French Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Bechu has said that it will be necessary to “get used to” restrictions on water consumption. Speaking to French media he said that measures could be put in place in December or January aimed at improving the water situation next summer. Over last summer more than three quarters of French departments were on water restrictions according to the minister. Several dozen departments, including the Var are still on various restrictions.
There's been an increase in the Covid-19 incidence rate in Monaco. In the week to last Sunday the incidence rate per 100,000 people was 230, up from 163 the previous week. 90 new positive cases were detected. As at last Sunday, 10 people, including 7 residents, were being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital. One non-resident person was being treated in intensive care. 41 people were followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.
New government figures have shown that in October nearly two pedestrians and more than one cyclist has died on the roads of France every day on average. Road fatalities in October were slightly lower than in October 2021, but much higher than in October 2019, the reference year before traffic levels changed during the pandemic. Florence Guillaume, inter-ministerial delegate for road safety, called on all road users to be extra vigilant now that the nights are drawing in, particularly vulnerable users traveling on foot or by bicycle.
There's been a slight fall in unemployment in France. In the third quarter, the number of unemployed fell by 17,000 compared to the previous quarter, to 2.3 million people. The unemployment rate was virtually unchanged at 7.3% of the active population.
Professor Olivier Guerin, head of the Aging Autonomy Rehabilitation Centre at the CHU in Nice has been made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by President Macron. He is a former President of the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Offering his congratulations on the award, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said that Professor Guerin had made “a brilliant contribution” to the work of the COVID-19 Scientific Council and said the award was recognition of his work and his “perpetual dedication”.
The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has left the navy base in Toulon on a three month mission. It’s heading for the eastern Mediterrranean as part of a mission to secure airspace for NATO. Several newly trained pilots are on board the nuclear powered vessel, part of a contingent of over a thousand personnel departing on the ship.
BUSINESS
Regular pay for UK workers rose by 5.7% in the year to September, according to the Office for National Statistics. It’s the largest growth in pay since 2000, except for during the pandemic, when there were large pay rises for those who returned to work from furlough. However, when adjusted for inflation, wages in real terms fell by 2.7%.
The number of working days lost to industrial action in the UK has reached the highest level in a decade. New data from the ONS shows that over half a million working days were lost to strikes in September and October, the vast majority being in the transport and communication sectors.
The number of business insolvencies in the UK has risen sharply. Registered company insolvencies in October were 38% higher than the same month in the previous year and 32% higher than the number registered in October 2019.
SPORT
Cricket... Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League. In a social media post he said that the international schedule is “packed with Tests and ODIs for the next 12 months” and that he is planning to take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and the World Cup.
Rugby Union... Josh Macleod will make his Wales debut against Georgia. He’s one of six changes from the side that beat Argentina.
Ross Byrne has been called into the Ireland squad for Saturday's game against Australia because of doubts over Johnny Sexton's fitness. Sexton was injured in the match against South Africa.
The Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are on Meteo France alerts for high winds until eight o’clock this evening as Storm Benjamin passes through our region...
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France is preparing for severe weather as Storm Benjamin sweeps in from the British Isles, bringing violent winds, heavy rain and powerful coastal wav...
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Storm Benjamin is on the way. It’s expected that the Atlantic coast and parts of north-west France will be worst affected, but Meteo France have yello...
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Dozens of left-wing activists have marched through Nice, protesting plans to name a public square after former president Nicolas Sarkozy, the march oc...
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Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has started a jail sentence for campaign finance conspiracy today...
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