Macron will appoint a prime minister "committed to the social, environmental and productive issue"
Emmanuel Macron indicated that the Prime Minister he will appoint to replace Jean Castex would be "someone who is attached to the social question, the environmental question and the productive question".  "I believe in overcoming, the political color does not say everything", he also stressed in a market in Cergy, for his first trip since his re-election on Sunday, in response to a question from a journalist on the possibility of seeing a left-wing personality appointed. "Jean Castex came from the right; he has carried out one of the most social policies of recent decades, because he is also a man of heart and he has the social fiber," added the head of state.
Washington and Moscow exchange prisoners
Discreet negotiations in the midst of an international crisis, concluded by a flight to freedom on the tarmac of an airport: with a very scripted prisoner exchange. Russia and the United States on Wednesday revived a ritual dating back to the Cold War. While the West has taken up the cause of Russia-invaded Ukraine, the US has insisted that it is not making any diplomatic overtures to Moscow. But this exchange shows that the two powers still maintain relations on specific subjects. Russian television showed former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, 30, getting out of a pickup truck accompanied by three Russian soldiers in camouflage gear, apparently on the tarmac of an airport. A plane then flew to Turkey where it was exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot convicted of drug trafficking and imprisoned in the United States.
RFI and France 24 definitively suspended in Mali
The cleaver fell for RFI and France 24 in Mali: the broadcast of the two French audiovisual media, already cut off since mid-March, was definitively suspended on Wednesday, a sign of an escalation of tensions between Paris and Bamako. France Médias Monde (FMM), the parent company of RFI and France 24, reacted by contesting "with force such a measure". The group said it had received notification of this decision from the High Authority of Communication of Mali. The junta had ordered on March 17 the suspension of the two media after the publication by RFI and France 24 of reports that the Malian army was involved in abuses against civilians. A decision described as "serious" by Emmanuel Macron.
IN BRIEF
EU energy ministers will meet on Monday (2 May) in an "extraordinary session", after Russia announced the suspension of gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. These two countries are now supplied with gas "by their EU neighbours", said the President of the European Commission.
Groups linked to the Russian state have carried out more than 200 cyber attacks against Ukraine and its infrastructure since the early days of the Russian military invasion, according to a report by US it giant Microsoft.
Elon Musk, who has just made a deal to buy Twitter, has criticized and publicly mocked executives of the Californian company, sparking anger while many employees already seem worried about being led by the boss of Tesla.
Football: Liverpool, largely dominating, beat Villarreal 2 goals to 0 at home, in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, confirming their status as favorites for the final, on May 28 at the Stade de France. The second leg in Spain will be played on Tuesday.