Local
Yellow vest demonstrations - Five yellow vest protesters have been arrested following demonstrations in Nice on Saturday. According to local media the demonstration degenerated on Avenue Jean Medecin on Saturday evening. One of those arrested was placed in police custody and will appear before court for making death threats against the police.
Meanwhile on Sunday fellow protesters attached a banner promoting the RIC the “citizen’s referendum” on the side of the Bellanda tower located on the hillside of the chateau in Nice.
In Marseille, ten people were arrested during “yellow vests” demonstrations. Several thousand people marched on Saturday in Marseille for “act 10” of the movement.
In Avignon, the Prefecture counted 1500 demonstrators and eight arrests, during protests which saw clashes with police in which one officer was wounded.
And in Toulon and Cagnes sur Mer debates were held. In Toulon a cinema opened its doors to "yellow vests" on Sunday, to exchange ideas about participating in the “National debate” launched by French President Emmanuel Macron last week, and in Cagnes sur Mer the Mayor launched a meeting with plans to allow citizens to express the themselves on a regular basis with a series of meetings planned by the local council.
Fire in Courchevel - Two people have been killed in a major fire at the ski resort of Courchevel in the French Alps. The blaze forced the evacuation of some 60 resort workers, including foreigners, from a three-storey accommodation building. The fire began at around 4:30 am on Sunday on the first and top floor of the resort. Guests were seen climbing over the balconies. According to the prefecture, four people were severely injured. Three of them were flown to hospital by helicopter. Eighteen others sustained minor injuries, with around 60 affected by smoke inhalation.
Explosives in the gulf of St Tropez - The Maritime Prefecture in the Var has announced that four German torpedoes and a World War II mine are to be neutralized this week. The devices are located in the waters of Pampelonne in the gulf of Saint Tropez. The operation will be carried between Monday and Thursday. The last operation of its kind was carried out in the same area in April of last year.
Monte Carlo Rally – Organisers of the Monte Carlo Rally have held a meeting at the Automobile Club here in Monaco. Speaking ahead of this year’s event which starts on Thursday Vice President of the ACM and Chief Medical officer Robert Scarlot said “there is 99% of the public which respect security measures put in place, but unfortunately a small percentage of those who don’t”. Outlining security measures ahead of this year’s event Scarlot reminded spectators to respect security measures put in place.
National
Treaty - France and Germany are to sign a new treaty on Tuesday aimed at breathing new life into their place at the centre of the European Union. As the UK moves to leave the EU the new treaty commits wholeheartedly to defending it.
Emmanuel Macron - According to a survey published on Sunday Emmanuel Macron’s popularity has climbed by four points in one month to 27% while that of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe fell one point to 30%. Figures showed that 5% say they are "very satisfied" with Emmanuel Macron as President of the Republic while 22% say they are "quite satisfied" and 72% of French people remain "dissatisfied".
Snowfall - Meteo France has forecast snow for a large part of the country tomorrow and Wednesday with 5 to 10 cm expected to the east with heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees.
Business
China’s economy continued to slow in the final quarter of 2018 according to official data,raising concerns about the effect on the global economy.
The economy grew at 6.4 percent in the three months to December-down from 6.5 percent in the previous quarter and for the full year,growth came in a 6.6 percent-the slowest rate since 1990.
The data was in line with forecasts but underlined concerns about weakening growth in the world’s second largest economy.
Italy’s populist government is facing renewed criticism about its economic policies after new signs of a slowdown fuelled speculation that additional measures will be necessary to spur growth and contain the budget deficit.
Italy has been struggling to break out of years of stagnation and the latest signals from banks and businesses point to data that’s expected to show that the country will have the slowest growth in the eurozone this year and next.
On Friday,the bank of Italy cut its growth forecast for the next two years and signalled that the economy might have already slipped into recession at the end of 2018.
The government responded by criticising the central bank and stressing that its policies to lower the pension age and boost welfare spending would promote growth.
And-The World Economic Forum starts in Davos tomorrow although there will be several notable absences at the meeting of the world’s movers and shakers.
US President Donald Trump will not attend as he grapples with the government shutdown in Washington and the British Prime Minister Theresa May will also be absent as she focuses on Brexit.
Topics covered this year will include geopolitics in a multiconceptual world,the future of the global economy,industry systems and technology policy,risk resilience,human capital and society and global institutional reform.
The meeting at the luxurious Swiss resort will conclude on Friday.
Sport
Tennis-We’re into the second week of the Australian Open in Melbourne and Japan’s Naomi Osaka is through to the women’s quarter finals after coming from behind to beat Anastasija Sevastova in three sets.
Osaka dropped the first set but eventually came through 4-6 6-3 6-4 as she tries to add the Australian Open title to the US Open that she won last year.
She’ll now play Elina Svitolina in the last 8-she beat Madison Keys of the United States in three sets.
Football-There were two games in the English Premier League on Sunday.Bottom of the table Huddersfield lost 3-0 at home to second placed Manchester City while third placed Spurs were 2-1 winners at Fulham.
There was one tie in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.Hearts beat Livingston 1-0.
Rugby Union-There were two games in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.Leinster were 37-19 winners at Wasps while Toulouse beat Bath 20-17.
The win for Leinster means that they’ll have home advantage against Ulster in the quarter finals while Saracens will play Glasgow,Edinburgh face Munster and Racing 92 will play Toulouse.
Weather
Clear skies with light variable winds.
Top temperature 11 degrees.
Overnight lows of 4 degrees on the coast and -2 degrees inland with a sharp frost and clear skies.
Monday and Tuesday-Clear skies tomorrow with a high of 11.Rain on Wednesday with a high of 9.
Finally
Brace yourself for Blue Monday, the worst day of the year thanks to New Year’s resolutions failing, debt and Christmas being a distant memory.
Today is ‘Blue Monday’, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. So why is the third Monday in January especially glum. One expert claims you have to take into account a number of factors including the average time for New Year’s resolutions to falter, the weather, debt, the time since Christmas and motivational levels.
However, instead of hiding under the duvet people should embrace the opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
Research last year by the British Red Cross found more than a quarter of us feel loneliest in January.
Health experts recommend a mix of exercise, fruit and veg and vitamin D to help raise mood and stave off the January Blues.
Giving up or reducing alcohol is also recommended for increasing energy levels and improving sleep.
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