Evening Update Monday 21 March 2022

The Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes has said that just over 12,100 Ukranian refugees have passed through the La Turbie toll booths on the A8 motorway since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on France Bleu this morning Bernard Gonzalez said that the services of the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture have been mobilized to issue residence permits to the large number of refugees arriving in the department.

Several French unions are calling for demonstrations by retirees on Thursday. They are calling for an increase in pensions and for the strengthening of public services.

One person has reportedly been arested in connection with the death of rugby player Federico Martin Aram-buru. The former Argentina international, who also played for several French sides, was shot dead after an argument with several people in the 6th arrondissement of Paris early on Saturday morning. Two other suspects are still being sought.

The Monaco government is organizing a new large-scale Covid-19 screening campaign in the Principality's  schools starting today. Several thousand self-tests are being made available to the entire educational community including teachers, non-teachers and students. The aim is to allow as many people as possible to test themselves two weeks after the lifting of the obligation to wear a mask at school and one week after the abolition of the health pass.

The sub-prefect of Grasse, Jean-Claude Geney, has paid tribute to the civilian and military victims of the war in Algeria and to the combatants from Tunisia and Morocco. The sub-prefect attended a ceremony over the weekend in Valbonne.

A recall has been issued for a brand of frozen pizza which may contain E-coli. The manufacturer said that after being informed of the presence of E-coli bacteria in the dough of a frozen pizza from the Fraîch’Up range Buitoni has decided, as a precautionary measure, to carry out an immediate recall of all Fraîch’Up frozen pizzas. All references of the FRaich'Up range purchased before the end of March are affected by the recall. If you have one of the pizzas, the manufacturer advises you to not eat it and destroy it and also to contact their consumer services. More information can be found at https://rappel.conso.gouv.fr/


BUSINESS

The Moscow stock exchange has partially reopened after a suspension of almost a month. Only certain bonds issued by the Russian government are being traded as part of a phased re-opening of the market. A spokesman for the exchange said he hoped that trading in stocks would be able to start again soon.

The Russian Central Bank said last week that the Bank would maintain its key interest rate at 20% and would purchase government bonds to limit volatility.
Fertiliser prices have hit a record high on concerns over supply. According to the Financial Times, the CRU fertiliser index has risen by 30% since the start of this year and is higher than prices seen in 2008.

 

SPORT

Football... Gareth Bale is in doubt for Wales' World Cup match against Austria on Thursday. He didn't play for Real Madrid in their game against Barcelona at the weekend. The club said that Bale missed the match because he was feeling unwell and that he will now join up with Wales who will "decide whether he plays or not". Wales have said that they are hopeful he will be able to play in the match.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson is in doubt for their forthcoming matches after missing Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final match against Nottingham Forest with illness. They have a friendly lined up with Poland on Thursday and then play either Austria or Wales the following Tuesday. Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, Hearts defender Craig Halkett and St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark have all been named in the Scotland squad.

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