Lunchtime News Thursday 15th October 2020

Local 

Curfew - A curfew from 9pm to 6am has been confirmed in Aix and Marseille. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday the establishment of a curfew in Île-de-France and in eight other cities in France including Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.

Restaurants, theatres and cinemas will have to close early from Saturday 17th October as the state of health emergency is reintroduced in France.  The curfew will be in place, at least, for at least four weeks and possible six.

Emmanuel Macron has confirmed the establishment of exceptional authorizations for people who work at night or those who have "good reasons" to circulate after 9 p.m.

There will be no restriction for public transport or on travelling from one region to another

Checks will be carried out. A fine of 135 euros is foreseen for those who break the curfew and 1,500 for repeat offenders.

Police checks results in several motorists being fined - Police have stepped up controls on motorists on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.

Controls carried out at night have this week have led to two motorists being stopped after speeding at 140km/h where the speed limit is 50 and in the same evening nine other fines were issued for motorists using the phone while driving and driving with no license or insurance.

Storm Alex - The Nice prosecutor has announced that five victims of storm Alex, which hit the Alpes Maritimes on Friday, October 2 have been returned to their families after formal identification. To date the provisional death toll of those missing in the disaster now stands at 13 people.

Prefect appointed for the disaster areas of the Alpes Maritimes - Meanwhile during the Council of Ministers on Wednesday prefect Xavier Pelletier, currently head of the CCI of Lyon, has been appointed for the reconstruction work of the disaster areas in the Alpes Maritimes hit by Storm Alex.

52-year-old Xavier Pelletier will take up his duties "in the coming days" and will have to "manage the current emergencies linked to the devastating effects of Storm Alex, as well as the entire reconstruction process".  Pelletier was appointed after being suggested for the position by French Prime Minister Jean Castex.

Protection of the environment and oceans - Pierre Frolla, the Monegasque freediving champion, is preparing to travel the world and its oceans, to meet large marine animals to promote the protection of the environment and the oceans.

The project which will be documented in a book consisting of many photos and a documentary will be released for Christmas 2021.

The visual travel diary can be followed on social networks. The project hopes to appeal to younger generations to make them aware of the environment and get them involved.