In the spotlight: the ex-boss of Greenpeace becomes the "Madam climate" of the German government

Audio 05:24

Jennifer Morgan, the future "climate ambassador", spoke alongside Annalena Baerbock, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Berlin this Wednesday, February 9.

© REUTERS/POOL

By: Véronique Rigolet Follow

4 mins

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The American Jennifer Morgan, 55, an emblematic climate activist, " 

has been chosen by the head of German diplomacy

 ", the green Annalena Baerbock, to " 

steer German foreign climate policy

 ", reports

Die Welt, 

which points out that 

the "ex-Greenpeace activist

 " will be in a way what John Kerry is to Joe Biden by becoming " 

Germany's special envoy for the climate on the international scene

 ".

The German government is thus keeping its promise to place the climate crisis 'at the top' of the diplomatic agenda

 ", comments the

Guardian

, which specifies that while waiting for her German naturalization, Jennifer Morgan "will 

first work as a as Special Representative

– before being appointed Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 ”.

A nomination that caused a lot of ink to flow in the German press, while the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

hailed " 

the green flash

 " and the 

Tagesspiegel

wished Baerbock and Morgan good luck

 " in their fight,

does not believe his ears

 ,” he says, and castigates “ 

the fact that a foreign activist is thus called upon to shape and represent German climate policy at the international level

 ”.

“ 

Does the government want to entrust the state to lobbyists

?

 “, strangles the daily.

A skepticism shared by the

Volksstimme

, which for its part wonders " 

if the flag of Greenpeace will soon be hoisted above the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 ".

After thirty years of climate activism, Jennifer Morgan will have to show that she can think 'politics', in addition to the protection of the environment and human rights ", comments

Die Welt

 more soberly .

Jennifer Morgan “ 

officially will take office on March 1st

 ”, reports the

Guardian

, she wants to go quickly “ 

to Brussels and then to Paris

 ”.

Russia launches major military maneuvers in Belarus

As diplomatic efforts continue to try to defuse the Ukraine crisis, Russia is embarking on " 

wide-ranging maneuvers with Belarus

 ", headlines the

Washington Post

, adding tension to an " 

already explosive situation on the borders of the Ukraine".

'Ukraine

 ", underlines the

Guardian

, which details for these maneuvers which will last ten days the presence of " 

30,000

Russian soldiers, two battalions of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems as well as numerous fighter planes

 ".

“ 

A gesture of great violence

 ”, worries France.

“ 

The dress rehearsal for war begins

 ,” headlines the

Times

, pointing out that in the face of “ 

Russian-Belarusian manoeuvres

,” “ 

the British army is also conducting a joint military exercise with Estonian forces

 .”

The Baltic countries who are worried that Russia " 

could occupy a small portion of the border territory of Estonia or Lithuania in order to test NATO's will to defend its member states

 ", further underlines the

Times

.

London speeds up lifting of latest health restrictions

“ 

All restrictions will be lifted in two weeks, including the obligation to self-isolate after a positive test

 ”, rejoices the

Daily Mail, 

which describes February 24 as “ 

liberation day

 ”, “ 

after two years from hell, finally the return to normal

 “, also welcomes the

Daily Star

.

It's a month earlier than expected

 ," said the

Guardian

, which wondered about the acceleration of the schedule, citing the fears of scientists for whom " 

it's going too far, much too soon

 ", while " 

nothing says that the end of the pandemic is really in sight

 ”.

As he faces new revelations about the Partygate scandal, " 

this announcement is in any case clearly intended to treat Conservative MPs

 " who are calling for an end to the lockdown, comments the British daily.

Indignation and anger against footballer Kurt Zouma accused of mistreating his cats

The case is taken up in the whole of the world press, " 

Zouma sentenced for cruelty to animals

 ", headlines the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

The player is seen laughing in a video as he punches and kicks his cats

 ," reports The

New York Times

.

The French international, who plays for English club West Ham United, has already been forced to pay “ 

a fine of 300,000

euros, his sponsor Adidas put him on the sidelines and his cats were taken away from him

 ”, but the controversy still does not fall back to the United Kingdom, underlines the

Times

, which reports " 

that 200

000 people are demanding in an online petition that he be prosecuted

 ”.

“ 

Even the mayor of London Sadiq Khan demands that he be removed from his West Ham team

 ,” said the Italian daily

La Repubblica

.

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