PRESS REVIEW – Friday, June 5: The press pays tribute to French-Iranian graphic novelist and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi, whose work transformed perceptions of Iran around the world. Best known for her landmark graphic memoir Persepolis, Satrapi helped redefine the comic book as a medium for political and personal storytelling. Also, journalists have been given a preview of Barack Obama's presidential centre in Chicago ahead of its opening later this month. And Prince Andrew is back in the tabloids following fresh revelations about his housing arrangements.

Tributes are pouring in for Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian artist, filmmaker and graphic novelist whose influence extended far beyond the world of comics. As The Guardian notes, Satrapi remained a vocal critic of Iran's clerical establishment throughout her career.

Her acclaimed memoir Persepolis, published in 2000 and later adapted into an award-winning animated film, became a publishing phenomenon. Through the eyes of a young girl growing up in post-revolutionary Iran, it challenged stereotypes about Iranian society and offered readers a deeply personal account of political upheaval.

French daily Le Parisien describes Persepolis as "the Himalaya of comic books", arguing that Satrapi revolutionised the medium. Meanwhile, Libération celebrates what it calls the "thousand and one lives" of Marjane Satrapi and her enduring commitment to freedom, particularly the rights of Iranian women. Italy's La Repubblica and Spain's El País likewise highlight the central themes of liberty and resistance that ran throughout her work.

Former US President Barack Obama is preparing to unveil his presidential centre in Chicago later this month. Journalists were granted an early look at the site ahead of its opening on 19 June, the Juneteenth holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Located on Chicago's South Side, where Barack and Michelle Obama built their political careers, the complex includes a presidential library, community spaces, playgrounds and a recreation of the Oval Office. The project, which reportedly cost around $850 million and took a decade to complete, aims to serve as both a museum and a civic hub.

According to The New York Times, the centre offers "an uplifting and joyful experience" of the Obama presidency. Critics, however, have questioned both its cost and its impact on the surrounding area. Concerns have also been raised about rising property prices and the potential displacement of local residents.

Finally, Prince Andrew is once again making headlines. British tabloids have seized on photographs showing a large bruise-like mark on his face, reportedly the result of a medical condition.

But the bigger story concerns new claims about his housing arrangements. A report published on Friday alleges that Andrew benefited from a favourable rental arrangement involving several properties while paying a nominal rent at Royal Lodge, his Windsor residence. The report is expected to form part of a parliamentary inquiry into the management of royal properties. It also claims that rents for properties occupied by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are being covered by King Charles III.

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, June 3, 2026: The British front pages discuss the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak after the release of shocking police bodycam footage. Next, the Trump administration's appointment of the new director of national intelligence is getting a lot of coverage. Also, The Times reveals that a Chinese state-linked tech company is using AI to predict who might become a dissident. Finally, football and fashion mix on the way to the World Cup.

The British front pages are all discussing the 2025 murder of Henry Nowak. The Mirror explains that the 18-year-old student was handcuffed after his killer falsely claimed that Nowak had racially assaulted him. The Telegraph says that diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines are to blame for Nowak's death. The Guardian says that politicians have called for calm amid fears "the populist right are using the case to whip up racist resentment against minority ethnic Britons". A column by John Crace in the Guardian suggests that Nigel Farage's comments are a last resort, as he is increasingly losing support. 

Trump's latest political appointment has caused quite a stir. NBC reports that Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, making him the highest-ranking US intelligence official. The Washington Post's editorial board says that it is a terrible choice, calling Pulte a "partisan sycophant" who has none of the expertise required. The Atlantic says that he has a demonstrated history of using sensitive government data for political retribution. 

Next, The Times reveals that leaked documents show a Chinese state-linked tech company is using artificial intelligence and internet control systems to predict who might become a dissident. The company is using AI to "analyse data covering individuals' daily habits, travel, relationships and browsing history". 

Finally, The Times investigates the fashion head-to-head between the French and English World Cup squads.  

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, June 2: The European Union approves the creation of offshore "return hubs" to where failed asylum seekers could be sent. The British papers focus on a new trove of documents pertaining to Peter Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US. The Canadian province of Alberta will hold a referendum in October to decide on whether to vote on secession. Finally, researchers conclude that there is nothing foul about birds who masturbate.

The European Union has given its green light for the creation of detention hubs outside of Europe, to where they could send illegal migrants. Politico reports that the EU agreed on new rules to speed up and increase deportations from the bloc on Monday. These rules will be ratified in the coming weeks or months. This includes the creation of "return hubs" outside of Europe where failed asylum seekers could be sent. It is part of sweeping EU reforms to increase control over who enters the bloc and how.

The Belgian daily Le Soir evokes what it calls a compromise after multiple negotiations. It also reflects the growing importance of the right and far right in the EU Parliament. Under the agreement concluded on Monday, countries like Denmark, Austria or Germany could send illegal migrants to Rwanda, Uganda, or Uzbekistan – third countries to which they often have absolutely no connection. Spain has been a vehement opponent of this new legislation. The agreement reflects a harder line on the issue of migrants – at a time, Spanish daily El Pais reminds us, when Europe is preparing to receive a Taliban delegation to discuss future deportations to Afghanistan. The Washington Post sees the EU as moving to "deploy some of the same clenched fist tactics as the Trump administration": speeding up deportation, increasing detention times and tightening border controls.

In the UK, there is more bad news for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Guardian reports that hundreds of new files have been released about Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US who was a friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The release of documents pertain to Mandelson's appointment as envoy to the US, the UK's most important diplomatic post. A lot of crucial documents were withheld or redacted – the Daily Mail notes that despite a "sea of Tipp-Ex", the files reveal toxic infighting within the Labour Party and embarrassing criticism of Starmer himself. Mandelson, the "poisonous puppet master", said the PM tended to buckle under pressure and lacked verve. The documents also reveal that Mandelson received sensitive security briefings even before he had been appointed. The Daily Mirror reports that Mandelson's refusal to hand over his personal phone begs the question: what is there left to hide?

In Canada, a referendum will be held in October on deciding whether or not to have a referendum on the secession of Alberta, the oil-rich Western Canadian province often referred to as the Texas of Canada. The mere asking of the question has lit a "political fire" in the country, The New York Times says, and "Canada's political class in the capital, Ottawa, is suddenly paying attention". After all, Prime Minister Mark Carney can hardly afford a separatism crisis with a province that supplies oil to the US. In recent years, support for separatism of Alberta has risen from 20 percent to 30 percent, leading to October's vote.

Finally, the Guardian notes that bird keepers are often advised to discourage or even punish birds for masturbating. But a new study led by the University of Lancashire will peck their interest. The unflappable researchers studied masturbating birds and found that the practice is more common in the wild than in captivity and thus part of the bird's natural behaviour and not a negative response to captivity. They are urging vets to tell worried bird owners that there is nothing fowl about masturbation. They want them to warn against treatments like hormone therapy or surgery. Masturbation is apparently quite common in parrots, ducks, turkeys and chickens. It turns out that female birds, as well as male birds, enjoy a bit of self-ruffling!

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, June 1: Piles of trash are flooding Havana, as Cuba struggles under US President Donald Trump's oil blockade. Next, papers look at the latest cancer research breakthrough and the industry of hair transplants. Also: US farmers find alternative ways to make money. Finally, some Paris metro stations have new names after PSG's Champions League win.

The Trump administration's oil blockade on Cuba has had a considerable effect on the Latin American island, leading to a waste crisis, as The New York Times reports. The fuel blockade has aggravated the already bad garbage pickup in Cuba's capital and residents are drowning in enormous trash piles. Jose Fernandes Zaldivar makes $9 per month sweeping a busy boulevard in the capital. He says that sometimes there's so much trash in the streets that it blocks the entry to his house. Because of the blockade, there's little gasoline to run the garbage trucks. To cope, people have started setting the garbage on fire. When it rains, it's even worse because it clogs the streets. The paper says the piles of garbage symbolise the "extreme consequences of Trump's oil blockade", and they are one of the most visible signs of the crisis in Cuba. Experts warn that garbage on the streets risks creating an explosion of illnesses carried by mosquitoes this summer. 

Speaking of illness, there's some good news for those suffering from pancreatic cancer. A clinical trial shows that a new treatment, which is a daily pill, can double survival time in patients with the world's deadliest cancer. The Guardian calls it "one of the biggest breakthroughs in decades". The trial showed that the new treatment had fewer side effects compared with chemotherapy and helped patients who had the cancer live substantially longer. French paper Libération writes that China is becoming the world leader in cancer treatment – the country has been investing heavily in the research, development and the production of drugs against the disease. Over the past 20 years, investment has grown from €1.7 billion to €14.8 billion. The paper interviewed Steven Le Gouill, a haematologist and the director of the Institut Curie hospital in Paris, which is at the forefront of the fight against cancer. He fears that the voice of European research could be drowned out by the United States and China. 

We turn to another treatment, or rather a procedure; one that's not essential to human survival, but has been gaining global popularity: hair implants. Wired magazine explains how "Turkey hacked the hair-transplant industry" – turning it into a massive, "multibillion-dollar industry". Research shows that 1.39 million people visited Turkey for medical treatment in 2025, and one-third of these were there for aesthetic treatments. This has inspired many jokes – Turkish Airlines has been nicknamed "Turkish Hair Lines". The article says that Turkey's global success cannot be explained solely by cheap labour and low costs. It says "it's the result of a highly innovative evolution" and the bold use of specialised technology and even AI.

We focus next on another industry: farming. The Wall Street Journal talks about the Welker's family, who discovered that they can make more money by posting on social media than by actually doing their jobs as farmers. They're a part of a growing number of influencers who are monetising farm life. From brand sponsorships with tractors to branded hats, sweatshirts and ad revenue, they now don't need to solely depend on the soil for their revenue.

In France, "shepherds don't want to be treated like sheep anymore". That's a wordplay in the title of a Le Monde article that talks about the farmers' struggle for fair pay. Although the UN declared 2026 the International Year of Pastoralism, young herders who choose the profession out of passion often struggle with poor pay and bad working conditions. Le Monde dives deeper into their world and their efforts to form a union. 

Finally, even Paris's metro system is celebrating PSG's Champions League win. Le Figaro reports that some names of metro stations have been changed. Station Europe on metro line 3 is now "Europe Champions". Porte de Saint Cloud is "Paris is magical". And Rue de Bac has turned into "Rue Back2Back". We don't know how long they'll stay this way, so tourists and locals, make sure you don't get lost! 

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, 29 May, 2026: First, in the United States, the Department of Justice is reportedly opening a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll. In France, controversy has erupted over the way some media outlets have covered the latest heatwave. The sun has been beating down on the Roland-Garros courts as Jannik Sinner crashed out of the tournament. Finally, things are heating up as PSG prepare to face Arsenal in the Champions League final.

One story is getting quite a lot of coverage in the United States today. The New York Times reports that the Department of Justice is opening a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll over her lawsuits against President Donald Trump. The Atlantic calls it a brazen move, and more evidence that Trump has no issue with politicised justice – he just wants it on his side. The Independent worries that such a retribution campaign would risk silencing other accusers. Vox says that Trump’s war on his enemies keeps running into the same problems: his incompetent attorneys, the jury system and the genuine independence of America’s lower court judges. 

Also, there has been some controversy here in France about the way the latest heatwave has been covered by some media outlets. Libération explains that the extreme heat has highlighted the normalisation of climate disinformation on Vincent Bolloré’s television channel CNews. Meanwhile, the Guardian reports on the UN’s climate chief who has reiterated that the burning of fossil fuels is driving intense heatwaves, saying the current situation is a brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis. 

The impressively hot temperatures have had repercussions in the world of sport as well. L’Équipe describes both the French Open and Roland-Garros as “clay ovens”. Wired explains why it is almost too hot to play tennis and why people keep collapsing. Roland-Garros apparently has a wet bulb globe temperature limit of around 32.2 degrees Celsius. To date, no match has ever been suspended because of it. 

Finally, things are heating up in Budapest, as Paris Saint-Germain prepares to take on Arsenal in the Champions League final. L’Équipe reports that 74 percent of French people think that PSG will win. The Athletic says that Arsenal’s Kai Havertz might be the player to watch. Le Parisien meanwhile, reports that Tottenham fans are keeping their fingers crossed for PSG. 

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, May 28, 2026: Papers discuss whether Russia could potentially invade Europe. But first, Spanish front pages cover the latest developments in the political corruption scandal that has hit the Socialist Party. Elsewhere, US President Donald Trump's renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool continues to make headlines. Finally, some dogs are fashionable, but one pup is in the dog house. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his ruling party are under a lot of scrutiny in Spain, and feature on all the front pages there. El Pais reports that the headquarters of the Socialist Party was raided on Wednesday as part of a corruption investigation. The right-wing paper La Razon condemns "the spectacle of arrests, prosecutions and police raids which have tarnished the already damaged reputation of Spanish socialism". ABC says that Sanchez should have stepped down a long time ago, especially after he was first investigated for influence peddling. La Vanguardia says that the prime minister has again refused to quit and intends to see his mandate through to 2027. 

Papers discuss what Russia might do next, as the war in Ukraine drags on. The Wall Street Journal reports that Europe is starting to wonder if it itself might not be next. The article suggests that expanding the war would effectively allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to call up even more young Russians to the front lines. The Times looks at how Russia could invade Latvia, for instance. Its three scenarios have very different outcomes depending on the number of drones that are available to NATO forces. Meanwhile, The New York Times discusses comments made by the head of GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, who explained that Putin is already trying to pursue a wider conflict in Europe. RFI reports that the French Minister for Agriculture Annie Genevard has sparked outrage by attending a dinner hosted by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, which also included pro-Russian influencers and media personalities. 

Next, there is more coverage of Donald Trump's rebranding of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A New York Times exclusive suggests that the company that was given the contract charged almost a million dollars more than what it should have cost. The Washington Post, meanwhile, wonders if Trump chose the right shade of blue. 

Finally, The Telegraph looks into the UK's most popular pups, whilst one dog in the Irish Sun is extremely unpopular.

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, May 27, 2026: First, US President Donald Trump's attempts at finding a deal with Iran are under a lot of scrutiny. Next, the EU is asked to consider the environmental impact of mega data centres, as locals fight back against projects which might harm the environment. Also, a new French tennis star features on the front page of L'Equipe. Finally, an age-old question is finally answered.                                                                          

The fraught relationship between the United States and its allies in the Gulf features widely in the press. Time Magazine explains that Donald Trump seems to be hinging a peace agreement with Iran on Arab nations recognising Israel. Trump has reportedly reached out to leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan and many others, asking them to sign the Abraham Accords. Politico reports that Trump's demand is being met with laughter, dismissal and often silence by US allies. Foreign Policy says that the Iran war has remade the Gulf and argues that countries will not lurch towards any single power. The Atlantic looks at why Trump keeps getting "rolled" in negotiations. 

Elsewhere, artificial intelligence's hidden environmental cost is under the spotlight. Politico reports that the EU's Environment Agency chief has told the EU that it has to ensure tech companies disclose the ecological footprint of their data centres. The Guardian looks at how data centres are exacerbating droughts in Chile. A long read in The New York Times explains how mother-of-six Kassi Solberg is trying to oppose the construction of a massive data centre close to her property. 

In Paris, the French Open is in full swing, and Moïse Kouamé is a breath of fresh air for French tennis, according to the front page of L'Equipe. At only 17 years old, the young Frenchman eliminated Marin Cilic in three sets on Tuesday, becoming the youngest player in the Open era to defeat a Grand Slam champion in men's singles at Roland Garros. 

There is more sport on the horizon, too. Football fans are getting ready for the Conference League this evening, which will see Crystal Palace face off against unexpected finalists Rayo Vallecano de Madrid. 

Finally, CNN reports that a study has finally brought us answers to a very important question: why does the mighty T-Rex have such ridiculously small arms? 

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, 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

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.

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.