Macron €100 billion recovery plan bets on manufacturing

African economies are due to emerge from recession this year, but their recoveries remain fragile, according to the World Bank's Africa's Pulse report. Axel van Trotsenburg, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, tells FRANCE 24 that rising inflation has led to more food insecurity across Africa. He wants the Covid-19 vaccine rollout to be accelerated in order to get 40 percent of the continent fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

In tonight's edition, we're coming to you from Montpellier where a special summit aimed at resetting ties between France and Africa gathered young people from both France and Africa. No heads of state besides French president Emmanuel Macron attended. The French president vowed a full reckoning with the legacy of colonialism as young Africans condemned France's "arrogance" and "paternalism".

President Emmanuel Macron announces a plan worth 30 billion euros ($35 billion) to re-industrialise France, saying the country should reclaim its crown as a global leader in innovation. The spending was to address "a kind of growth deficit" for France brought on by insufficient investment in the past, he told an audience of company leaders and university students.

On October 17, 1961, tens of thousands of French and Algerian citizens took to the streets to protest a curfew imposed in Paris and its suburbs. Dozens were shot, beaten to death or drowned in the brutal police response.

The French president said other nations were watching as the UK clashed with France following its departure from the EU. Tit-for-tat measures are now threatened in the row over post-Brexit access to fishing waters.

A key indicator of the health of the Chinese economy, the Purchasing Manger's Index (PMI) contracted. Analysts say the indicators of stagflation in the Chinese economy are there.

French President Emmanuel Macron took Germany's Angela Merkel to the Burgundy town of Beaune as part of her farewell visit. He presented her with France's highest award, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor.

Have we already bungled the green recovery? One year on, post-pandemic plans to turbocharge energy transition with massive next-generation infrastructure investment are still on the rails, but have taken their knocks from fiscal hawks, vested interests and infighting over what it really takes to make the planet great again.

The French press discusses the new Covid-19 rules and policy changes in President Emmanuel Macron's address to the nation. We also see how French papers are covering the Paris visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris. Finally, the British and Pakistani press are celebrating Malala's happy news.

US relations with France plummeted this year after a US-UK defense deal with Australia effectively torpedoed a French submarine contract. Vice President Kamala Harris hopes to do some damage control in Paris.

The French government's strong and swift response to the Covid-19 pandemic has won praise from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in its latest report. But the OECD is also warning of risks from debt and high public spending. For more, Stephen Carroll speaks to OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

Debt levels have increased as more sub-Saharan countries look towards borrowing. Zambia's debt now equals its total GDP, while Kenya may be speeding towards its own financial crisis.