Headlines: Europe divided on lifting health restrictions, the United States wonders
Audio 05:16
Since the easing of health restrictions in the United Kingdom, the British can return to work in person like these City employees in London, January 24, 2021. AP - Matt Dunham
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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"
After Omicron is taking shape in Europe
", headlines
Le Soir
while "
after the United Kingdom yesterday, Denmark, Finland and France are beginning the gradual lifting of health restrictions
", invoking underlines the Belgian daily "
a lower level of hospitalizations than in previous waves
”. For these countries, the objective is therefore now “
to live with the virus
”, relying on a largely vaccinated population which should “
allow the most serious cases to be avoided
”, notes
Le Soir
again . An approach that leaves
La Repubblica
completely skeptical , which is ironic about "
this new era of freedom
as, he says, Omicron continues to sweep Europe. “
Even the mayor of London, Sadiq Kahn maintains the wearing of the mask in transport
”, notes the Italian daily which wonders about “
What will happen when the effect of the third doses of vaccine begins to fade
”. A concern shared by the
Wall Street Journal
, which underlines for its part "
The appearance of a sub-variant of Omicron, known as BA.2, which is gaining ground in the United Kingdom but also in Denmark
" . "
If there is no evidence yet that it could cause more serious forms of the disease, this remains a source of concern
", still believes the American daily. "
Omicron loosens its grip, but the pandemic is far from over
”, also warns the
New York Times
for which “
The virus continues to find its marks
”.
"
Omicron is a wake-up call on the need to vaccinate the world
", also argues the
Washington Post:
"
Until billions of people in poor countries have been vaccinated
, he explains,
the conditions remain ideal for the appearance of new variants
”.
Biden pledges to appoint a black woman to the US Supreme Court
“
For the first time in history, a black woman could sit on the Supreme Court, replacing Justice Breyer who announced his
resignation yesterday,” greets the
Washington Post
, which also sees it as a possible breath of fresh air for the president. Biden “
beset with problems, from Russia to the pandemic to a stalled domestic agenda
,” “
Breyer's retirement gives Biden another much-needed opportunity for victory, ” the
Post
comments
.
“
After a string of legislative defeats, Biden’s ability to deliver on his promise to nominate a black woman is an opportunity to show progressives he can still make change
“, underlines for its part the
New York Times
which warns nevertheless against the risk of a failure “
in a Senate at 50-50
”.
A very slim majority, thus analyzes the
Post
, which believes “
that this nomination
” which must therefore be endorsed by Congress, “
is the battle that Biden cannot afford to lose
”.
Vladimir Putin would have "a hidden fortune" in Switzerland
While the United States threatens the Russian president with personal sanctions in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, these possible sanctions awaken "
The Swiss story of Vladimir Putin's fortune
", reports
Le Temps
, the Swiss daily which highlights before the Russian president would have circumvented the law prohibiting him from holding assets abroad and would "
hold (thus) hundreds of millions of euros in Swiss banks via the intermediary of nominees
". Financial arrangements that were revealed by the famous Panama Papers in 2016, explains
Le Temps
, which points out that Finma, the policeman of the Swiss financial center has in particular in its sights “
The Zurich branch of the Gazprom Bank, suspected of money laundering”
.
Nothing could be proven, notes the Swiss daily "
but the case could return to the agenda if the American sanctions become a reality
".
The end of 30 years of estrangement between Saudi Arabia and Thailand
The reconciliation was sealed this week, reports the
Washington Post
with the visit to Riyadh of the Thai Prime Minister, and a long meeting with Prince Ben Salman, at the end of which the two leaders put an end to "
three decades of mistrust and hostility following an incredible theft of jewels
". "
20 million dollars worth of jewelry including a 50-carat blue diamond
" had been stolen in 1989 by a Thai employee from the palace of a Saudi prince. The man was quickly apprehended and some diamonds found, except for the famous blue diamond which has still not resurfaced. Four Saudi diplomats, no doubt looking for him, had also been mysteriously murdered in Bangkok in the 1990s.
This tragic page is therefore turned
”, argues the
Post
, Riyadh and Bangkok wishing to resume their economic cooperation as soon as possible, this long quarrel would have cost “
Billions of dollars in commercial matters
” between the two countries, note for its part
Arabnews
.
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