Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, June 10: French President Emmanuel Macron stuns the country by announcing the dissolution of parliament, after his party is trounced by the far-right National Rally in the European elections. The papers in France are calling it an extraordinary gamble. The news also makes a splash internationally, with one German paper calling for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to follow in Macron's footsteps. 

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, June 7: We begin by looking at how Lebanon could get caught up in Israel's war against Hamas. The Italian dailies hail a golden era for Italian tennis, with players reaching the women's final (Jasmine Paolini) and men's doubles final (Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori), as well as Jannik Sinner becoming world number one. Plus: a fascinating article about Greek researchers who recreated 15th-century battle conditions to test the durability of the Dendra panoply. Finally, the winners of the Comedy Pet Photo awards are announced!

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 6: World leaders gather in Normandy to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings. The geopolitical context today is very different: Russia's Vladimir Putin was not invited to the commemorations, despite the significant role Russia played in World War II. We look at front pages and take a deep dive into how the papers covered D-Day in 1944. Also: a 100-year-old D-Day veteran plans to get married right near the beaches where so many of his friends died.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, June 5: A dried-up salt lake in Uzbekistan is unable to support local farmers. Also, US President Joe Biden's executive order to cut migration on the Mexican border leads to backlash on the left and fails to impress on the right. In other news, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seemed in fighting form for the first time in his election campaign at the leaders' debate on Tuesday. Finally, UK far-right leader Nigel Farage takes a milkshake to the face, and not for the first time.

PRESS REVIEW - Thursday, June 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be announced the winner of India's six-week long elections. The voting process has been marred, however, by anti-Islam rhetoric and disinformation. Also: Microsoft's threat analysis centre exposes Russia's campaign of disinformation in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games, including a fake video purporting to be from FRANCE 24. Plus: a rocket-firing Boba Fett figurine becomes the most expensive vintage toy ever, after selling for over $500,000!

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, June 3: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in under increasing pressure after leading the ruling ANC party to their worst-ever election result. Also, a Russian foreign ministry foundation is suspected of funding the legal defence of spies abroad. In other news, the island nation of Palau is blaming China for a massive cyberattack. Finally, a couple get more than they bargained for while fishing in a New York lake.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, May 29: There's been controversy in the French parliament after a lawmaker opened a Palestinian flag during a debate on Palestinian statehood. Also, an investigation suggests Israeli foreign intelligence services have been threatening and intimidating ICC prosecutors since 2015. In other news, an investigation by a consortium of international journalists, Rwanda Classified, exposes a systematic campaign of persecution by the Rwandan government against critics abroad. Finally, rivers are running orange in Alaska due to climate change.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, May 22: A British national who was charged with spying for Hong Kong is found dead in a park in unexplained circumstances. Also, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit New Caledonia amid growing tensions there. In other news, Kenyan President William Ruto is in the US on a state visit, but has received criticism for hiring a private jet.

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, May 21: There are calls for justice after a damning report shows that the British government intentionally contaminated the blood of tens of thousands of patients between the 1970s and 1990s and attempted to cover it up. Also: reactions pour in after the ICC seeks arrest warrants for Binyamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and three Hamas officials. Plus, three high-ranking Syrian officials go on trial in Paris for the murders of a father and son in 2013. 

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 20: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is confirmed dead in a helicopter crash, alongside the country's foreign minister. The news has sparked scenes of mourning at home, as well as condemnation now deceased president. Meanwhile, the international press focuses on the future of Iran without Raisi as president, as well as who one day might replace Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.