Paris attacks-An urgent enquiry has been launched after 4 people were killed and several more injured after a man went berserk at Paris police headquarters on Thursday.
Reports say that the knifeman who was later shot dead was an IT worker at the Paris Prefecture which is housed inside the building.
The attack opposite Notre Dame Cathedral happened in the courtyard of the police building at around 1pm lunchtime.
The Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has visited the scene and condemned the attacks.The Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has also visited the building.
Authorities say the perpetrator of the attacks had more than 20 years service at the Paris Police Prefecture and had recently converted to Islam.
It’s thought that a personal grudge may be the reason that pushed him over the edge.
Urgent questions are being asked as to how he was allowed to enter the building with a large knife.
A spokesman for the police union said that the 45 year old attacker had never previously shown any sign of mental instability and had been a steady and unremarkable employee.A search of his apartment has been carried out and his wife has been taken into custody.
Three of the victims were men and the fourth a woman.
Gattieres murder-Two youths have appeared in court in Grasse charged with the murder of a 20 year old man who was shot dead outside the Lidl supermarket at Gattieres in the Alpes-Maritimes.
The victim was shot with a hunting rifle in the supermarket car park following what’s reported to have been an argument over a girl.
French media says that both suspects had been harassing the 20 year old victim for several months to the point where his father made an official complaint to police.
Enquiries continue.Both suspects have been remanded in custody.
Fair Player-Motorists using the French motorway network may have noticed ‘Fair Player’ messages posted on overhead electronic gantries urging people to pay more care and attention.
The messages are the idea of the prefectures of the PACA region in coordination with regional authorities who are asking motorists and motorcyclists to sign up to an online charter of good driving behaviour.
Among items in the charter are pledges to respect speed,not to overtake on the inside and to use indicators when changing lanes.
Recent accident statistics in the Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur show a worrying increase in the numbers of fatal incidents after figures for 2018 showed a marked decrease.
Painkillers-The National Medicines Agency ANSM is calling for common painkillers such as Advil and Doliprane to be only available behind the counter at pharmacies and not on display on shelves in the main part of stores.
The agency is concerned that some people are misusing common painkiller medication which is available without prescription.
Authorities say that there are increasing cases of people suffering from kidney and liver problems by regularly exceeding the prescribed dose of painkillers containing paracetamol.
Some painkillers containing ibuprofen such as Nurofen are also being misused.
Princess Cup-The Princess of Monaco Cup has taken place at the Monte Carlo Golf Club with a host of celebrities and famous sportsman taking part.
The funds raised for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation will be used to support part of the renovation works at the Princess Charlene Municipal Swimming Pool in La Turbie as well as a swimming programme at the Awutu-Winton High School in Ghana.
Cocaine seizure-Police taking part in a drugs raid in Toulon have been pelted with missiles including stones.
Several dozens of grams of cocaine was seized during the raids in the Beaucaire area of the city.
A young adult male who is suspected of throwing missiles at police has been arrested.
Lamppost surfing-Emergency services in Cannes have freed a kite surfer after his sail got caught on a lamppost near Palm Beach.
The area is popular with adepts of the sport in windy conditions but the man’s enjoyment was cut short when his apparatus got tangled up on the post.
Firefighters used a giant ladder fixed to their truck to untangle the mess and free the man who was unhurt.
In National News.
Tobacco sales-The National Tobacco anti-addiction Agency says that far too many tobacconists are still selling products to minors.
In the results of a survey published on Thursday ,the Agency said that its finding showed that two out of three tobacconists are still selling cigarettes to under 17s while one in ten admitted to selling tobacco to children aged 12.
40 percent of tobacconists are failing to display clear signs that it’s illegal to sell cigarettes to under 18s.
In Paris a worrying 92 percent of tobacconists admitted to selling cigarettes to those under the age of 18.
Iran tensions-The French Foreign Minister has warned that the United States and Iran have just over a month to dial down tensions before Tehran starts ramping up its nuclear activities.
Jean Yves Le Drian warned on Thursday that both sides should act before the 6th of November at which date he said that Iran is set to abandon further commitments that it made as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The news comes after it was reported that the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had refused to take a call from President Trump during last month’s United Nations summit in New York.
The call was brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron who’s been pushing for concerted efforts to reduce the risks of spiralling conflict in the Middle East.
Business.
The UK economy may have already tipped into recession according to closely watched data.
The IHS Markit/CPS purchasing managers’ index for services fell to a six month low of 49.5 in September.A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
The data suggests that the economy contracted by 0.1 percent in the three months to September following a 0.2 percent in the previous quarter.
Official data published last month eased concerns over a recession and some experts are urging caution before the next set of government figures.
Shares in Ted Baker have plunged by 35 percent after the fashion retailer posted a loss and said that trading conditions remained rough.
Ted Baker ,which issued a profit warning in June reported a 23 million pound loss for the 6 months to the 10th of August, down from a profit of 24.5 million last year.
The firm has blamed fierce competition and unseasonable weather for the downturn.
In March ,founder Ray Kelvin resigned following allegations of sexual impropriety.
The company’s chairman David Bernstein said that if things do not improve then second half profits would also be below last year’s.
And-Some half a million indebted Polish property owners have won a fight to be freed from crippling Swiss Franc mortgages.
The Swiss Franc has doubled in value since 2008 which has sent mortgage-holders’s debt soaring.
On Thursday ,the European Court of Justice ruled that those affected can now ask Poland’s courts to let them convert their loans into the Polish zloty.
More than one in five Polish mortgages are currently held in Swiss Francs.
Ma Nolans Rugby World Cup Report.
There were 2 games at the World Cup on Thursday with Fiji scooping a bonus point in a comprehensive 45-10 win over Georgia in Pool D to put the pressure on Australia for what’s expected to be second place in the Pool.
In Pool A Ireland didn’t look fluent in their 35-0 victory but they got the bonus point and top the Pool and should make the last 8 unless they slip up against Samoa.
There’s one match today.South Africa are playing Italy in Pool B.
Tomorrow there are three games with hosts Japan playing Samoa in Pool A.A win for Japan would guarantee them a place in the quarter finals.
Likewise , England who face Argentina in Pool C with victory seeing them safely into the last 8.
Australia are playing Uruguay in Pool D and should register the win that would keep them on track for the knockout phase.Second place in that Pool is not expected to be decided until the final round of games.
Sport.
Football-There were several ties in the Group phase of the Europa League last night.
Wolves were 1-0 winners at Besiktas in Group K.Manchester United shared a disappointing 0-0 draw at AZ Alkmaar.Arsenal beat Standard Liege 4-0.
Celtic beat Cluj 2-0 and Rangers lost 2-1 at Young Boys.
In the English Premier League this weekend.
On Saturday Brighton play Spurs.Burnley host Everton.Liverpool play Leicester.Norwich face Aston Villa.Watford play Sheffield United and West Ham play Crystal Palace.
On Sunday Arsenal play Bournemouth.Manchester City host Wolves.Southampton play Chelsea and Newcastle face Manchester United.
Athletics-Katarina Johnson-Thompson has won Britain’s second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Doha.
Johnson-Thompson took gold in the women’s Heptathlon with a new British record of 6,981 points.
The USA still leads the medals table after the latest action with 8 golds while China have three and Jamaica ,Kenya and Great Britain have two each.
Weather.
Mainly fine with a moderate westerly wind across the Var.
Top temperature 24 degrees.
Overnight lows of 16 degrees with clear skies.
Friday and the start of the weekend-Mainly fine with highs of 23-25 degrees.
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