Philippe Agret appointed Brussels bureau chief

Former chief editor for France Didier Lauras has been appointed head of the AFP sports department, replacing Vincent Amalvy who has joined the sales and marketing department with responsibility for the Agency’s global sports strategy, major event organisation (the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Euro Football Championship) and partnership development.

Sport, along with strengthening the video offering, is a strategic editorial priority for AFP. With the 2016 Summer Olympics approaching and the Ryder Cup to be held in France in 2018, AFP and the French Golf Federation have formed a partnership to offer more content.

Agence France-Presse has announced the launch of "AFPTV Live", a new service for television networks offering more than 500 live videos a year.

This contract completes a months-long process of transformation for AFP, marked by: a development plan defining strategic priorities; the positive resolution of the complaint filed in Brussels against France for State aid, endorsing under European law the missions of general interest devolved upon the Agency; the creation of a technical subsidiary of means and innovation to provide financing for future investments; the amendment of AFP’s statute under the law of 17 April 2015 which strengthens the agency’s governing bodies; and ongoing social negotiations aimed at giving AFP a general company agreement.

On the occasion of the 68th Cannes Film Festival, Agence France-Presse is partnering with the city of Cannes for the third time to present ‘Cannes FAIT LE MUR’, an exhibition of 18 giant photographs which will adorn the walls of the city and its rue d’Antibes from 13 may to 31 August 2015.

Entries are open for The 2015 Edition of the African Fact Checking Awards, co-sponsored by the AFP Foundation and the African Fact-Checking website

CHRISTINE BUHAGIAR, CURRENTLY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF VIDEO RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HAS BEEN APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF AFP’S EUROPE REGION, REPLACING FLORENCE BIEDERMANN. Christine Buhagiar will specifically contribute her video development expertise to the region. Christine Buhagiar, now 53, studied at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and the Centre de Formation des Journalistes.  She joined AFP in 1984 and has spent her entire career with the Agency.

Drawing from its broad network across Africa, AFP is launching a 10-minute programme highlighting Africa’s diversity.

Global news agency Agence France-Presse on Wednesday launched the 2015 edition of the Kate Webb prize, which is awarded to locally-hired journalists in Asia for exceptional coverage done in dangerous or difficult conditions. It carries a 3,000-euro ($3,300) cash prize and applications are open until May 8, 2015 at midnight Hong Kong time (1600 GMT). The winner will be announced in May and invited to a prize-giving ceremony in Asia.