Evening Update Tuesday 21 November 2023

A major search has been underway today for a boat missing since last night. The 6.5 metre boat is crewed by a man in his sixties who left the old port of Menton yesterday afternoon. His family raised the alarm when he didn't return last night. The search has involved the deployment of a French Navy helicopter, lifeboats from Menton as well as boats from Monaco.

Police have said that arrests are "probable" in the case of the death of a teenager at a party in the Drome department at the weekend. A winter festival celebration was being held in the community hall in the village of Crepol, which has about five hundred inhabitants. A group of about ten people from outside the village tried to gain access and a 16 year old was fatally stabbed. Speaking to French media, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin described the incident as "savagery" and "a general bankruptcy of our society". He said that a "rethink" of the "framework of authority" is needed.

An investigation for attempted murder has been launched by the Marseille prosecutor after a shooting last night. The man in his twenties was shot several times when returning to his home in the 4th arrondissement. His life isn't thought to be in danger.

A small earthquake was recorded in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence this morning. The quake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale was centred on an area to the north-east of Barcelonette. No injuries or damage to property were reported.

Many elected officials from our region are attending the Mayors and Local Authorities gathering in Paris. The event, which features a wide variety of panel discussions and exhibitions is taking place until Thursday at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre.

A French navy vessel has left Toulon heading for Egypt. The Dixmude will provide aid to the civilian population of Gaza. It is transporting more than 10 tons of humanitarian cargo as well as two medical posts which are each able to treat around 500 seriously injured people.

French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu has held a meeting with UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Schapps. Sebastien Lecornu said that "the links between the United Kingdom and France are unwavering". The two ministers discussed support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and moving forward on their defence agenda.

 

BUSINESS

UK government borrowing in October was higher than expected at £14.9bn, largely increased by higher benefit payments. Borrowing was up £4.4bn from a year earlier and the second highest figure for October, only behind the figure in 2020 when spending was affected by the pandemic. However, tax receipts were better than expected, resulting in a smaller deficit than predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility in the spring.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that riders hired by food delivery company Deliveroo cannot be represented by a trade union for the purposes of collective bargaining. The court said that Deliveroo riders did not have an "employment relationship" with the company and were not entitled to compulsory collective bargaining.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that he believes that markets are underestimating the risks of persistent inflation. Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Treasury Committee this morning, he said that he believes the market is putting too much weight on current data releases.

 

SPORT

Football.. Beth Mead has been named in the England women’s squad for the first time in a year. The Arsenal player has been sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Cricket... The ICC have said that a "stop-clock" will be tried out in men's limited-overs internationals in order to regulate the time taken between overs. The trial will run from December to April and will require a fielding team to be ready to commence a new over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending.

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