Local
Fire in Tourettes-sur- Loup - More than 85 hectares have been destroyed in a fire in Tourettes-sur-Loup. The fire broke out shortly after 11am on Sunday morning as 145 fire fighters were deployed to the area. Strong winds, which hit the Alpes Maritimes on Sunday complicated the intervention as the fire continued to spread into early evening.
Red Scarves - A group calling itself the red scarves has held a march in Paris to counter weeks of anti-government protests by the yellow-vest movement. The "foulards rouges" is demanding an end to the violence witnessed at yellow-vest rallies.
Police estimated that 10,500 people turned out for the Paris march on Sunday. Official figures for Saturday's Yellow Vests: Act 11 march were 4,000 in the capital and 69,000 nationwide, down from 84,000 the previous two weekends.
In Nice, the protests degenerated on Saturday when nearly 200 protesters clashed with police near Place Massena. To disperse protesters, the police used tear gas and grenades. Ten people were placed in police custody.
In Saint-Laurent-du-Var, a handful of Yellow Vests were found on the beach, near the airport as they attempted to disrupt air traffic by throwing lanterns into the air.
Meanwhile a yellow vest demonstrator who was injured in the eye at demonstrations in Paris on Saturday will, according to his lawyer be disabled for life. Jérôme Rodrigues, a high-profile member of the protest movement, claims he was struck by a “flash-ball” at Place de la Bastille on Saturday afternoon, during an 11th weekend of demonstrations. Witnesses said the police used flash-balls, crowd dispersal grenades and tear gas.
Climate Change - 3,000 people have gathered in Nice to take part in the march against climate change. Marches were organized across France on Sunday in Nice demonstrators gathered at Place Garibaldi. The movement which started last autumn plans to demonstrate once a month throughout France.
Monte Carlo Rally – Sebastien Ogier has won this year’s Monte-Carlo Rally by 2.2 secs. Northern Ireland's Kris Meeke finished sixth overall. Meeke, who had dropped to ninth after two punctures on Saturday, was fourth fastest on Sunday's first three stages.
Pact - The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has signed a National Pact for the Energy Transition of the Principality of Monaco. Actively engaged for 10 years the pact was signed on Friday at the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo its aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
19 year old pays 9 euros for PS4 - A 19 year old boy from Nice has been handed a four month suspended prison sentence after paying just 9 euros for a PS4 console at a supermarket near Dijon. The boy had reportedly weighed the equipment, which is actually worth 300 euros, as a fruit and veg article at the self-service check out. Later selling the game console for 100 euros in order to be able to return to Nice. It was not until he made a second attempt to carry out the scam that he was caught by security staff.
National
Banksy artwork stolen - An artwork by the British artist Banksy painted as a tribute to the victims of the 2015 terror attack at the Bataclan music hall in Paris has been stolen. The work, which depicted a young female figure with a mournful expression, was cut out and removed from one of the emergency doors at the venue. In November 2015, 90 people were killed when armed militants targeted the venue during a rock concert.
Popular French television presenter dies - The big brother of “Casimir”, Patrick Bricard has died at the age of 69. “Casimir” the popular orange dinosaur was accompanied by Bricard on the children’s television programme “L'île aux Enfants" a popular show for a whole generation which was broadcast on TF1 from 1974 to 1982.
Business
Washington has lifted sanctions on three firms linked to a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Restrictions on the aluminium giant US Rusal,En+Group and JSC EuroSibEnergo were lifted after the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska ceded control of them.
Mr Deripaska has been linked to a probe into alleged Russian interference in US elections and the Democrats had opposed the lifting of sanctions against the three firms.
The US Treasury Department says that restrictions on Mr Deripaska himself will continue.
Republicans and Mr Trump say that sanctions against US Rusal could have an impact on the global aluminium industry.
The French Finance Minister has warned against giving Carlos Ghosn an “exorbitant” severance package and says that the government will be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Mr Ghosn was relieved of his duties at Renault on Friday while he awaits trial in Japan on a number of charges of financial misconduct.
Speaking on Sunday,Bruno Le Maire said that “no one would understand if the severance pay of Carlos Ghosn were exorbitant”.
The payoff could be potentially explosive in France with the government facing protests over low pay and inequality.
And-The UK’s biggest supermarket chain Tesco is planning to cut thousands of jobs by closing in-store meat,fish and delicatessen counters as well as replacing staff canteens with vending machines.
Industry sources say that up to 15,000 jobs could be on the line with the changes planned at the majority of Tesco’s 732 larger stores.
Details of the changes are expected to be announced this week.
In October,Tesco set out plans to reduce its operating costs by 1.5 billion pounds three years by making its stores and distribution networks more efficient.
Sport
Tennis-Novak Djokovic has thrashed Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The world number one came through 6-3 6-2 6-3 for his biggest ever victory over Nadal in a major tournament.
It was the Serb’s 7th Australian Open title and his 15th Grand Sla.He now needs only to win the French Open to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
Cricket-England have some serious thinking to do ahead of the second Test against West Indies after being thrashed in the first Test in Barbados.
The tourists lost the match by 381 runs with leading batsmen criticised for giving their wickets away cheaply and seemingly no answers to the West Indian attack.
The second Test starts in Antigua on Thursday.
Football-There were two ties in the 4th round of the FA Cup in England on Sunday.Crystal Palace beat Spurs 2-0 and the holders Chelsea beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0.
The last match of the 4th round between Barnet and Brentford is being played tonight and the draw for the 5th round will be made.
In the Scottish Premiership on Sunday Hibs were 3-1 winners at St Mirren and Livingston lost 3-0 at home to Rangers.
Golf-Bryson DeChambeau has won the Dubai Desert Classic by 7 shots.
It was the American’s 4th title in 9 events as he finished on 24 under par-7 clear of Matt Wallace of England with Ian Poulter and Paul Waring both carding 16 under pars to finish among a cluster of players sharing joint third.
Weather
Mainly fine with a moderate to strong Mistral affecting the Var with gusts of up to 60 km/h.
Top temperature 14 degrees.
Overnight lows of 4 degrees on the coast and -1 degree inland with continuing strong north westerly winds.
Tuesday and Wednesday-Mainly fine tomorrow.Rain on Wednesday.Highs of 9-12 degrees.
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