Franco-American reconciliation: Macron in Washington on Wednesday

Despite some turmoil over American trade protectionism, Emmanuel Macron begins his three-day state visit to the United States on Wednesday, which should dramatically seal Franco-American reconciliation. After a serious diplomatic crisis between the two close allies, the French president and his wife Brigitte Macron are invited by Joe and Jill Biden to a restaurant in the federal capital for a private dinner, a prelude to Thursday's grand reception at the White House. The Democratic president chose his French counterpart for the first state visit of his term like his Republican predecessor Donald Trump in 2018.

Hearing: an exceptional trial begins to determine who was responsible for the 2016 jihadi attacks in Brussels

the morning of 22 March 2016, two jihadists blew themselves up at Brussels-Zaventem airport, and a third a full hour later in the metro in the European capital, causing a total of 32 deaths and several hundred injuries. Six and a half years after the worst attacks suffered by Belgium in peacetime, this trial promises to be the largest ever organized before a Belgian assize court. The hearing is due to start at 9:00am for the draw by the popular jury, scheduled for one day. The debates, which are due to last until June, will start next Monday. Thus, the Brussels Assize Court kicks off an extraordinary trial with nine defendants, including Salah Abdeslam, on Wednesday.

Rise in Covid-19 cases: the virus revives fears for those most at risk

Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising with falling temperatures and a new variant. The virus is back in the news nearly three years after the start of the pandemic, reviving fears for those most at risk. The Covid-19 epidemic in France experienced a brief lull after a wave at the beginning of autumn. 48,629 new cases were registered on Friday, November 25, 2022 compared to 33,177 new cases the previous Friday, an increase of 46%. Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault said that for some experts “a ninth wave is forming in France and more generally in Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America.”

Demonstrations against health restrictions: the call for the “repression” of “hostile forces”

Two days after demonstrations against health restrictions and for more freedoms not seen since 1989, the main Chinese security body called for the “repression” of “hostile forces.” For now, the police presence in the streets prevented any new gatherings. In this context, the President of the European Council Charles Michel leaves for Beijing on Tuesday evening where he will meet Xi Jinping on Thursday.

For a European official, “he will address issues of human rights and fundamental freedoms” and intends to have a frank dialogue with the Chinese president.

IN A NUTSHELL

In order to help the country, scarred by more than nine months of war, deal with the damage caused to its energy infrastructure by Russian bombings, Ukraine called on NATO member countries meeting in Bucharest on Tuesday to speed up the delivery of weapons and electrical equipment.

The Maritime Prefecture announced that during several separate operations, as they tried to reach England on board makeshift boats, some 240 migrants were rescued at sea and brought back to the French coast between Monday and Tuesday.

In response to the corruption problems identified, the European Commission is preparing to recommend freezing more than 13 billion euros in European funds intended for Hungary on Wednesday.

A jihadi attack in the Ivorian seaside town of Grand-Bassam killed 19 people, including European nationals, in 2016. The trial opens Wednesday in Abidjan.

Before knowing later in the evening whether Lionel Messi's Argentina, a possible opponent in the round of sixteen, advances to the next round or out, Kylian Mbappé's France, already qualified, has a dynamic to maintain and substitutes to consider, against Tunisia on Wednesday (16:00).