French and Riviera News Monday 1st November 2021

News

Stabbing in city centre of Grasse - A 32-year-old man has been seriously injured after being stabbed in the city centre of Grasse on Sunday. In circumstances to be determined by a police investigation, the victim was taken to the Pasteur hospital in Nice.

Mountaineer from Nice reported missing - A 34-year-old mountaineer from Nice has been reported missing after an avalanche near Everest. Thomas Arfi is one of three mountaineers missing during an expedition organized under the leadership of the Alpine and Mountain Federation. Mountain rescue teams are continuing their search for the two mountaineers from Chambéry and Briançon and a 34-year-old from Nice who have been missing since Tuesday, October 26th.

Wearing a mask extended to 15th November - The Prefect of the Var has issued a decree extending compulsory mask wearing in the department until November 15th inclusive. Wearing a mask remains compulsory for anyone over 11 years old in all the municipalities of the Var in outdoor food and non-food markets, flea markets and garage sales, unpacking sales, fairs and fun fairs and for any public event generating a large gathering of the population. For establishments subject to the health pass, wearing a mask remains compulsory, including on all public transport. Wearing a mask also remains compulsory in all establishments open to the public not subject to the health pass, such as shops. Full details can be found on the Prefecture's website www.var.gouv.fr

Nuclear submarine returns to Toulon - The nuclear submarine Perle, which was repaired after a serious fire, has returned to Toulon. After more than a year of repairs the submarine ravaged in June 2020 by a fire and repaired in Cherbourg (Manche), returned to its naval base in Toulon on Sunday, October 31, for the resumption of maintenance work interrupted by the disaster.

Snow tyres - From today November 1st until 31st March, it will no longer be possible to drive without snow tyres in 83 communes in the Alpes-Maritimes. The prefecture confirmed the new measure as part of the new mountain regulations. Failure to comply could result in 135 euros fine and the possible immobilization of the vehicle. The offence will also be the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle, and not that of its owner.

Here is the full list of the communes concerned; Amirat, Andon, Ascros, Auvare, Bairols, Belvédère, Beuil, Bezaudun-les-Alpes, Bonson, Breil-sur-Roya, Briançonnet, Caille, Caussols, Chateauneuf-d'Entraunes, Clans, Coaraze, Coursegoules, Daluis, Duranus, Entraunes, Escragnolles, Fontan, Gars, Gilette, Gorbio, Gourdon, Gréolières, Guillaumes, Ilonse, Isola, La Bollène-Vésubie, La Brigue, La Croix-sur-Roudoule, La Penne, La Tour, Lantosque, Le Mas, Les Mujouls, Levens, Lieuche, Lucéram, Malaussène, Marie, Massoin, Moulinet, Peille, Péone, Pierlas , Pierrefeu, Puget-Rostang, Puget-Théniers, Revest-les-Roches, Rigaud, Rimplas, Roquebillière, Roubion, Roure, Saint-Antonin, Saint-Auban, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Sainte-Agnès, Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, Saint-Léger, Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, Saorge, Sauze, Seranon, Sospel, Tende, Thiery, Toudon, Touët-sur-Var, Tourette-du-Chateau, Tournefort, Utelle, Valdeblore, Valderoure, Venanson, Villars-sur-Var and Villeneuve-d'Entraunes.

What changes in France from today? - As with every first of the month in France certain changes will come into force from today November 1st (which is also a public holiday to mark All Saints Day).

From today drivers in France are banned from alerting other motorists about upcoming police checks or roadblocks via motoring apps. Prices for domestic gas which were scheduled to increase by 15 percent on November 1st have been frozen until the end of 2022, so bills for heating and cooking gas will remain the same. The winter truce or "treve hivernale" begins today and runs until March 31st, 2022. During this time, tenants cannot be evicted from their homes even if they are behind with their rent and utility companies cannot cut off people who have not paid their bills.

Other changes in November include travel to the US. From November 8th travellers from Europe will again be allowed into the US provided they are vaccinated. The USA's borders have been closed to almost all non-US citizens since early 2020, but from November 8th travel for non-essential reasons will again be permitted, for fully vaccinated travellers. From November 23rd while the flu vaccine is already underway for those in priority groups it be open to everyone and finally November in France is the tobacco-free month or Mois sans tabac in which public health authorities run campaigns and offer extra support to people who want to quit smoking.

Motorist hit by a hunter's bullet - A hunter has been taken into police custody suspected of having seriously injured a motorist with a bullet on a road between Rennes and Nantes. An investigation for unintentional injuries has been opened. The 67-year-old motorist was driving between Orgères and Laillé (Ille-et-Vilaine) when he was seriously i