Lunchtime News Friday 18th February 2022

News

Father of police officer on the run appeals on national television - The father of a police officer who has been on the run after the body of his companion was discovered at their home on January 28th, has appealed on national television for his son to turn himself into the police. The police officer is suspected of killing his companion at their Parisian apartment on January 28th and has been missing since. His car and weapon were found in Amiens but he remains on the run. His father has called for him to surrender himself to the police.

Green light given for demolition of Nice Theatre - France’s administrative court has given the green light for the first stages of the demolition of the National Theatre of Nice. A request had been filed by the association defending the “promenade des Arts” against Nice city council, concerning the demolition. The go ahead was given following a decision from the judge on Thursday.

Health minister’s visit to Nice - While on a visit to l’Archet hospital in Nice on Thursday France’s Minister of Health Oliver Veran has outlined the conditions set by the government, to end the wearing of Covid masks indoors. He said when France reaches a threshold of 1,500 patients in intensive care, masks will no longer be compulsory indoors. He expects the country to hit that level by mid-March. Currently, there are 3,126 people in critical care units across France, 402 of those are in the Alpes Maritimes. 

Unemployment rate falls - According to INSEE, the unemployment rate in France has fallen for the fourth quarter of 2021 to 7.4%. In the fourth quarter, the number of unemployed as defined by the International Labor Office (ILO) in France reached 2.2 million people, or 189,000 less over the quarter. This is more than what the National Institute of Statistics had forecast in its last economic report, in December, anticipating an unemployment rate of 7.8% in the fourth quarter of the year, for a gradual decrease in beginning of 2022 at 7.6%.

Seasonal work for students - Students looking for seasonal work are invited to Cannes this Saturday, where employers will be looking to meet suitable candidates for summer positions. 28 employers issued 1,432 job offers at the last event in 2020. The event will be held from 9 am to 1 pm at the Gare Maritime this Saturday.

Tour des Alpes Maritimes and the Var - Disruptions are expected on the roads in the Var today Friday 18th February with the arrival in La Seyne of the “Cycling Tour des Alpes-Maritimes and Var”. The 1st stage of the event will take place in La Seyne with several road closures and the public is invited to park in the public car parks.

Crossover of school holidays - Meanwhile France’s motorway authorities have warned of a busy day for motorist’s tomorrow Saturday 19th February, classing it as a “red day” on the roads, in both directions in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region. The crossover comes as the February school holidays end for zone B, which includes Nice and marks the start of the holidays for zone C.

Storm alert – Meteo France has placed five regions of the north of France on an orange weather alert today with high winds forecast.

Warm weather – Meanwhile the recent warm weather in our region has hit a record high in Toulon in the Var, reaching 23.2 degrees on Thursday. After exceptional sunshine between the end of December and the beginning of February, Thursday marked a record high beating the previous record of 22.5 degrees recorded back in February of 1990.

 

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