National News France
Paris 2024 Olympic Games - The organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is putting new tickets on sale today from 10am. Almost half of the tickets going on sale will be less than 100 euros and the vast majority will concern events in the Ile-de-France. This time, no package and no draw, the terms and conditions will be very simple. All you need to do is connect to the ticketing website (or create an account for newcomers) then choose tickets individually or in larger numbers, within a limit of thirty tickets per person. 95% of the new tickets will concern events which will take place in Ile-de France and 45% will be offered at prices less than 100 euros. Tickets for the popular opening and closing ceremonies will also be available today. The exact number of new tickets put on sale has not been filtered but there will be "several tens of thousands". The 400,000 tickets put on sale at the end of November were sold out in 24 hours. In total, more than eight million have already been sold out of the 10 million available. Website https://www.paris2024.org/en/tickets/
New law to protect a child’s image rights - A law which protects the image rights of children on the internet has been adopted in France. The law will require that parent’s take into account the child's "right to image" and "private life". The move comes at a time when certain families have exposed their child’s privacy on social networks without restraint, denouncing certain “anonymous parents” or “influencers” with “vlogs”, which share their family intimacy in search of advertising revenue. The National Assembly adopted the bill which aims to better protect children's image rights by adding the child's "private life" to the elements that must be protected by those with parental authority, in the same way as "their safety" or "their health". The minor's right to image is protected "jointly" by both parents, taking into account the child's opinion, "according to his age and degree of maturity". According to figures cited during the debates, a child appears on average "in 1,300 photographs published online before the age of 13", and "50% of the photographs exchanged on child pornography forums had initially been published by parents on their social networks.
Local News
Mediterranean episode - A Mediterranean episode is expected in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes this weekend. After a relatively dry month, rain is expected on Friday and Saturday. Meteo France says that in the PACA region, rainfall will increase from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon, locally reaching more than 100 mm, particularly in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes.
Flu epidemic remains high in the Var and the Alpes Maritimes - The current flu epidemic remains high in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, but does seem to be stabilising according to Public Health France. After a sharp increase in the number of cases during the last two weeks, the majority of indicators are stable in the number of people being hospitalised". In the PACA region, there were 2,352 hospitalizations out of 10,000 visits to A&E for cases of flu. Meanwhile the flu vaccination campaign which was due to end on January 31st has been extended until February 29th.
Monaco Telecom - Monaco Telecom has announced that every home in the principality has now made the switch to fibre optic broadband internet. The last few hundred homes using old copper cables were upgraded in recent weeks. Since Monday, 100% of residents now use "fibre". Monaco Telecom says it plans to do the same for all businesses before July. The copper network will be completely decommissioned by the end of the year.
Marineland - The Marineland Park in Antibes has announced in a statement that the death of a 12-year-old male orca in October was due to “bacterial septicaemia which can occur naturally in their natural environment”. The park is now facing questions about the health of its three other orcas before their possible departure to Japan. The association One Voice has proposed, alongside the American organization Whale Sanctuary Project, to "collaborate" with Marineland and the French government to consider transferring the orcas to a coastal sanctuary in Canada and not to be sent to continue shows in a less protective country. But the park argues that France has not created such a sanctuary. Opened in 1970, the Marineland Park in Antibes says it welcomes an average of 750,000 visitors per year.
A possible return of two-way traffic on the port of Nice - A sensitive subject will this month be presented to the administrative court in Nice concerning the one-way road system on the port. Introduced three years ago, some consider it to have been a “good move” while others speak of a “very bad idea” and the “missed opportunity for those arriving from the Promenade des Anglais to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Nice". At the end of the month it’s the administrative court that will judge the case of a possible return of two-way traffic.
Business
According to a recent study 77% of employees in France are in favour of the idea of a four-day working week. The figure jumps to 83% amongst 25- to 34-year-olds. At present three out of ten workers in France work from home, that’s ten times more than in 2017. Unsurprisingly, the most teleworking day is Friday (33% of teleworkers).
In the UK actor Rowan Atkinson has been blamed for "damaging" the reputation of electric vehicles (EVs) and contributing to slow sales. The Mr Bean actor was name-checked in the House of Lords this week during its environment and climate change committee meeting. Thinktank Green Alliance gave its views on the main obstacles the government faces in its bid to phase out petrol and diesel cars before 2035 and said a comment piece by the Johnny English star published in June 2023 was damaging to the cause.
And also, in the UK, after 54 years on British shelves, the Breakaway chocolate biscuit bar is being taken away for good by Nestle. The historic chocolate digestive biscuit bar sealed in its classic yellow wrapper is getting axed alongside Yorkie Biscuit bars due to a decline in sales.
Sport
Football – In the FA Cup fourth round replay last night Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-1 and Nottingham Forest won 5-3 on penalties against Bristol City.
Meanwhile, in the French Cup this evening Rouen are at home to Monaco.
Rugby Union - George North is to return from injury to play for Wales against England at Twickenham on Saturday in the Six Nations. It will be North’s 50th Six Nations appearance.
Golf - Tiger Woods will play his first PGA Tour event of 2024 at the Genesis Invitational in February. The 15-time major champion has had a limited schedule since suffering a leg injury in a car crash in 2021.
Weather
Partly cloudy, highs of 14 degrees in Nice and Monaco with a gentle breeze. Highs of 17 degrees in Marseille. Highs of 16 degrees in Toulon and Saint-Tropez with a moderate breeze. This evening going down to degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for Friday and heading into the weekend. Heavy rain is forecast Friday and Saturday, highs of 16 degrees. Sunday, sunny intervals in Nice, sunshine in the Var with strong winds.
Sunrise 07.39am
Sunset 05.49pm
Sea temperature Nice - 13.9 degrees
London - 12 degrees, heavy rain.
Dublin - 8 degrees, heavy rain.
Paris - 13 degrees, light rain.
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