French and Riviera News Monday 3rd October 2022

News

Changes in October - Several changes came into effect over the weekend. As with the 1st of every month in France October 1st marked an increase in the value of restaurant vouchers, the planned flu vaccination campaign from October 18th, deadlines to remember include October 17th for the property tax and there will be no MOT for motorcycles and mopeds. Finally at part of the fight against animal abuse a “certificate of commitment” will be introduced for all pets acquired from October 1st.

Official launch of covid vaccination campaign today in France - As part of a new covid vaccination campaign, officially launched in France today Monday, October 3rd the new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against the Omicron variant will be administered. The campaign comes in an attempt to stem the eighth wave of covid which has affected France since the end of August. The High Authority for Health recommends administering booster doses of new vaccines as a priority to fragile people. New vaccines can only be given as a booster dose, not for a first vaccination. Other conditions are required: for people aged 80 and over, residents of nursing homes and long-term care, and those with a weakened immune system, you must not have been vaccinated or have had covid during the last three months. For all others, the deadline is six months after the last vaccine and three months after a covid infection.

Car hits bus shelter three people injured - One person has been seriously injured and two other were slightly hurt after their vehicle hit a bus shelter in the La Seyne, on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred on the Avenue de Général de Gaulle. Three people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Traffic was disrupted while emergency services intervened. The cause of the accident remains to be determined.

Hiker airlifted to hospital - A 66-year-old has been airlifted to hospital following a fall while out hiking in the forest in Thoronet in the Var. Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after 1pm on Sunday and the individual was taken to a nearby hospital.

Apartment fire in Marseille - A man in his sixties has been seriously burnt in an apartment fire in the 15th arrondissement of Marseille. A fire broke out on the 9th floor of a building in the Viste district, at around 12:30pm on Sunday October 2nd. About thirty firefighters intervened. They managed to quickly bring the fire under control. The origins of the blaze are unknown.

Roadworks – Motorists are reminded that road works are to begin today Monday 3rd October. The works are likely to impact road access to Monaco at the Principality's eastern border for the next eighteen months. From October 3, the Community of the French Riviera is undertaking major work to modernize the water networks on Avenue Jean Jaurès, in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. A one-way traffic system and diversions are being put in place. More details are available on the Monaco government's website gouv.mc

French President promises new sanctions against Russia - French President Emmanuel Macron has promised “new European sanctions” against Russia following the annexation of four Ukrainian regions. On Sunday Macron pledges to "work with his European partners on new sanctions". During a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the head of state "reiterated his strong condemnation of the illegal annexation by Russia" of the four regions and reaffirmed France's determination to help Ukraine regain its full sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to work with its European partners on new sanctions”. On Wednesday the EU reacted to the annexation of four regions occupied totally or partially by Moscow by proposing in particular to cap the price of Russian oil and to add new restrictions to trade with Moscow.

Construction plans at the foot of the Eiffel tower abandoned - Construction plans at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris have been abandoned following strong criticism from local opposition and environmentalists. The project presented by the town hall and mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, intended to revegetate and pedestrianize the surroundings of the “Iron Lady” estimated at around 107 million euros.

Stelios Philanthropic Foundation raises all-time high - Seventy philanthropists have been invited by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to an exclusive dinner at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation’s conference hall on the Port of Monaco in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF international. The collective donations of 170,000 euro were matched by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and passed on equally to the Foundation of Prince Albert II and the WWF to help in the efforts to save the Mediterranean monk seal from extinction. The sum raised this year was an all-time high for the 10th in a series of annual event between the three organizations. The 10 joint events since 2013 have raised cumulatively almost 1.6 million euro for the environment.

Voiles de Saint- Tropez - The 24th edition of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez continued at the weekend, a rare opportunity to admire classic and modern sailboats in the port of Saint-Tropez. The gathering of different classes of “modern” and “traditional” sailboats was created back in 1981. Since 2020 it aims to brings together modern and more classic boats. In total, there are 300 boats which can be admired. Not to mention the thousands of sailors present for the occasion. The event is on until October 8th.

Most beautiful villages in France – Finallly, Cotignac and Le Castellet have joined the list of the most beautiful villages in France. The two newly named municipalities will join Tourtour, Seillans, Bargème and Gassin.

SOS Hérrissons - An individual from the Var has launched a petition to create a sanctuary for hedgehogs. Faced with the alarming observation of the state of the hedgehog population in the Var, the petition hopes to lead to the creation of a refuge in the department. SOS Hérissons hopes to save the hedgehogs in the Var.

Business

The UK's Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, will use his Conservative conference speech later to insist the government will "stay the course" on his tax-cutting growth plan. The chancellor's approach has sparked market turmoil and unease among some Conservative MPs, but he will argue his plan is "the right one". Warning that without action, the country is heading for "slow decline". Mr Kwarteng is under pressure after a backlash against his mini-budget, unveiled on 23 September.

Airbnb is joining forces with the energy renovation specialist Effy, to launch a 1 million euro "sustainable accommodation" plan. Each host will receive assistance of up to 2200 euros. Helping guests reduce their energy bills and making accommodations greener. This is the subject of the "sustainable accommodation" plan announced by Airbnb with an amount of one million euros. The aid will be from 1000 to 2200 euros maximum for works (insulation, heat pump, solar panels etc.) aimed at "reducing carbon emissions and making savings on their long-term energy bills". According to an Airbnb study carried out in September 2022, 66% of hosts on Airbnb do not renovate their property for financial reasons. To benefit from this plan, guests must complete an initial questionnaire to establish an initial estimate of the amount of work and assistance.

The Portuguese government has presented a high-speed train project that will connect Lisbon to Porto, the country's two main cities, in one hour and fifteen minutes after 2030, compared to nearly 3 hours currently. Speaking during a press conference Prime Minister Antonio Costa said it is a "strategic project for the future of the country" which will promote "autonomy" and "competitiveness".

Sport

Football - At least 125 people have died in a crush at an Indonesian football match that has become one of the world's worst stadium disasters. The crush took place after police tear-gassed fans who invaded the pitch. As panic spread, thousands surged towards the stadium's exits, where many suffocated. Fifa, the world's governing football body, states that no "crowd control gas" should be carried or used by stewards or police at matches.

In the Premier League on Sunday Manchester City beat Manchester United 6-3. In this evening’s Premier League Match Leicester are at home to Nottingham Forest.

Formula One - Red Bull's Sergio Perez held off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to win an incident-packed Singapore Grand Prix run in treacherous wet-dry conditions. Title leader Max Verstappen finished seventh under the lights of Marina Bay after a frustrating race that included a major error from the Red Bull driver. Verstappen can win the title in Japan next Sunday, but would need the results of Perez and Leclerc to go his way. Lewis Hamilton also had a difficult day, finishing ninth after two errors.

Cricket - England claimed a 4-3 series win over Pakistan in their seven-match T20 international series. There are a still a handful of issues that need to be resolved before England's first game against Afghanistan in Perth on 22 October.

What’s On Guide

The Air League of Monaco will be holding their Annual Prize-Giving Cocktail on Tuesday 11th October on the Port of Monaco from 5.30pm for a 6pm start. Tickets are 25 euros for students, 50 euros for members and 65 euros for non-members, to include the entrance fee, 2 drinks and a selection of canapés. For further details contact susanwebb@monaco.mc or see the association website www.airleague.mc

The 5th Biennale des Arts is taking place in Nice right through to the end of this year and it's on the theme of flowers. There are several exhibitions open to the public and each of the municipal museums has approached this theme in the context of its own work. For example every Wedneday afternoon at 3pm until 26 October there's a guided tour of the “Fleurs d’artifice” exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. A hundred works from the 14th to the 20th century highlight the diversity of the symbolism of flowers in the history of art. Reservations are necessary, there's a chage of 6.20 euros and you'll need an entry ticket to the museum. More details of this and many other events hapening in Nice can be found on the website www.nice.fr

If you're interested in the history of film making, there's a special exhibition in Monaco you might wish to visit. The Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco has an exhibition called Cinemato! Albert I of Monaco, Pioneer of Image and Sound. It includes loans from the Archives of the Palace of Monaco and the Oceanographic Institute as well as the collections of the Audiovisual Institute. It's part of the commemorations of the centenary of Prince Albert I and is on until 23 December. Free admission from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5.30pm (5pm on Fridays) at the Audiovisual Institute, Engelin, 83-85 boulevard du Jardin Exotique in Monaco. More information at https://www.toutlartducinema.mc/cabinet-de-curiosit%C3%A9s

Weather

Sunny with a moderate breeze. Highs of 24 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Saint Tropez. 26 degrees in Cannes. This evening going down to 15 degrees with clear skies. The outlook for tomorrow and Wednesday; remaining fine highs of 23-24 degrees.

Sunrise:    07.30hr                       Sunset:     19.07hr

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