Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, January 17: We look at reactions from the press as Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu's cabinet prepares to vote on a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Also: the Lebanese paper L'Orient-Le Jour interviews French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives for an official visit. Plus: It's been 50 years since the right to abortion was granted to women in France. Meanwhile, tributes are paid to pioneering American filmmaker David Lynch. Finally, Houston's police department is grappling with an unusual criminal: drug-eating rats!

The front pages focus on a crucial vote in Israel on Gaza's ceasefire and hostage swap deal. As French paper La Croix notes, it’s a very fragile deal and one that hinges on approval by Israel’s cabinet. The paper's editors caution: with or without a ceasefire, the events of October 7, 2023 will leave indelible traces on both Israelis and Palestinians.

Meanwhile, British daily The Independent publishes a sobering front page on the war in numbers: almost 47,000 Palestinians dead in 466 days, 1.5 million people displaced and 325,000 people facing catastrophic starvation.

In the Israeli dailies, centre-left newspaper Haaretz warns that the second phase of this deal is also fraught with dangers and obstacles. The big question will be whether Hamas sticks to its end of the agreement. The Jerusalem Post notes that while Donald Trump has largely taken credit for helping get the ceasefire process this far, Israel's Mossad has also played a large role. Mossad director David Barnea sewed the pieces of the deal as far back as last May, including provisions for aid by opening up the Rafah border crossing.

Also on the paper's front page is the loss of influence of the far right in Netanyahu’s cabinet. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is among those who have threatened to quit the government if the ceasefire deal goes ahead. For Al Akhbar, the Lebanese daily close to Hezbollah, it’s all smoke and mirrors from Israel. The paper believes that these threats are just theatrics that will not change the fact that this deal is going ahead.

French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Lebanon and his trip is making the front pages there. He gave an interview to L’Orient-Le Jour just before he arrived, in which he hailed the election of Joseph Aoun as president, saying Lebanon finally has a legitimate and credible leader who will bring confidence to the region. In the wide-ranging interview, Macron talks about the question of the Palestinian state, the impact of Donald Trump's arrival at the White House next Monday and what the ceasefire could mean for the disarmament of Hezbollah in the north.

Here in France, we're marking 50 years since Simone Veil spearheaded a law decriminalising abortion. It was a huge step for women’s sexual rights. Fifty years ago, Simone Veil stood up in French parliament and defended her bill to give women the right to abortion. Libération talks to seven women, who were either patients, practitioners or activists at the time. One of them recalls the difficulties in enforcing the legislation. Many gynaecologists were Catholics and didn't want to enforce the law.

Belgium's Le Soir pays tribute to David Lynch. The trailblazing director of "Twin Peaks" and "Mulholland Drive", who has passed away aged 78, is described as a giant of American cinema, whose influence was immeasurable. He was a wizard of images, the paper says.

Finally in the US, Houston's police department has been coming face to face with a rather unusual criminal: drug-eating rats! The Guardian reports on a systemic problem in Houston – the police evidence rooms have been infested with rats. The rooms contain reportedly over 1.2 million pieces of evidence dating back to the 1940s, including kilos of coke stored long after criminals have served their sentences. Police discovered that not only had the rats managed to break into the evidence rooms, they'd been consuming large amounts of drugs like mushrooms and marijuana!

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 16: We look at reactions and analysis as an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is agreed. The Arabic press calls it a defeat for Israel, whereas members of the Netanyahu government say it is dangerous for the country's national security. Elsewhere, US President-elect Donald Trump is widely praised for his role in getting the deal over the line, although current US President Joe Biden wants his share of the credit as well.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, January 15: The French papers react to Prime Minister François Bayrou's first policy speech, as he tries to appease both the left and right. Meanwhile, a mass of TikTok users flock to a rival Chinese app, as TikTok faces a ban in the United States. Also, bestselling author Neil Gaiman responds to serious sexual assault allegations levelled against him. Finally, a French woman is scammed out of €800,000 by someone impersonating Brad Pitt, leading to online ridicule.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, January 14: We look at front-page reactions after outgoing US President Joe Biden announces that Israel and Hamas may be close to a temporary truce in the 15-month war in Gaza. Also in the news: confirmation hearings begin for Donald Trump's top cabinet picks, including the controversial Peter Hegseth as secretary of defence. Plus: a group of dads in a French village band together for a nude calendar – to raise money for their children's school trips!

Papers are reacting to Biden's announcement that a ceasefire in Gaza is near. A glimmer of hope perhaps in the region? The Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, which is close to Hezbollah, wonders if Gaza is nearing the end of its nightmare. There is a similar headline from the British daily The Independent, which announces that Israel and Gaza are "on the brink of peace". The Times of Israel, citing the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, notes that Israel reportedly sent Hamas a list of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who could be freed in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages, most of them alive, and that the ceasefire could last six weeks at least.

Haaretz, meanwhile, focuses on how the deal was facilitated thanks to unusual US political circumstances. A week before Trump's inauguration, the outgoing Biden administration has let Steven Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, lead the process for negotiating a ceasefire. This was made on the grounds that any obligations the US undertakes would be Trump’s responsibility, not Biden's. The paper explains that Witkoff is a Jewish real estate developer and investor and has been described as someone who has no interest is acting like a diplomat. Last Friday, he called Binyamin Netanyahu’s office from Qatar to let them know he'd be coming to Israel the following afternoon. Netanyahu's aides informed him that it was Shabbat and that they could meet him the next day. Witkoff replied in "salty English" that Shabbat was of no interest to him. Netanyahu had no choice to but to meet him on Shabbat to seal the deal.

In the US, confirmation hearings have begun for Trump's nominations for key posts under his presidency. The New York Times reports that hearings are scheduled for more than a dozen of Trump's cabinet choices and these will provide an early test of Trump's hold over Senate Republicans. As The Washington Post notes, the most high-profile and potentially contentious hearing takes place this Tuesday, when the Senate Armed Services Committee will consider the nomination of Peter Hegseth for secretary of defence. As the paper notes, Hegseth is a former Fox News host and combat veteran. His bid is unconventional because he's just 44 and has a relative lack of political experience. He also admitted to paying a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth's path to winning the job depends on whether he’s able to keep his calm as he faces blistering questions. The US secretary of defence oversees 3 million military and civilian personnel around the world, the US nuclear arsenal and an annual budget of $800 billion.

In other news: here in France, a group of dads have gone to extreme lengths to raise money for their kids' school trips, as Madame Figaro reports. In Seyne-les-Alpes, a village in the south of France, a group of dads have posed nude, dad bods and all, in a calendar to raise money for their children's outings. One of the mothers said it started out as a joke. But they managed to sell 100 copies of their nude calendar and help finance their children's trips in the process.

Finally, a pizzeria in the UK is fighting against pineapple on pizza! The Times of London says the restaurant was forced to add Hawaiian pizzas to its take-out menu, due to popular demand. The restaurant, however, sees it as an abomination. It has decided to charge £100 for the pizza, in the hope of deterring would-be customers!

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 13: Los Angeles residents struggle to grasp the magnitude of the destruction of their city. Meanwhile, the far-right AfD Party has launched its manifesto ahead of snap elections in Germany, with leader Alice Weidel threatening the mass deportation of migrants. Also, Manchester United beat Arsenal in the FA Cup, leaving The Gunners' season in tatters. Finally, Londoners leave their trousers at home as part of an annual tradition.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, January 10: The Lebanese press reacts to parliament finally electing a new president – Joseph Aoun – after two years of deadlock. Also, as deadly fires destroy thousands of homes in Los Angeles, Donald Trump attempts to capitalise on the natural disaster for political gain. Plus, Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open campaign with a new coach: his former rival Andy Murray.

Lebanon finally has a new president. After two long years and multiple failed attempts, the country was finally able to elect a new leader: Joseph Aoun. The former army commander is a respected figure. In the press, the satisfaction and relief are palpable. "Return of the state", says L’Orient-Le Jour with a picture of the presidential seat filled. The editor of the French-language Lebanese daily is cautiously optimistic. There is also stupefaction. The paper outlines how the country's lawmakers managed to do in two hours what they could not do in two years. 

The Arab-language Annahar also hails the return of the state but outlines the many challenges that lie ahead for Aoun moving forward. This includes, first and foremost, naming a government, which will be no easy feat. The pro-Hezbollah paper Al Akhbar is playing down Aoun's victory, calling him a president without a coalition and noting that Lebanon's deeply divisive political fractures are the reason it was unable to elect a president for two years.

There is also lots of focus in the press on the deadly fires in Los Angeles that have destroyed nearly 10,000 homes. The British daily The Sun headlines "LOST ANGELES". The devastation of the worst fires in LA's history has spared no one: rich or not, famous or not.

For Libération, the French paper, it's "City of Ashes", not City of Angels.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has weighed in on the devastation, calling on California governor Gavin Newsom to resign. The Huffington Post reports that Donald Trump Jr and Elon Musk have bizarrely pointed the finger at diversity, inclusion and equality initiatives in California as one of the reasons why the fires haven’t been contained yet. This in reference to Los Angeles' efforts to diversify the overwhelming white, male firefighting force.

In a Daily Beast piece that seems right out of TV show "The Morning Show", the press also picked up on the story of a millionaire who pleaded for private firefighters to save his home. The LA businessman, Keith Wasserman, wrote on X that he was willing to pay private firefighters to save his Pacific Palisades home. He later clarified that he wanted to save homes, but the damage was done. The real estate investment founder was slammed for appearing tone deaf and outright selfish. The anger was compounded when users discovered his old posts complaining about property taxes and bragging about not paying them ... those very taxes that are used to fund the fire department in LA.

Finally, the Australian Open is nearly upon us. Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic will be playing this year with a new coach by his side: his former adversary Andy Murray. It's an unusual move which means that Murray will be making his debut as coach at this Australian Open.

The Guardian explains that Murray, who retired in August, had absolutely no interest in coaching until the unique trial coaching position was offered to him. The two players were fierce rivals for many years and both have extremely explosive personalities. Murray said he is braced for angry outbursts by Djokovic during the Australian Open. If anyone can understand the loneliness of tennis, it’s certainly Murray. Fun fact: He made it to four Australian Open finals and lost all of them – to none other than Novak Djokovic.

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 9: The commander-in-chief of the army, Joseph Aoun, emerges as a favourite in Lebanon's election for president. It's the country's thirteenth attempt in two years to find a leader. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg's decision to kill fact-checking on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram sparks outrage but also support. Donald Trump continues to roil – and worry – Europe over his threat to take over Greenland by force, if necessary. Plus: French coach Dider Deschamps says he'll step down after the 2026 World Cup.

Lebanon prepares to elect a new leader. As one news outlet says, the country has tried twelve times to elect a new leader in the past two years without success, so here’s hoping the baker’s dozen is the lucky one.

The man emerging as favourite is Joseph Aoun, who is depicted on the front of L’Orient-Le Jour, the French language Lebanese daily. Aoun is commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army and is a respected figure for having kept the Lebanese army together despite political fractures. Another Lebanese daily, Annahar, is exercising caution today, noting that 86 votes are needed out of 128 to win the election.

Unlike previous times, this vote is taking place with a significantly weakened Hezbollah, which has lost influence in parliament. For the pro-Hezbollah daily al-Akhbar, the emergence of Aoun is the result of foreign collusion between the US and Saudi Arabia, which the paper sees as making a return to Lebanese politics. In an analysis piece from The Washington Institute, the author warns that the time to strike is now. Without an immediate and concerted effort to consolidate the setbacks to Hezbollah, the group could regroup and rebuild, which would put Lebanon’s political future in peril once again.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has taken the drastic step of rolling back its fact-checking service, in what appears to be a move bowing down to the new Trump administration. For The Guardian’s editors, Zuckerberg is ingratiating himself with the next Trump administration with this decision to scrap US-based fact-checkers on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. Concretely, users can call others mentally ill based on their sexuality or gender identity, for instance. Meta says the decision is in response to accusations of overreach by content moderators. But as The Guardian notes, it kills two birds with one stone for Zuckerberg: cutting costs and getting on Trump’s good side, this as the new US leader will soon have the power to kill or not a federal antitrust case against Meta, release regulatory pressure on big tech and facilitate AI.

For The Economist though, as "craven" as the circumstances may be, Meta’s new sweeping changes are correct. Speech online "urgently needs to become freer". The Economist says this is the only way to shore up America’s democracy against whatever tests it faces in the years to come.

In addition to railing against Meta, Trump has raised eyebrows this week for his plans to take over the Danish territory of Greenland. Certainly a question one might be asking today is on the front of French paper Le Parisien: Just how far will they go, Donald Trump and his right- hand man Elon Musk? Trump's comments that the US needs Greenland for its economic security raise concerns about how far Trump can go in his quests as president, particularly against a Europe weakened by war and inflation.

The Economist plays devil’s advocate in a piece; suggesting that instead of using force, Trump should name his price for Greenland. The author points to the US purchases of Louisiana and Alaska in the 19th century as some of the greatest achievements in US history and very good value. History will not be kind to Trump, the magazine says, if he takes Greenland by force, but purchasing it could be seen as the deal of the century.

It’s not as easy as he thinks, warns Danish paper Jyllands-Posten. Trump will have to impose punitive tariffs not just on Denmark but all of Europe if he wants to take control of Greenland. No one knows how serious he is, but as one business owner is quoted as saying, it’s never a nice feeling to be on Trump's radar.

Finally: Didier Deschamps, coach of the French football team, says he’ll be stepping down after the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps, who coached France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and to the final in 2022, plans to leave the national team. But He's not the one gracing the cover of L’Equipe, the French sports paper. It's Zinédine Zidane, the 1998 World Cup hero, who has never been coy about his ambitions to coach the French national side. The path appears to be clearing now with Deschamp's announcement. Hence the paper's anticipation, even if Zidane hasn't yet said anything officially.

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 7: In this special edition, we look at the press from France and abroad on the 10-year anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. They wonder what is left of the "I am Charlie" support campaign and how attitudes towards satire have changed in the decade since the atrocity.

On January 7, 2015, eight staff members of Charlie Hebdo and four others were killed in a that attack that began a year of terror in France. The terrorists claimed to be seeking revenge for caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed published by the magazine.

A decade later, Charlie Hebdo is still there. "Indestructible", it says on its front page, pointing to a survey that shows 76 percent of French people believe freedom of expression and satire are fundamental rights. That's more than the 58 percent back in 2012. For Charlie Hebdo, the attacks were a moment of truth which tested the strength of its ideas, despite facing threats and criticism today.

"Liberté", Liberté", Charlie !" says left-wing daily Libération says on its front page, running an illustration by Coco, one of the surviving Charlie Hebdo cartoonists. The paper's newsroom had taken in the surviving Charlie Hebdo staff members the day after the attacks in 2015. For Libé, the terrorists did not win that day. However, a "yes, but" mindset has since taken over and is slowly killing freedom of expression, it says. The editor deplores self-censorship, describing it as a poison that's killed secularism.

L'Humanité, the Communist paper, goes for a poignant front page: "They were Charlie", it says, paying tribute to slain colleagues Cabu, Tignous, Charb, Wolinski, Elsa Cayat and Bernard Maris.

French right-wing paper L'Opinion points to that same survey mentioned on Charlie Hebdo's front page. It wonders: Can we say and satirise anyone in the name of freedom of expression? Among those surveyed, 71 percent of people aged between 25 and 34 say no, something the paper finds extremely worrying. 

La Croix, the Catholic paper, says younger generation appear more critical of satirical humour when it attacks religious, but more accepting of it when it satirises news and politics.

One of the biggest changes in last decade is how the press, initially sympathetic to Charlie Hebdo, has gradually moved to criticising its editorial line. British news and opinion website UnHerd points to Libération recently expressing scepticism for Charlie Hebdo and even suggesting it is at times guilty of racism. Why have even those on the left – traditional supporters of Charlie Hebdo – abandoned the publication? A host of reasons are suggested: cowardice, legitimate fear for their lives and more cynically, progressive politicians' eagerness to court the Muslim vote. 

The Economist went to meet Riss, one of the survivors of the Charlie Hebdo attacks and who took over its editorship in the aftermath. For the magazine, Charlie Hebdo is unbowed and unrepentant and "as tasteless, silly and provocative as ever." However, self-censorship, rather than the law, now tempers satire, The Economist says. For his part, editor Riss sees Charlie Hebdo as not extraordinarily provocative but says it appears so today because the margin of tolerance is narrowing.

Belgian paper Le Soir deplores the fact in its view that the Charlie Hebdo spirit has been forgotten. "I am Charlie", it says, was about cultivating contradictions, opposing laws that restricted freedom, refusing fatwas and using humour against dogma, against authoritarianism and against idiots.

Swiss paper Le Temps' cartoonist Chappatte sums it up ironically: In 2015, people protested, saying freedom of expression was sacred. Ten years later, that message is still the same but with the disclaimer: Freedom of expression, as long as it doesn't offend anyone.

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 6: Billionaire Elon Musk turns on Reform leader Nigel Farage, saying that the party needs a new leader. Meanwhile, it's four years to the day since the storming of the US Capitol, with President Joe Biden urging his fellow Americans to never forget the horrors of that day. Also, Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes quits after her Jeff Bezos satire is axed. Finally, a French marine park closes its doors, leaving the fate of two orcas up in the air.

Watch moreFour years after US Capitol riot, nation remains divided by opposing narratives

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, December 20: From France to Spain and Italy to South Africa, Gisèle Pelicot dominates the front pages as the press pays tribute to her courage and dignity during the months-long trial into the 51 men found guilty of raping her, including her husband. Also: a suspected prostitution ring unfolds in Peruvian parliament after the assassination of a lawyer last week, who was believed to be involved in the ring. Plus: we look back at the unusual animals discovered this year!

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