The French government has been presenting its energy saving plan this afternoon in a media conference at which many government ministers have been present. Minister of Energy Agnes Pannier Runacher said that the aim is to adopt "common sense measures". The government will contribute 800 million euros to support energy saving gestures in buildings, transport and communities. Minsiter for Small and Medium Sized businesses and Tourism Olivia Gregoire, said that some businesses may wish to go even further in their energy saving plans than envisaged by the government. Stanislas Guerini Minister of Public Transformation and Service said that the government has set a target of a 10% energy saving by 2024, which he said represents energy saved similar to the annual consumption of a city such as Montpellier.
A publicity campaign will be launched by the government next Monday to encourage the public to consume energy responsibly. Amongst the measures suggested by the government are limiting residential heating to 19 degrees Celsius, installing a programmable thermostat, setting your water heater to 55 degrees Celsius, spending less time in the shower, turning off devices which are not in use instead of leaving them on standby and using appliances outside peak hours.
Locally, today President of the Nice Cote d'Azur Metropolis Christian Estrosi has proposed the implementation of short-term energy saving measures and new measures for the purchasing power of households in the context of rising inflation. He also proposed an acceleration of the development of renewable energies in middle term.
About two hundered judicial police staged a demonstration in Marseille this morning. They were protesting at plans by central government to place all the different types of police in France under one departmental director.
Two people were arrested and 18kg of cannabis have been seized in a raid by authorities on an apartment in Toulon. Reports say that the apartment had been rented on a short term rental internet site. An investigation has been opened.
The French government has denounced so-called "confessions" by two French hostages being held in Iran since last May. The "confessions" of espionage were broadcast on Iranian state television. In a strongly worded statement today the French foreign ministry said that it was an "unworthy, revolting, unacceptable and contrary to international law staging" and that "this masquerade reveals the contempt for human dignity that characterises the Iranian authorities".
BUSINESS
A survey of financial officers of UK businesses has indicated that they expect consumer price inflation to be 9.5% in one year's time. The figure for the survey conducted by the Bank of England in September, showed a rise from the 8.4% recorded in August. The financial officers expect inflation to still be elevated, at 4.8%, in three years time.
Credit ratings agency Fitch has forecast that the UK economy will contract by 1% next year. It said that it believes the economy will shrink despite the government's support for energy tarrifs and proposed tax cuts.
SPORT
Cricket....It's been announced that South Africa will be hosting England for three postponed one-day internationals. The three match series was originally due to be played in 2020 but didn't happen due to Covid-19 concerns. The matches will be in Bloemfontein on 27 January and 29 January and in Kimberley on 1 February.
Motorsports... Lewis Hamilton has said that it is "imperative" that suitable punishments are meted out for any team found to have broken Formula 1's budget cap. The FIA will reveal on Monday which teams exceeded it last season, after delaying the announcement. Hamilton said: "I like to think that if it's being delayed, it's because it's being taken very seriously. It would be bad for the sport if action wasn't taken if there was a breach."
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