International press review
In the spotlight: the crisis is worsening in the United Kingdom, where inflation has just exceeded 10%
Audio 04:16
Massive strikes resume this Thursday, August 18 in transport, as in London where employees of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
© AP/Frank Augstein
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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10.1% inflation, very exactly last month, is "
the worst figure for 40 years
", says the
Financial Times
, which estimates that the future Prime Minister will thus inherit an economy which will resemble "
that of the 1970s when Britain was considered "the sick man of Europe
".
And anger is brewing in the Kingdom, with massive strikes resuming this Thursday, August 18, in transport, reports the British press.
But also the
New York Times
which points out that according to economists, "
the worst is yet to come
" predicting a "
new peak in the fall and a dizzying increase in energy bills for English households
".
"
Two-thirds of British families could find themselves in a situation of fuel poverty by January
", headlines the
Guardian
, which highlights a study according to which "
18 million households, or 45 million people, will have difficulty in making ends meet
" next fall.
►
To read also: United Kingdom: faced with inflation, consumers refuse to pay their energy bills
And Europe is also "
facing gloomy prospects
", estimates for its part in a The
Wall Street Journal
which explains that if "
the surge in prices is particularly severe in the United Kingdom due to Brexit
", the threats of a gas shortage due to the Ukrainian conflict "
could push Europe into recession
".
“
Spain and Greece are already facing double-digit inflation
” and according to economists, “
Germany could also join them
” notes the American daily.
Germany opposes visa ban for all Russians
A ban demanded by Ukrainian President Zelensky and which divides European countries;
while the Nordic countries are in favor of it, the reluctance expressed by Chancellor Scholz is still harshly commented on in the German press.
For the
Handelsblatt
, no hesitation, "
it is time to put an end to the granting of Schengen visas for Russian citizens who are not persecuted in their country
", "
a question of rationality
", explains the daily
as Germans now have to pay a gas tax, the Russian population must be shown that the actions of their leaders have consequences for them as well
.”
Opposite sentiment in the
Suddeutsche Zeitung
which defends the position of the German government "
not to make the Russians pay for Putin's war
".
For the Munich newspaper, “
a global banishment from the European Union against Russian citizens would amount to collective punishment, questionable both legally and politically
”.
Reservations shared by the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
for which “
Europe must leave its doors open to Russian students who want to escape the anti-Western indoctrination of their universities and to Russians persecuted by the regime
”.
After years of estrangement, Turkey and Israel normalize relations
Even if Ankara immediately affirmed its desire "
to continue to defend the Palestinians
", specifies the Swiss daily
Le Temps
, the two countries ratified, on August 17, "
the complete restoration of their diplomatic relations
" after 12 years of estrangement, "
after the deadly assault in May 2010 of a Turkish vessel by Israeli forces
”.
A reconciliation that comes "
while Turkey in the midst of an economic crisis is trying to end its international isolation
", specifies the
Washington Post
"
by normalizing its ties with several countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
".
A similar desire for the Jewish state, which relies in particular on Ankara “
to face Iran
”.
►
To read also:
Turkey / Israel: "These are two regional powers which have no interest in entering into conflict"
In the midst of the Ukrainian conflict, and faced with Russian gas blackmail, “
President Erdogan also wishes to exploit Israel's lucrative natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean
,” underlines the
New York Times
.
“
Israel already has operational reserves and pipelines going to Jordan and Egypt
,” notes
El Pais
, who argues that Turkey “
is an important hub for energy networks to Europe
.”
Japanese government launches competition to encourage young people to drink
This made the front page of the
Financial Times
, which would almost choke on it “
while most countries would congratulate themselves on the sobriety of its young people, Japan is launching a campaign to encourage them to consume more alcohol
”.
With the aim
of "saving tax revenues
", dangerously low in Japan because "
the youth, unlike their elders, are abandoning alcoholic beverages
".
In particular beer, whose sales fell by 20%, specifies the
Guardian
.
Hence the "
Vive le Saké
" operation just launched by the Japanese National Tax Agency, a competition among young people aged 20 to 39 to collect all the best ideas in order to "
revitalize the popularity of alcoholic beverages
”.
In moderation of course “
in appropriate quantity
” argues the Japanese Ministry of Health.
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