National News France
Air traffic controllers file for strike action from this Friday - French Air traffic controllers have filed for strike action from May 31st to June 7th as unions once again protest against a air traffic control reform. After the weekend movement of May 25th, causing the cancellation of 70% of flights at Orly, unions have called for new strike action from this Friday May 31st to Friday June 7th. At this stage, it is impossible to make traffic forecasts for this weekend, as unions are still welcoming possible negotiations, but if the strike does go ahead the consequences will be similar to those experienced last weekend.
Meanwhile, TGV and TER traffic on France’s rail network in the north will be disrupted today Wednesday 29th May following strike action from controllers against the rise in verbal and physical attacks to which they are victims. 4 trains out of 5 will be circulating on the Paris-Lille line and 1 train out of 2 on all TGV in the Hauts-de-France. Customers who have reserved their trains will receive by email/sms, information specifying whether their train is maintained or cancelled.
Local News
Flood alert exercise - The Alpes Maritimes prefecture is to hold a flood alert exercise tomorrow Thursday 30th May, with alerts being sent to mobile phones in several towns including Cannes, Mandelieu, Grasse, La Roquette, Pégomas and Mouans-Sartoux. The alerts are part of an exercise for inhabitants in the Cannes Grasse area and are to be carried out in the morning. The FR-Alert system is an emergency alert system operational since June 21st, 2022, throughout France. The new device makes it possible to alert in real time of a natural, industrial, health or terrorist danger, thanks to a notification sent to the mobile phones of people present in the area concerned. No need to register or have an app on your mobile, everyone present in the “risk zone” will receive it. The notifications include practical information and instructions for taking shelter and protecting yourself from danger. The emergency alert system was used for the first time on October 19, 2023, in the Alpes-Maritimes, placed on red rain-flood alert by Météo France. Several tens of thousands of residents of the Côte d'Azur received a notification on their mobile phones, announcing the closure of schools and reminding them of safety instructions.
Product recall - Batches of sausages sold in French supermarkets have been recalled. The Rappel Conso website has advised people in possession of these products to "not consume them", "due to the risk of injury or adverse effects". The charcuteries, sold since May 14 throughout France, have been the subject of a recall by the government website Rappel Conso since Monday, May 27, due to the presence of glass, metal, plastic or paper in the food. Several brands are affected. Customers are advised to destroy or bring back the product to the point of sale. For more information and details go to the following link Rappel Consommateur - Détail chipolatas, chipolatas aux herbes, saucisse de toulouse TRADIVAL
85% of young adults exposed to tobacco consumption - According to a study by the League against Cancer, 85% of young adults aged 18-34 are exposed to tobacco consumption on the Internet. As May 31st marks World No Tobacco Day, a survey by the League Against Cancer reveals that 85% of young people aged 18 to 34 are exposed to the promotion of tobacco in content accessible on digital platforms (social networks, photos, videos, films, series, etc.). According to the survey, the content makes nearly one in two young adults (46%) want to smoke. Tobacco consumption is the leading cause of preventable mortality, with 75,000 deaths, including 45,000 from cancer, each year in France.
PACA region has heaviest smokers - Meanwhile, another study published by Public Health France has revealed that in France one in four adults’ smokes cigarettes daily. But there are strong disparities between regions. The heaviest smokers are in the south, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region with almost 1 in 3 adults smoking every day, i.e. 29.5%, just ahead of the Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Hauts-de-France.
At the national level, the average has hardly changed for 5 years, one in four French people light up at least one cigarette every day. Finally, the good news is that in France more than half of smokers say they want to quit smoking.
Auction - Accademia Fine Art is auctioning more than 300 lots from two apartments in the Principality of Monaco with a starting price of 10 euros. Accademia Fine Art, a company specialising in paintings and sculptures is auctioning 330 lots from two Monegasque apartments today Wednesday 29 May at 2pm. Whether you are more of a fan of design, art objects or furniture, this is an event not to be missed. For more information go to www.accademiafineart.com
Business
The number of category A job seekers (those obliged to actively seek employment) in France has decreased by 1.26%. Data published on Tuesday May 28th, showed that there had been 38,100 fewer category A jobseekers registered in April. The total number of jobseekers in this category now stands at 2.981 million with a total of 5.3 million unemployed in all categories combined. According to the minister of employment in France the “results showed near stability in unemployment numbers”.
Meanwhile, a new scratch card has been launched by the Française des Jeux (FDJ). Its name: Happy Dés went on sale on Monday May 27. Costing 3 euros it offers the possibility to win up to 30,000 euros. The Française des Jeux has also announced the arrival of two new games in time for the Paris Olympics with another scratch card to be launched in July called “Objectif Or” and the “grand lotto of Paris 2024”. Note that gambling can be dangerous: loss of money, family conflicts and addiction. For any advice you can go to players-info-service.fr or 09 74 75 13 13.
And - Melinda French Gates has announced that she is committing $1 billion (£782.4m) over the next two years to women’s causes and gender equity around the world. $200 million (£157m) will go to organisations fighting for gender and reproductive rights in the US with Ms French Gates saying she felt compelled to support US reproductive rights following the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. There are plans to give $20m (£16m) to a “diverse group of 12 global leaders” to distribute to organisations of their choice before the end of 2026. The company said it will set aside another $250 million (£196m) to global organisations focused on women’s mental and physical health.
Sport
Tennis – Despite a turbulent season Novak Djokovic began his French Open title defence with a solid victory over Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The 37-year-old won 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in Tuesday's night session at Roland Garros.
Football – Jurgen Klopp has taken to the stage for his farewell appearance attending a Q&A session at the Liverpool Arena. Coach at the club for nine years the event saw famous faces such as Danniel Craig send their tributes to Klopp, who treated fans to one last evening in his company before departing for Majorca. In a wide-ranging question and answer event, Klopp readily admitted that joining the club was the second-best decision he had ever made - after that of marrying his wife. He was also ready with a few light-hearted jokes at his rivals' expense despite the emotional nature of the evening, revealing that he had been handed an unofficial list of topics to avoid such as Manchester City and VAR.
Cricket – The third T20 in Cardiff has been rained off with England's World Cup preparation being further dented. Persistent rain fell throughout the evening which led to the game against Pakistan being abandoned without a ball bowled on Tuesday. The first match of the four-game series at Headingley was also rained off. The final match takes place at The Oval tomorrow Thursday May 30th, when rain is again forecast.
Weather
Hazy sunshine with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze in the Alpes Maritimes. Highs of 23 degrees in Nice, 22 degrees in Monaco, 24 degrees in Cannes, 26 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 28 degrees in Draguignan. Moderate to strong winds in the Var increasing with the mistral forecast over the coming days. This evening going down to 15 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Friday, sunny with highs of 26 degrees and strong winds along the coast.
Sunrise 05.52
Sunset 09.03
Beach weather
Sea temperature Cavalaire 18.2
UV 7
Weather elsewhere
London 19° light cloud
Paris 17° thundery showers
Glasgow 18° drizzle
TGV services across much of France are gradually improving after several arson attacks affected the network in the early hours of this morning....
Read More
Paris is getting ready to shut down it’s city centre and its airspace as well as mobilise 45,000 police and several army units in what has been billed...
Read More
Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, reiterated her desire to lead the government during a media appearance on July 25. A poll s...
Read More
French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key ...
Read More
France will host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alpes, conditional on state and regional financial guarantees. President Macron confirmed his full su...
Read More
