Olivier de Lagarde 9:35 a.m., February 16, 2024

Every day on Europe 1's morning show, Olivier de Lagarde scrutinizes and analyzes the day's press. Today, the boss of Google, President Zelenski and Kylian MBappé.

The master of the world

He's one of the most powerful men on the planet, and yet his name probably means nothing to you...

His name is Sundar Pichai. Who is it ? The big boss of Google. A rare man who grants an enlightening interview to Les Echos.

What does he tell us? That we are still struggling to realize how much AI will change. “Humanity has not worked on such profound technology since fire or electricity. It’s a disruptive technology, it will affect all sectors,” he warns.

From Madras to Stanford

But beyond this interview, there is also the story of Sundar Pichai, perhaps symbolic of a world where Europe is slowly disappearing. “Its success makes it one of the symbols of success for Indian Tech engineers” writes Hortense Goulard.

He was born into a modest family in Madras. A brilliant student, he obtained a scholarship and flew to Stanford in California. Spotted by Google, he was hired as a simple product manager. He then managed to convince the founders to let him build a browser: it would be Google Chrome…

Since 2019, it is he who has the keys to the American company which, beyond its power, is one of the ones which is inventing our future.

The choice of poverty

But I was talking about a Europe which is slowly disappearing and this is another piece of information on the front page of Les Echos which tells us: The commission

European Union forecasts only 0.8% economic growth next year, announces the newspaper. You can of course shrug your shoulders, but still read Lucie Robequain's editorial:

“Fifteen years ago, she recalls, the economy of the Euro zone rivaled that of the United States, it now weighs half as much. In 15 years, the growth of the euro zone has increased by 6% that of the United States: 82%.

Why this dropout? “By prioritizing quality of life, job security and free time, Europeans have also made the choice to become poorer,” she replies.

A choice that makes us more dependent on the United States in terms of technology but also defense…

“This philosophy of living less rich but happy is defensible - she continues -, but it must still be accepted, which our propensity for social protest seems to contradict.

To convince yourself, take a look at Libération this morning. On the sidelines of the strike at the SNCF, the newspaper wrote a long article to persuade us that what pays in our country is not work, it is the strike... SIC!

A Ukrainian in Paris…

This is excellent news, France remains firmly committed alongside Ukraine, writes Jean Dominique Merchet of Opinion. President Zelensky will be at the Elysée today to sign a bilateral security agreement.

It remains to be seen how much we are willing to pay so that the Ukrainians continue to wage war for us. Because perhaps we will finally find out… “The agreement should finally include

encrypted data” explains Nicolas Barotte of Le Figaro. “Paris wants to respond to its detractors who complain about the opacity (and stinginess) surrounding French arms deliveries.”

Kylian who???

I'm talking to you about all this but I'm well aware that all its subjects are ultimately quite secondary compared to THE news... The one that makes the front page of Le Parisien, L'Equipe obviously and a large number of newspapers... The departure from Kylian Mbappé of PSG…

The Team devotes no less than 7 pages to the event and to expressing its sadness...

“It's decided, I'm leaving you” is the slightly melodramatic title of the Team below a photo where MBappé looks sad. That's in Paris, but in Madrid the mood of the major sports daily Marca is much more joyful...

“He goes… He comes…” He goes… He arrives…. The Madrilenian daily triumphs above a large photo of MBappé all smiles this time.

Truth on this side of the Pyrenees, said Pascal, error beyond…

But not all the press is passionate about MBappé... One daily newspaper apparently doesn't care much about it: La Provence in Marseille which only announces the news in a few lines in a corner of page 24.

Kylian who??? should we ask ourselves at OM...

Macron: Mayor of Marseille?

On the other hand, the same Provence devotes a long article to THE rumor which is starting to grow: Emmanuel Macron Mayor of Marseille!

It all started with an article in Le Figaro suggesting that Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, Minister of the City, could be at the head of a presidential majority list for municipal elections in 2026. A list on which Macron could appear. If she were elected, she could resign the following year, as soon as the presidential election is over, to make way for the young retiree from the Elysée...

So here is a rumor that will cause a lot more talk in the old port than the departure of... of... Kylian how already??