"Partygate": Boris Johnson defends himself

Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended tooth and nail, in the face of criticism from the opposition, his place as Prime Minister suspended for the publication of a potentially explosive report on the parties held in Downing Street during the confinements.

Accused of lies and called for resignation during his weekly explanation session before the deputies, the 57-year-old Conservative leader refused to comment on the ongoing investigation and rejected any departure.

He assured to focus on the economic recovery or the crisis in Ukraine, raising his voice in a stormy atmosphere.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) in Parliament in London on January 26, 2022 JESSICA TAYLOR UK PARLIAMENT/AFP

Denmark ready to lift restrictions

Despite record cases, Denmark announced on Wednesday that it wanted to lift all its internal anti-Covid restrictions on February 1, judging its high vaccination coverage sufficient in the face of the lesser severity of the Omicron variant.

The world facing the coronavirus Simon MALFATTO AFP

If the government's project receives the approval of a consulted parliamentary committee, the Nordic country would become the first in the European Union to take the plunge.

Austria loosens the noose on the non-vaccinated

Austria announced on Wednesday the upcoming lifting of the confinement of the unvaccinated, even if they will soon become outlaws with the entry into force of the compulsory vaccination against Covid-19.

Since mid-November, those who have not received an injection can only leave their homes to work, do their food shopping, play sports or for medical care.

From Monday, they will regain their freedom but will remain excluded from restaurants, hotels, cultural and sports venues which require a vaccination pass.

Beijing brushes off IMF criticism

China "has achieved remarkable results which have promoted recovery", said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the day after a call from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Beijing to relax its draconian anti-Covid measures which weigh , according to the institution, a risk on the global recovery.

Germany: lower growth forecast

The German government lowered its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2022 to 3.6% on Wednesday, against 4.1% expected in the fall, as the pandemic and shortages slow down activity.

The issue of compulsory vaccination in Germany, supported by Chancellor Olaf Scholz but which divides society, is currently being examined in the Bundestag as opponents have been demonstrating regularly for weeks at rallies sometimes accompanied by incidents.

France: aid for the self-employed

Self-employed workers, auto-entrepreneurs whose activity is penalized by the fifth wave of Covid-19, will benefit from reductions in social security contributions and "exceptional financial assistance", the French government announced on Wednesday.

A demonstration took place at the same time in front of the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the call of several organizations of independents.

Covid-19: global assessment AFP

Armenia: the head of government tested positive

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has isolated himself after testing positive for the new coronavirus, the government of this former Soviet republic said on Wednesday.

He and his family had already been infected with the coronavirus in June 2020.

More than 5.6 million dead

The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 5,614,118 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Wednesday at 11:00 GMT.

In absolute terms, the countries that have recorded the most deaths are the United States with 872,126 deaths, Brazil (623,843), India (491,127) and Russia (328,105).

The World Health Organization estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially recorded.

burx-fm-jba/cds/lpt

© 2022 AFP