Regional industrial action is set to cause disruption to train services in the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region, starting from 8pm this evening and running through until 8am on Wednesday 1 March. Timetable details are available on the SNCF Assistant App and on https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires
Nationally, French railway unions have called for renewable strikes from next Tuesday, 7 March. All four of the unions representing workers at the SNCF are now backing industrial action. The CFDT-Cheminots, the final one of the four unions to call for strikes, gave its approval to the industrial action this afternoon. The unions are protesting at the government’s proposals to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Meteo France still has weather warnings in force for our region following the bad weather at the weekend which saw snow fall in parts of the Var. There's a yellow warning for high waves and flooding in the Var until 6am tomorrow morning and in the Alpes-Maritimes until 3am. A yellow avalanche warning is also in force for the Alpes-Maritimes.
The number of category A jobseekers in France, in other words those without any activity, remained stable in January according to French government data released today. The number of Category A jobseekers declined by 6,800 to 3.024 million. The total number of jobseekers in France, including those in partial activity, was 5.388 million, an increase of just over 13,000 people.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has visited land which he says is illegally occupied by a circus. The mayor went to the area occupied by the Zavatta circus, saying that they had no permission to perform and he didn't want them in Nice. He said that Nice refuses to host a circus "that wants to settle without right or title, exploits wild animals in captivity and blocks traffic". He added that he has spoken to the Prefect about the matter and is going to contact the public prosecutor "to restore order". He said that the circus forced access to a field this morning and the city is going to file a complaint for forced entry and damage.
The Menton lemon festival is set to close tomorrow evening. The 89th edition of the festival drew about 100,000 visitors. Fruit from the displays and floats is being sold off at the Bioves Gardens opposite the casino in Menton this Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning and afternoon. Orchids are also being sold off tomorrow morning and afternoon at the Palais de l'Europe, subject to availability.
BUSINESS
UK government ministers are to hold a meeting with supermarkets regarding the current shortage of fruit and vegetables affecting UK retailers. The shortage has been caused by bad weather in north Africa and Spain, together with other factors. The National Farmers Union said that relying so heavily on imports had left the UK exposed to unexpected weather events in other countries.
The two massive earthquakes in Turkey on February 6 caused an estimated $34.2 billion in direct physical damages, the equivalent of 4% of the country’s 2021 GDP. That's according to an estimate released today by the World Bank. It said that direct damage to residential buildings account for 53% of the total damage, with 28% in non-residential buildings and 19% of damage related to infrastructure such as roads, power and water supply. The damage estimates don't include the broader economic impacts and losses for the Turkish economy, or the cost of recovery and reconstruction.
SPORT
Tennis... Novak Djokovic has beaten the record for the most weeks as world number one. The record was previously held by Steffi Graff. Djokovic is now in his 378th week at the top of the men's rankings.
Golf... Charles Howell has claimed his first LIV Golf title at a season-opening event in Mexico. The American player won $4m plus a quarter of the $1m prize for winning the team event. Howell finished on 16 under, four shots clear.
RUGBY REPORT
France ended Scotland’s Grand Slam hopes in the Six Nations over the weekend, scoring a last-minute try to win the match 32-21. It means that favourites Ireland are the only side left chasing a Grand Slam, with France now level with Scotland and England on 10 points after two wins and a defeat. Ireland beat Italy 34-20 and England beat Wales 20-10. The next matches in the tournament are over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of March.
Eric Ciotti, leader of Les Républicains, has expressed cautious support for new Prime Minister Michel Barnier if his policies align with law and order...
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France has a new Prime Minister, after 51 days of waiting right-wing politician Michel Barnier was appointed Prime Minister on Thursday. ...
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Michel Barnier has been announced as the new French Prime Minister, tasked with forming a unity government. Barnier, a veteran politician and former B...
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The announcement of France's new Prime Minister is expected before 1 p.m. today, with Michel Barnier emerging as a leading candidate. Bernard Cazeneuv...
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Marseille has been hit by heavy rain with businesses in the old port of the city flooded on Wednesday afternoon. Shopkeepers found themselves taken b...
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