President Macron has promised a pay rise for teachers. Speaking on a visit to a school in the Herault department this morning, the President said that salaries would rise by 100 to 230 euros per month net. He added that the total increase may amount to up to 500 euros per month if opportunities for volunteering were taken up. President Macron had mentioned in his televised address on Monday evening that teachers were in line for a pay rise.
It's another day of industrial action to protest against the pension reforms today. However, TGV trains have apparently been running almost as normal and four out of five local TER trains have been operating on average nationally. Rail unions have said that today is a "preparation stage" for industrial action on 1 May. Several hundred protestors in Paris gathered at the Gare de Lyon today before going on to occupy the headquarters of the Euronext financial exchange in the La Defense business district of Paris. Locally, demonstrations have taken place as usual in several locations in our region, including in Nice where service on Line 1 of the tramway was disrupted because of the march.
An arrest has been made in the Moulins district of Nice by the National Police for drugs trafficking. Cocaine and cannabis as well as several hundred euros in cash were seized. The accused has appeared in court and a further appearance is scheduled for 23 May.
From today, certain foreign family members of a French citizen can apply for a residence permit online. For more information you can see https://www.var.gouv.fr/dematerialisation-des-demandes-de-titres-de-sejour-a11812.html
A man in his twenties has died after being hit by a car in Avignon last night. Local reports say he was trying to cross the Charles de Gaulle ringroad at the time.
BUSINESS
The number of people filing initial jobless claims in the United States has risen. Figures released today shown that 245,000 such claims were filed last week, up by 5,000 fom the previous week.
Jaguar Land Rover has announced that its Halewood plant on Merseyside will become an all-electric production facility. CEO Adrian Mardell reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its "Reimagine" strategy, which will reposition the business as an electric-first, modern luxury carmaker by 2030.
The system average price of gas fell by 9% in the week to 16 April, according to the UK Office for National Statistics, continuing the downward trend observed since mid-December last year. It's 46% below the level seen in the equivalent week of 2022 and 79% lower than the weekly peak level seen in late August 2022.
SPORT
Tennis... Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will miss the Madrid Open, which starts on 25 April. Nadal said that he is in a "difficult" situation and doesn't know when he will return from injury. He was initially ruled out for six to eight weeks with a hip injury and hasn't played since 18 January. There is doubt about whether he'll take part in the French Open next month.
Golf... LIV Golf Chief Executive Greg Norman has said that the organisation is considering creating a women's circuit. The controversial Saudi Arabia-backed LIV men's tour began last June in the UK. Norman was speaking in Adelaide, where LIV is hosting its first event in Australia.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has passed a municipal decree banning the controversial comedian Dieudonné from performing in the city this week...
Read More
French police have charged five soldiers over the deaths of 27 people who sank while trying to cross the English Channel on 24 November 2021. ...
Read More
A kidnapping alert has been triggered by the French government. The alert was issued on Thursday evening May 25th, following the abduction in Fontaine...
Read More
A young man is in a serious condition in hospital after suffering a 10-metre fall from the ferris wheel in Antibes in the early hours of this morning....
Read More
Police in Paris have opened an investigation after a man was shot dead on Wednesday afternoon in the middle of a street in the French capital. ...
Read More
