PRESS REVIEW – Friday, January 23: There's outrage after five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained by ICE in Minneapolis. One paper asks: Will Liam's photo change the course of history? In other news, an assassination in India's restive state of Manipur sparks fears of new ethnic tensions. There's controversy over French rail network SNCF's new no-kids "premium" travel class. Plus: the stars of gay hockey romance "Heated Rivalry" will be torchbearers at the Winter Olympics in Milan!

There are lot of reactions in the press after US immigration authorities ICE detained a five-year-old boy and his father in Minneapolis. Liam Conejo Ramos was not only taken in by ICE, he was also used as bait to draw out other members of his family. All this happened as he came home from school on Tuesday, the Guardian notes bitterly on its front page with a photo of Liam in a blue bunny hat and Spiderman backpack. La Vanguardia, the Spanish daily, reports that Liam and his father are now being held in a Homeland Security facility in San Antonio. According to their lawyer, they are not US citizens, but they followed the legal process to arrive and live in the US. According to the Guardian, a fundraiser to help the family pay for their legal costs has already raised over $100,000.

There are some strong opinion pieces on the story too. USA Today's Rex Huppke says there is no excusing or justifying the detainment of little Liam by ICE, noting that his father has no criminal record, nor an order of deportation. "A family separated, a child traumatised – is this your Golden Age?" he asks the Trump administration, accusing the government of driving Minneapolis into a state of siege. The Washington Post says the abhorrent power of Liam's photo could once change history – can it still have the same effect, it wonders.

In other news, the killing of a man in India's northeastern state of Manipur has revived fears of ethnic tensions. The story is on the front page of The Hindu and Hindustan Times. Tensions are rising after a man was shot dead on Wednesday evening and his killing was recorded and widely circulated online. It interrupts months of relative peace in the restive Indian state. The Indian Express reports that the man from the Meitei community was assassinated while visiting his wife, who is from the Kuki Zo community. Tensions rose back in 2023 between the two tribes over the local government's affirmative action measure in favour of the dominant Meitei community. According to the same paper, no organisation has claimed responsibility, but security sources believe it could have been an organised hit by the Kuki National Army. A security officer said it was a "deliberate attempt to spark a fresh cycle of violence." The video was accompanied by a message – "No peace, no popular government" – in reference to attempts to form a popular state government by next month.

Next, as the website Travel and Tour World notes, few topics in the world of travel are as polarising as the child-free zone. This month, French train operator SNCF relaunched its premium travel tier that is not available to children under 12, but is open to passengers with dogs. It sparked an age-old debate around family friendly and peace versus quiet travel. The business premium class is marketed as a sanctuary for those wanting to work, with in-seat dining and no-phone rules. Critics say it sends the wrong message about families travelling with children. Perhaps they simply marketed it the wrong way. As French newspaper Libération notes, in other European countries, trains are proudly kid friendly. You can find kids' slides on Swiss trains, libraries on Finnish trains and colourful play areas on Norwegian railways. When it comes to modern inclusive travel, France seems quite backwards.

Finally, from the small screen to the stadium: the stars of "Heated Rivalry" will be torchbearers at the upcoming opening ceremony of the Milan Winter Games. Variety reports that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will march in the opening ceremony. Their series took the world by storm for its steamy sex scenes and storylines which depict a gay romance between two ice hockey players. 

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, January 22: We look at reactions from the international press after US President Donald Trump's flip-flopping on taking Greenland by force. One analysis warns that Trump is undermining US diplomacy on the world stage. Elsewhere, French daily Libération looks at the growing trend of people having romantic or sexual relationships with an AI bot. Plus: it's "Cool Runnings" again as the Jamaican bobsleigh team qualify for the Milan Winter Olympics!

Donald Trump addressed world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. After initially reinforcing claims to annex Greenland, he ruled this out and later said he would scrap additional tariffs announced on Europe. Confusion reigns, not least of all from Trump himself, who referred to Greenland several times as Iceland in that speech. Le Figaro's headline reads: "Trump pulls back from military action, but not from taking Greenland." There is exasperation from Libero, the Italian daily, which calls Trump's about-face "radical and sudden." The farce is over, the paper says, lamenting "so much hysteria for nothing." There's exasperation also from Danish paper Borsen, saying now Trump wants to negotiate over Greenland, but Denmark has rejected this. The British Daily Mirror calls Trump's speech a "delusional rant" delivered to an audience of "aghast world leaders". "Daddy Fool", the paper calls Trump. L'Humanité, the French Communist paper, sums it up in two words: Crazy ally.

There are also some great headlines from the US press. Politico says "Trump's Greenland gambit has broken brains across Washington." The news site explains that his push for the island has irrevocably changed the way foreign policy is done in Washington. As for Europe, it's "clearer than ever" that even allies are not safe from Trump's "machinations". Zeeshan Aleem, a writer for American cable news network MS Now, calls Trump's comments "head spinning". He says the US leader is embracing the madman theory hardball tactics – a foreign policy idea that says unpredictability and willingness to use or threaten force helps a leader intimidate his foes and achieve his goals. He adds: Trump might think he's slick, but he's steering the US into dangerous territory. Meanwhile, after Venezuela, Trump's unpredictability could also impact Cuba. The Wall Street Journal reports in an exclusive that the Trump administration is seeking to end the Communist regime in Cuba by the end of this year.

Libération chooses not to focus on Trump and Davos on its front page this Thursday. It looks at the growing trend in France of people having romantic or sexual relationships with an artificial intelligence system. Around 8 percent of French people have already had an erotic conversation with an AI bot and among men under 35, nearly one in five have done so. Libé warns that what seems strange or bizarre today could become commonplace in a few years' time. After all, if young people use AI for their work and almost every other aspect of their lives, why not their romantic lives too? However, it warns of the adverse effects of such virtual relationships: sex addiction, social isolation and sentimental dependency.

Finally, Jamaica's bobsleigh team have qualified for three events at the upcoming Winter Olympics, after qualifying for a few events in 2014 and 2022. Their latest feat always reminds us of the film "Cool Runnings", which was based on the real-life story of the first Jamaican qualification for bobsleigh in Calgary in 1988. This year's team is no longer a scrappy fish-out-of-water team of amateurs. Jamaica won gold last year for the first time in the North American Cup in Whistler. They've never done better than fourteenth place at the Olympics, but maybe this year is their time to shine!

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, January 21: US President Donald Trump's upcoming arrival at Davos is all over the front pages, as cartoonists depict the ongoing tensions with Europe. Also, Israel has demolished a United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees compound in East Jerusalem. Next, the Moroccan papers continue to debate the outcome of the Africa Cup of Nations final. Finally, swans find love after heartbreak. 

Donald Trump's visit to the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, is all over the front pages. Libération headlines with "Duel in Davos". The Guardian says that Macron leads the resistance against Trump's Greenland project. The Financial Times, meanwhile, says that the rift between Trump and Europe is deepening. Swiss cartoonists have taken to the front pages in both the Tages Anzeiger and Le Temps. Cartoonists abroad have had fun too, in both The Times and The Telegraph. 

Israel has cracked down on the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. The New York Times reports that Israel has started bulldozing the compound of the UN agency in ‍East Jerusalem. Sky News reports that the UN has said this is an "unprecedented attack". Modern Diplomacy Magazine looks at the legal implications. It says that the move deepens a dispute about UN property in Israeli-occupied territory. Finally, Haaretz features an interview with the heads of UNWRA, who say that although UNRWA is accused of perpetuating the refugee status of Palestinians, "it is actually the other way around, because there is no political solution to the refugee issue". 

The press are still discussing the aftermath of the Africa Cup of Nations final. In Morocco, Le Matin says that Senegal's AFCON win was tarnished by their behaviour and looks at how the Lions of Teranga might be sanctioned for their actions. In Burkina Faso, Wakat Sera reports that the Congolese referee from the final might be in a spot of trouble too, as the Moroccan government is planning to file a complaint against him. The Athletic says that although the final will damage the reputation of this AFCON, it will also help to identify security concerns that need to be improved in time for 2030. 

Finally, an Illinois park department sent out a dating profile for two of their male swans who tragically lost their mates, with heart-warming results.

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, January 20: Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" in Gaza aims to oversee the peace process between Israel and Hamas, but critics say he intends to create a rival body to the UN. Also, the Italian dailies pay tribute to the "ultimate emperor" of Italian fashion, Valentino, who has died aged 93. The Beckham family's disputes are the focus of the British tabloids. Finally, an Austrian cow proves that the animals are extremely intelligent. 

We begin with Donald Trump's so-called Board of Peace in Gaza. Officially, the board aims to oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as The New York Times reports. Trump sent out letters of invitations last week to "historically close" US allies like Canada and France, but also Russia and Belarus. The charter of the board indicated a desire to get involved in all types of global conflicts, beyond just Gaza. As the Times notes, this is why critics fear the board is set up to rival the UN. So far, only a handful of Trump-allied countries have RSVPd positively. 

There is a catch, of course. Countries that agree to join the board can serve for three years, but that can be permanent if they agree to pay $1 billion in cash to the board. The Wall Street Journal calls it Trump’s "One-billion-dollar diplomacy club." The charter doesn't say how these funds will be used and by whom. But of course, Trump would have overriding powers to veto and revoke membership. Despite overseeing Gaza, the board does not have any Palestinian members yet. French President Emmanuel Macron says France doesn't plan to join. This prompted Trump to threaten a 200 percent tax on French champagne and wine. The Guardian's Owen Jones is outraged about the council, which he calls an "appalling neocolonial project". The fact that not a single seat is reserved for a Palestinian, he says, shows that Trump aims to play the role of "Gaza’s emperor."

We move on to a man the Italian dailies are calling an emperor: fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who has passed away in Rome at 93. Valentino was known mononymously and dressed royals, Hollywood stars and first ladies. The tributes are pouring in for a man who defined Italian fashion. La Repubblica calls him the "ultimate emperor." Il Giornale calls him "Saint Valentino" and bids adieu to a "man who defined style." "Red Paradise," La Stampa says, alluding to the colour that defined Valentino and his designs, even becoming known for the Valentino Rosso shade. Il Messagero says "Roma in the world". Valentino set up his fashion house in the Italian capital in 1960.

Next, there's trouble in paradise for the Beckham family, whose family spats are playing out in the British tabloids. Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, broke his silence on social media about a growing rift within his family. He laid it on thick and fast and has disowned his parents, the Daily Star reports. He accused his parents of being obsessed with the family name and publicity, accused his mother of being too controlling, of disrespecting his wife, of humiliating him during his wedding and of trying to bribe him to sign away the rights to his family name. The tirade is as extraordinary as it is rare these days. "Brooklyn goes nuclear," the Daily Mail says on its front page.

Finally, scientists are astounded by a discovery about the intelligence of cows and they can thank Veronika, a beautiful brown cow living peacefully in the Austrian Alps. She recently demonstrated an "impressive and until now undocumented" knack for tool use, the Guardian reports. Veronika was observed using a stick to scratch her back – this tool use was previously only seen in humans and chimpanzees. Researchers discovered that she could also pick up a broom and wield it according to the job at hand. It's proof that cows are much more intelligent than we give them credit for! 

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, January 19: New details emerge of the massacres in Iran, while the new normal is one of mass fear and major police presence. But first, Portugal is on track for a rare second round of presidential elections. Finally, the Dull Men's Club meet up in a London pub to be in like-minded company.

Portugal will see "a second vote to define the country", in the words of Publico. This after presidential elections were close enough to go to a second round, in which voters will be invited to choose between the Socialist party and the far-right Chega party. Although centre-left candidate Antonio José Seguro came out well in front of the far-right's André Ventura, Expresso points out that Ventura's result was the same as Marine Le Pen's in France in 2022, hinting at what could be the beginning of a fast upward trajectory. An analysis in Diario de Noticias explains that the two candidates will now be vying for the votes of the traditional right wing.

A report from Iran in Italian daily La Repubblica describes the "battle of the hospitals", where injured protestors were further brutalised by security forces, taken from their beds and some led outside to be shot. Meanwhile the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal have reports from the ground since the protests ended, painting a picture of eerie silence, as well as a massive police and army presence in the streets. 

Finally, the Dull Men's Club met in a London restaurant over the weekend, and The Times had the exclusive: this is a group of men (even if women are technically allowed in too) who take pride in their eccentric hobbies. Among them are a pothole artist, a man who collects and curates photos of dustbins and an international dignitary in conkers. 

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, January 16: French daily Libération has a chilling "story of carnage" in Iran, while analysts wonder how close the end might be for the regime. In other news, the UK's hard-right Reform party has poached another Conservative MP, this time a frontbencher, as it dwarfs both Labour and the Conservatives in the polls. Finally, reactions vary to the autistic Barbie: for some it's a triumph for diversity, while for others it can only be termed "diversity-washing for corporate profit". 

Libération gives the account of an Iranian journalist who has documented the first days of the internet blackout, providing cover for a crime he calls "as tragic as it is historic". The journalist describes protesters preparing for lead bullets and being met with live rounds, aimed at the head and upper body, and scenes of overwhelmed mortuaries, where families are being asked to pay the equivalent of €5,000 to recover the bodies of their loved ones amid an economic crisis. Meanwhile, an analysis article published in German magazine Der Spiegel looks into why senior officials in the government and Revolutionary Guards are yet to start jumping ship: the journalist points to a "crony class" with fortunes in the billions and owners of key infrastructure who stand to lose everything if the regime collapses. The Washington Post reflects on how the US could help Iran transition to a new phase, highlighting past failures to influence through military force, for instance in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In other news, the hard-right Reform UK party has a new seat in parliament, after yet another Conservative MP defected. Left-wing tabloid the Daily Mirror mocks "Farage's party of Tory failures", while conservative Daily Mail laments a fractured right wing. The Times tells the story of how shadow minister Robert Jenrick had been in contact with other Tory defectors in Farage's party since September, and a mole in his office informed party leadership of his intentions to jump ship, causing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to kick him to the curb. The Guardian provides a who's who of the 18 current and former Conservative MPs who have already joined the ranks of Reform UK, with a list of ones to watch.

Finally, is Mattel's new autistic Barbie a triumph for inclusivity, or a tone-deaf "inclusivity-washing" venture? We look at both sides of the debate using articles in The Conversation and UnHerd.

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, January 15: We look at reactions from the Danish and Greenlandic press after their respective foreign ministers travelled to Washington to discuss Donald Trump's ongoing threats to acquire Greenland. The White House responded by posting a derogatory cartoon on its social media account. Plus: Indian lawmakers ban a staple of Indian fashion, the bandhgala – a high-collared jacket worn by Indian railway staff.

We look at reactions to the meeting between US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland in Washington. It comes after Donald Trump's growing threats to acquire Greenland. Ekstra Bladet, the Danish paper, is diplomatic in its front page – evoking "continued disagreements" between Washington and Copenhagen. Smoke and steam are wafting over Denmark, the paper says, in a literal reference to a picture of Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen lighting up a cigarette after that meeting. For the Jyllands-Posten, another Danish paper, "disaster has been averted – for now." The editorial staff of Greenlandic paper Sermitsiaq also followed the meeting closely. In their analysis, they note that the US tried to play Denmark and Greenland off against each other but did not succeed. 

The White House, meanwhile, responded to the meeting with a derogatory cartoon posted on social media. The cartoon is captioned "Which way Greenland man?", summing up the choices facing Greenland: a Greenlandic man and his dog sled heading for either the South Lawn (the US), the Great Wall (China) or Red Square (Russia). The cartoon has sparked anger in the press – the Guardian slams this expression of a Greenlandic man and its two-dimensional representation, according to the co-founder of the World Project against hate and extremism. She condemns this flagrant example of a "nod to the racist literature of the far right and its concept of the Western man". In the conservative press, we can also see this kind of reductive vision about Indigenous populations, especially in The Wall Street Journal. The headline reads "Welcome to Greenland, an economy reliant on subsidies and shrimp". The business daily warns that if Trump were to acquire Greenland, he would find himself in charge of a "slow growing economy" heavily reliant on than €1 billion of government subsidies, powered by sales of shrimp. According to the paper, Greenlandic officials quietly concede that anyone running this island is likely to find themselves staring down a money pit, rather than a gold mine. Beyond that, however, The New York Times notes that Greenland is also a front-line victim of global warming, which is rapidly melting its ice. Most of Greenland is covered in ice. As it melts, there is a wealth of untapped minerals under the soil that is up for grabs. Ironically, as one person cited by the Times says, the famously climate-sceptic US president pushing for Greenland is an admission that climate change is real.

Finally, one of India's most iconic fashion statements could be disappearing. The bandhgala is a ubiquitous Indian garment. A button-up jacket with a stand-up collar, it has evolved from centuries of formal attire in royal India. Its origins lie with the Mughals and Rajasthani kingdoms. The jacket was at the centre of a debate in India this week after the Indian railways minister said it was a relic of colonialism. The jacket is part of the formal uniform of Indian Railways staff, but it will now be banned from their official uniform. The decision is criticised by the Indian Express. It takes us through the history of the jacket, which became an inspiration for the West. The editor of the paper defends the garment, saying it is quintessentially Indian. The bandhgala may have emerged during colonialism, but so did Indian Railways.

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, January 14, 2026: In Iran, an internet blackout continues as Iranians try to reach the outside world. It's a similar story in Uganda, where the internet has been cut off ahead of presidential elections there. Also, in the UK, the UK Independence Party has submitted its new logo, which has angered many. Meanwhile, the countdown to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals continues. Finally, BTS announce their new world tour.

Iran continues to make headlines across the globe. The state-controlled Tehran Times is only accessible through social media due to the internet blackout. The paper boasts of a complete Starlink blackout, and only discreetly mentions "internet disruptions". The reality is that internet access has been almost completely cut off in the country since January 8, as RFI reports. The Guardian has an interesting analysis piece looking into "the ecosystem of smuggled tech that holds Iran's last link to the outside world".  

Internet shutdowns are being used elsewhere in the world, too. Ugandans were caught off guard as the internet was cut off on Tuesday ahead of Thursday's presidential elections, the Daily Monitor reports. According to The Africa Report, authorities have said that the blackout was to "prevent misinformation and incitement to violence" during the elections. The Independent says that President Yoweri Museveni's expected win will deepen succession and Gen Z challenges.  

In the UK, the Independent reports that the far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) has submitted its new logo, which looks a lot like an Iron Cross, a military medal and symbol used by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945. UKIP claims it is inspired instead by the Cross Pattée, a Christian symbol used by the royal family. 

Things are heating up at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The Powers of Africa highlights the star-studded cast of the two semi-finals this Wednesday, as no less than five African Ballon d'Or winners will be playing for their spot in the final. The Guardian discusses the rivalry between Senegal's Sadio Mané and Egypt's Mohamed Salah. Egypt and Senegal met in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final, where Senegal won on penalties. Salah, however, is yet to win an AFCON title, so this Wednesday's game is sure to be an interesting one. Le Parisien says that Morocco's heart will stop beating during the other semi-final, when the Atlas Lions will be up against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. 

Finally, the BBC reports that K-pop fans will be delighted to know that BTS are back with a massive world tour.

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, January 13: A Corsican separatist leader is gunned down while attending his mother's funeral. Also, a famous Italian anti-mafia writer pens an opinion piece, questioning the Corsican crime ties of Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the bar in Crans-Montana where a fire killed dozens of people on New Year's Eve. The Daily Telegraph reveals that China's new embassy in London will include a secret underground network. Plus: how AI is complicating efforts to find a gang of monkeys on the loose in the US!

Corse Matin reports on the murder of Alain Orsoni, a Corsican separatist leader who was gunned down on Monday while attending his mother's funeral. FRANCE 24 reminds us that Orsoni led a separatist movement called the Corsican Movement for Self Determination, which was linked to a series of attacks on the French island in the 1990s. He was convicted and later pardoned for a machine gun attack on the Iranian embassy in Paris in 1980 and served as president of the Corsican football club AC Ajaccio during the late 2000s. Le Parisien notes that a wave of shock has engulfed the island. Will his death finally awaken consciences and break the hellish cycle of violence in Corsica? That's what the papers editors are asking. Some 20 criminal gangs operate in Corsica, which has the highest homicide per capita rate of all of France. The daily notes that last year, two anti-mafia protests took place. It expresses hope that the tide is turning.

In the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, a mafia specialist draws a comparison between Corsican organised crime and its alleged role in the deadly bar fire in the Swiss ski station of Crans-Montana. Roberto Saviano, who penned the acclaimed novel "Gomorrah" about the Neapolitan mafia, has lived under police protection for 20 years. He reminds us that the bar's owner Jacques Moretti was previously convicted of procuring prostitutes, fraud and kidnapping in France. Saviano wonders how Moretti was able to purchase real estate in one of Switzerland’s most expensive cities in cash. He points the finger at the Corsican mafia, saying that its model, like the Italian mafia, is based on investing in the legal economy – like restaurants and bars.

Chinese organised criminal organisations also allegedly use the legal economy to launder their money, according to an investigation from Libération. The daily reports on a document from a French police department specialising in organised crime, the Sirasco. The report reveals that Chinese citizens from the eastern province of Zhejiang have become "experts in industrial-level money laundering activities" in France. They purchase warehouses or local betting bars which are used as parallel underground banks. Furthermore, they have become so efficient that other mafia groups – Albania, Moroccan, Corsican or Italian – "employ their services" to change their illegal money into legitimate money.

The Daily Telegraph has published details of a plan by China to build an expansive underground complex beneath its new super embassy in London. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to approve that embassy ahead of an upcoming diplomatic visit to China. The plans were redacted for the public – but the Telegraph says it has uncovered the unredacted documents. It reports that China will build a hidden chamber as part of a network of 208 secret rooms beneath its embassy in London. The chamber will sit directly alongside underground cables transporting sensitive British financial information to the City of London. Hot-air extraction systems suggest the installation of heat-generating equipment for possible espionage.

Finally, artificial intelligence is complicating efforts to find a gang of monkeys on the loose in the US city of St Louis. The citizens and authorities of St Louis, Missouri are grappling with an unusual problem. A gang of vervet monkeys have been on the loose since last week. Gizmodo reports that people started having fun with the situation – posting AI videos of monkeys stealing cars to social media. This quickly proved problematic for authorities, as people using AI videos falsely claimed to have spotted the monkeys. Gizmodo says someone also reported a goat on the loose, but no one knows if that's AI or not. In short, we now cannot believe our own eyes!

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, January 12: The French press are looking ahead to the start of far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen's appeal trial on Tuesday, which could make or break her presidential ambitions.

Left-wing daily Libération features a tearful Marine Le Pen on their front page, relishing the prospect of her embezzlement conviction being upheld by an appeals court, and shattering her 2027 presidential ambitions. The daughter of the infamous far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen was convicted last year for the embezzlement of public funds, to the tune of €4.3 million. Meanwhile, Le Monde has published polling that suggests the far-right leader's second-in-command Jordan Bardella may have surpassed her in popularity. Abroad, The Times asks if the two-time presidential candidate is irreplaceable for the French far-right, or if the family dynasty has run its course. 

In other news, the BBC reports on a worrying "snowfall drought" in the Himalayas. The usually snow-topped mountains are rocky and bare, threatening water shortages in the spring for the 2 billion residents whose water supply depends on snow thaw to replenish the rivers. 

Finally, The Times is reporting on Japanese zoos having to get by without pandas, as diplomatic co-operation with China dries up. One zoo, though, is filling the void with animal keepers... dressed as pandas. Visitors appear to be enjoying the exhibit, and are paying the equivalent of €43 for the privilege of dressing up as keepers and tending to the pretend animals.