Evening News Update Friday 4 January

Act 8 of the yellow vest movement is planned for this weekend with a march to the National Assembly in Paris and demonstrations in other regions of France. There have been calls on social media for protests to be held in Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Clermont-Ferrand as well as Nice. Figures quoted in French media suggest that about one quarter of the number of yellow vest protestors were protesting yesterday, the 3rd of January, compared to one month ago. 

Police have blocked the entrance to a former hospital building in Nice after yellow vest protesters were found to have been occupying the building of Saint-Roch which is located in the center of the city. Police intervened yesterday evening. Protester had been occupying the premises for 10 days and had hoped to remain until the end of the winter break.

The body of a man has been found near the port of Saint-Laurent-du-Var.  The discovery was made by fishermen this afternoon on the rocks near to the harbour master’s office at the entrance to the marina.

A 65 year old man has died during a bike ride in Théoule-sur-Mer this morning. A friend summoned help but pompiers were unable to revive the victim.  It’s believed he died of cardiac arrest.

Newly released data has shown that 2018 was one of the stormiest years in France for at least several decades. Almost 725,000 lightning bolts between clouds and the ground were recorded, the highest figure since records began in 1987. There were also over 8 million bolts of lightning between clouds. Corsica was the most affected region, followed by the PACA region. Meteo France have said that 2018 was the hottest year in France since 1900.

BUSINESS

New figures suggests that French service sector activity fell at its fastest pace in more than four years in December. The IHS Markit purchasing managers index showed a reading of 49.0 in December from 55.1 in November. A figure below 50 indicates contraction. Meanwhile, year on year inflation in the eurozone was 1.6% in December, down from 1.9% in the previous month.

A US delegation is visiting China next week for talks aimed at defusing the trade war between the two countries. Last year China and the US imposed tariffs on more than $300bn worth of each other's goods. President Trump and President Xi Jinping agreed not to impose any new tariffs for 90 days on 1 December on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina.

According to new figures released today, total non-farm payroll employment in the US increased by 312,000 in December.  Meanwhile, German unemployment fell by more than expected in December, keeping the unemployment rate at a record low. The German Federal Labour Office said the seasonally adjusted jobless total fell by 14,000 to 2.261 million. The unemployment rate remained at 5%, the lowest since German reunification in 1990.

SPORT

Cricket..It’s been Day 2 of the India v Australia Fourth Test in Sydney. At the close of play India were on 622 for 7 declared, and Australia were on 24 for no loss, meaning that Australia trail India by 598 runs with 10 wickets remaining.

Tennis…Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu says she "did the impossible" by beating seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams a day after defeating world number three Caroline Wozniacki. Andreescu, who is 18, won 11 games in a row on her way to a  6-7  6-1  6-3 win over Williams at the Auckland International.

Football… Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been warned by the Football Association about his behaviour during yesterday’s match against Liverpool. Guardiola threw his scarf to the ground and shouted at an official after a decision had gone against his team. This is Guardiola’s first warning. If any manager receives four such warnings then they have to serve a touchline ban.