President Macron is continuing his visit to Marseille today. He visited a school this morning. The president raised the issue of whether school holidays should be shortened, saying that some students have two and a half months of vacation, sometimes almost three months. In response to a pupil's question he confirmed that he has no plans to run for a third term as president. This afternoon he's visiting the Laveran military hospital where many of those who receive injuries in the drugs settling of accounts receive treatment. He announced that a new military hospital would be built in the north of Marseille and the hospital will also be open to the public. He also announced additional funding of 240 million euros for the Marseille public hospital system.
A body has been found in the rubble of the building which collapsed in Paris last week. At this stage it isn't known if the body is that of the woman who has been missing since the explosion which demolished the building in the fifth arrondissement six days ago.
The French state has been ordered to compensate a bookstore in Nice for violating rights of freedom of expression. The facts concerned a visit to the site of the new police station in Nice by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin last December. During the visit police covered the window of the bookstore to conceal feminist slogans. The state was provisionally ordered to pay 1,000 euros to the plaintiffs.
A teenager has died after being shot by police in the Hauts-de-Seine department this morning. Reports say that a car containing three people refused to comply with a police order. Police then opened fire and a 17 year old in the car was shot. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office has opened two investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
People attending next year's Paris Olympics will not be able to buy alcohol inside stadiums. French law bans the sale of alcohol in stadiums to the public, but allows for exemptions for a limited number of events per year. However, organizers said that a law change would have been required to accommodate the size of the Olympics. VIP guests in hospitality areas will still be served with alcoholic drinks.
Record temperatures were recorded in Marseille yesterday. A weather station recorded a peak temperature of 38 degrees, which exceeds the previous record for the month of June of 36.9 degrees set back in 1935.
BUSINESS
The UK is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the EU to increase co-operation on financial services. It will set up a forum where the EU and UK can meet twice a year to discuss financial regulation and standards. UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said building a constructive relationship was of mutual benefit.
The International Monetary Fund has said that rising corporate profits account for almost half the increase in Europe’s inflation over the past two years. It said that companies increased prices by more than the costs of imported energy. It added that workers are pushing for pay rises to recoup lost purchasing power. Inflation in the euro area peaked at 10.6 percent in October last year as import costs surged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Inflation has since fallen to 6.1 percent in May.
High street retailer JD Sports has said that it expects pre-tax profits for the year to be just over one billion pounds. It said that positive trends had continued in its businesses in the UK, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, but this had been partially offset by “some softening in trade” in North America.
SPORT
Cricket... England have included Josh Tongue in the line-up for the second Ashes Test against Australia. It's the only change from the team which played in the first Test at Edgbaston. He made his Test debut against Ireland at Lord's earlier this month.
England will begin their World Cup defence against New Zealand on 5 October. They will then play Bangladesh, Afghanistan and South Africa followed by India, Australia and Pakistan, as well as two unknown qualifiers.
Football.... West Ham have rejected a bid of £90m from Manchester City for their captain Declan Rice. Rice's contract with West Ham expires next year, although it has the option for a one-year extension until the summer of 2025.
A powerful Mistral storm has swept through Provence, with wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h in some areas. ...
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France’s recently appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou has promised a new government "before Christmas" and reserves the possibility of using 49....
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French judges in Avignon will today Thursday 19th December, deliver their verdicts in a mass rape case against 51 men that has appalled France and the...
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Monaco Info and TV Monaco are set to make way for a new television channel on September 1st of 2025. During the debates on the 2025 preliminary budget...
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