Several teaching unions have called for strike action in France next Thursday, 13 January, in protest at the government's health protocols for schools. One of the unions said that they wanted Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer to understand that staff can no longer keep up with what it called "impractical" protocols which change "from day to day". Another union said the Minister of Education continues to make the choice to keep schools open “whatever the cost” and said that "the situation is no longer tenable".
Several new Covid-19 measures are being introduced in Monaco. As of January 17, people whose work is essential to the business continuity of certain companies or public entities providing essential services to the Principality will have to present a health pass. As from Saturday 8 January the number of guests at restaurant tables will be reduced from 12 to 8 people and the spacing between tables is increased from 1m to 1.5m. Also from 8 January, the number of people accommodated for events will be limited to 2,000, with certain exceptions. There is also a modification of the protocol relating to isolation periods. Full details of the new measures can be found on the Monaco govenment's website https://www.gouv.mc/A-la-Une-du-Portail/Covid-19-Amenagement-du-dispositif-sanitaire-et-extension-du-pass-sanitaire
The number of cases of Covid-19 detected in France last Monday was far higher than initial figures suggested. Revised data published by the French government today shows that just over 409,000 cases were detected on Monday, far in excess of the approximately 70,000 cases initially reported by Sante Publique France.
The French government has announced the introduction of partial activity for the entertainment and audiovisual sectors following Covid-19 measures affecting theatres and cinemas announced on 27 December. Employers in the cultural sectors suffering a drop in their turnover of at least 65% will have access to partial activity without any remaining charges.
A new vaccination centre is opening in Toulon on Monday. The centre will eventually have a capacity of 1,000 injections per day. Appointments are open for booking on the website www.doctolib.fr
A presentation ceremony took place in Nice this morning of a new memorial to the victims of the attack of 14 July 2016. "The Protective Angel" is a work by local artist and sculptor Jean-Marie Fondacaro. A model of the memorial was unveiled at the ceremony. The full size insallation will be about four metres high. The victims' associations had to choose between 15 proposals from artists. It will be unveiled on July 14 this year, on the 6th anniversary of the attack, and will be installed on the south side of the Promenade des Anglais near the Palais de la Méditerranée. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, who was present at this morning's ceremony, offered his thanks to the artists, the members of the Advisory Committee and the associations.
VINCI Autoroutes are carrying out maintenance work on the information and safety equipment on the A8 motorway in the Alpes-Maritimes next week. The works will require traffic changes at the Villeneuve-Loubet (n°47), Saint-Laurent-du-Var (n°49) and Nice Ouest (n°50) interchanges towards Italy and Aix-en-Provence. To limit traffic disruption, traffic will be modified at night, from Monday 10 to Friday 14 January, from 9 pm to 5 am.
BUSINESS
Inflation in the Eurozone has risen to its highest level since the currency was created. EU statistics agency Eurostat said that it estimated annual inflation in the bloc rose to 5% in December. Energy rose by 26% and food rose by 3.2%.
Samsung Electronics has said it expects to post a 52% increase in profit for the last three months of 2021. The company's earnings were boosted by strong demand for server memory chips and higher profit margins in its chip contract manufacturing business.
Easyjet has said that it saw a boost of almost 200% in UK bookings following the removal of various testing restrictions earlier this week. Jet2 said demand had returned to "around pre-Covid levels". New research from easyJet has suggested that people in the UK are planning more holidays that usual in 2022 in a bid to make up for lost travel experiences over the last two years. 55% of people surveyed said they plan on taking more than two holidays this year and 50% said they will go on more holidays in 2022.
SPORT
Football... England player Kieran Trippier is joining Newcastle United. The 31 year old is joining from Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool have re-opened their training ground after a two day closure following an outbreak of Covid-19 among players and staff. Their Carabao Cup match against Arsenal was postponed after multiple cases were reported amongst the Liverpool squad.
Cricket... Jonny Bairstow scored a century for England on day three of the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney. England finished the day on 258-7 meaning that they currently trail Australia by 158 runs.
Tennis... Australia has cancelled the visa of Czech tennis player Renata Voracova, who was due to play at the Australian Open. She is currently being held in the same hotel as Novak Djokovic, who is appealing the cancellation of his visa. However, the Czech government has said that Voracova will withdraw from the tournament and leave Australia.
A new optional regional transport tax for businesses, introduced in France’s 2025 budget, aims to fund eco-friendly mobility projects. ...
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A judge has authorised a dive to inspect the wreckage of a plane in the sea off Antibes. The plane crashed into the Mediterranean on September 11 1968...
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In France, drinking water is heavily contaminated with "forever pollutants," particularly trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), as revealed by two studies from ...
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The trial of the Tunisian man accused of the murder of three people in the Nice Basilica attack is continuing in Paris. Yesterday the families of the ...
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Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." ...
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