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News Demonstrations - Demonstrations are planned across France today Thursday 17th March to demand an increase in wages and pensions. According to unions more than 150 gathering points are planned in cities across the country. Few disruptions are expected on transport, except in the east of France where only one out of two TGVs will be running. The last mobilisation on January 27th saw as least 89,000 demonstrators take to the streets. Emmanuel Macron to present his political programme this afternoon - The day of demonstrations will coincide with French President and candidate for the elections Emmanuel Macron, unveiling his political programme this afternoon in the Paris region. Following the press conference, the content of the programme will be presented in a twenty-page booklet sent to the French in the coming days. Resilience plan unveiled by French Prime Minister - Meanwhile the French government presented on Wednesday its "resilience plan" to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which is leading to soaring energy and raw material prices. Prime Minister Jean Castex detailed several measures to limit "in the short term" the impact on businesses and households. The discount of 15 cents on a litre of fuel will finally be extended to natural gas and LPG. These two fuels were initially excluded from the aid, which will come into effect on April 1st for four months. The government has also decided on specific aid for fishermen with an aid equivalent to 35 cents per litre of fishing diesel available from this Thursday, so that "all boats can go back to sea as quickly as possible". The State will also help energy-intensive companies to offset the additional costs generated by the surge in prices since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This aid will benefit companies whose gas and electricity expenses represent "at least 3% of their turnover, and which could make losses in 2022" because of the rise in prices and there will also be a “transitional aid for a period of four months” for French farmers hit by the soaring animal feed costs. Corsica - French President Emmanuel Macron and France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin have come under fire from opposition leaders after recognising the “responsibility of the State” following the violent attack on independence activist Yvan Colonna and also suggesting that France was in the future, prepared to grant “some form of autonomy to Corsica”. Far right leaders Marine Le Penn and Eric Zemmour accuse the government of “giving into violence” and using the promise of autonomy ahead of the elections. Corsica is indeed the only island in Europe which does not hold a status of autonomy. Little risk of pregnant women transmitting covid to new-born - A study published on Wednesday has shown that there is very little risk of a pregnant woman with covid transmitting the disease to her baby, especially when the expecting mother has mild symptoms. The study showed that when the mother is covid positive only about 2% of babies go on to test positive within days of birth. Mayor of Nice presents new real estate programmes at MIPIM - Present at MIPIM in Cannes on Wednesday, the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has presented two new real estate programmes in Nice Méridia. L'Oasis and Le Plus were presented on the stand of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis. Monaco Sante - HSH Prince Albert of Monaco has attended a presentation of the new features of the “Monaco Santé” the e-health platform for the Principality. The project launched in 2020 intends to simplify steps in health care for both residents and visitors and is available 24/7 in five languages. To hear more about the “Monaco Santé” stay tuned in to Riviera Radio and don’t miss next week’s Monaco Update with special guest Frederic Genta, Chief Digital Officer for Monaco. |
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Business Asian markets have rallied strongly this morning following gains on Wall Street on Wednesday investors factored in rate hikes and China pledged more stimulus in response to a spike in coronavirus cases. Although oil prices, inflation and the war in Ukraine are still at the forefront of concerns, investors have been encouraged by peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that appear to be making slow progress as well as the prospect of more Iranian crude coming onto the market and the US Federal Reserve’s rate hike programme to tackle inflation. Treasury yields have eased a little this morning after spiking overnight, the dollar has weakened a little and oil appears to have settled lower well short of the multi-year highs rea |
