News
Man found dead following floods in northern France - Floods in northern France have led to the body of a man being found in his car on Wednesday afternoon. The 73-year-old was discovered dead in his partially submerged car in the Loire-Atlantique after having reportedly taken a road cut off to traffic due to flooding. The Pas-de-Calais department is still on a red alert for flooding. More than 50 municipalities in the department are currently impacted by rising water levels. A 24-hour centre has been activated at the Pas-de-Calais prefecture to coordinate the action of state services. According to the energy company Enedis, 8,500 customers were without electricity at midday on Wednesday and another 1,500 in the neighbouring Nord department which is under an orange flood alert.
Anti-Semitic tags at airport in Corsica - Police have opened an investigation after anti-Semitic tags were found on several panels at Calvi airport in Corsica. The Corsican Human Rights League along with other political parties and associations have strongly condemned the act and expressed their “solidarity with the members of the Jewish community of Corsica”. Authorities have since taken down the tagging.
19-year-old Irish woman is described as “miraculous” by emergency services - A 19-year-old Irish woman has been found by rescue services in a mountainous forest area of “Les deux Alpes” dressed in just shorts and a t-shirt, after she got lost leaving a nightclub at around 4am on Wednesday. The young tourist had wandered for almost 3 hours in shorts and a t-shirt and miraculously according to authorities, “only suffered from slight hypothermia”. Police have warned partygoers in the area “to be careful and to dress in accordance with the environment”. The young woman was airlifted to hospital in Grenoble, but her life is not in danger.
Man handed 3-year prison sentence for sexual assault in Nice - The man who sexually assaulted a 52-year-old female tourist on the Promenade in Nice has been handed a three-year prison sentence. The incident occurred on Monday morning at around 7am when a 29-year-old Tunisian national was arrested by police. The victim defended herself by violently biting his hand and a nearby police patrol were quick to intervene. The man was found to be in France illegally and was at the time of the attack carrying a knife.
Saint-Tropez receives anonymous donation - Saint-Tropez in the Var has received an anonymous donation of 50,000 euros. The donation has led to local opposition criticizing the donation as well as the use of the funds. The city says that the money will be used to develop the former Louis-Blanc school. The project will see the creation of 17 housing units, as well as the installation of eight local business premises. However, some local officials opposed to the mayor, claim that the use of the money on such a project, “raises many questions” and are “fearful that such a financing could lead to the donor wishing to obtain "something from the project", such as "a housing unit or business premises”. Others opposing the investment in the town have requested that the identity of the individual be given, in private, to all members of the local council.
It’s not the first time that financial donations have provoked such a strong reaction amongst the opposition of the Saint-Tropez council, last September, elected officials were already outraged by the colossal donation from LVMH. The luxury group delivered 2.5 million euros for a similar project.
Importing cigarettes from Italy - With the price of a packet of cigarettes increasing in France this year, many smokers may be considering buying them in Italy where they are half the price. However, the question of how many cigarettes can be legally imported into France from Italy is causing confusion, following a legal case from a master’s student at Sciences Po in Paris against the French state. France does indeed set the limit to one carton of cigarettes, confirmed by the French customs service, however student Sami Gam confirmed that the “customs administration violates European law”. Having referred his case to the Council of State on September 29th the body confirmed that the European Union authorises not one, but four cartons of cigarettes and that therefore the “French legislation does not respect European law”. Now a decree must be published no later than March 29th, to authorize the importation of four cartons of cigarettes per person over the age of 18.
Famous pergolas return to Prom - The famous pergolas on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice have been renovated. The 4 installations were given a much-needed facelift and have regained their shine for the start of 2024. Part of the daily landscape they appeared on the seafront a few years ago, but were at the time, heavily criticized. Now however, they have become popular amongst rollerbladers, cyclist, runners and walkers providing much needed patches of shade as well as some fantastic photo opportunities.
New Monte-Carlo Acting Academy opens its doors - Gabriele Greggio, son of actor Ezio Greggio has opened an acting school in Monaco. The Monte-Carlo Acting Academy is intended to teach young and old alike the art of theatre and film acting. Greggio grew up in the Principality from the age of 4 to 18, before leaving to study acting in England and the United States and has already been seen in productions for Netflix, Prime Video and the BBC. The school dedicated to learning the art of acting will see classes taught in English and will be open to children and adults. Speaking to local media Greggio said "I also intend to make the difference between wanting to be an actor and wanting to be famous. The two can go together. You can like both, that's no problem. But if you want to become an actor, the goal is to do your job well, to be passionate, to have a desire to express yourself” he adds that “it’s a journey that must not end. Behind the glamor of the profession, there is a lot of work, a lot of waiting and practice which then allows you to throw yourself into the unknown.”
Revisiting the works of Robert Doisneau – Finally, he is one of the most famous 20th century photographer
