French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced a range of measures to help with the rising cost of living. Speaking to French media this afternoon, she said that the 18 cent discount at fuel pumps will continue until at least the end of the summer. A food voucher will be sent to people on the most modest incomes at the start of the school year. The amount will depend on the number of children in the family. She also said that there will be a 4% increase on pensions from July, which will bring the increase for the year to 5%.
Two Canadair water bombing aircraft have been pre-positioned in Hyères to deal with the risk of forest fires in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and to intervene at any emerging fire. The Var Prefecture has warned of the risk of forest fires because of the high winds expected in the department over the next few days. It reminded residents and visitors that the use of fire is prohibited until September 30, no cigarettes or cigarette butts can be thrown on the ground and to beware of work that can cause fires to start. It said that any fire outbreak should be reported by calling 18 or 112 and people should stay vigilant and follow the instructions of the authorities.
A judicial investigation has been opened against three police officers who opened fire on a vehicle in Paris at the weekend, resulting in the death of its passenger and seriously injuring the driver. The car allegedly failed to stop at a police check. The three were taken into custody but were released today. The judicial investigation was announced this afternoon.
The French Embassies in Spain and the UK have published a form to be filled in by Liverpool and Real Madrid supporters who believe they were the victims of crime at the Champions League final in Paris and who wish to file a complaint. The forms can be downloaded from the embassies' websites. The text on the website says that the "temporary arrangements" reflect the French Government’s wish to give foreign nationals the opportunity to get in direct contact with the French judicial authorities regarding crimes of which they believe they were victims during the event. There were chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France as a large number of supporters gathered, apparently without appropriate tickets. Police allegedly used tear gas and pepper spray on some of the supporters.
French bank Credit Agricole has announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in its own footprint. In April this year the bank launched a call for projects concerning energy transition. In order to stimulate awareness and local initiatives in the field of sustainable development, Credit Agricole is inviting any actor from the economic world, associations, and individuals to propose an innovative project based around the four themes of soft mobility, eco-housing, the sea and its protection as well as responsible tourism. Applicants have until July 31st to submit their entry. The 16 winners who present the most responsible and innovative projects will share the sum of 100,000 euros.
One of the most powerful tugboats in the world has arrived at the naval base in Toulon, where it will be stationed. The Abeille Méditerranée is a former oil rig support vessel and will carry out sea trials before starting a tour of the Mediterranean coast which will take her to ports including Nice, Cannes and Marseille as well as Corsica. The vessel was acquired in 2021 by Les Abeilles International to be transformed into an assistance and salvage tug.
A pregnant woman has been airlifted from a Corsica Lines Ferry to receive treatment in hospital. She was taken by helicopter to the Sainte Musse Hospital in Toulon.
BUSINESS
Australia's central bank has raised interest rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate by half a per cent to 0.85%. It follows a rise of a quarter of a per cent last month.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that there has been price fixing of Rangers Football Club merchandising. The CMA said that it had provisionally found that Elite Sports, JD Sports and Rangers Football Club broke competition law by fixing the retail prices of certain Rangers-branded clothing products. The companies involved now have the chance to make representations to the CMA before it reaches a final decision.
Eurozone construction firms registered the first fall in output for 9 months in May, as rising commodity prices and supply chain disruption hit activity and demand, according to a new survey. The S&P Global Eurozone Construction PMI is compiled from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers of around 650 construction firms in the eurozone. It recorded the fastest reductions in output and new orders since February last year. Price and supply-chain pressures eased, but remain marked overall.
SPORT
Golf.... Dustin Johnson has resigned his membership of the PGA Tour in order to play in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series. The 37 year old has signed up to play all eight events in the series, which gets underway on Thursday.
Tennis... Glasgow has been chosen to stage the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The 12-team women's tennis event will be held from 8-13 November at the Emirates Arena.
Football... The Canadian men's national football team have resumed training but have said "questions have yet to be answered" in their dispute over prize money. They said that they had met with Canada Soccer and will continue negotiating but had not yet reached an agreement.
Over 500 taxi drivers are striking on Monday the 19th of May, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments to protest new health insur...
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Flights cancelled at Paris-Orly today - Airline companies at Paris-Orly Airport have been asked to cancel 15% of their flights this Monday, May 19, be...
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Sunny with light winds. Highs of 21 degrees in Monaco, Nice, Menton and Saint-Tropez. Highs of 22 degrees in Cannes and Antibes. ...
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A man has fallen to his death after apparently climbing up the front of his apartment building in Marseille. ...
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Cagnes-sur-Mer council has decided to temporarily close two of the town’s beaches due to suspected oil pollution. The slick was observed off the coast...
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