President of the PACA region, Renaud Muselier has asked the government to provide free Covid-19 testing to those who are in the process of getting fully vaccinated. In a letter to health minister Olivier Veran he asked that free daily testing be offered to people who have had their first injection and are awaiting their second. He drew attention in particular to seasonal workers in ski resorts who he said would not be able to afford such testing between their first and second dose.
The city of Nice is increasing its vaccination campaign. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi visited the Palais des Expositions which is almost ready to open to carry out booster doses. He said that as of this week, 4,000 people will be able to be vaccinated daily and as of next week the number will rise to 5,000 vaccinations per day. The mayor said that on Saturday morning, eligible residents of Nice received an SMS or an email informing them that they can get their booster and that priority is being given to those over 75 years of age.
Christian Estrosi has criticised anti-vaccination and anti-health pass protesters who he said had once again tried to approach his home and family on Saturday afternoon. The mayor said he condemns what he called "these pathetic intimidations" which he said only reinforces his "determination to take all the necessary measures for the health of the people of Nice".
The French government is arranging special flights to repatriate people stranded in Morocco after the country announced plans to close its airspace from tonight. French ambassador to Morocco Helene Le Gal said that those affected should approach Air France and Transavia. The flights are subject to authorization from the Moroccan government.
Refuse collectors in Marseille are set to resume their industrial action. The collectors are contesting the terms of an agreement which brought to an end two months of strikes in the summer and have filed a notice of industrial action which takes effect from today.
BUSINESS
The CEO of Nissan has said that the Omicron virus variant could add pressure to a chronic shortage of microchips used in car manufacturing. Speaking to the BBC, Makoto Uchida said it was too early to say when normal deliveries of components would resume.
The EU's business and consumer survey results for November show that economic sentiment has declined in both in the EU and the euro area. However, economic sentiment increased in France. Employment expectations increased in both the EU and the Eurozone, reaching their highest level since January 2018.
Individuals in the UK borrowed £700 million in consumer credit in October, according to the Bank of England. The majority of this was £600 million of additional borrowing on credit cards, which is the strongest net borrowing since July 2020. Individual borrowing in other forms of consumer credit, such as car dealership finance and personal loans, accounted for the other £100 million of net lending.
SPORT
Football... Manchester United have appointed Ralf Rangnick as their interim manager until the end of the season. His appointment is subject to work visa requirements. In a statement Manchester United said that following the end of the season, he will continue in a consultancy role for a further two years. The 63-year-old takes over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked on 21 November.
Cricket....New Zealand have secured a draw in the first Test against India. They needed 284 runs to win when play resumed today and finished on 165-9 when bad light ended play with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Rugby Union... Cardiff have said their team is currently unable to leave South Africa after two positive Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the squad, one of which is suspected to be the Omicron variant. Cardiff said they were booked onto a flight yesterday, but their departure has been delayed for an unspecified duration. They were in South Africa to play in the United Rugby Championship.
King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed, after a request by President Emmanuel Macron....
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Hundreds of thousands of French workers have protested against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, with violent clashes in Paris and other cit...
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The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has announced the creation of a convention centre on the port of Nice...
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The town hall in Bordeaux has been set on fire as French protests against the pension reform continue....
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For the ninth time in just two months, opponents of France's controversial pension reform have been out on the streets of the Riviera today, in a pan-...
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