The special assize court in Paris has given its verdict on those accused of involvement in the Nice attack of July 2016. The eight defendants, of which seven were present in the court, received prison sentences ranging from two to eighteen years.
French Health Minister Francois Braun has said that France is facing what he called a "triple epidemic" - flu, Covid-19 and broncholitis. He said that there are no automatic criterea for the mandatory resumption of mask wearing but it can't be ruled out. Speaking on Franceinfo today he said that there is a resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic. The minister reminded those eligible to get their Covid-19 booster. He said that about a quarter of people over 80 are up to date with their vaccinations and about 40% of people who are aged 60 to 80, which he said were insufficient numbers.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 incidence rate has fallen in Monaco according to the government's latest weekly update. The number of positive cases per 100,000 people over the 7 days to last Sunday was 452, down from 536 the previous week. Last week 177 new positive cases of Covid-19 were detected. As of Sunday December 11, 46 people, including 36 residents, were hospitalized at the Princess Grace Hospital. Three non-residents were being treated in intensive care. As at Sunday evening, 73 people were being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.
A teenager who was involved in an attack on an 89 year old woman in Cannes La Bocca has been arrested, according to Cannes mayor David Lisnard. The mayor said that the teenager had escaped from a closed educational centre several dozen kilometres away and had gone to Cannes. In a post on social media he said that he had asked government minsiters that such "detention" is effectively enforced, saying that "this is yet another example of French sovereign failure..."
Three people have been arrested in connection with the death of a man in the village of L'Escarene in October. The man had been accused of a burglary in the village and had subsequently been attacked by a group of people.
The French civil aviation authority have said that due to snow expected in the Paris region tomorrow, air traffic will be severely disrupted on departures and arrivals from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Meteo France have put about thirty departments in northern France on Orange weather alerts for icy weather. It said that types of precipitation were uncertain but would include freezing rain and snow.
BUSINESS
Inflation in the United States was 7.1% over the 12 months to the end of November, dropping from 7.7% in October, according to figures from the US Labor department released this afternoon. The costs of energy, used cars, medical care and airfares fell, but the cost of some items such as housing continued to climb.
The number of working days lost to strikes in the UK in October reached the highest in more than a decade, according to official figures. The UK has been hit by widespread industrial action this year as workers protest at pay levels and working conditions. Rail workers are striking again for four days this week and bus drivers, Royal Mail workers, nurses, highways workers and baggage handlers also striking.
Airline Lufthansa has raised its earnings forecast for 2022. The company said that it continues to see strong demand for air travel and that average yields in its passenger business remain "well above" pre-crisis levels. It raised its full year profit guidance to 1.5 billion euros from more than 1 billion euros.
SPORT
Motorsports... It's been announced that Frederic Vasseur will join Ferrari as team principal in January, replacing Mattia Binotto. The 54 year old has been Alfa Romeo/Sauber's managing director since 2017.
Rugby Union... Former England coach Eddie Jones is set to return to Twickenham to lead the Barbarians in a match against a World XV. He was sacked by England earlier this month. The 62 year old said that he's "very much looking forward to returning to Twickenham" for the match on 28 May.
WORLD CUP
The first semi-final is taking place this evening with Argentina taking on Croatia. Argentina have won two World Cups so far, in 1978 and 1986 and have been runners up three times. Croatia were the runners up in 2018 when they lost to France in the final.
Tomorrow its the second semi-final with France taking on Morocco. Kick off for both matches is 8pm our time.
Meanwhile, it's been revelaed that there were no police incidents or arrests of British nationals in Qatar during England and Wales' World Cup campaigns. British police officers were deployed to the country to act as "cultural interpreters" between fans and local law enforcement. The head of UK football policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, praised fans in Qatar for their "exemplary behaviour".
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The trial of the Tunisian man accused of the murder of three people in the Nice Basilica attack is continuing in Paris. Yesterday the families of the ...
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Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." ...
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