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09:01 : It’s 9 a.m., let’s take a look at the news:
• Crowned Olympic slalom champion, skier Clément Noël offered a fourth gold medal to the French delegation at the Winter Games in China. We are now following the ladies’ relay in biathlon, with the hope of a 14th podium for the tricolors. Follow our live.
• The obligation to wear a mask in business or at school could end “in mid-March”, said the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, on this day of lifting new restrictions in nightclubs, bars, stadiums, cinemas and transport,
• The day after Moscow announced a “partial withdrawal” troops massed on the Ukrainian borders, Russia reported the departure of another part of its forces, which “completed their tactical exercises” in the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
• Thanks to a last-minute feat from Kylian Mbappé, PSG won a deserved victory against Real Madrid (1-0) last night in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League. Argentinian Lionel Messi missed a penalty for the Parisians earlier.
08:17 : Why a “day of unity” today? The date was chosen in response to reports from US intelligence services which suggested in recent days that the Russian invasion of the country could begin on February 16.
08:15 : Meanwhile, Ukraine celebrates a “day of unity”. At the call of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the inhabitants are invited to hang their national flag or display its blue and yellow colors, as a sign of patriotism and refusal to “the panic” against threats of invasion.
(EyePress/AFP)
08:18 : New gesture of appeasement from Moscow? Russia announces the departure of some of its forces which had gone to the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where they “completed their tactical exercises”.
08:04 : “I think President Macron’s visit to Moscow marked the end of the escalation.”
On France Inter, the head of European diplomacy calls for “to remain vigilant” despite the announcement of the withdrawal of part of the Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. “Can we say that this is the beginning of the de-escalation? Yes, maybe, we have to see. Russia is playing with cold and hot.”
06:55 : While the caterpillar restarts in French boxes, the caterpillars of Russian tanks at the gates of Ukraine make Europe shiver. Some of your dailies devote their front page to “withdrawal partiel” announced by Moscow, welcomed with caution in the Western camp.
06:09 : Here are the first titles of this Wednesday, February 16:
• Thanks to the decline of the fifth wave, the government is lifting new restrictions from today. It is possible to return to discotheques, to consume standing up in bars or to eat and drink in stadiums, cinemas and transport.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed a “partial withdrawal” troops massed on the Ukrainian borders. It is “a first encouraging signal”greeted Emmanuel Macron, even if, according to the United States, “An invasion remains quite possible”.
• Nicolas Bay, spokesperson for Marine Le Pen’s campaign, has been suspended from his duties within the National Rally. The party accuses him of having transmitted confidential information to Eric Zemmour, a “sabotage” disputed by the accused.
• Thanks to a last-minute feat from Kylian Mbappé, PSG won a deserved victory against Real Madrid (1-0) last night in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League. Argentinian Lionel Messi missed a penalty for the Parisians earlier.