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News French President visits Kyiv - French president Emmanuel Macron has visited Kyiv for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion. Accompanied by the German Chancellor and Italian Prime Minister the three met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The visit, eagerly awaited by President Volodymyr Zelensky, was a way for the French head of state to give pledges to his Ukrainian counterpart, as relations between the two men had deteriorated over the months. Macron declared during the meeting that he had come to send "a message of European unity" and "support" to Kyiv "both for the present and for the future". The trip ended with the announcement of France's decision to grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for membership of the European Union (EU). The Twenty-Seven must now agree at a summit on June 23rd and 24th. Heatwave - Twelve departments in the west of France have been placed on a top-level red alert for extreme heat. The alert will be operational from this afternoon. An additional twenty-five departments, mostly also in the western half of France have been placed on an orange alert, which is the third highest level of the Meteo France alert levels. The French government education department has said that students in schools and colleges in the departments under a red alert will be allowed to stay at home today Friday 17th June. Toll-free number - The French government has activated the heatwave toll-free telephone number. The number, 0800 06 66 66 is open from 9am to 7pm and provides advice on how to protect yourself and those around you, especially the most fragile. Risk of fires - The French government has issued a warning about the risk of fires breaking out during the heatwave. The General Directorate of Civil Security said that it "recommends great caution" for this Friday and Saturday due to the heat wave situation and the high danger of fires which results from it, particularly for low vegetation such as agricultural fields, wasteland, and roadsides. It said that this very high fire danger is linked to very hot and dry conditions and the moderate winds expected on Saturday. Speed limit in French capital - A speed limit of just 10 km per hour has been imposed on the Ile-de-France region tomorrow because of ozone pollution. The Prefect of Police has asked motorists to defer road travel if possible and to use public transport, car pooling, walking or cycling and appealed to businesses to consider teleworking. Investigation into incidents at the Stade de France on May 28th - A first investigation report has pointed to a series of "failures" at the Stade de France on May 28th during the Champions League final. The senatorial delegation has denounced the "unpreparedness" of the public authorities and qualified the non-conservation of the CCTV footage as a "serious misconduct". Further hearings are to take place next week, in particular those of the supporters. Migrant dies from injuries - The migrant who was shot by police during a chase from Sospel to Nice yesterday has died from his injuries, according to the Nice prosecutor, who was speaking to France Bleu. The man was 35 years old and was of Egyptian nationality. Young man shot dead in Marseille - A young man has been shot dead in Marseille. The shooting occurred early on Thursday evening in the north of the city. The victim, in his twenties had already died when help arrived. It’s the second fatal shooting in less than a month in the area. In early June, a 23-year-old man was shot dead in a parking lot. No further details were given on the shooting. It’s the 14th fatal shooting in the Bouches-du-Rhône since the beginning of the year. Fire at holiday village - A fire has broken out at the holiday village of La Bayette, in Le Pradet. Thick clouds of black smoke and explosions were heard for miles around on Thursday afternoon. The flames destroyed a technical room in the heart of the bungalow village. The reason for the fire remains to be determined. Drug trafficking network in Cannes la Bocca - Eight people have been arrested for drug trafficking in the Frayère district of Cannes la Bocca. Eighty officers intervened on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into a drug network operating for some time in the area. City centres of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins closed to motorists this evening - Motorists are banned in the city centres of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins this evening Friday 17th June. From 6pm until 1am the old town prohibits the circulation of cars as part of the pedestrianization policy of the mayor of Antibes, Jean Leonetti. The measure doe |
