French sports retailer Decathlon is supending its activities in Russia. In an e-mail to employees, the company said that supply chain disruption due to international sanctions meant it could no longer operate in the country. He said that he will continue to support his employees in Russia. Posts on social media had called for a boycott of the company which has 60 stores in Russia.
Swiss police have said today that they believe a French family who fell from the balcony of their apartment may have committed suicide. Four people died in the incident on 24 March. One person survived but is still in hospital in a coma. Swiss police said that their investigation has made it possible to rule out the intervention of a third party and suggests that all the victims jumped from the balcony one after the other. According to police, the family had lived lives withdrawn from society and feared that the authorities would interfere in their way of life.
Teachers and educational staff have been demonstrating in Marseilles today. The demonstrators who gathered in the 7th arrondissement were demanding more teaching resources for REP Plus priority educational establishments.
The first Ukranian refugees have been housed on board a Corsica Linea ferry which has been specially commissioned by the French government. Up to 1,600 refugees will reportedly be housed on the vessel on a temporary basis. The ship is docked in Marseille where it will remain for two months before resuming its journeys for the summer season.
A partnership agreement has been signed between the Monaco Fire Brigade and a Civil Security Investigation and Intervention Unit in Brignoles. Ties have existed between the number 7 unit in Brignoles and the Monaco fire service for many years. The new agreement will allow the development of professional knowledge, particularly in the areas of training, maintenance of operational skills and operational reinforcement.
BUSINESS
The head of P&O Ferries has said that reinstating the 800 workers it has recently sacked would cause the collapse of the business. UK Transport Secretary Grant Schapps said that he was giving the company "one final opportunity" to re-employ the sacked staff on their previous wages. In a letter to the minister, Peter Hebblethwaite said reversing the cuts would lead to the loss of an additional 2,200 jobs.
44% of UK financial services firms have now moved or plan to move some UK operations and/or staff to the EU since the Brexit referendum. That's according to the latest data from the Financial Services Brexit Tracker by EY. It said that amongst the firms covered by the tracker, Dublin remains the most popular destination for staff relocations and new European hubs or offices, followed by Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Paris.
SPORT
Football... More teams from Europe will qualify for the World Cup finals tonight with the playoff finals taking place. Portugal face North Macedonia while Poland play Sweden.
Belgian goalkeeper Miguel van Damme has died following a long battle with leukaemia. He was 28 years old and was first diagnosed with the disease over five years ago.
Rugby Union... It's been announced that Rob Harley will leave Glasgow Warriors this summer. The 31 year old has been with the club for 12 years. In other Rugby Union news, Wales player Johnny McNicholl has signed a new contract with Scarlets, but the duration of his new contract hasn't been disclosed. Tom O'Flaherty is joining Sale Sharks on a three year deal for the 2022-23 season, ending his five-year stay at Exeter Chiefs.
A Polish man in his forties has been hospitalized in Valence after enduring a harrowing journey between two TGV carriages from Paris. ...
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Cloudy with sunny intervals. Light rain is forecast for the Var region with moderate to strong winds. Highs of 17 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez, ...
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White smoe Is billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel meaning A new pope has just been chosen! 133 cardinals have gathered in the Sistine cha...
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No new pope has been elected yet, as black smoke signalled another inconclusive vote during the conclave in the morning of Thursday the 8th of May. ...
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Unions at the SNCF have announced new strike action for June 4th, 5th, and 11th, following ongoing disruptions to train services in France during the ...
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