President Macron has announced the creation of a new division of the CRS riot police specialising in urban violence. The President made the announcement while visiting the Baumettes prison in Marseille. He's on the first day of a three day visit to the city. He also announced the creation of a drugs prevention module in certain high schools and colleges. President Macron is in Marseille on a follow up visit to his trip to the city in 2021 when he announced his "Marseille en Grand" plan. He said today that all the commitments he made two years ago have been kept, including the provision of 330 police officers, 11 judicial police investigators and three CRS units.
Meanwhile, authorities in Marseille have announced that they have arrested a team of hitmen who carried out settling of score in the drugs dealing community.
An unlicensed abattoir has been discovered in Nice. Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre said that the National Police had arrested two individuals in the Liserons district in charge of forty sheep, one of which had been slaughtered in a public housing apartment. He said that public housing body Cote d'Azur Habitat would be filing a complaint today.
The Banque de France has said that 4.1 million people in France were in a situation of financial fragility last year. It said that the number of "microcredits" which are used by people excluded from the normal banking system, had risen by 14% in 2022.
Nice mayor and president of the Nice Cote d'Azur Metropolis Christian Estrosi has visited Isola2000 along with other elected officials. They visited the site where the snow front is being restructured. The project constitutes the first phase of a programme aimed at modernizing and developing the ski area. Two covered surfaces of 190m and 50m will be covered with photovoltaic panels producing energy all year round. He said that 89.4 million euros have been invested in Isola2000 since 2003, and 4.7 million euros will be invested in 2023, including 2.8 million euros on the snow front.
BUSINESS
Aston Martin has announced a new supply agreement with electric vehicle technologies company Lucid Group. The proposed agreement would see Lucid supply Aston Martin with industry-leading electric vehicle technologies. Lucid designs and manufactures advanced electric powertrains and battery systems. Aston Martin’s electrification programme will see an investment of over £2 billion in advanced technologies over the next five years. Mercedes-Benz will continue to provide Aston Martin access to a range of technologies for current and future generation Aston Martin vehicles.
Business sentiment in Germany has worsened. The ifo Institute's Business Climate Index fell for the second month in a row. The fall was larger than expected.
Primark owner Associated British foods has said that sales at the clothing chain grew by 13% in the quarter, with like-for-like sales growth of 7%. It said that as well as seasonal clothing and accessories, sales in health and beauty products were particularly strong. It said that sales in flagship city centre stores have continued to be good. Four new stores were opened in the quarter, in Venice, Italy, Buffalo, NY, Toledo, Spain and Bratislava, Slovakia.
SPORT
Cricket... Australia's women’s team have beaten England's women’s team by 89 runs to win the one-off Ashes Test match. The win means that Australia take a 4-0 points lead in the multi-format series.
Football....Luka Modric has signed a new one-year deal with Real Madrid. The 37 year old has made 488 appearances for the club, winning three La Liga titles and the Champions League five times since joining from Tottenham in 2012.
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown has died at the age of 82. He was Scotland's longest-serving manager and was in charge for 71 games from 1993 to 2001, qualifying for Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup.
A powerful Mistral storm has swept through Provence, with wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h in some areas. ...
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France’s recently appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou has promised a new government "before Christmas" and reserves the possibility of using 49....
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A four-day strike at DHL has caused delays in package processing, raising concerns about on-time deliveries for Christmas....
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French judges in Avignon will today Thursday 19th December, deliver their verdicts in a mass rape case against 51 men that has appalled France and the...
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Monaco Info and TV Monaco are set to make way for a new television channel on September 1st of 2025. During the debates on the 2025 preliminary budget...
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