Omicron: WHO considers travel bans unnecessary, Latin America affected in turn

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday deemed travel bans unnecessary to stem the spread of the new variant of the Omicron coronavirus, cases of which were first detected in Latin America. Officially reported in South Africa on November 24, this new, highly contagious variant is believed to have actually started spreading around the world several days earlier, with Dutch health authorities announcing on Tuesday that Omicron was already circulating in the Netherlands on November 19. Omicron was detected in the Netherlands in two test samples taken on November 19 and 23 and one of the two people involved had not traveled recently, suggesting that the variant was already circulating in the country, according to the Netherlands Institute for health and the environment. On Tuesday evening, Brazil announced that it had registered its first two cases, the first also in Latin America, in travelers from South Africa. Faced with the panic that seems to be taking hold of the planet, the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called on Tuesday for "calm" and asked for a "rational" and "proportionate" response.

Crucial hearing for abortion rights at the United States Supreme Court

The future of abortion rights in the United States is being played out on Wednesday before a Supreme Court deeply overhauled by Donald Trump, who could take advantage of the review of a Mississippi law to go back nearly 50 years. The nine wise men, including six conservatives, will look from 10 a.m. (3 p.m. GMT) on a law adopted in 2018 by this southern state, which prohibits abortions after fifteen weeks of pregnancy. She is expected to make her decision next spring. The law, measured against other legislation passed in recent years, still violates the legal framework set by the Supreme Court. By agreeing to examine it, the High Court therefore sent the signal that it was ready to review its copy. This dates back to 1973: in its emblematic judgment Roe v. Wade, the Court held that the Constitution guaranteed a woman's right to an abortion and that the States could not deprive them of it. In 1992, she specified that it was valid as long as the fetus is not “viable” that is to say around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

IN SHORT

The deputies seize on Wednesday a bill against school harassment, a phenomenon against which the public authorities intend to strengthen their response.

The France team took a giant step towards the 2023 World Cup by beating the Welsh (2-0), their most serious qualifying rivals, on Tuesday with goals from Kadidiatou Diani and Selma Bacha, the alliance of the experience and the youth dear to the coach.