Lunchtime news Friday 12th June 2020

 

State of natural disaster - A decree has been published today recognizing a state of natural disaster for 31 municipalities in the Alpes-Maritimes victims of floods and landslides during the heavy rains in November and December of last year, which led Météo -France to place the department on red alert twice.

Victims have ten days from today to file a claim with their insurance company for any losses.

Here is the list of places concerned. 

- Ascros - Aspremont - Beaulieu-sur-Mer - Bendejun - Cagnes-sur-Mer - Cannes - Carros - Châteauneuf-Grasse – Contes - Cuébris - Drap - Escragnolles - Gattières - Gilette - Gorbio- Gourdon - Mandelieu-la-Napoule - Mouans-Sartoux - Nice - Pégomas - Peillon- La Penne - Saint-Jeannet - Saint-Laurent-du-Var - Sainte-Agnès- Théoule-sur-Mer - Tourrettes-sur-Loup - La Trinité - Vallauris - Vence 

Challenge to swim from France to Corsica - Michel Nox an extreme diver from Hyeres plans to swim from the Riviera to Corsica. The challenge to swim the 220km between France and Corsica is to raise awareness about protecting the Mediterranean Sea.

Macron to meet with scientific council today - Two days ahead of the French President’s speech scheduled for Sunday, at 8p.m.  Emmanuel Macron will meet, this morning with the members of the scientific council devoted to Covid-19 who will advise him on the health management of the epidemic.

After the meeting Macron will then chair a defense council, which will include the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, and the main ministers and high officials concerned by the crisis, such as the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, and his counterparts in the economy and inside, Bruno Le Maire and Christophe Castaner.

Several concerns have been raised by ministers in recent days, on the easing of lockdown measures with demands that the French government moves faster, especially since the scientific council declared the health situation "under control".

French President denies report published in Figaro newspaper - French President Emmanuel Macron does not plan to step down to prompt a fresh election, a move he reportedly told top party donors he was considering, his office has said.

The Figaro newspaper reported that Macron had made the shock announcement while speaking via videoconference to a handful of the largest donors to his centrist party.

The goal would be to reinforce his legitimacy as France emerges from its coronavirus lockdown, and to destabilise his opponents

But Macron's office said: "We deny this report. The president never suggested his resignation and "He never took part in a videoconference with donors."

Exit from state of health emergency - France is planning to exit its coronavirus health emergency state from July 10th, with a law proposal that will include a transition period during which the country could re-impose movement restrictions.

The government's scientific council is advising a period of four months during which the prime minister could restrict movement to control the epidemic as a last resort.

But the council advised against reissuing a national lockdown citing "health, social and economic" concerns.

Police demonstration in Paris this morning - Finally Several police unions have demonstrated in Paris this morning by driving down the avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Ministry of the Interior to express their dissatisfaction after the recent announcements by Christophe Castaner.

At the call of the unions about twenty cars went down the Champs-Elysées in the direction of Beauvau behind a banner displaying "no police, no peace". A minute of silence was observed as the Ministry of the Interior and the Elysée Palace approached in tribute to the police officers who died or were injured in service. The demonstrators then sang the Marseillaise.

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