The risk presented by Omicron remains "very high" according to the WHO

“The overall risk linked to the worrying new variant Omicron remains very high”, warns the WHO in its weekly epidemiological bulletin. “Reliable evidence shows that the Omicron variant possesses a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling rate of two to three days,” adds the WHO, noting that “a rapid increase in case incidence is observed in a number of countries. Covid-19 contaminations are exploding in particular in France, under the pressure of the Omicron variant with a new record at nearly 180,000 cases, the day after a new series of measures announced to try to deal with the health crisis. At the end of a Defense Council followed by an exceptional Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Jean Castex unveiled the government's new response: no curfew on December 31 or postponement of the start of the school year, but a return of the gauges, set at a maximum of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 outdoors, the "compulsory" use of teleworking "where possible", the ban on standing concerts and standing consumption in bars and cafes.

IN SHORT

Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday arrested six current and former members of the local independent media outlet Stand News on charges of "seditious publication" under a colonial-era law.

The 49th Angoulême International Comics Festival, originally scheduled for January 27 to 30, 2022, will be postponed due to the health crisis. Its 2021 edition had already been greatly disrupted.

About sixty researchers fear, Tuesday in a forum in Le Monde, that the new French space strategy presented by Bruno Le Maire is "turning away" from scientific research in favor of the industrial dimension alone.

Foot: Paris SG striker Kylian Mbappé assured that he would "finish the season" with his club "100%". Asked about a possible departure, the 23-year-old French international, regularly announced at Real Madrid, replied with a smile: "I am at PSG and I am very happy. I will finish the season, 100%".