6:25 p.m. on August 23, 2021, modified at 6:31 p.m. on August 23, 2021
1. In Afghanistan, the West is trying to buy time
The G7 countries meet on Tuesday for “urgent discussions” on the situation in Afghanistan, in the words of Boris Johnson, whose country currently holds the chairmanship of the group. This virtual summit should in particular make it possible to better coordinate the evacuations of people at risk from Kabul airport.
This week-end, Joe Biden raised the possibility of extending the American presence beyond August 31 in order to carry out this mission, but the Taliban refuse any concession and threaten not to form a government before the troops leave. “Additional time is needed to complete the current operations,” Jean-Yves Le Drian also recalled today. The Minister of Foreign Affairs considers that access to the airport remains “the main concern” and indicates that “it is necessary to increase further [la] coordination locally, with the United States and [les] partners present on site “.
Read also our full article – Virtual G7, evacuations … In Afghanistan, the West is trying to buy time
2. Make way for the Paralympic Games
4,400 athletes, 22 disciplines and 539 events. Until September 4, Tokyo continues to be the sports capital of the world by hosting the 16th Summer Paralympic Games, which will kick off on Tuesday during the opening ceremony (1 p.m., France 3). The 138 French athletes will be led by flag bearers Stéphane Houdet, wheelchair tennis star, and Sandrine Martinet, judokate.
But again, the Covid-19 tarnishes the party: Japan records a record of 25,000 daily cases (on average over seven days), the media describe saturated public hospitals (most private clinics refusing to take care of Covid patients) and 107 contaminations linked to the Paralympic Games have already been identified. The restrictions have been tightened further: the athletes will compete behind closed doors, will be tested daily, will have to eat alone and will not be able to venture outside the infrastructures.
3. Covid-19: what changes the formal authorization of the Pfizer vaccine in the United States
U.S. Medicines Agency (FDA) Just Fully Approves Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid Vaccine for over 16s. Previously, the serum had emergency authorization. This decision could boost the vaccination campaign across the Atlantic for three reasons:
The industrialist will be able to make television advertising American;
Many administrations, companies, hospitals or even universities were waiting for this announcement to make vaccination compulsory for their employees or students. The Pentagon has just taken the plunge for its 1.3 million active service soldiers, as has New York City for the staff of its public schools;
The authorities have the (limited) hope that this formal approval will convince some hesitant.
4. Nice-OM: the two clubs summoned before the Disciplinary Commission
Sunday night at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
(Reuters)–
Sunday night at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
(Reuters)–
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Nice and Marseillais will have to explain themselves Wednesday before the Disciplinary Commission of the LFP, after the “serious incidents” which took place last night at the Allianz Riviera, at the end of the third day of Ligue 1. After an invasion of the field by local supporters and clashes between players of OGC Nice and the ‘OM, the match was interrupted in the 75th minute for an hour and a half, before finally resuming without the Marseillais, who refused to return to the pitch for safety reasons.
“These incidents are an insult to football,” said Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu on BFMTV this morning, calling for “sanctions” against the culprits and “penalties” against OGC Nice. Today, an investigation was also opened by the Nice prosecutor’s office.
5. Economic circles and militant movements are back to school
Attac, Greenpeace, Solidaires, Droit au logement, the CGT or the League of Human Rights … From Tuesday and until Saturday, nearly 500 NGOs, unions, collectives and associations meet in Nantes for the Summer University of Social Movements and Solidarity.
At the same time, the Medef launches its Meeting of French entrepreneurs with a prelude devoted to the Francophonie, at the Paris Longchamp racecourse, in the presence of Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Secretary of State Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi, and Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina. The “REF21” itself will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.
6. Eiffel at the opening of the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival
Romain Duris in “Eiffel” by Martin Bourboulon.
(Sipa)–
Romain Duris in “Eiffel” by Martin Bourboulon.
(Sipa)–
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A glamorous duo, a symbol of Paris and of the great spectacle: Eiffel, who romances the construction of the Iron Lady, with Romain Duris and Emma Mackey, is “a French story that should go around the world,” predicts producer Dominique Besnehard. The feature film will open on Tuesday the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival.
Until Sunday, ten films will attempt to win the Valois d’or, including the thriller Black Box, with Pierre Niney, Rose, the first film by singer Aurélie Saada, or A story of love and desire, by Leyla Bouzid, noticed in Cannes. An adaptation ofEugenie Grandet by Marc Dugain will ensure the closing.
Objectives: to set the tone for the back-to-school season, with the festival used to launching future successes such as Untouchables in 2011, but also support the attendance of dark rooms, disrupted by the sanitary pass.
We’re happy: Koh-Lanta is 20 years old
Prepare your bandanas: TF1’s adventure game returns Tuesday evening for a special edition, titled Koh-Lanta: The Legend. The opportunity for the first channel to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its flagship program, followed on average by more than five million viewers. The show appeared for the first time on August 4, 2001. Presented by pilot Hubert Auriol, who died this year, with Denis Brogniart in voiceover (he then presented all the other editions), it then took place in Thailand, on the archipelago of… Koh-Lanta.
Twenty former candidates who have marked the twenty regular seasons appear in the cast of this anniversary edition tour in French Polynesia. Regulars of the show will easily recognize Claude, the record holder for victories in the events, Teheiura, of which it is already the fifth adventure, or Clémence, the only double winner of the show. And of course, in the end, there will be only one left.
