Three individuals and one legal entity have gone on trial in Grasse in connection with the floods which severely affected an area between Antibes and Cannes in October 2015. Twenty people died and damage estimated at almost 600 million euros was caused. Three elderly residents of a nursing home lost their lives in the floods. Those on trial are the corporate owner of the nursing home and three individuals who were, at the time of the floods, the director of the nursing home, the mayor of Biot and the person responsible for natural risks in the municipality. The trial is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
The bodies of two people have been discovered in a house in Martigues in the Bouches-du-Rhone. The children of the couple contacted authorities when they couldn't contact their parents. The man had suffered stab wounds and the woman had injuries consistent with being hit with a metal bar. The couple were both in their fifties. An investigation has been opened.
60 rescuers from the Civil Security Instruction and Intervention Unit in Brignoles and 40 firefighters from our region have left France to travel to Reunion in the Indian Ocean. They are part of a larger contingent from France who will help the island in its recovery from damage caused by a tropical cyclone.
Meteo France have said that a new episode of freezing and snowy precipitation will affect a large part of northern France between this evening and Thursday. The episode is linked to depression Irene which is bringing a mass of soft and humid air across the Atlantic coast. Most of northern France is under an orange alert from Meteo France for cold and icy conditions tomorrow. Many departments are also under yellow warnings for heavy rain and flooding.
Recently appointed French Prime Minster Gabrial Attal has said that he is aiming to deliver a speech regarding his government's proposed policies on 30 of January. He said that he had proposed to the President of the National Assembly to deliver his speech on that date. Meanwhile, President Macron is giving an address to the nation this evening at 8.15pm. It will be broadcast on television on TF1 and France2.
The French population census is starting in some municipalities this Thursday, January 18. If you're affected you can complete your census online or by paper questionnaire. In municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants, the census takes place every 5 years and the entire population is concerned. In those with more than 10,000 inhabitants, the census takes place every year but on a different sample of the population each year. To find out if your municipality is part of the census this year, you can go to the census website https://le-recensement-et-moi.fr/
French government statistics agency INSEE has published a report showing that France had 68.4 million inhabitants as at 1 January this year, or 0.3% more than a year earlier. 678,000 babies were born in France in 2023, which is 6.6% less than in 2022 and almost 20% less than in 2010. INSEE said that the fertility indicator, which stood at 1.68 children per woman, was the lowest since the Second World War, except for two years in the nineties. In 2023, 631,000 people died in France, which was 6.5% less than in 2022.
BUSINESS
The annual World Economic Forum has got underway in Davos in Switzerland. Emmanuel Macron is one of the many leaders from business and government set to address the gathering this week. Topics being discussed include Artificial Intelligence. The boss of Open AI, Sam Altman, is due to wait. Geopolitical issues are also expected to be one of the major topics of discussion.
Pay growth in the UK fell sharply in the three months to November according to the Office for National Statistics. Growth excluding bonuses dropped from 7.3% to 6.6% in the quarter. The number of job vacancies fell for the 18th time in a row. The number of job vacancies in five industry sectors were below pre-Covid levels, with the largest falls in vacancies in retail, wholesale, transport, storage and the motor trade.
SPORT
Football... Jose Mourinho has been let go by his club Roma. They were defeated 3-1 by AC Milan on Sunday. He joined the club in May 2021 and his contract expired last summer. The owners of the club thanked Mourinho “for the passion and commitment he has shown” but said they believe that “in the best interests of the club, immediate change is necessary”. He's been replaced by the club's former captain Daniele de Rossi.
Tennis... In the Australian Open Emma Raducanu has beaten Shelby Rogers. She suffered injury problems last year and the Australian Open is her first major tournament since last year's Open. Katie Boulter, Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie also won their first-round matches today. Casper Ruud, Holger Rune and Sumit Nagal are also through to the next round. Iga Swiatek beats Sofia Kenin.
Rugby Union… Wales and Gloucester player Louis Rees-Zammit has announced that he is pursuing a career in the NFL. He is joining the NFL international player pathway and is aiming to secure a place on a team for 2024. He said the move did not necessarily mean he was retiring from rugby.
TGV services across much of France are gradually improving after several arson attacks affected the network in the early hours of this morning....
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Paris is getting ready to shut down it’s city centre and its airspace as well as mobilise 45,000 police and several army units in what has been billed...
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Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, reiterated her desire to lead the government during a media appearance on July 25. A poll s...
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French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key ...
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France will host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alpes, conditional on state and regional financial guarantees. President Macron confirmed his full su...
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