A man has died after being shot during a police operation in the centre of Nice today. Shots were fired during the police intervention at premises on rue de la Buffa at around midday. The prosecutor said that the operation was in connection with an investigation into the killing of a man on Christmas Eve in the Las Planas district. The police officer who fired the shots has reportedly been taken into custody.
The search for a 63 year old man missing after being reported as falling overboard from a yacht off the coast of the Bouches-du-Rhone has been called off. Cross Med received a call from the motor vessel off Sausset-les- Pins around 7.35pm yesterday evening. Several vessels and a French Navy helicopter based in Hyeres took part in the search which was called off just after midnight. The boat and its two passengers went to the port of Saint-Louis-du-Rhône where they were taken care of by a medical team.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced new measures to support the hotel, cafe and restaurant sector. The measures are aimed at employers with less than 250 employees who carry out their main activity in the tourism, hotel, catering, sports, culture, air transport and event sectors, as well as sectors whose activity depends on those areas.
National industrial action by French education unions is still set to go ahead tomorrow. In Paris, police authorities initially refused permission for a planned march in the capital, saying that the application for permisssion was submitted too late. However, reports say that the Prefect of Police has sent a letter to organizers saying that he will not prevent the demonstration from taking place but reminding organizers of their criminal liability.
Presidential candidate Arnaud Montebourg has announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. In a video posted on social media this morning he said that he had not succeeded in uniting his candidacy with other candidates "in a common programme". He added that he had decided not to support any of the other candidates.
More than 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine have now been delivered to less well off countries under the Covax programme. The government said that France has already donated more than 75 million doses. President Macron has pledged that France will share 120 million doses of vaccine for developing countries by mid-2022.
A new modernisation package for Isola2000 has been announced by the President of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi. He said that there are four objectives for the plan which will run from this year until 2027 and which will cost 45 million euros. They are the modernization of ski lifts, the reinforcement of the artificial snow network, requalification of the snow front and the diversification of activities in winter and summer. The proposals include new chairlifts, the creation of rail and snow toboggan runs, "4 seasons" entertainment areas, a new 215,000 cubic metre water reservoir and the replacement of the Pelevos gondola.
BUSINESS
Inflation in the UK was at it's highest rate in almost 30 years in December according to new data released today. Consumer price inflation increased to 5.4% in the 12 months to December, up from 5.1% in November. It's the highest figure since March 1992, when it was 7.1%.
UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson has announced that so-called "Plan B" Covid-19 measures in England will end on 26 January. Measures such as mandatory Covid passports for entering nightclubs and large events will be dropped. Johnson also said the government would immediately drop its advice for people to work from home. He also announced that people who have the virus will no longer be required to self-isolate after 24 March and added that the date could be brought forward.
SPORT
Rugby Union... Scotland have called up five uncapped players for their Six Nations squad. They include Ben Vellacott, Ben White and Saracens back row Andy Christie. Cameron Redpath returns from injury.
Football.. Former Liverpool chief executive Peter Robinson has died at the age of 86. Robinson joined the club in 1965 and was chief executive from 1992 to 2000.
Tennis... World number one Ashleigh Barty has reached the third round of the Australian Open by beating Italian player Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-1. Defending champion Naomi Osaka beat American Madison Brengle 6-0 6-4. Amanda An-isi-mova beat Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic 6-2 7-5. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal defeated Yannick Hanf-mann to go into the third round.
Cricket... The Australia against New Zealand white-ball series has been postponed over quarantine concerns. The three one-day internationals and a T20 had been scheduled to start on 30 January.
Glenn Maxwell has broken the record for the highest individual score in Australia's Big Bash League. He made an unbeaten 154 in Melbourne Stars' match against Hobart Hurricanes.
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