French and Riviera News Monday 17th December 2018

Local

Yellow vest movement - An estimated 66,000 yellow vests took to the streets across France on Saturday according to figures from the interior ministry half the level of a week ago. 168 arrests were made compared to 1,000 last Saturday. As President Emmanuel Macron’s concessions announced last Monday appear to have taken, for the time being, some steam out of movement.

Meanwhile in the Alpes-Maritimes, a survey conducted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has shown that nearly 80% of businesses have suffered a loss of turnover of more than 10% since the beginning of the movement.

In a collective letter form the town halls of small villages from across France, Mayors have called for reforms that would make living in these small villages easier.

And according to a poll published on Sunday Macron’s approval rating has fallen dropping to 23 percent down two points from November marking a sharp decline from his 62 percent rating following his election in May last year.

Fire - A fire which broke out in an apartment on Boulevard Stalingrad in Nice has led to the death of an elderly man. The fire occurred around 8pm on Saturday. Firefighters attending the scene reported flames several meters high coming from the top floor apartment. Located above a pizzeria customers were at the time confined inside the establishment during the intervention.

Speed camera breaks record - A speed camera located on the A8 motorway eastbound has broken all records in the Alpes Martimes after recording 140,000 speeding offences in 2017. The stretch of motorway is limited to 90km/h for cars and 70km/hr for heavy goods vehicles.

Christmas swim - A hundred swimmers braved the cold as they participated in this year’s traditional Christmas swim on Sunday in Nice and Villeneuve Loubet. Participants threw themselves into the sea which was a cool 17 degrees and were even joined by the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi.

Super Bear - As the recently released film “Bohemian Rhapsody” continues to be shown in cinemas worldwide. Local resident Alain Legras has written of the glorious past of his villa Saint-Benoit in Berre les Alpes. Located in the hills behind Nice the villa was formerly known as the “Super Bear studio” which forty years ago welcomed the legendary English group Queen along with a string of other artists including Pink Floyd, Sir Paul McCartney, Police, Kate Bush and Sir Elton John.

National

Strasbourg attack - A fifth victim has died following the gun attack on the Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg. The suspect in last Tuesday's attack, Cherif Chekatt, was shot dead by police on Thursday. Four members of his family were released on Saturday and two others close to him were freed on Sunday. Only one other person remains in detention.

Climate deal - As the world's nations agreed in Poland on measures to uphold the 2015 Paris climate deal, President Macron emphasised France's role in the process. French President Emmanuel Macron said France must "show the way" as he welcomed the progress made at the talks in Poland, aimed to implement the Paris 2015 climate deal.

EU - The European Commission has confirmed that while UK travellers will not need a visa to enter the EU. They will, however, have to pay to enter. It means that UK citizens will not need a visa when travelling to the EU area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Business

The fashion and home furnishings retailer Laura Ashley is to close 40 stores in the UK  as it plans to increase its presence in China.

The firm,which is owned by Malayan United Industries has already closed some 40 stores in the UK since 2015.

The company’s chairman has said that he expects Laura Ashley to face some “tough headwinds” in the next two years.

High street stores in the UK have been experiencing a difficult trading year with consumer confidence on the wane and fewer shoppers visiting stores.

At the start of the year the firm issued a profit warning after reporting disappointing Christmas trading.

 

The co-founder of the video platform vine has been found dead at his home in New York.

Colin Kroll,who was 34 was found by police after his girlfriend asked them to check up on him.

Reports suggest that he died of a drugs overdose.

Mr Kroll was the CEO of the popular app HQ Trivia although its appeal had been waning this year.

He was also the co-founder of Vine which was bought out by Twitter in 2012 and withdrawn as a mobile app in 2016.

 

And-The British Prime Minister’s office has dismissed reports that people will be advised not to book holidays beyond March 2019 as part of no-deal Brexit contingency plans.

The Sunday Times reported that ministers and senior officials had examined the idea but 10 Downing Street dismissed the claims as “categorically untrue”.

The UK travel agents body Abta said that “The European Commission has said that even in a no-deal scenario,flights will still operate between Britain and the EU and that a visa will not be required”.

Sport

Football-There were 3 games in the English Premier League on Sunday and Liverpool went back to the top of the table thanks to an emphatic 3-1 win over arch rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

In the other games Arsenal lost for the first time in 23 games in a 3-2 defeat at Southampton who climbed out of the bottom three and Chelsea maintained 4th place with a 2-1 win at Brighton.

In Scotland on Sunday Rangers went back to the top of the Premiership on goal difference from Kilmarnock thanks to a 1-0 win over Hamilton while Celtic’s patchy form continued as they were beaten 2-0 at Hibs.

There’s one game in the English Championship tonight.Derby play Nottingham Forest.

Cricket-Australia are on top on day 4 of the second Test against India in Perth.

The home side are batting in their second innings and had reached 192-6 midway through the second session of the day.That’s a lead of 235.

Rugby Union-Leicester’s chances of making the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup have been all but ended after they were beaten 34-11 at home in Pool 4 by Racing 92 on Sunday.

In the other games Montpellier beat Toulon 34-13  in the all French Pool 5 clash while Edinburgh were 21-8 winners at Newcastle.

Skiing-The Swiss Skier Marc Gisin remains in intensive care in hospital this morning after a high speed crash during the men’s World Cup downhill race at Val Gardena in Italy.

Gisin was  unconscious when he was lifted from the slopes and was flown back to Switzerland.He’s reported to have stabilised overnight after sustaining fractures to his spine and ribs as well as injuries to his lungs.

Racing was suspended for half an hour following the incident on Saturday.

Weather

Rain dying away then mainly fine with light to moderate westerly winds.

Top temperature 13 degrees.

Overnight lows of 6 degrees on the coast and 2 degrees inland with clear skies.

Tuesday and Wednesday-Mainly fine tomorrow with a high of 14.Rain on Wednesday with a high of 13.

Finally 

If you want to live longer have a blazing row with your spouse could be the answer as a recent study shows that couples who argue have a lower risk of ill health and dying prematurely.

It might not seem like it at the time, but having a blazing row with your partner could be good for you.

Those who argue with one another have a lower risk of ill health and dying prematurely, scientists have found.

However, this only applies to couples who row with equal intensity.

If one contains their anger while the other gives full vent to their feelings, it could almost double their risk of an early death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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