French and Riviera News Monday 11th October 2021

Local News

Woman hit by train at Golfe-Juan train station - A forty-year-old woman has died after being hit by a train at Golfe-Juan train station on Saturday. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm. The exact circumstances are not yet known although investigators believe it to be suicide. On site, the emergency services took charge of many shocked travellers. Train traffic was stopped in both directions causing disruptions to the entire network.

Fatal road accident in Avignon - Two people have been killed, five others injured, and two people were unharmed in a road accident in the early hours of Sunday morning near Avignon. The accident occurred at around 3am when a car driving at high speed left the road at the level of the Charles de Gaulle bypass. Inside the vehicle were four people. Eleven firefighters and four vehicles were dispatched to the scene. When help arrived, two people had died in the accident and two others were injured. Shortly after the arrival of the emergency services, another car traveling at high speed hit the ambulance, throwing it on its side. This additional accident injured a firefighter, who was taken to hospital and the two passengers in the back of the car. The two people in the front of the car fled the scene. Two other firefighters who were in the ambulance were unharmed. A police investigation is underway.

Emergency services rescue walker on Cap d’Antibes - A walker has been rescued after falling on rocks on the Cap d'Antibes on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services intervened by helicopter and lifeboat at around 2pm after the individual fell on the rocks suffering head injuries and was taken to hospital where their condition was said to be stable.  

Investigation - The mayor of Toulon and the president of the Var departmental council have been taken into police custody as part of an investigation into “embezzlement of public funds” between 2002 and 2018. According to the Journal du Dimanche the mayor of Toulon Hubert Falco and Marc Giraud president of the Var department were heard by investigators as part of an ongoing investigation. 

Demonstrators at Port Vauban - About sixty demonstrators have gathered in front of the Port Vauban harbour office. On Saturday, individuals, associations and professionals were mobilized claiming that “it’s the end of small yachting in Antibes, due to the gradual increase in prices deemed too excessive” and demanding a “port for all”. The call to demonstrate, launched a few weeks ago, brought together about sixty people, all port users.

Man uses French President's health pass for hospital appointment in Marseille - A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Marseille after using the QR code health pass of French President Emmanuel Macron for a hospital appointment. The individual presented the pass at the reception of the Salvator hospital and was later arrested after security agents realized he was using the pass of the President, which in September had been leaked on social networks. The man was later fined for presenting a health document belonging to a third party and was released.

The QR code of Emmanuel Macron's health pass was made accessible by caregivers who distributed it on social networks after having access to his vaccination record. The suspects have been identified and a referral to their professional orders "is in progress”.

Fight against plastic in Marseille - Voluntary divers in Marseille have launched a fight against plastic in the Mediterranean. From food packaging, bags, to masks. The Mediterranean is suffering the consequences of recent floods on Monday, October 4th, just after the bin collectors strike, which saw heavy rains carry tons of household garbage to the city's beaches. In just an hour and a half on Sunday six divers collected 213 liters of waste, almost 30 kilos.

Revest in the Var invites residents to report any damage - The city council of Revest in the Var just north of Toulon, has invited those residents who may have suffered damage during the mistral which hit the village overnight to where needed collect insurance certificates from the town hall. Last week gusts of wind of more than 120km an hour were recorded as many residents felt the effects of the mistral. An old chestnut tree weighing more than two tons fell on the Mont Caume residence in the village, causing extensive damage.

Monaco donates 3 million euros as promised, to the valleys ravaged by Storm Alex last year - Monaco has donated 3 million euros as promised, to the valleys ravaged by Storm Alex last October. The money from the Principality will be managed by the Heritage Foundation, responsible for identifying needs. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the French Ambassador to Monaco Laurent Stefanini, alongside Monaco’s Minister of State Pierre Dartout met with Guillaume Poitrinal, President of the Heritage Foundation to mark the gesture of solidarity.

In the aftermath of Storm Alex which ravaged the valleys of the Nice hinterland on October 2nd, 2020, the Principality had announced the donation of three million euros to help the reconstruction of thd Tinée, Vésubie and Roya. As a French local authority cannot enter into a financial contractual agreement with a foreign state, it took a year to find the appropriate legal route so that France could receive the money promised by the Principality.

Monaco - Marjorie Crovetto has been appointed co-rapporteur by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe representing the City of Monaco as a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities depending on the Council of Europe. Crovetto, 2nd Deputy Mayor, is responsible, together with the second co-rapporteur, to engage in a political dialogue with the official representatives of Luxembourg in order to update a Congress recommendation on local democracy. The Congress is a pan-European political assembly representing 150,000 communities from 47 European countries. Its missions: to promote territorial democracy, strengthen the autonomy of communities and ensure the application of the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government ratified by the 47 states - a binding treaty in the field of local and regional democracy.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco honorary president of this year’s “Egg Meurette” World Championship - The “Egg Meurette” World Championship has taken place in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, honorary president of this year’s third edition. Eggs en meurette is a classic Burgundian dish of poached eggs in a rich and flavorful red wine sauce. On Sunday thirteen chefs competed, under the gaze of a jury composed of 12 people, including Bruno Brangea, 2020 world champion of the egg in meurette and chef of the restaurant Champeaux les Halles de Paris. The amateur championship saw the victory of Mickaël Thureau, who came from Bordeaux for the occasion.

Jean Jacques Goldman tribute - Jérôme Lellouche from Antibes has called on fans of the singer Jean Jacques Goldman to pay tribute this evening to celebrate the singer's 70th birthday. Facebook group “we want JJ ​​Goldman in concert!”, created ten years ago by Lellouche offers all admirers of the singer-songwriter to participate in an event this evening at 8pm, when you’re invited to sit at your window, on your balcony or on your terrace, and make yourselves heard. By applauding, by playing one of JJG’s hits, by singing, by holding up a poster of him, by writing a message on a panel, special dedication. In short, wishing a very happy birthday to a man whose music has accompanied the French for decades.

National News

French Interior minister calls for negotiations - France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has called for new negotiations for a migration treaty between the European Union and Britain. The minister also urged the British government to "uphold its promise" to finance the fight against illegal immigrants who gather on the northern French coast attempting to cross into England. Under an agreement reached in July, Britain agreed to finance border security in France to the tune of 62.7 million euros.

Health systems need to cater better for mental health disorders - A study published at the weekend has shown that there is an urgent need for health systems worldwide to increase the care for mental health disorders. The Lancet published its first study to assess global impacts of the health crisis on major depressive disorders and anxiety. Cases of depression and anxiety have increased by more than a quarter worldwide in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Detailing them by age, sex and location in 204 countries and territories in 2020 the results show that by 2020, cases of major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders increased by 28% and 26%, respectively. The study showed that women were more affected than men, and younger people were more affected than older groups.

Business

Asian shares rallied on Monday courtesy of gains in China which also helped U.S. stock futures pare early losses, while rising Treasury yields lifted the dollar to a near-three-year peak against the Japanese yen. Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures were both down around 0.1%, but well above early lows.

A Facebook executive has said that the company would introduce new measures on its apps to prompt teens away from harmful content, as U.S lawmakers scrutinize how Facebook and subsidiaries like Instagram affect young people's mental health.

The boss of Kraft Heinz has told UK media that people will have to get used to higher food prices. The head of the international food giant which makes tomato sauce and baked beans said prices were to increase in several countries. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation the cost of ingredients such as cereals and oils has pushed global food prices to a 10-year high.

In France plastic packaging will be banned for fruit and vegetables from January 1st. However, some products will not be concerned by the new measure until 2026. An apple, tangerine or cucumber wrapped in cellophane will soon be a thing of the past, as it will no longer be possible to sell fruit and vegetables in plastic packaging. The decree, which is part of the anti-waste law passed in 2020, will be published this Tuesday, reports the Journal du Dimanche. In the event of non-compliance, the penalties may increase to a fine of 15,000 euros and a daily penalty of 1,500 euros.

On the vegetable side, leeks, zucchini, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, onions, turnips, cabbage, squash and even radishes will be concerned. As for fruit, it will be apples, pears, bananas, citrus fruits, kiwis, plums, melons, pineapples, mangoes and passion fruits which can no longer be sold wi this type of packaging. In addition to this, conventional agriculture as well as organic farming will also be subject to the ban. But some fruit and vegetables will not be concerned by the ban straight away: batches of 1.5 kg or more as well as products too fragile to be sold in bulk will benefit from temporary exemptions, while alternative solutions are found to package these foods.

Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries can thus be wrapped in plastic until June 30, 2026. Similarly, the deadline has been set at December 31, 2024 for salad and cherries and June 30, 2023 for peaches and green beans. However, this decree does not signify the definitive end of plastic. The ban does not apply to processed products (cut and/or peeled) offered on supermarket shelves.

Sport

Football - France beat Spain 2-1 last night in the Nations League thanks to a sumptuous goal from Karim Benzema then another from Kylian Mbappé who offered a new trophy to the Blues.

In the World Cup Qualifying at the weekend Scotland beat Israel 3-2, England beat Andorra 5-0, Republic of Ireland beat Azerbaijan 3-0. Tonight, Wales play Estonia.

Formula One - Valtteri Bottas won the Turkish Grand Prix as second place for Max Verstappen returned the Red Bull driver to the championship lead. Lewis Hamilton was fifth, disagreeing with his team over the radio over their decision to make a late pit stop for tyres that dropped him down from third. Verstappen leads Hamilton by six points with six races remaining this season.

Tennis - Andy Murray beat highly-rated Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-3 6-2 to reach the third round at Indian Wells. Murray, 34, broke twice in the decider on the way to taking a captivating match against the 18-year-old in three hours and three minutes.

Rugby Union - Wasps ended Northampton's unbeaten start to the season with a 26-20 win at Coventry.

Boxing - Tyson Fury reaffirmed his status as the heavyweight number one on Saturday night in Las Vegas. As the Fury v Wilder III will go down as one of the greatest, most thrilling encounters in boxing history.

Weather

Clear skies to start, highs of 21 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Antibes with a light wind. Strong winds are forecast for the Var and the Bouches du Rhone. This evening going down to 14 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes and 10 degrees in the Var with clear skies.

Outlook for Tuesday - Becoming increasingly cloudy with highs of 20-21 degrees. Clear skies on Wednesday with rain expected by the afternoon.