French and Riviera News Wednesday 9th March 2022

News

Teenager hit by train at Nice train station - A 16-year-old teenager has been hit by a train at Nice train station. The incident occurred on Tuesday shortly before 6pm when the teenager was hit by a regional express train on platform B, the exact circumstances are still to be determined. Emergency services intervened and the victim was taken to hospital suffering serious arm injuries. Train traffic was disrupted in both directions.

Road accident - A man has been air lifted to hospital following a road accident in the Var. The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon on the D61 between Cogolin and Grimaud. The motorist reportedly crashed head on into a police car. An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances.

30-year-old injured after fleeing police road check – Meanwhile a 30-year-old has been hospitalised after trying to flee a police road check on his scooter and crashing into a parked car. The incident occurred in Mandelieu when the individual refused to comply with police hitting a parked car head on.

Man arrested for stealing petrol - Police have arrested a 54-year-old man caught in the act of stealing petrol in Saint-Laurent-du-Var. The man a Romanian national and already known to police services, was caught siphoning tanks from trucks parked in the industrial zone. He has since been placed in police custody in Cagnes sur mer.

Covid cases increases for first time in six weeks - For the first time in six weeks the number of covid cases in the Alpes Maritimes has increased. According to Public Health France the incidence rate increased slightly from 562 weekly cases to 570. In Monaco on Tuesday 37 new cases of covid were identified bringing the total number of residents affected to 9,605. Fifteen people are in hospital and eighty-six are being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.

End of health protocol in companies - Meanwhile France’s Employment Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced the end of the health protocol in companies. Speaking on French television she said that from next Monday, 14 March, "we are going to resume normal rules in business". However, new guidelines will be introduced which will permit employees who wish to continue wearing a mask at work to do so.  The minister said that teleworking will be a matter for discussion between employers and employees. The French government has already announced the loosening of various Covid-19 restrictions from next Monday. The compulsory wearing of masks in almost all places where it is currently required will end but will still be required on public transport. The vaccination pass will also be suspended from March 14th.

Poll shows large majority of French concerned about Ukraine war - According to a new Elabe Opinion poll, 90% of French people say they fear the conflict in Ukraine. The survey showed that 89% of French people fear that the military conflict will spread to countries other than Ukraine and 68% fear the possible arrival of the conflict in France.

Macron speaks with Zelensky - Meanwhile on Tuesday French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During a 90-minute telephone conversation the two leaders discussed humanitarian issues, the security of nuclear power plants and the progress of negotiations with Russia in Belarus.

Website for Ukrainian refugees - The French government has launched a website to connect Ukrainian refugees with French families who wish to offer them accommodation. The site provides information for people in France who wish to join supported projects housing refugees. It also allows associations to recruit volunteers to help them carry out their missions. The website address is https://parrainage.refugies.info/

Scotland apologises for women killed accused of witchcraft - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has presented the government's official apology for the thousands of women convicted of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th century and killed "simply because they were women". Between the 16th and 18th century in Scotland, around 4000 people were accused of witchcraft. 84% were women.

On Tuesday, International Women's Day, Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament to "acknowledge this gross historical injustice" and "offer a formal apology to all those charged, convicted, slandered or executed under the Witchcraft Act 1563." The law provided for the death penalty for those guilty of witchcraft and was in force until 1736.

Business

Asian markets have stabilised this morning as investors assessed the impact of the worsening conflict in Ukraine and a US ban on Russian oil. On Tuesday, President Biden announced an immediate ban on Russian oil and other e