have a logo, a slogan, an icon (and what an icon – the cockroach – notoriously resistant to everything). Moreover, they have nearly 14 million social media followers – that's more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    8 min

  4. 5D AGO

    Backlash against Israel's 'racist thug' Ben-Gvir over flotilla video

    PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, May 21: There's outrage and condemnation in the international papers over a video showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting detained flotilla activists. One Israeli editor says he should be fired for his video. Also: the US indicts former Cuban president Raul Castro – is this a prelude for a Maduro-style US military operation in Cuba? Plus, a study shows that cows can recognise familiar faces – they have "déjà moo"! There's international outrage after far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunted detained flotilla activists at the port of Ashdod. In a video published on X, the national security minister threatened the activists with prison as he toured the makeshift space with an Israeli flag in his hand. Hundreds of detained activists can be seen in the video, with some seen kneeling with their hands bound behind their back. The footage has sparked international condemnation and even a rare rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conservative daily Jerusalem Post calls Ben-Gvir's actions "disdainful". Haaretz, the centre-left Israeli daily which is critical of Netanyahu, condemns Ben-Gvir's actions as "cruder than others but certainly in line with the norms of today's Israel." The editor calls the violence against and humiliation of activists in front of cameras and ministers "a disgrace that cannot be hidden". There is also swift backlash in the conservative website Times of Israel. The editor David Horowitz pens an op-ed calling Ben-Gvir a "far-right Jewish supremacist" and "racist thug." As national security minister, he writes, Ben-Gvir has harmed "Israel's security, reputation and internal well-being", calling for him to be fired. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was one of the first international leaders to condemn the video, as some of the activists are Italian. La Repubblica says "shame on Israel" on its front page. La Stampa sees Ben-Gvir as the minister who has "triggered a crisis between Italy and Israel." Il Fatto Quotidiano says the flotilla has "brought Israel to its knees". It says Israel's "new act of piracy" in international waters nonetheless is not at all surprising, given that Israel "violates all rules and conventions anyway".  Over in the US, an indictment has been announced against former Cuban president Raul Castro, dating back to a fatal downing of two planes in 1996. The indictment was issued in a federal district court in Miami on Wednesday. The New York Times describes it as an "extraordinary escalation of the multifaceted pressure campaign against Cuba's communist government." Castro, 94, is accused of murder and conspiracy to kill Americans over the 1996 downing of two planes off the coast of Cuba. The planes were operated by a Cuban exile group that scoured the waters for Cuban nationals fleeing the country. Four people died in the incident. Nonetheless, The Economist notes that Cubans are not dismissing the possibility of a US operation – the current regime is playing it up – with civilians getting military training and leaflets being handed out telling people how to prepare for war.  The editors of the Wall Street Journal call the indictment a "welcome attempt to provide justice for the murdered Americans". The business daily notes that it comes at a time of growing vulnerability for Cuba, as its "Venezuelan sugar daddy has been cut off." The island is running out of diesel and fuel oil for its power plants with blackouts lasting hours, services in shambles and food supplies hard to come by.  Finally, a new study shows that cows can recognise the faces of familiar humans. The study, run by French researchers, set out to test whether our bovine friends can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar faces. It turns out that cows have déjà moo. They are capable of identifying familiar faces and matching them with the same voices. The findings could moo-tivate farmers to work with certain cows to strengthen their human-animal relationships. But if you're a meat farmer, however, this would probably be a moo-t point! 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

  5. 6D AGO

    Arsenal clinch Premier League title after 22-year drought

    PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, May 20, 2026: The 17th Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo is getting a lot of coverage. Papers are looking into the impact of recent aid cuts on the emergency response plan. In the United States, President Donald Trump's battle with the Internal Revenue Service continues to make headlines. Also, The New York Times discusses Trump's World Cup delegate, Andrew Giuliani. Finally, the Gunners are back on top, as Arsenal win their 14th Premier League title. The 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has had a lot of coverage. The Washington Post says that this outbreak will be particularly difficult to contain because it has hit at a moment when health infrastructure has been weakened by funding cuts and political upheaval. The Financial Times takes a closer look at pandemic preparedness. The Guardian reports that the WHO is considering using experimental vaccines in the region. Finally, Swiss paper Le Temps features an interview with Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who discovered Ebola in 1976.  Over in the USA, Donald Trump's battles with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) continue to make headlines. The Financial Times reports that Trump and his family have been given a permanent exemption from further investigation of all past tax affairs by the Department of Justice. The waiver was issued as part of a settlement to resolve Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns in 2019 and includes a plan to create a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation fund". Politico reports that the "lawfare" fund is even making some Republicans nervous. The Atlantic says the fund is worse than stealing, and that recasting the January 6 insurrection as the work of heroic patriots is still Trump's top priority.  Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that Andrew Giuliani is the executive director of the "White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026", which could "codify his status as a MAGA warrior in high standing" and potentially fuel future presidential ambitions. Finally, the Daily Telegraph reports that for the first time in 22 years, Arsenal have won the Premier League.  You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    7 min

  6. MAY 19

    Middle East Eye: ICC could seek arrest warrant for Israel's Bezalel Smotrich

    PRESS REVIEW - Tuesday, May 19: The pan-Arab publication Middle East Eye brings an exclusive report on an arrest warrant application for Israel's Bezalel Smotrich on war crimes and crimes against humanity charges, including apartheid. Donald Trump drops his lawsuit against the IRS in return for the creation of a nearly $2 billion "slush fund". And David Beckham, Kate Moss and King Charles visit London's Chelsea Flower show as it kicks off today. IN THE PRESS - An exclusive from the Middle East Eye  reports that the prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court last month filed a secret arrest warrant application for Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The application accuses him of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Specific charges include forced displacement, persecution and apartheid, which, if approved, would be the first ever warrant issue for the crime of apartheid. Middle East Eye reports that an evidence review took place last week for the possibility of two more warrant applications, including one for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, but they have yet to be filed. If judges approve the arrest warrant application, Smotrich would be the third Israeli politician targeted by the ICC, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. It comes after the UN’s accusations of war crimes against Israel published in a separate report on Monday. The Saudi paper Arab News headlines on this. The UN criticised the treatment of Israeli prisoners by Hamas but focused on Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza since October 2023, which has killed more than 70,000 people, most of which appear to be "unlawful". The body urged Israel to take all measures necessary to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. It also warned that Israel’s repeated offenses in Gaza and the West Bank amount to possibly ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. In the US, Donald Trump agreed to drop his family’s $10b lawsuit against the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) as part of a what the Washington Post calls "a highly unusual agreement". That agreement would create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate those who claim they were wronged by the Biden administration. It has been described as an anti-weaponisation fund with limited oversight and outside of normal processes for negotiating legal claims against the government. For the Washington Post, it is "by far the most sweeping tool the president has aimed at financially rewarding supporters and political allies." The Washington Post's editors say that if this fund stands, it will "become a template for all future American presidents to shower financial benefits on friends and allies without accountability". Worse, the fund will pay out for two years before it ceases to exist right after the 2028 election, which means Democrats will never get control of the money. The Daily Beast unveils the "jaw-dropping" details of the fund – Trump will have considerable authority over the five-member commission, which can be removed without cause at any moment. While Trump himself cannot benefit from the fund, entities tied to him can benefit. A citizens' ethics organisation calls it the "one of the single most corrupt acts in American history." Finally, let's end with London’s Chelsea Flower Show. The Daily Mail reports that King Charles and Camilla met with avid gardener Sir David Beckham ahead of the five-day flower and garden extravaganza. They collaborated on the Curious Garden, a garden which will encourage Brits to discover the joy of gardening and the vital contribution of plants. The royals were present for the unveiling of the Sir David Rose, a white flower named for Beckham and chosen by his daughter Harper. Kate Moss was also present for the show as she has a rose named after her. This year – for only the second time in the flower show’s 113-year-old history – garden gnomes are allowed. Celebrities like Sir David and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May had their own garden gnomes painted. The celebrity gnomes will be auctioned off for charity. At the Chelsea Flower Show, you might say, there’s no place like gnome! 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. MAY 18

    Could Ukraine's drone strikes mark a turning point in war with Russia?

    PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 18, 2026: First, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia may mark a turning point in the war. Next, Venezuela's post-Maduro era is conflicting for locals. Also, there's more drama at the Cannes Film Festival as Canal+ hits back at filmmakers. Finally, Gen Z find new ways of enjoying themselves on a budget. Ukraine's drone attack on Russia over the weekend got a lot of coverage. The Washington Post explains that it was Ukraine's largest and most deadly attack on Moscow since 2022. Time Magazine reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine's long-range capability is changing the situation, because its forces are now able to hit targets 500 kilometres from the border. An opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal says that Ukraine is "no longer playing a losing game". The Economist reports that Russia has sustained its first net loss in territory since October 2023. The Kyiv Post says that Russian President Vladimir Putin might need to accept peace. Meanwhile, the Guardian has a long read about Venezuela's post-Maduro era. The paper explains that people have "lost their fear". But alongside this optimism, many are baffled by the close relationship between the ousted dictator's allies and the Trump administration. The article says most locals are concerned that the US only cares for Venezuela's resources, and not its people.  In France, the Cannes Film Festival has taken an unexpected turn. The head of Canal+ has threatened to blacklist over 600 actors, writers and artists who signed a letter opposing right-wing billionaire Vincent Bolloré and his takeover of the French film industry. Libération explains that the French film industry is facing a "fascist takeover of the collective imagination". Politico discusses far-right politicians and their "crusade against French cinema".  Finally, the Times reports on two new drinking trends among Gen Z.  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

  8. MAY 14

    Trump-Xi meeting 'like watching a boxer fight a Kung Fu master'

    PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, May 14, 2026: First, US President Donald Trump's visit to China features on most French front pages. Next, the British papers study the Labour Party's candidates as Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuses to resign. Also, the Guardian reports on a secret UN mission in Gaza. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain become French champions for the 14th time. Finally, a strange smog has spread to the food industry. Donald Trump's visit to China is all over the French front pages this morning, and most papers seem to have similar interpretations of the summit. On the left, L'Humanité headlines with "Trump at war, Xi as referee". Le Parisien describes the summit as an arm wrestle among "friends" and says the two leaders could not be more different. Le Figaro says that Trump is looking to appease his Chinese counterpart.  Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is still the topic of most front pages in the UK. The communist paper Morning Star talks about a "head to head" between Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The Guardian says that a potential leadership contest has led to a scramble on the left of the Labour Party. The Financial Times fears a "bitter factional struggle" within the party. Politico has issued a survival guide for "lame duck prime ministers".  The Guardian reveals the details of a secret UN mission in Gaza which smuggled vast quantities of archives, cultural records and artworks out of the war-torn territory for their preservation. The BBC, meanwhile, reports that two Gazan sisters have won an award for their invention which turns rubble into reusable bricks.  L'Equipe celebrates Paris Saint-Germain on its front page. Their win against Lens last night made them French champions for the 14th time, and for the fifth time in a row.  Finally, The Telegraph reports that vaping has broken into the food industry. Companies are now recommending that flavoured vapes be paired with meals.   You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

    7 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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