Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, September 24: The Spanish press express outrage after the forced eviction of an elderly woman from her Madrid residence. Unrest in the Tigray region sparks fears of a new war between rebels and Ethiopia's central government. Australian authorities reveal that the national health insurance system Medicare was hacked by an AI agent. Finally, we look at Britain's rudest-sounding street names!

The eviction of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old pensioner, amid Spain's housing crisis has shocked the nation. El Mundodocuments the eviction of Maricarmen in photos. She lived in the upmarket Madrid neighbourhood of Retiro for 70 years until Wednesday night. The elderly woman, who uses a wheelchair, was evicted in a stretcher from her home as hundreds of protesters gathered outside and some tried to prevent police from entering. Maricarmen spent years in a legal battle against a real estate firm that has raised her monthly rent 275 percent to €2,750, which she could no longer afford. La Vanguardiasees Maricarmen as a symbol of Spain's crippling housing shortage, for which Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been accused of not doing enough. El Paisevokes the social and political shock sparked by this eviction. Right-wing daily ABCaccepts that her case is a tragedy but notes that the law applies equally to everyone and cannot be adapted to individual cases. El Mundo, the conservative paper, laments the political exploitation of Maricarmen's case – and accuses Sanchez of ignoring the gravity of Spain's housing crisis.

A severe escalation in Ethiopia's Tigray region has sparked fears of another all-out war in the country. The New York Timesreports that Tigrayan forces seized the airport in Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray, early on Wednesday and others in the northern region in what is seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's central government. As the Times reminds us, hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the two-year war in 2020 between the central government and Tigrayan forces. It led to sexual assault accusations and mass starvation. The Economistnotes that Eritrea fought alongside the Ethiopian army last time against the rebels. However, Abiy's decision to seek peace with the rebels left his partners angry – which is why this new escalation could reshape the war and loyalties to the central government. The magazine says that rebel groups appear to be trying to encircle Weldiya, a town on a main road linking Tigray to Addis Ababa. If this city falls, it could be a precursor to a rebel offensive on the capital itself.

We turn next to Australia, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed that an AI agent hacked Australia's medical healthcare system back in June. There is cause for concern in the Australian press. The Sydney Morning Herald saysthe "modern cyber threat is no longer a person in a balaclava" and wonders how secure our data is in the new AI age. According to the website The Conversation, this appears to be the first time an AI agent breach of a government system has been made public. Medicare was unaware of the hack for three months – it only found out because OpenAI informed the government earlier this month. OpenAI itself only found out in August during a routine review of the model's activity. The Conversation says that such unauthorised intrusions raise thorny questions around the accountability of AI agents – but also that governments are reliant on the "goodwill of AI companies to disclose potentially illegal or harmful acts."

We end on something different – a survey of England's rudest-sounding street names! Metro reports that a survey has put together some of the rudest-sounding English towns, including Sluts Hole Lane in Norfolk, Sandy Balls in New Forest and the unfortunate-sounding Shitterton in Dorset. In one town called Minge Lane, local authorities have had to concrete the street name – because people kept stealing it!

You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, September 23: The papers look ahead to US President Donald Trump hosting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. In other news, a Haitian-born novelist, tipped to win France's prestigious Goncourt literary prize, has been struck by an AI scandal. Finally, could the remains of Nefertiti lie behind the burial chamber of Tutankhamun?

The Washington Postbrings us details of what's planned for Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington, complete with a five-jet flyover. Politico digs into the power dynamics between the Chinese and US leaders, as China is one of the winners of the global energy crisis. High on the agenda will be the topic of artificial intelligence, as The New York Times reports, after recent warnings from tech bosses about the dangers the technology could now pose. The journalist concludes, though, that neither will be open to restrictions that endanger theirAI sector's competitivity. According to Axios, one of the outcomes of this visit could be the creation of an "AI red telephone": a direct hotline between the two presidents, in Cold War-era style, for the day "AI goes haywire".

Meanwhile, after a social media user claimed author Thélyson Orélien's novel had come up "100% AI" on Pangram, this controversy rocking the literary world is on the front page of Libération, with the headline "A novel doping on AI?" Journalists at Libération have run the text through GPTZero, a competitor of Pangram software, and also got a positive result for AI. The Haitian-born author says the media storm around him and his work is racially motivated, while the journalist at Libération calls on him to make public the chapters he says he initially wrote in 2017, prior to the existence of these mass-market AI tools. Le Figaro has interviewed a member of the Goncourt prize jury, who is reserving judgement for now, and insists that no software for detecting AI is infallible.

Finally, a group of researchers have requested permits to drill at a new location in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, in the hopes of finding Queen Nefertiti's final resting place. As explained in The Times, Pharaoh Tutankhamun died young and is widely believed to have been buried in a tomb not originally built for him, but perhaps an outer chamber within a larger complex. Speculation has been rife for a decade that the burial complex was in fact that of Nefertiti, and new geophysical surveys suggest where additional corridors and chambers might be.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, September 22: The Moscow Times talks about mobilisation rumours scaring anti-war activists in Russia. Next: The New York Times interviews South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung. Also: why is multitasking bad for the brain and the nervous system? Finally: this year's Fat Bear contest is starting in Alaska. Who's going to be the chonkiest chonk? 

Independent paper The Moscow Times says there are rumours that the Kremlin could order another mobilisation to sustain its Ukraine invasion. The paper spoke to anti-war activists who say that anxiety is rising, even though helping Russians avoid the military is a routine part of their work. They remember September 2022, when 300,000 reservists were called up – Russia's first mobilisation since the Second World War. According to an independent source, more than 20,000 of the men who were mobilised then were later confirmed killed. Many activists worry that a new call-up could come faster and be even harder to avoid.

Another independent paper, Novaya Gazeta, writes about Yulia Kuznetsova's State Duma election experience. She was a candidate who abruptly went missing on the eve of Russia's three-day voting, shortly after meeting with voters. On Sunday, she said in a Telegram post that she and her husband are safe, but didn't really explain what happened. Kuznetsova's platform called for peace, the admission of all candidates and parties to the elections, media freedom and the release of political prisoners. 

Next: The New York Times interviews South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung. He urges the United States to ease its sanctions on North Korea – saying that Trump should demand that Pyongyang freeze, not eliminate its nuclear weapons programme. He adds that "there is a significant value in a trade-off between sanctions" and "the world has no realistic alternative". He is making those claims as Pyongyang is increasingly showing off its nuclear missiles against the South and as both Russia and China have embraced North Korea as a strategic partner. Lee also told the NYT that Trump is the only leader "capable of drawing Mr. Kim back to the negotiating table".

Also: The Washington Post writes that "Toxic multitasking is breaking your brain" and explains how to "take control". In today's always plugged-in world, performing several tasks at the same time has become the new normal – scrolling while watching TV, reading emails while in a meeting. It can become addictive, especially when it involves screens. An expert who spoke to the paper says that it's only an "illusion of productivity" and "our brains simply aren't wired for it". It turns out that toxic multitasking can actually harm the functioning of our brain and the nervous system. This is because of the constant "context switching" that's detrimental to our brains without a break. The experts say that not all multitasking is bad, but the one we do the most – digital multitasking, or using more than one screen at a time – has an ironically negative effect on our ability to multitask when it can actually be beneficial. So how to break the toxic habit? The paper says we should try meditation, practice single-tasking or "design your environment for success" – silencing notifications, limiting your screen time, etc. 

Another thing that helps? Sleep. The Times writes about some 1,000 teenagers who took part in a dream study – they were paid to sleep at least seven hours on weeknights. Not only were they well rested for school, their academic performance also increased!

Finally, Fat Bear Week is back and it has "unleashed its chonkiest contest yet", The Daily Beast reports. The annual contest determines which brown bear in Alaska's Katmai National Park has gained the most weight before the hibernation season. This year we have 16 chonky contestants and voting will begin later on Tuesday. Last year, 1.7 million people voted from across the world. 

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, September 21: The Independent's climate 100 list for 2026 is out, featuring names like Pope Leo and Sir David Attenborough. Climate change is having an undeniable effect on animals across the world, some of which are seeking human help. And finally: are people's dating patterns shifting?

The Independenthas published its 2026 list of the world’s leading environmentalists. It’s a list celebrating the “campaigners, change makers and innovators who are making a positive and significant difference to turn the tide on the climate crisis”. It includes names like Erin Brockovich, Pope Leo and Sir David Attenborough. 

Speaking of the climate crisis, The Times has an article called “Koala in search of bear necessities winds up in woman’s bedroom". A new study has recorded the growing numbers of wild animals entering human homes. That’s because they are seeking refuge due to climate change and habitat loss. Researchers hope that the findings will encourage more biodiversity-friendly home designs. 

Another heartwarming story from Florida. The Washington Post reports that a quiet morning at a marine research facility was interrupted by knocking on the door. The visitor was a pelican in need of help. The biologist said, “The pelican stood there patiently, as if waiting for help”, and a quick inspection revealed that the animal was injured. A fishing line was wrapped around the pelican’s right wing. And a hook was stuck in the wing. A marine researcher working there said she thought someone brought the bird and was instead shocked it came on its own to the lab – that's not usual behavior in wild birds. She said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” […] “to have a bird knock at your door and ask for help”. And she did help and saved its life. 

Finally, new data shows a shift in how people approach dating. Cosmopolitan’s title reads “The slow burn is back and ghosting is on the rise, according to new dating data”. The numbers come from the Kinsey Institute – the data shows that more and more people are willing to give second chances. They even stay open-minded and continue dating someone they did not have an initial spark with. According to the data, 49 percent of people fell in love with someone they did not find attractive at first. So if it’s not about the spark or passion, then what are people looking for on a first date? Well, great conversation, shared interests, self-improvement over time and life goals. That all sounds very mature – but ghosting is also on the rise, so don’t get too excited! 

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, September 18: Russia holds its first parliamentary elections since the Ukraine war. Since only parties loyal to Vladimir Putin are running, the elections are seen as nothing but a veneer of democracy. In sports: Zinedine Zidane will unveil his first selection as coach of the French football team. Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic organisers approve a croc-infested river to hold canoe and rowing events. Finally, the first new feline species in a century has been discovered.

PRESS REVIEW: Early voting is underway in Russia, which is holding its first parliamentary election since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The result is a foregone conclusion – Vladimir Putin’s party is all but guaranteed to win given that only parties supporting Putin have been registered to run. In its analysis today, the Moscow Timesdetails how Russia has barred opposition candidates from running. The paper talks to Iya Boronina, a politician from the republic of Udmurtia – who was disqualified from running because of a song she used in a campaign video. Other candidates have been disqualified for posting photos or references to the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The paper explains that these widespread disqualifications reflect efforts by regional officials to show their loyalty to the Kremlin.

Novaya Gazeta, a Kremlin-critical media calls the election a "listless affair." Any discussion of the Ukraine war is pretty much illegal. Televised debates were held to give the illusion of democracy – though sometimes in the absence of any debaters. As the academic website The Conversationexplains, these multiparty elections serves to offer a veneer of democracy within Putin’s dictator-like governance. Even the inclusion of "opposition parties" has been carefully crafted – packaged as opposition parties even if they are fundamentally loyal to the Kremlin.

Nonetheless – as Le Temps, the Swiss paper, notes – 57 percent of Russians believe their political state of the country is very tense – these elections will serve to reinforce Vladimir Putin’s democracy.

Zinedine Zidane is set to unveil his first team selection as coach of Les Bleus, the French national football team. After 14 years under coach Didier Deschamps, Zidane will be eager to make his mark on the French football team. His selection will be revealed this Friday evening around 6pm. Le Figaro, like most of the papers, asks what will be in store between "surprises, breakups and the inner circle – which players will or will not make the cut?" French sports paper L’Equipeexpects some audacious choices but also predicts the attack will remain the same – Mbappé, Dembélé and Olisé. L’Humanité,a French communist paper says that Zidane has already brought in a new technical team and wants to breathe new life into the team – especially with his his successful strategy at Real Madrid which allowed the club to win 3 consecutive Champions League titles.

Finally, the organisers of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics have finalized a venue for the canoe and rowing events – and it is not for the faint-hearted. The flatwater course on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland has been chosen as the venue for the Olympic and paralympic canoe and rowing events in 2032. It sounds idyllic except the river is home to 500 saltwater crocodiles! 

Now if crocs aren’t your thing cats might be.

National Geographicreveals that back in 2016, the discovery of a "weird cat" led to the first new feline species in a century. Little spotted cats known as tigrillos were discovered in Bolivia. The publication says the discovery is "monumental" – because it could redraw the cat family tree and could lead to more discoveries of new species.

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, September 17: Will Canada become an associate member of the EU? Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea in a speech but did not give any details about what it would entail. The press is reacting with scepticism. Also, Le Monde profiles some of the 8,000 people who died during France's summer heatwave. Scientists observe a humpback whale mourning her dead calf for the first time. And Singapore wants to pay citizens to stop scrolling and start reading.

If it goes ahead, Canada could be the first associate member of the European Union. According to Euroactiv, the European media outlet, Ursula von der Leyen put forward the proposal in her State of the Union speech yesterday, specifying that the alliance is not against anyone else but for both parties’ common strengths. The outlet also reminds us that von der Leyen made a similar bid for Ukraine earlier this year, which received a lukewarm response from EU member states. French communist paper l’Humanité, responded wryly: "Ursula von der Leyen doesn’t have oil but she does have ideas."

For the international press, US President Donald Trump clearly has pushed Canada into the EU’s arms. According to the New York Times,it is a sign of the "knock-on effects of Trump’s brand of diplomacy" which often involves threatening countries that were once considered US allies. The paper adds that even if the EU’s gesture ends up being symbolic, it shows how Trump is upending global relationships in ways that will be hard to undo. The editors of Belgian daily Le Soirhails the “new trans-Atlantic union” – noting that it comes at a time where inside the bloc, anti-EU sentiment is rising while, outside the bloc, warmongering is rising. British daily The Guardianwonders if this proposed membership could be a blueprint for future EU-UK relations. In any case, the Guardian says that the bigger the ambitions for relations with the EU, the better. In Canada’s case, the potential alliance offers rich supplies of minerals and rare earths.

Meanwhile, the Canadian press remains very sceptical. Le Devoirwonders what Canada would gain from this alliance. The leader of the opposition already denounced what he calls a threat to Canadian sovereignty. The Globe and Mailnote bitterly that Canada already signed a trade deal with the EU ten years ago but 10 of the 27 members have still not ratified it.

The French paper Le Mondeis looking back at this summer’s relentless series of deadly heatwaves. According to French public health authorities, this summer’s heatwaves were the hottest in 126 years and caused more than 8,100 deaths. In this interactive article entitled, "The Heatwave Casualties" – Le Monde puts a face to those who died even if, it says, the word heat-related does not appear on their death certificate. Several elderly people died but some as young as 18, including a young man who drowned while swimming in the Seine River.

Scientists say they’ve witnessed the first phenomenon of a humpback whale mother grieving for her stillborn calf. It’s the first detailed scientific study on the subject, according to the Australian academic website The Conversation. It took place last July off the east coast of Australia. For more than an hour, the mother whale returned to the same spot, suggesting she was grieving her dead calf. This sort of behaviour has been observed in the past in toothed whales – like the orca – but never before in untoothed or baleen whales – like the humpback. This is possibly because dead newborn baleen whales often sink quickly, making it difficult to observe such behaviour.

Finally, from you – Singapore is taking some drastic measures to get people off their phones. The Timesreports that the country is planning to pay people to read as part of a government initiative aiming to mitigate online content. Readers who read for 15 minutes receive 20 virtual coins. They need 1000 to earn one Singapore dollar which means you need to read 12.5 hours to earn a dollar. The irony is that it is all logged online.

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, 16 September: The Washington Post reports that ICE is facing the fallout of their massive and 'reckless' hiring campaigns. Next, the Trump administration is planning to sell 2.8 billion dollars' worth of bombs to Israel. Also, Ed Sheeran's tour suffers another blow as his opening acts as well as his backing band drop out of his concerts. Finally, the French papers remember Catherine Ringer of the Rita Mitsuko band. 

The Washington Postfeatures an exclusive report about the fallout of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency's (ICE) rapid and haphazard hiring campaign. Officers who were given employment without proper checks are now discreetly being dismissed, sometimes with devastating consequences.The Guardian is also taking a closer look at ICE. The paper reports that the agency is no longer reporting miscarriages and that pregnant women in detention are not receiving adequate care.

Staying in the US,the Washington Post broke another story about a record arms sale. The paper reveals that US President Donald Trump's planned sale of bombs to Israel is the largest in years. The $2.8 billion package, includes 40,000 one-ton bombs, including 20,000 MK 84s – also known as 'hammer bombs'. The paper explains that its "explosion sends metal fragments in every direction, can rip through metal and thick concrete, and often creates large craters in the earth».The New York Times also reported on the sale, adding that the move will be a test for the Democrats, as frustrations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have "created unprecedented strain in the US-Israel relationship". 

Meanwhile tensions about Israel and Palestine are flaring up outside of congress as well, as the Ed Sheeran situation takes another turn. Entertainment Weekly explains that US rapper Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after repeatedly voicing his support for Palestine on stage. Now, all of Ed Sheeran’s opening acts as well as his backing band have dropped out of the tour in support for the rapper. Rolling Stones Magazine explains that billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the Gillette stadium, where Ed Sheeran was going to play, reportedly rallied other stadium owners to all but ban Macklemore from performing in their venues. Political figures from the left like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have since come out to say that it sets a dangerous precedent for censorship.

Staying in the world of music, it is a sad day in France after the death of singer and artist Catherine Ringer was announced. Libération reflects on how she formed a bridge between two worlds "at once a wild and graceful ballerina". 

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, September 15: Two cases dubbed Pelicot 2.0 have rocked Britain and Austria. Then, ProPublica reveals that a Russian oligarch financed a part of Trump Jr's Bahamas wedding. Some celebrity news: Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after saying "Free Palestine", while Sydney Sweeney is once again starring in a controversial ad.

Metrowrites “husband ‘breaks down in tears’ as he pleads guilty to drugging and raping his wife”. This happened in Stockport, Manchester, over the period of more than two decades. He is also accused of having invited other men to rape his wife Between 2018 and 2025. French magazineCharlie Hebdo says that the English have perhaps found their Dominique Pelicot. Apart from the husband, who is in his sixties, 13 other men are accused of participating in the rape. They are between the ages of 28 and 73. It happened in a small town with a population of 100,000. Worse, it seems like it’s not the only “Pelicot” out there. People Magazine writes about a 39-year-old Austrian woman who died after “alleged sex abuse by her husband”. He is claiming it was an accident during sex. The 51-year-old man is being investigated for drugging and raping her and inviting other men to sexually abuse her. This happened in Wels, a city with a population of around 65,000 people.

Next: A ProPublica investigation shows that Trump Junior’s wedding was sponsored by a Russian oligarch close to Putin. ProPublica reviewed records and spoke to three people familiar with the event. It found that Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding expenses – he paid to rent out one of the private islands in the Bahamas where the reception was held and where the guests slept. Kremlev is the head of the infamous International Boxing Association (IBA), which has been financed by the Russian state-owned Gazprom. The wedding payments came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai, ProPublica reveals. Kremlev also paid for the fireworks show and helped plan the event that was framed as a very “intimate” celebration for the Trump Jr family. There were only 50 people invited – among them was Kremlev, who speaks limited English, and a “large group” of Russians who surprised the other guests. But why pay for the wedding? According to experts, oligarchs like Kremlev often act “in coordination” with the Kremlin. They say that Trump Jr now owes Kremlev something.  

Also: Variety reports that the rapper Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after he said, “Free Palestine”, and told the audience that he wanted the people of Gaza and the West Bank to know that they haven’t been forgotten. 

Finally, Deadline reports that Sydney Sweeney’s latest ad has infuriated female athletes. She posed for a sports betting company Novig, “wearing just sports” – meaning naked, with her body covered in sports equipment. An Olympic gold medallist said that the ad was “a kick in the face to every woman” who has dedicated her life to sports. An opinion piece in The Guardian says that the ad is indeed cynical and unhealthy, but it will be good for the prediction markets that hope to lure in young men. 

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, September 14: The New York Times released an exclusive report titled “How Iran’s hard-liners prevailed and sabotaged the US peace deal”. Also: Trump says AI fears are "exaggerated", but reports show a different reality.

The New York Times spoke to anonymous regime insiders who say that Iranian hard-liners derailed the peace deal with a “clandestine effort to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz”. This happened in early July, when Iranian forces opened fire on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s president, the General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Supreme National Security Council were all unaware of the strikes. The paper explains that the hard-liners succeeded because the man who has the power to resolve such disputes – the new supreme leader Khamenei – has been a ghost since taking office in March after his father was killed by joint US-Israeli strikes. According to three Iranian officials, even the president has questioned the authenticity of the statements attributed to the supreme leader. 

Who orchestrated the strikes? Three anonymous Iranian officials interviewed by the paper point to one man whom the paper called the “influential spymaster”, cleric Hossein Taeb. He has opposed a peace deal with the United States from the very beginning. In a recent speech, he said he is not opposed to negotiations but is against the “excessive demands of the enemy” that have “no place in Iran’s politics”. The report also says that Taeb played a key role in selecting Khamenei junior after the death of his father. 

Next, another type of crisis: artificial intelligence. US President Donald Trump is downplaying calls for an AI slowdown, reports the US’s NPR. There are concerns that AI could go rogue, and several tech leaders are saying we should hit the brakes. But for Trump, the warnings are “exaggerated” and come from “negative forces” making false claims. 

But a couple of articles show a different reality: Wired Magazine interviewed the mathematician Steven Strogatz, who started to cry when he talked about the AI-driven breakthroughs in his field. He co-wrote a book about how math is moving beyond human understanding and why this is making him “really terrified”. A headline from The Atlantic reads, “It’s all fun and games until you give AI your credit card”. It’s an article about how AI personal assistants act on people’s behalf in the real world and all the strange things that could go – and already are going – wrong.

Finally, an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal says that "yes, children really are getting dumber". According to the author, COVID-19 and AI are among the factors degrading the quality of American education. Thau author says that “as machines get smarter, kids are getting dumber” and rapid advances in AI go hand in hand with “astonishing decline in student learning”. The article cites a study by the Programme for International Student Assessment – or PISA – that measures the skills of 15-year-olds across the world. The most troubling decline is in the skills that matter the most, according to the report: evaluating information, making connections and thinking critically about what we read. The conclusion: that “in a world increasingly flooded with information, our students are less likely to think deeply and separate signal from noise”. 

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, September 11– 25 years on from 9/11, the international press reflects on the war on terror, its legacy and its failings. In France, the far-right National Rally party tries desperately to distance itself from the overtly racist comments of one of its security officials, made while on duty for his day job as a police officer. Finally, a fossilised feather may give us new insights into why birds survived the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs.

The Washington Post headline reads "the 9/11 response got the most important thing right", despite mistakes – the paper acknowledges – in Iraq and Afghanistan. A similar verdict from the Wall Street Journal: taking the war to terrorists abroad and holding any country harbouring terrorists responsible were two key principles that protected the US against any similar attack in the 25 years that followed. There is a different angle in the European press. The Times reminds us that the Bush administration were quick to conflate an attack perpetrated by Saudi citizens with Iraq, an "entirely unrelated country". Here in France, Le Monde has interviewed a former French intelligence official, who, when asked whether Osama Bin Laden had succeeded in his objectives, said "al Qaeda's trap was the long wars into which America plunged." 

In France, the National Rally seek to distance themselves from a scandal after a police officer with close ties to the party inadvertently recorded himself complaining about seeing Black and Arab people around the town of Carcassonne using offensive racial slurs. Quoted in Le Figaro, representatives of the far-right party called the incident an "isolated case" and insist that such convictions have no place within their ranks. L'Humanité, though, argues that the officer said out loud what the National Rally truly believes, citing MP Caroline Parmentier, who has bemoaned a "normalisation of homosexuality", referred to the travelling community as "scabious bohemians", and lamented the "demonisation" of Nazi-collaborationist leader of Vichy France, Maréchal Pétain. 

And, finally, The Times brings us news of a piece of fossilised dinosaur dung in which a feather appears to have survived the domestic journey. The feather may offer a rare insight into why almost all bird families went extinct with the dinosaurs: was it a question of feathers? Did the other prehistoric bird families have plumage too thin for the post-asteroid climate?

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, September 10: US papers react to the first night of the Republicans' midterm convention in Dallas. Also: five baby orangutans from Southeast Asia have been found in a forest in India. Then some dystopian science news. Finally, perhaps we don't need to do as much sport as we think we do.

The Wall Street Journal reports that during the keynote speech, US president Donald Trump asked voters to pretend that he is on the ballot. There was also a “desperate election shocker”, says The HuffPost – Trump said he’ll bribe each citizen with a $5,000 payment if the Republicans win the Midterms. But The HuffPost recalls that Trump doesn’t have the legal authority to issue checks to everyone in the US, among other issues. The Atlantic asks whether "Trump really wants Republicans to win the Midterms"? The periodical says that it is currently impossible for the party to distance itself from the unpopular president. His approach “nicely illustrates the drawbacks of handing total control of a political party to an egomaniac”. But The Washington Post says that for many attending the convention, dubbed by some “Trumpapalooza”, “the main draw is Trump”. Many in the crowd are Trump loyalists and they are “mainly here to see their man”, writes the paper. Democrats believe that this will only help their midterm prospects, though, since the president’s approval ratings have dropped to a historic low. And The Daily Beast writes that the convention actually kicked off to empty chairs. The news site says that those who attended “struggled to stay energized” and the speakers “smiled as they looked out into a largely empty arena”.  

Next: five baby orangutans have been found in a forest in India, while they are native only to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, reports The Guardian. Authorities are now investigating if they were trafficked from south-east Asia. International commercial trade in orangutans has been prohibited by a global agreement about endangered wildlife. The World Wildlife Fund says that about 104,000 orangutans remain in the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. A century ago, the population was more than 230,000. Authorities believe that the orangutans have stayed in India’s Odisha state only for a couple of days. They have been placed in quarantine.  

Also: Wired writes about a “new startup that lets you freeze your eggs for free […] But is anything ever free?” The startup is called Cofertility and promises to help women who cannot afford the expensive procedure. The catch is that the clients must give half of tjpse eggs to donors who are ready to pay up to tens of thousands of dollars. But there are both medical and ethical problems with this practice. One expert who was interviewed compared the practice to commercialised eugenics. 

Finally, The Washington Post writes that scientists compared 3- and 90-minute workouts. It turns out that only 3 minutes of intense exercise may have a more beneficial impact on our physiology and health compared to longer moderate exercise. The groundbreaking new study helps answer some questions and raise many new ones… 

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, September 9: British papers are reacting to the sanctions imposed on Israel. Next: Israeli papers discuss Haaretz's October 7 revelatory investigation. Also: CDs are back! Finally, South Park renames itself to South America to mock Trump.

An Independent's headline reads, “UK sanctions Israel over West Bank 'ethnic cleansing'". Ed Miliband, Britain’s foreign secretary, said that the sanctions come as Israel has turned a blind eye to the “ongoing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank” by “settler terrorists”. He also added that the occupation of the West Bank as a whole is unlawful. The front page of The iPaper focuses on the reaction from Israel: “Israeli fury after UK accuses settlers of ethnic cleansing”. Britain’s Chief Rabbi said that Tuesday was a “truly dark day for British Jews”. Meanwhile, Miliband highlighted his Jewish background, adding that he is a “proud British Jew”. The paper also says that “Britain risks reduced access to Israeli intelligence” after the import ban. An editorial in The Times writes that “Britain’s West Bank sanctions will do nothing to help Palestinians”. The article says that the “measures do not match the theatrical rhetoric” and they may actually be “hugely counterproductive” and “feed the fire of antisemitism” in the UK.

Israeli papers are reacting to Haaretz’s revelation that Benjamin Netanyahu had been informed about the October 7 attack prior to it. These findings come as no surprise to YnetNews. The paper says this episode “adds to the series of warning signs issued before October 7”. What they have in common is how Netanyahu reacted to them “with boredom and indifference”, according to multiple sources. The article says that the revelations, however, will not have an effect on the elections. Haaretz disagrees, saying that “it is possible, after three years of lies and bloodshed, that this revelation will be the decisive moment for a fence-sitting voter”. In an editorial, Haaretz stands by its claim; the headline here reads “Netanyahu knew”. The article argues his responsibility extends back to the years leading up to the massacre during which he allowed Hamas to get their hands on funding. 

Next: CDs are back in vogue. The Washington Post's headline reads “Grab your Discmans out of storage. CDs are back, baby”. Their growth has surpassed that of vinyl. The paper interviewed a 31-year-old man who said he craves “tactile interaction in a digital world”. For many people like him, it's all about nostalgia. For others, it’s the simple fact that CDs sound better than both streaming and vinyl. The Washington Post says that K-pop stars are partially responsible for the trend – the band BTS released multiple CD editions of their 2026 album and sold nearly 600,000 copies in the United States. The paper writes: “Nothing new is new. Everything is a rehash, a recycle, a reach back”.  

Finally, The Guardian reports that the cartoon show South Park changed its name to South America. The new title is inspired by the “bravery and patriotism” of Apple and Google, who changed Lake Ontario’s name to “Lake America” after US President Donald Trump signed an order renaming the lake. 

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, September 8: Papers discuss UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Also, could AI change what it means to be human? Finally, "pheromone maxxing" is in; showers are out.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government is set to ban trade with some Israeli settlements in the West Bank, The Timesreports. The sanctions come as a response to Israeli plans to construct more than 1,000 settler homes in a key area of the West Bank. Burnham also promised to take a tougher stance in support of Gaza and against the destruction of the two-state solution there. 

Fox News reports that Burnham risks clashing with Trump, saying the move could "create an early point of friction" between the two leaders. The Jerusalem Postnotes that Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the expulsion of the British ambassador. Smotrich wrote on X that Israel would not be a "doormat trampled by an antisemitic government" and called the UK a "country conquered by radical Islam" that's trying to save itself by attacking Israel. 

Next, The Atlantic writes that "AI is already changing what it means to be human". The author warns that the normalisation of AI bots will come at human expense – the actual dehumanisation of humans. The author argues that this could gradually reshape human moral thinking: humans could move away from love, care and relationships towards cold calculation and robot-like decisions.

Another article in The Washington Post looks into something very human: gut feelings. The author of the piece researches gut feelings and walks us through when to trust them. What we call gut feelings are simply neurochemical signals from the brain that lead to a change in the stomach's electrical rhythms. She says that statistically speaking, gut feelings "aren't necessarily right". They are a bit like the butterflies we feel on a first date – rather inconclusive. She adds that we need to treat gut feelings as stop signs – it doesn't necessarily mean we are doing something wrong; it just means we should slow down and look around before we continue. 

Finally, The Indian Express writes about "pheromone maxxing". This latest trend encourages men to embrace their natural body smell and simply skip showering and putting on perfume or deodorant before a date. It stems from the masculinist "looksmaxxing culture" and is built around the idea that stronger and smellier pheromones could attract women more easily. The paper spoke to a psychologist who said that when someone feels insecure, simple and fast hacks like this are used to address deeper issues of "self-esteem, social anxiety or relationship patterns". 

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, September 7: The far right marches to victory in a German state election: what does this mean for the future of Germany and Europe at large? Also: the Daily Telegraph publishes an exclusive interview with the sons of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan about his imprisonment conditions in Pakistan. Plus the US Open descends into chaos after influencers, weed and disruptions stir controversy.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won a crucial state election but fallen just short of winning an outright majority. The AfD – an anti-immigrant, populist, far-right party – was hoping for a majority in the Saxony-Anhalt election, which would have allowed it to govern alone and overcome mainstream parties' refusal to work with it. It fell short, but its resounding victory – and thumping loss for Chancellor Frederich Merz's CDU party – is a win in itself. German tabloid Bildheadlines with a play on words: "Jubel und Schmerz" – "Jubilation and pain" – pain for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and jubilation for Ulrich Siegmund, head of the AfD list in the state. The Berliner Zeitungsays he gets "the last laugh today" and calls him the most dangerous man in Germany, reprising a recent headline from Der Spiegel. 

Die Zeitevokes an "historic turning point for German democracy." In an article entitled the "blue storm", the daily reminds us that the AfD continues its political dominance, after becoming the main opposition party in Germany in federal elections last year. While there are more right-wing parties in power, Die Zeit says many have become more moderate in their governance, taking the example of Italy's Giorgia Meloni. However, it warns that the AfD is going in the opposite direction, becoming more radical. In another article, Die Zeit argues that this vote is also an indictment of Merz. He has lost popularity and authority in the country. To surmount this defeat, the paper suggests looking to the historical roots of the CDU party – a union, not a party, born in reaction to Nazi Germany. Its then-leader Konrad Adenauer, himself persecuted by the Nazis, became the first chancellor of Germany.

Across Europe, the press is reacting to the AfD's election win in Saxony-Anhalt. Spain's El Paiscalls it an "overwhelming victory". Here in France, the left-wing daily Libérationevokes the "fascist shock in Germany." There are also lots of reactions in Italy. La Republiccasays that an obscurity has fallen in Berlin, noting bitterly that the EU is confronted with Nazi-era nostalgia. Left-leaning Il Fatto Quotidianoaccuses Merz of handing this victory to the AfD. The right-wing paper Il Giornaleis thrilled about the victory of the "euroright" but expresses caution about the AfD's manifesto, which contains themes dear to the Nazis. 

In other news, the Daily Telegraph has published an exclusive interview with the sons of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan about his health. Sulaiman and Kassim Khan warn that their father's health is declining while imprisoned in Pakistan. They say the former Pakistani prime minister is living in quarters so cramped that they are usually reserved for death row inmates. The water is fetid, he has no reading material and is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. Khan, a former Pakistan cricket captain turned prime minister was thrown into prison four years ago – a coup orchestrated, he says, by his enemies. The Khan sons also accuse the British government of "being the opposite of helpful", despite the Khan family's strong roots to the country.

Finally, there's uproar at this year's US Open, which has descended into chaos. ESPNreports that the US Open organisers have accredited more influencers this year in a bid to add hype to the event. The problem is that play has been interrupted several times due to noise during points and selfies taken with spotlights. In addition, the strong odour of cannabis has been present in recent editions – cannabis is legal in New York – and the tournament feels more like a music festival than a sporting event. Wimbledon, known for its strict court etiquette, has already vowed not to allow influencers into next year's edition. You can forget about smoking – the only grass in Wimbledon is on court! 

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, September 4: Italy's Giorgia Meloni becomes the longest-serving prime minister in Italy's postwar history. While she's celebrated by the rightwing press, the leftwing press say her leadership is a fiasco. Also, is Europe gearing up for a chaotic winter? Concern is mounting after the UN warned of a "supersized" El Niño phenomenon that could bring heavy rains and snow. Plus we look at tributes to Gloria Steinem, journalist and women's rights icon, who has died at 92. 

We start in Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has become the country's longest-serving postwar leader. Meloni marks 1,413 days in office – a record for the country – and the Italian right-wing papers are celebrating. Liberosays "Tiè" which translates to "there you go!": a triumphant, vindicated headline from the pro-government paper. Libero's editor takes aim at Italy's left, saying the secret to Meloni's longevity is the "realism of the conservative right versus the demagogic utopia of the left." Il Giornale, another conservative paper, also focuses on Meloni's political feat on its front page, with an opinion piece calling her "the exception that became the norm."

It's a different story from the leftwing press. Il Fatto Quotidianois far less jubilant: "Four years in office with nothing to celebrate", the paper says. It calls Meloni's governance a "fiasco". The Financial Times notes that Meloni has governed not as a radical but as a conservative – which is why she is reviled as a sellout by far-right hardliners in Europe. The FT also attributes her political capital remaining intact to the fact that she has "yet to use it on painful economic, welfare and public administration reforms".

Elsewhere, the El Niño weather phenomenon is dominating headlines after the UN's stark warning about what's to come. After a scorching summer in Europe, El Niño could be supersized this year, according to the UN. That could mean heavy rains and/or a very snowy winter. Le Parisienwonders how worried we should be. The Guardian quotes the British environment secretary's warning to Britons to stock up on supplies this winter in the event of shortages and power cuts. The chaotic winter could mean an even hotter 2027, or as Metrosays, it's going to be "hot as El."

Finally, journalist and women's rights campaigner Gloria Steinem died on Thursday at the age of 92. The New York Timespays tribute to Steinem, saying she championed the cause of women at home, in the workplace and in society at large. One of her most iconic works was an undercover exposé she wrote about being a Playboy bunny – an exposé she came to regret writing because it hampered her professionally. The Washington Postrecounts her experience of going undercover as a bunny at Hugh Hefner's nightclubs for men. It notes that her exposé was not so much the experience of being a Bunny but a dissection of gender structure, class and control.

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, September 3: There's outrage in Malta after a tycoon was found not guilty of masterminding the murder of high-profile investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. In Brazil, a Supreme Court justice who was pivotal in sentencing former President Jair Bolsonaro to prison is implicated in a corruption scandal of his own. Plus conservationists marvel after a mating frenzy of the endangered kakapo – a flightless, nocturnal parrot native to New Zealand.

We start with a court verdict from Malta: the acquittal of a man accused of orchestrating the killing of prominent journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. She was known for her investigation of the Panama Papers and had made a name for herself reporting on government corruption, nepotism and money laundering. This made her a target – she was killed in a shocking car bombing in 2017. The man accused of ordering her killing is Yorgen Fenech, who is one of Malta's richest men. A court verdict found him not guilty of involvement in her murder. The decision, as the Guardiansays, came as a blow, not just to Caruana Galizia's family but to those who saw the trial as a landmark action in the fight to protect press freedom in Europe.

Caruana Galizia's death triggered one of the biggest political scandals in Malta's postwar history. It also contributed to the resignation of Joseph Muscat, the then prime minister. "Yorgen Fenech NOT GUILTY" reads the headline from the Malta Independent, although it's hard to gauge how the paper really feels about the verdict. The front-page article is fairly neutral, reporting on the Caruana Galizia family's anger, but it chooses to go with a photo of Fenech coming out of the courthouse rather than Caruana Galizia herself. There are also little to no editorials and scant opinion pieces about what this verdict represents for Malta's stance on prosecuting crimes against journalists. The Times of Malta has, for its part, gathered reactions from activist groups and opposition political parties. Republikka, a civil society in Malta fighting for good governance and democracy, says that despite the verdict, the trial forces Malta to "confront uncomfortable truths" about political corruption. The Green Party says the verdict is an "indictment of the state of Malta", adding: "Daphne has been murdered a second time."

Meanwhile, Brazil's press is headlining on a Supreme Court justice who was pivotal in bringing down former president Jair Bolsonaro. He is now implicated in a corruption scandal of his own. The Washington Timesreminds us that Alexandre de Moraes was the Brazilian Supreme Court justice who sentenced Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for a coup attempt. He's now come under scrutiny after newly released federal police documents show very close ties between Moraes and disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro. The latter is the owner of Banco Master and was behind what some call the largest bank fraud in the history of Brazil.

Brazilian daily O Globo'seditors offer details of Moraes' alleged corruption: airplanes, helicopters, credit cards provided by Vorcaro to Moraes and his family. Vorcaro also sent him dozens of messages in the lead-up to his own arrest. This included attempts to obtain information about the investigation into Banco Master and asking Moraes for advice on whether he should leave the country. Folha de Sao Paulo headlines on President Lula's attempts to distance himself from de Moraes and the scandal, just one month before general elections in Brazil.

Finally, there's some good news for the endangered populations of the world's heaviest parrot, the kakapo! The cute, hefty flightless parrots native to New Zealand are nocturnal, with owl-like faces. They are also critically endangered. The birds were once widespread across New Zealand, but their numbers plummeted due to hunting, habitat loss and predators, with the kakapo nearly going extinct in the mid-1900s. Now, thanks to conservation efforts and a bumper crop of the fruit of rimu tree this year, which is key to the reproductive capacities of the birds, the kakapos were thrust into a mating frenzy. Some 90 chicks were born in recent months and their population is now up to 324 – a milestone not seen for 75 years! 

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, September 2: We look at papers' coverage of the shadowy Venezuelan magnate who brokered the Washington-Caracas oil deal. In other news, the Pacific Islands Forum wants to talk climate change, but China's anger at the presence of Taiwan is stealing the limelight. Finally, the Bayeux Tapestry is back in Britain after nearly a millennium, with perhaps some salacious secrets.

Web news outlet Axios chronologises Alejandro Betancourt's dealings with Nicolas Maduro and Washington. He has been in cahoots with the US before against the former Venezuelan president, but was one of the Trump administration's men on the ground even before the capture of Maduro, taking soundings from Delcy Rodriguez to establish how things might play out in the event of Maduro's ouster. We also look at a Washington Postinvestigation, which shows that US officials intervened around the world to help Betancourt shake off his legal woes this spring, so that he could be free to work on their oil plans. 

Read moreAlejandro Betancourt, the controversial Venezuelan oil tycoon Trump is banking on

In Palau, the Taiwanese presence at the Pacific Islands Forum has provoked the ire of Beijing, which has promised "consequences". The Diplomat suspects that China even had a hand in the non-attendance of five out of the 18 countries' leaders – enough to paralyse the bloc's ability to make decisions with its unanimity-based model. The Conversation says that despite the need for these countries to focus on issues like transnational crime, energy and climate change, the Forum has been hijacked by the question of "what happens when the world's great powers decide your part of the world is strategically important?" French paper L'Humanité, though, has nevertheless devoted a page to these 18 low-emission countries, which are vulnerable to rising sea levels, and their call for rich industrialised states to keep their promises about climate finance. 

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to inaugurate the Bayeux tapestry exhibition at the British Museum this Wednesday. La Croix reminds us that the tapestry hasn't been back to the UK since it first left, soon after its creation following the Norman conquest of 1066. Britain last requested a loan in 1966, to which the French said no! The Economist describes this loan as France "love-bombing" Britain, no less. 

Finally, prepare to be scandalised by a story in the Daily Mail, as one curator at the British Museum has a new theory about a mysterious scene on the 70-metre-long tapestry, namely a clergyman stroking a woman's cheek, with a nude man below. Could this be an allusion to an alleged affair between Emma of Normandy and the Bishop of Winchester? If true, it could – rather belatedly – undermine William the Conqueror's claim to the English throne.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, September 1: It's back-to-school season in France, this time with tighter rules on mobile phones. In other news, local opposition to data centres across the US and Europe could be a spanner in the works of the AI revolution. Finally, in footballing news, Lionel Messi retires from the Argentinian national team, and some English men play football in a river. 

In the French papers, one of President Emmanuel Macron's last marks on the national education system will be to extend an existing ban on mobile phones in schools to the oldest secondary school pupils. Le Figaro hails the development, even if Macron is yet to successfully pass what he hoped would be his landmark ban on social media for the under-15s. Libération also praises the effectiveness of the existing mobile phone bans for younger children, but reminds us that overall screen time still matters, and that schools are still the ones handling incidents of cyberbullying taking place outside of school hours. 

Elsewhere, even though the global rollout of data centres is occasioning controversy pretty much everywhere, US President Donald Trump says their critics "want to end up backwards and poor". As the Financial Times explains, locals' concerns about water use, electricity consumption, as well as scepticism about long-term job creation have become impossible to ignore, even for Trump-endorsed Republican nominees in the upcoming midterms, with $150 billion worth of projects at a standstill across the US.

Meanwhile in the rural Austrian town of Kronstorf, Der Standard and Politico are covering local opposition to a data centre that could end up making up 7 percent of the country's electricity demand. With EU plans to triple the bloc's data centre capacity by 2035, local and environmental concerns over the resource-hungry mastodons could raise serious questions about the development of AI. 

Finally, in football news, as Lionel Messi retires, La Nacion hails "the end of an era". Also in football, the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard were in Bourton-on-the-water over the weekend, for the 100-year-old tradition of football-in-the-water, where the local youth and veterans teams face off, quite literally, in the river.

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, August 31: The international press tell the story of a heroic headmaster in Nepal who managed to save more than 1,600 pupils, while the Nepali press lambast a lack of accountability for major polluters. Meanwhile in France, back-to-school season reopens wounds over child sex abuse in before- and after-school clubs. Finally, do ants and bees have a concept of voting?

Rajendra Dadabi, who is headmaster at Tribhuvan Trishuli secondary school, managed to save the lives of his 1,643 pupils during last week's flash floods, as The Times recounts. Meanwhile, an opinion piece in The Himalayan Times denounces Western hypocrisy when it comes to climate justice, underlining that Nepal produces just 0.1 percent of global carbon emissions, but "is now paying, in bodies and bridges, for a century of somebody else's industry." 

In France, as children return to school for the new year, after an avalanche of reports of child sex abuse in public childcare facilities last year – and more surfacing this summer – both Le Parisien and Le Figaro report on parents whose trust is seriously damaged. 

Finally, an article in National Geographic studies the voting and voting-adjacent behaviours of ants, bees and other insects.

PRESS REVIEW - Thursday, July 7: we look into new revelations on the Moroccan surveillance apparatus, five years after the first wave of the Pegasus spyware scandal. In other news, support for Israel is floundering on both sides of the political spectrum in Washington ahead of Israeli prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu's visit this weekend. Finally, we look at international reactions to the World Cup semi-final, when Argentina made a historic comeback, quashing the Three Lions' hope of putting an end to 60 years of hurt.

Five years ago, revelations of Israeli-made spyware Pegasus, purchased by Morocco, was being used to spy on various high-ranking French officials, including the then defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu. Now Prime Minister, Lecornu is on an official visit to Morocco, where new revelations related to the scandal have come to light. Investigative outlet Forbidden Storiesreports a group of representatives of Israeli company NSO spending 10 days in a villa in central Rabat in 2017, long before the two countries had normalised bilateral relations. They wowed Moroccan officials with what Pegasus could do: remotely activating cameras and microphones and extracting text messages or data with a single click.

Nearly a decade after, a consortium of 15 news outlets have secured the rare testimony of a whistleblower who was formerly employed by the Moroccan secret services. Le Monde broke down some of what he said: Pegasus was only ever used by Moroccan authorities as a last resort, and that they were buyers of other technologies before and after it came on the scene. They also describe the physical surveillance techniques used on one prominent critic of the monarchy, Omar Radi, who saw his phone tapped, miniature cameras installed in his home light fittings, and his every conversation transcribed. This ended only when he was arrested for espionage, rape and sexual assault, for which he was found guilty in a trial "fraught with irregularities". He later received a royal pardon.

In the US, the Washington Postis covering the choice of 103 house Democrats to vote for an amendment (albeit a symbolic one) to end military aid to Israel. Brought by a Republican lawmaker as an “America first” measure, all of the other votes came from the left of the house, including the opposition chief whip Katherine Clark, who said "we should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with US law, interests and values."

And a headline in the Wall Street Journal suggests Israel's rift with the US extends far beyond its critics on the left, as the periodical reports that JD Vance suspects an Israeli PR campaign of financing influencers to attack him online. He further accuses Israel of running a "foreign influence campaign" to "tank" the peace deal he is attempting to reach with Tehran. His response to which is, "well, go to hell". Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected in Washington on Saturday.

And in the football, Argentinian sporting magazine Olé exalts a historic comeback, with one columnist asking, "is it unprofessional to admit one is writing through tears"? Spanish newspaper Marcaheralds "the most beautiful final in the world" as Spain and Argentina, European and World championship holders, brace to face one another on Sunday. Argentinian periodical Clarinheadlines on the victors’ controversial banner 'The Malvinas are Argentinian', reviving a decades-old sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands which are recognised as a British overseas territory. The banner could land the team with sanctions from FIFA. Though, it is unlikely that anything will dampen the team’s spirits after last night's victory.

Meanwhile, in England, the Daily Express are not mincing words with the headline "End of the world". While the Sunsplashes the heartbreak of captain Harry Kane, the tears of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and the despair of Jude Bellingham across the front page, with the headline "Wonderbawl" – a reference to the Oasis song-cum-unofficial England anthem "Wonderwall". And amid the pathos of 60 years of hurt, a look at a BBC story from yesterday: the fan who was so confident football was finally coming home that he spent £550 on a commemorative tattoo. His prediction for the semi-final was a 3-0 win for England. It is a disappointment he won’t easily forget, as it is inked all the way up his right shin.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French papers weep, while the Spanish press celebrates the World Cup semi-final. Also in France, papers discuss the assisted dying bill that will be voted on today. Finally: are cigarettes back in vogue? 

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French papers weep, while the Spanish press celebrates the World Cup semi-final. Also in France, papers discuss the assisted dying bill that'll be voted on today. Finally: are cigarettes back in vogue? 

French papers are reacting to Les Bleus' loss. July 14 is now a “day of national defeat” for France, according to So Foot. “That’s what you call a rude awakening, and it hurts”, writes the magazine, adding that “everything was going so well”, until the match against Spain. Aujourd’hui en France says that expectations are premeditated regrets. It writes that the “dream” was big and so is the sadness now. By looking up at the sky too much, Les Bleus tripped over their own feet and their dream turned into a “shooting star”. L’Equipe writes that the players “outclassed in every aspect, unable to live up to their dreams and the hope they had raised”. 

Meanwhile, the Spanish press is ecstatic. “Qué grandes” – "How great they are", writes Mundo Deportivo – especially Lamine Yamal, who is only 19 years old. “Deschamps’ team arrived radiating an aura of power and invincibility. But if there was one team capable of winning, it was Spain and they did it”, says the sports daily. It also praises “the magnificent soccer, the impeccable attitude, and the total commitment” of La Roja that managed to deliver “a true masterclass in soccer”. “A lesson for the whole world,” according to AS, which describes “a thrilling match” and a “dazzling performance” that will send Spain to its second World Cup final. La Roja has crushed Les Bleus, handing them a “historic” thrashing, according to Marca. The paper thanks the players for their “unforgettable spectacle”.  

Back to France, where deputies are set to vote on the country's divisive assisted dying bill – one of Emmanuel Macron's flagship promises. Left-wing paper Libération welcomes the adoption of what it defines as a “major societal reform, supported by a majority of French people”. According to the newspaper, “this vote will be a relief for many people suffering from incurable illnesses and in great pain – and for their loved ones”. Right-wing paperLe Figaro is opposed to the bill. It says that the legislation “divides both the executive branch and the French public”.L’Opinion reports on “hesitations emerging among lawmakers who are aware they are living through a historic moment”. Nine prominent lawmakers who are against the bill made a final appeal in the Catholic newspaper La Croix. Here’s a quote from one of them: “Fighting suffering can never mean eliminating the sufferer (...) because no one should have to choose between suffering and dying”.

Finally: some news about pop star Dua Lipa. The Guardian reports that she said the Albanian protests against the Jared Kushner-backed resort are “inspiring," adding “the flamingo revolution has won its most prominent supporter yet”. The paper recalls that she was partially raised in Pristina and her parents are of Kosovan Albanian descent. But the flamingo revolution is not the only one she’s leading.

The Washington Post writes that cigarettes are back in vogue, and celebrities like Dua Lipa and Gracie Abrams are at the forefront of the trend. If you ask, “are cigarettes back?” some people will tell you they never left. But the attitude towards cigarette smokers did, writes the paper. Kylie Jenner – one of the world’s most famous influencers – is smoking on the cover of Vanity Fair. Hailey Bieber also held a cigarette for her Interview Magazine shoot. And Charli XCX had a cigarette tray for guests at her wedding. The paper explains that cigarettes feel retro and very analogue. After the “near oppressive wellness” and “clean girl” era, the vintage, messy feel of cigarettes is back with full force.

You can catch our press review every morning on FRANCE 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday