Press Review

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, April 29: Papers discuss public anger in Russia after an internet crackdown. Next: France launches a probe into the reappearance of the website that was used to recruit the men who raped Gisèle Pelicot. Also, what is "promotion burnout" and is there a Gen Z "burnout crisis"? Finally, 22 Buddhist monks carrying 110kg of cannabis are arrested at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka.

Papers are talking about Russia's ongoing internet crackdown. The New York Times says that "anger about internet restrictions breathes some life into Russian politics". The paper says that when Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia's security services kept a lid on public dissent. But when viral apps were censored, "many Russians found their voice". Ordinary citizens, influencers who are usually apolitical, politicians and even TV stars have criticised the restrictions. That's rare in Russia, as its political system no longer allows for "genuine opposition". Russians even tried to hold protests in some cities, but they've been blocked by the authorities. Containing them online, however, is trickier. Independent Russian paper Novaya Gazeta reports that VPN downloads have surged 14-fold amid the internet restrictions. In March, VPNs were downloaded more than 9 million times from Russia. Experts say that the restrictions have backfired as Russians are using major platforms less often, rather than abandoning their VPNs. 

In France, the Coco website linked to the Gisèle Pelicot mass rape case has resurfaced online under a new name. French daily Le Parisien reports that France has launched a probe into its reappearance. It's the website that enabled Dominique Pelicot to find dozens of strangers to rape his drugged wife. Coco was shut down by authorities in June 2024 after it was accused of facilitating sex crimes. France's commissioner for children has called its reappearance a "slap in the face to the promise of protection".

We turn next to emerging work trends. Glamour magazine writes about "promotion burnout", or the reason why so many women no longer want to climb the ladder. It cites a British study that surveyed more than 1,000 female employees about their career ambitions. It found out that 50 percent of those who responded say that their motivation is going down and they have "little to no ambition to climb the career ladder". But the magazine says that there's a widening "ambition gap" between men and women – the bottom line is that women are aiming for promotions less often than men. The magazine says that it's maybe because women have a harder time at work than their male colleagues. A study by Yale University shows that women are 14 percent less likely to be promoted than men.

Times Now talks about the "Hidden burnout crisis among Gen Z". The article explains that Gen Z members entering the workforce bring energy, adaptability and strong digital skills. But they also face the "always-on" culture: digital fatigue, high expectations and blurred boundaries. This all impacts their mental health and many Gen Z professionals experience burnout symptoms within just a few years of starting work. Experts say the inability to disconnect means that the brain never gets a true break.

Finally, 22 Buddhist monks have been arrested after police found 110 kilos of cannabis in their luggage. The Guardian writes that this is the largest ever drugs bust at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka. The junior monks-in-training were coming back from a five-day holiday in Bangkok. Each of them carried about 5kg of kush. A twenty-third monk is believed to have organised the trip. According to police, he told the others that the parcels were a "donation".

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, April 28: Photos of starving soldiers in Ukraine make headlines. Over in the US, Donald Trump wants Jimmy Kimmel fired – again. French papers talk about the controversial Alloncle report on the neutrality and funding of public broadcasting. Also: is genome editing ethical? Finally, we look at the European seagull screeching championship.

Radio Free Europe reports on starving soldiers in Ukraine. The headline reads "Ukrainian army's new manpower struggle". Last week, relatives of soldiers went public with complaints and photos showing their starving loved ones. They blame poor supplies, a lack of adequate nutrition and bad leadership. Speaking of the ongoing war, the Kyiv Post writes about a recruitment call that happened in a Russian university. The meeting was part of a broader Russian campaign to recruit soldiers for their drone forces. The meeting, however, was interrupted by a Ukrainian soldier who hacked the call. He said: "God forbid you end up here, I will have to kill you – everyone who signs this contract".

In the United States, The Hollywood Reporter is discussing US President Donald Trump's latest 60 Minutes interview. The paper says the interview was heavily edited. This comes a year after Trump sued CBS over the same format with his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, when he accused the network of deceptive editing to influence the election. "It seems Trump is OK with his interview getting edited, just not anyone else's," writes the paper. 

Trump is also targeting Jimmy Kimmel again, The Wall Street Journal reports. Kimmel had joked: "Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow". Although he made the joke a couple of days before the shooting, Trump now wants him fired. Melania also tweeted that his "hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country".

Speaking of the media, French lawmakers have agreed to publish a report on public broadcasting's neutrality and funding. It's called the Alloncle report and it was spearheaded by the far-right MP Charles Alloncle. Le Monde reports that after months of heated debates and hearings involving public media representatives, lawmakers and oversight bodies, the publication of the report has now been approved by a narrow majority: 12 in favour and 10 against. Its topic of neutrality and funding of public media has led to disagreement and tension among French lawmakers. The left wing sees it as an attack on public media. It actually directly concerns us here at FRANCE 24 – one of the recommendations proposes a merger with domestic French news channel Franceinfo. Le Monde says that many "compromises" had to be made before the publication date was set for next week. Left-wing paper L'Humanité regrets that the "scandalous" report was adopted "by a narrow margin", in particular because it recommends not only mergers but also the closure of some public channels. Right-wing paper Le Figaro describes the vote as "very close" but welcomes seeing the document escape "censorship" from the left.

Next, we bring you a story about "genetically modified babies". Le Monde talks about the "fantasy of an enhanced human, without diseases, super-performing and super-intelligent". It's what some American startups propose: they aim to create genetically modified babies. They believe that genome editing could be "one of the most important health technologies of the century", explaining that it is easy to "correct" a small number of cells. Le Monde writes that it's a highly contested technique and one that's largely prohibited, as it raises fears of the return of a form of eugenics.

Finally, Euronews takes a look at this year's European seagull screeching championship.

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, April 27: Michael Jackson's biopic is enjoying a strong debut, despite numerous sexual abuse accusations. But first: papers discuss conspiracy theories following the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting. Plus: in some good news, a chubby sea lion has won the hearts of San Francisco locals and a German nun discovers the joy of eating a kebab.

Wired magazine reports that "conspiracy theories are everywhere" following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Both right- and left-wing influencers and anonymous accounts are spreading unfounded conspiracy theories, including that the attack was staged. On Bluesky, for instance, many people simply wrote the word "staged" over and over again. The New York Times says that the term "staged" surged to more than 300,000 posts on X by midday on Sunday. The paper says that conspiracy theories from across the political spectrum were used to "fill the information void". It interviewed an expert who explains that "people are reshaping reality based on what they want to be true" and are quickly looking for information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs, before analysis.

Next: Michael Jackson's biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has raked in almost $100 million in North America alone and could make more than $200 million internationally. Vanity Fair reminds us that before the film went into production, at least five boys had "credibly and publicly accused" the late superstar of sexually abusing them when they were between the ages of seven and 12. Vanity Fair says that the huge interest in the film proves that "no man has ever been truly canceled". The paper interviewed documentary filmmaker Dan Reeds, who says "people just don't care". The HuffPost asks whether Jackson is an "untouchable" icon. The paper notes that the singer lived in the pre-#MeToo era – the time when "silence was golden". HuffPost says that the film was supposed to end with one of the most shameful moments of Jackson's career – investigators arriving at his ranch in 1993 – but this was cut from the final script. Instead, the film ends with the singer at the height of his glory.

In some good news, "San Francisco is going nuts over a giant sea lion named Chonkers", The Wall Street Journal reports. He is about three times the size of the typical sea lion, and he arrived about a month ago and decided to stay. He captivated locals with his massive frame and his disregard for personal space. The paper says that when he falls, it sounds like an oak tree being cut down. 

Finally, Sister Irmingard, 92, has tried her very first doner kebab. The German nun went viral online, garnering more than 5 million views, The Times reports. She comes from the German monastery of Arenberg, which has decided to adopt social media in order to "demystify" the life of nuns. Germany's de facto national dish has certainly been approved by the sister, who said she was very delighted with it.

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

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 24: We look at reactions in the German, Russian and Kazakh press after an important oil pipeline from Russia is suspended to Germany. Russia says it's for "technical" reasons, but the German press say it is "political". Also: the press is divided over the case of a physically healthy, deeply grieving British woman who will die by euthanasia in a Swiss clinic this Friday. Finally, we look at the most surprising clauses of pre-nup agreements. 

There are lots of reactions to Kazakhstan's announcement earlier this week that there will be no transit of its oil to Germany through Russia from next month. The Kazakh energy minister announced that the Kazakh oil transit to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline will be suspended from May 1, officially due to "technical constraints" from Russia. For the Frankfurter Allgemeine, it's clearly a political move. The paper notes that Russian oil is flowing through the Druzhba pipeline towards Slovakia and Hungary without any of these technical problems. It adds: "Russia is using oil as a leverage to pressure the German government into halting drone attacks on Russian oil terminals."

Vedomosti, a Russian financial daily, cites Igor Yushkov, a columnist for the state news agency TASS. He says the suspension of the pipeline will reinforce Europe's dependence on Russian ports, which in turn might make them more likely to want attacks by Ukraine to stop. The Times of Central Asia explains that Germany depends on the Druzhba pipeline for about 17 percent of its current crude supply. While Germany is looking into alternative deliveries, the suspension "exposes Berlin's reliance on a route that runs through Russia". The halting of the pipeline also comes with financial repercussions for the Kazakh economy. Orda, an independent Kazakh media outlet, tables the potential loss at $1.5 billion per year.

We move on to a story that has fascinated the British press: the assisted suicide of a British woman in Switzerland today. The Times of London explains that Wendy Duffy, a former care worker, will end her life at a Swiss clinic this Friday. She is a physically healthy 56-year-old woman of sound mind who has been unable to bear the heartbreak of losing her only child four years ago. Duffy attempted suicide after his death, but it almost led her to a vegetative state. Duffy says she has paid £10,000 to the clinic to end her life. It comes as the UK's assisted dying bill has stalled in the House of Lords. The legislation proposes allowing adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, pending approval from doctors and an expert panel.

Duffy's death is dividing the press. The Irish Daily Mail says on its front page: "Who is anyone to decide how much a human should endure?" Its writer says that while Duffy vividly "represents the deepest fears of those who are against assisted suicide", this should not detract from the "bone-deep sadness" of her case. She struggled with infertility, finally fell pregnant and was a single mother. She also made the tomato sandwich that killed her son, who choked to death. While her death raises more questions than it answers, she has got what she wanted, the writer adds. The conservative US magazine National Review is far more categorical in its critique, accuses the clinic of "promoting a death-on-demand culture."

Finally, we bring you a story about the surprising clauses in prenuptial agreements these days. The Wall Street Journal explains that prenuptial agreements are no longer seen as "stodgy arrangements" by the rich to protect their money. According to a survey, around one in five people had a prenup in 2023. Of them, 41 percent were Gen Z and 47 percent were millennials. Some surprising clauses find their way into pre-nups today: NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) to protect the very signing of a prenup or its details, but also decisions around who gets to keep frozen embryos, cryptocurrency funds and even "pet nups" – how to decide custody of a beloved pet in case of divorce.

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, April 23: Le Parisien reports on an "unprecedented" criminal complaint filed against food delivery giants UberEats and Deliveroo for human trafficking in France. Le Monde looks at the important role of priests in the war in Ukraine and we also look at a suggestion to rename the Donbas to "Donnyland", in a bid to soften Donald Trump's hardline stance. Plus: the rise of "Age Tech" and Sony's AI robot Ace beats elite table tennis players in a groundbreaking experiment.

French daily Le Parisien has an exclusive report on a complaint filed against food delivery giants Deliveroo and UberEats. On Wednesday, four associations filed a criminal complaint against the two companies, accusing them of human trafficking. They want the food delivery giants to recognise that their working conditions are a form of exploitation, according to the newspaper. Last year, riders went on strike to protest degraded working conditions, a drop in salary and unregulated working hours. There are an estimated 70,000 food delivery riders in France, many of them undocumented. According to a report by Médecins du Monde, 68 percent of these workers do not have legal papers. According to the report, they work around 63 hours a week for just under €1,500 a month, making their hourly salary just under €6 an hour. It is far less than the €11,75 promised by Deliveroo and the €14 promised by UberEats.

In other news, Le Monde has a moving portrait about Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines increasingly turning to religion. The French newspaper features a story on its front page about how priests have become the "first witnesses of the hell that frontline soldiers are living". Around 68 percent of Ukraine's population is religious, including 50 percent who are Orthodox. At the beginning of the war, there were only a handful of priests who worked as civilian volunteers with soldiers. In 2023, the government expanded the role of priests, who now have to sign a contract with the defence ministry and are considered soldiers, even if they do not fight and are not allowed to use a weapon.

Time magazine, meanwhile, talks about Ukraine's offer to rename a part of the Donbas as Donnyland in a bid to pander to Donald Trump! The magazine cites a New York Times article this week which reports that Ukrainian officials first floated the idea in a bid to get the Trump administration to take a hard line against Russia's territorial demands. As Time explains, they are not the first to try to appeal to Trump's megalomania. In 2018, Poland offered to allow a permanent US base in the country called Fort Trump. A year later, Benjamin Netanyahu said he would name a Golan Heights settlement "Trump Heights" after the US president recognised Israeli sovereignty there. In any case, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not comment on the proposal but reiterated his firmness that the Donbas is Ukrainian and should not become "Putinland", according to Kyiv Independent. 

We also focus on artificial intelligence in the press. The New York Times is looking at the rise of "Age Tech" in America. Americans, like many populations, are living longer. Around 75 percent of those over 50 surveyed in 2024 say they wish to spend their remaining years in their own homes rather than assisted living facilities. This has seen the rise of the "Age Tech" industry. It has seen the birth of products that could transform aged care, such as smart walkers, a mobility device that brakes and steers people away from roadside dangers while walking. Also: an AI-powered robot can remind users to take pills, does automated check-ins and even makes jokes!

Staying with AI, Sony's AI robot Ace has beaten elite table tennis players in what scientists are calling a landmark moment. The robot has learnt to compete with and sometimes beat some of the world's best table tennis players, the Times of London reports. Ace was built by Sony's AI researchers. Table tennis, with its blistering pace and complex spin, was seen as a monumental challenge for AI machines, which tend to excel at more cerebral games but not so much in physical environments. Sony says the breakthrough is pivotal and shows AI can operate at an expert human level, opening the door to a new class of real-world applications. 

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, April 22: An extremist rabbi accused of war crimes has been selected to participate in Israeli Independence Day celebrations. Next: papers look at LGBTQ laws in Hungary and Russia. Also: did someone manipulate France's official meteorological station for insider betting on Polymarket? Finally, Madonna's iconic Coachella outfit has been stolen.

​​​​​​In Israel, celebrations are taking place for the country's national day. The Guardian reports that an extremist rabbi known for bulldozing Palestinian homes has been selected to light one of the torches for the celebrations. The rabbi is one of the 14 people chosen for their "extraordinary contribution to society and the state". He became well known after he documented his personal destruction campaign in Gaza. Human rights campaigners say that choosing him endorses ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that two Israeli soldiers have been sentenced to jail for damaging a statue of Jesus in Lebanon. One of the men destroyed the statue with what looks like a hammer and his colleague took a picture of the incident. The statue has since been replaced. According to experts, the act reflects not only ignorance but also a growing hostility to Christians from some Israeli Jews. 

We turn next to LGBT rights. Politico reports that Europe's Court of Justice ruled that Hungary violated EU law when it banned children from accessing LGBTQ content. It has ordered Budapest to scrap the legislation. Politico calls it a "landmark judgment" that comes after the election defeat of conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

In Russia, however, the situation is different. The Moscow Times reports that the CEO of Russia's largest book publisher has been detained in a "LGBTQ extremism probe". Pro-Kremlin media reported that the ongoing investigation focuses on the distribution of LGBTQ literature and specifically a book called "Pioneer summer", which depicts the gay relationship between a teenager and a counselor at a Soviet-era summer camp.

Elsewhere, France's official meteorological administration, Météo France, has been linked to suspicions of market manipulation. French paper Le Monde reports that temperature sensors at Paris's Charles-de-Gaulle airport recorded sudden, unusual spikes on April 6 and 15. On April 15, the temperature spiked to 22 degrees when it was actually 18 degrees. On this date, the probability that the maximum temperature in Paris would reach 22°C was minimal, less than 1 percent. But it suddenly rose to nearly 100 percent. The anomalies have raised suspicions of manipulations and insider trading linked to bets placed on Polymarket, the American online betting platform. For the very few people betting on the 22-degree scenario, the bet was a definite jackpot. But how did they do it? One of the hypotheses is that the scammers used a hair dryer to warm up the device that registers the temperature. Le Monde reminds us that traders on Polymarket speculate on all kinds of events, including guessing the weather. Betting on Polymarket in France, however, is forbidden.

Speaking of stock markets, The Times cites a study that found "women get worse investment advice" than men, as the industry treats them as less sophisticated clients. The study found that women were more likely to be recommended to invest in funds where banks earn bigger fees. The interesting part is that it's not just male advisers exploiting their female clients – female advisers do the same thing. 

Finally, Madonna's Coachella performance with Sabrina Carpenter made headlines this week. But all is not well in paradise. The Times reports that Madonna's Coachella outfit, which she also performed in 20 years ago, has been stolen.

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, April 21: British broadsheets and tabloids mock Prime Minister Keir Starmer's address to the House of Commons, in which he defended himself over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. In France, former PM Gabriel Attal talks about "the love of his life", but a conflict of interests could be on the table. Finally, hostile divorces lead to fights over unexpected objects.

British papers are reacting to PM Keir Starmer's latest address to the House of Commons, a week after he learned that his pick for US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, had failed security vetting. The Daily Mirror headlines with "They chose not to tell me", referring to Starmer blaming other officials for keeping him in the dark. Morning Star writes that the "lame excuse fails to convince". The Daily Mail's headline reads "It's everyone's fault but his", adding that "Starmer finally admits he was wrong to appoint Mandelson – but still won't resign".

In his address, Starmer said: "I know my story sounds incredible". Metro answers him in its headline: "Incredible? Yes, prime minister". The Daily Express also quotes Starmer, saying, "For once you are actually right, prime minister – it beggars belief!" Finally, a cartoon from The Guardian's Ben Jennings shows a teenager saying it's not his fault that nobody told him his room was a mess. His mother replies: "That line might work for the prime minister, but not in this house".

We turn next to France, where former prime minister Gabriel Attal has given an interview to TF1 that didn't stray away from his personal life. In it, Attal said that another prominent French political figure, Stéphane Séjourné, is "the love of his life". Vanity Fair says that in the interview Attal "opens up with complete sincerity, sharing very personal details about his life". Attal and Séjourné met early in their careers and fell in love. But when Attal became prime minister, his career took centre stage and the two men decided to separate. Their feelings, however, didn't disappear and they are now back together. Politico writes that this raises ethical questions, especially as Attal plans to participate in next year's presidential elections. As a European commissioner, Séjourné has to prioritise the interests of the EU and be independent of national matters. 

Finally, moving from love to divorce: The Wall Street Journal writes about "five unexpected things people went to war for in their divorce", citing an attorney who told the paper that "the more hostile the divorce, the more unusual the demands are likely to be".

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, April 20: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's troubles continue after it emerged last week that he sent Peter Mandelson to Washington as ambassador despite him failing to meet Foreign Office security standards. Also, anger mounts in Peru after the first round of the presidential elections saw widespread irregularities, including polling stations that didn't open and ballot papers found in bins. Finally, Etsy are finally looking to tap the potential of the break-up economy.

It's the day Keir Starmer must stand up and take the blame, says the Daily Mail, as he prepares to tell parliament once again that the Foreign Office concealed Peter Mandelson's failed security clearance from Downing Street. The "I didn't know defence" is one he often lambasted Boris Johnson over during Partygate and other scandals, an irony not lost on Ella Baron at the Guardian. The Telegraph, meanwhile, argues that this security clearance is really a technicality, as the prime minister was aware of the red flags about Mandelson regardless. The senior civil servant who took the fall may be considering legal action against the government, the Times reports.

In Peru, eight days after round one of presidential elections, the line-up for round two is still unknown. Far-right candidate Keiko Fujimori is ahead by a significant margin so is likely to make the ballot on June 7, but as counting continues, it's a tight race for second place between left-winger Roberto Sanchez and ultra-conservative Rafael Lopez Aliaga. This comes after a shambolic election, as described by Libération, in which 13 polling stations simply never opened, and after which boxes of ballot papers were found in a skip. The authority who organised the poll blames problems on a private company with government contracts, and on Friday both the authority and the company saw their premises raided by police. An editorial in El Comercio calls this a "scandalous level of negligence [which] could suggest intent".

Finally, the Times reports that e-commerce platform Etsy have created the possibility of a "breakup registry", not dissimilar to a "wedding registry", as 40 percent of Gen Z members feel that relationship endings deserve similar attention to marriages, since they are significant life events in which a person might need support. Critics will call it cashing in on heartbreak, while supporters will say it can offer empowerment in a moment of need.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 17: We take a look at how papers are reacting to the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Next: the UK suffers food shortages "from Trump's war". Also: did Pete Hegseth really quote from "Pulp Fiction" in his latest war prayer? Finally, we take a look at the latest dating trends.

Papers are reacting to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The headline of Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour reads "a ten-day reprieve". The paper writes that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has "finally secured a ceasefire". It calls it a "small victory", as both sides have already accused each other of violating the truce.

The Wall Street Journal says that "the push for Israel-Lebanon peace risks a new confrontation with Hezbollah". The American paper writes that excluding the terrorist group from the negotiating table "makes a lasting agreement hard to achieve".

Israeli paper The Jerusalem Post says that many Israelis will be "furious" with the 10-day ceasefire, but explains that Israel has reached the "limit of its force against Hezbollah". IDF commanders have also made it clear that it is impossible to eliminate Hezbollah solely by using military force. The paper writes that Israel could hold onto Lebanon's southern border longer and use it as a bargaining chip with the Lebanese government against Hezbollah.

The impact of the war in the Middle East is being felt across the world. The headline of British left-wing paper Morning Star reads "Food crisis threat from Trump's war". The British government is planning emergency measures to combat food shortages. Prices are also expected to soar. A cartoon in The Guardian criticises what it calls "Trumpflation". 

Also: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth blessed the war effort at his latest worship service at the Pentagon. But instead of the Bible, his words match a dialogue in "Pulp Fiction". The Guardian writes "Hegseth channels his inner Tarantino with fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction". French paper Le Parisien compares the speeches in a video and Newsweek puts the quotes side by side. Some people online are saying that Hegseth's speechwriter must be a big Tarantino fan.

Finally, papers discuss the latest dating trends. The Telegraph says that dating has become an "extreme sport for men" and asks, "Are impossible standards and a toxic mistrust leaving blokes behind"? The New York Times talks about another dating trend: "Older women are in demand by younger men". The paper says it's not only a trend, but "a shift in power, desire and modern masculinity".

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, April 16: We take a look at the latest coverage from the Russian independent papers. Next: a story about how new technologies are helping the elderly to combat loneliness. Also: a baby elephant has a similar story to that of Punch the monkey. Finally, why did a British tourist pay $1,500 for a kebab in Rio de Janeiro?

First, we take a look at the Russian independent papers. Meduza reports that the Russian ministry of defence has published a list of companies in Europe allegedly producing drones for Ukraine. These companies could be "potential targets" for the Russian armed forces. The list includes 11 companies, including some in London, Riga and Prague. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, wrote on X that the "statement must be taken literally" and warned that "when strikes become a reality depends on what comes next", adding: "Sleep, well, European partners".

Meanwhile, Novaya Gazeta looks at how Russia is taking care of its veterans. The government claims it's spending billions of rubles a year to support those who have fought in the war in Ukraine. Many of them – "physically and psychologically broken" – complain of broken promises and cold indifference. Novaya Gazeta interviewed a Russian who worked as a surgeon. He decided to enlist, thinking that his medical skills could be used to "help people" – he was promised he'd serve in a hospital for three months. He ended up at the front with a motorised rifle. He was never transferred to a hospital and instead of three months, he served for a year and a half. 

Also in Russia, after months of internet disruptions across the country, the government is now targeting VPNs. The Moscow Times writes that Russian websites "begin blocking VPN users". It notes that the government is ramping up its efforts to restrict the internet. Virtual private networks or VPNs are used by Russians to access, for instance, Western social media platforms and independent Russian news outlets that have been banned by the Kremlin. 

CBC News focuses on yet another Kremlin target: the erotic romance "Heated Rivalry". A local Russian agency was fined more than $6,000 after publishing a review of the queer series. A Russian press officer confirmed that the fines were imposed because the series is considered LGBTQ propaganda, which was banned in 2022.

Next, some nursing homes are using new tools to help with loneliness. A feature article in The New York Times talks about the use of virtual reality (VR) to counter social isolation. Residents go on virtual trips – to Barcelona, for example – "countering social isolation through shared experiences". The paper writes that loneliness and isolation are very dangerous for old people: according to studies, social disconnection can have the same impact on mortality as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Isolation is also associated with a 50 percent increased risk of dementia. VR tools are also great for the elderly with reduced mobility, because the movements inside the VR mimic movements in real life.

Elsewhere, The Times of London tells us about "the baby elephant that could unseat Punch the monkey". She is called Linh Mai and like Punch, she was abandoned at a young age and rejected by her aggressive mother. The Asian elephant has found a loving surrogate mother and they now live at the National Zoo in Washington.

Finally, The Guardian reports that a British tourist paid $1,500, or more than €1,700, for a kebab on Copacabana beach. The scammer who allegedly manipulated the payment terminal to overcharge the tourist was arrested. This is only one of many examples of scams in Brazil's capital. Perhaps the most shocking case before the kebab was an Argentinian woman who paid nearly €3,400 for corn, instead of €3. After falling for the scam, she said she "didn't understand numbers in Portuguese".

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