Briefly

CHINA

Princess Sirindhorn to attend Olympic opening

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday welcomed the attendance of Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next month. Being a good and old friend of the Chinese people, Sirindhorn attended the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and received the Friendship Medal in 2019. She will witness Beijing become the first "Dual Olympic City" in the world, which will greatly advance the development of the international Olympic cause, Zhao said.

UNITED STATES

Liberal Supreme Court Justice Breyer to retire

Stephen Breyer, one of three liberal justices in the US Supreme Court, plans to retire, paving the way for President Joe Biden to name the first black woman to the nation's highest court. The 83-year-old Breyer will step down after the court's current term ends in June, reported US media on Wednesday. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president "certainly stands by" his campaign promise to nominate a black woman in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy. The court is currently split between six conservatives and three liberals. Breyer's retirement will allow Biden to nominate another liberal-leaning jurist to the court. Biden's Republican predecessor Donald Trump was able to choose three justices during his four years in office.

UNITED KINGDOM

Restrictions lifted as virus threat recedes

Most novel coronavirus restrictions including mandatory face masks were lifted in England on Thursday, after Britain's government said its vaccine booster rollout successfully reduced serious illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations. From Thursday, face coverings are no longer required by law anywhere in England, and a legal requirement for COVID passes for entry into nightclubs and other large venues has been scrapped. But some shops and public transport operators said they will continue to ask people to don their face masks. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said face coverings will still be required on the capital's buses and subway trains.

China Daily - Agencies