PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 4, 2026: Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s birthday cake sparks widespread condemnation. But first, The Washington Post tells the story of a Ukrainian soldier trapped in the “kill zone”. Also, Amsterdam becomes the first capital city to ban meat and fossil fuel advertising. Elsewhere, Jeff Bezos’s involvement in the Met Gala leads to boycotts. Finally, Kentucky flaunts its impressive hats.
The Washington Post features a long read about a Ukrainian soldier who was trapped in the “kill zone”, a contested area between Ukrainian and Russian front lines, for nearly six months. He survived thanks to drone deliveries which dropped off food, water, hand warmers or ammunition. Staying in Ukraine, the Kyiv Post reports that Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces have struck key Russian assets on long-range missions. The Times discusses the latest tests of “drone swarms”, which are powered by artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, the Times of Israel reports that Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has caused widespread condemnation because of his birthday cake which features a golden noose and piped writing around it which reads: “Sometimes dreams come true”. Haaretz says that the shocking cake is only a distraction from the death penalty law it represents. The paper argues that Ben Gvir wants to “redirect the narrative toward his supremacist wins” and that the world should not fall for it.
Elsewhere, Amsterdam has become the world’s first capital city to ban public advertising for both meat and fossil fuel products, according to the BBC. On May 1, ads for burgers, petrol cars or airlines were taken down from tram stops, metro stations and billboards.
Next, the Met Gala is attracting attention for the controversial role that Jeff Bezos is playing in it this year. The Guardian says that his involvement has also revived rumours that he might buy Condé Nast, the parent company of Vogue, which organises the gala. The Wall Street Journal looks at how the Amazon founder broke into fashion‘s inner circle, through the company buying stakes in luxury department stores. The Telegraph says that Zendaya, Meryl Streep and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani have all boycotted the event. The Mirror, meanwhile, reports that just a few days ago, hundreds of bottles of “urine” were hidden in the Met museum in protest at the working conditions of Amazon staff.
Finally, Forbes features some outrageous hats which were bringing the glamour to the Kentucky Derby.
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This story originally appeared on France24
