France wants to give a facelift to its relationship with Africa

Hundreds of young people from African "civil society" are invited to Montpellier (south of France) on Friday by President Emmanuel Macron, for an unprecedented Africa-France summit aimed at "rebuilding" the relationship, but qualified as a "trunk break". -the eye" by certain African intellectuals. This summit is being held at a time when the influence of France in its former pre-square is increasingly disputed, particularly by Russia, and when Paris is in open crisis with Mali and Algeria. For the first time since 1973, the beginning of the France-Africa summits (now Africa-France), no head of state from the continent is invited. This new format should make it possible, according to the French presidency, "to listen to the words of African youth" and to "get out of obsolete formulas and networks". Clearly, to break, again and again, with "Françafrique", its opaque practices and its networks of influence.

Disappearance of Etienne Mougeotte, former emblematic leader of TF1

After half a century of a dense journalistic career, the media man and former emblematic leader of TF1, Etienne Mougeotte died Thursday at the age of 81, his disappearance causing a wave of reactions within the media landscape. Etienne Mougeotte "died this afternoon" in hospital following an illness, said Francis Morel, a close friend of the family and the former leader. The information was also broadcast by Europe 1 and Le Figaro, editorial offices he directed. A prominent media figure, the journalist has criss-crossed editorial offices including France Inter, Europe 1, RTL. But it was as leader of TF1, where he remained for 20 years, that the man made an impression. "Etienne Mougeotte has shaped the history of our channel, with him, it has settled in the homes of the French", welcomed in a press release Gilles Pélisson, current CEO of the TF1 group.

IN SHORT

Highlight of the Nobel season, the peace prize is awarded this Friday at the end of a very open edition which could give pride of place to defenders of freedom of the press, to Belarusian opponents, even to the Swede Greta Thunberg.

After days of tension, the US Senate on Thursday dismissed the threat of a catastrophic default by the United States, approving a text that will raise the debt ceiling of the world's leading power until December.