News
First case of Omicron variant detected in the PACA region - A first case of the Omicron variant has been detected in the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region. This morning Friday 3rd December, the health minister said that it was the ninth case of the new variant to be detected in France. The nine cases have been identified in the "Reunion, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Ile-de-France, Pays de la Loire and Grand Est region". Each case concerns travellers returning from Africa. Experts agree that the new variant has sent a wave of panic across the world, but "it's too early to say what impact it will have on the pandemic". On paper, the unprecedented number of mutations it contains leads to fears that it is more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines. But this remains to be confirmed and it is not known whether it will replace the Delta variant which is, currently responsible for a fifth wave of the epidemic in France. On Thursday, 48,416 cases were recorded, for a daily average over 7 days of 36,700, compared to less than 6,000 a month earlier. The increase is having an impact on the hospital: 10,790 Covid patients are currently hospitalized in France, including 1,934 in critical care services, compared to around 6,600 and 1,000 a month earlier. A new Health Defense Council will take place on Monday to "see if there is need to take additional measures".
Motorway fares are expected to increase by 2% on average on 1st February - Tariffs for the main motorway networks in France are expected to increase by an average of 2% on 1st February 2022. The increases come after an increase of 0.44% in early 2021. The French government has yet to formally approve these new tariffs.
School bullying - The French parliament has voted to make school bullying a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison. The proposed law was supported by Emmanuel Macron's education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer who said the law sent a strong message to society that "we will never accept the lives of our children being shattered". As many as one in 10 French children are estimated to have been affected by bullying.
Second vote today for head of the Republican party - The first round of the vote for the candidate of the head of the Republican party in France has taken place and today Friday December 3rd, will see a second and final vote decide between two candidates: local MP for the Alpes Maritimes region Eric Ciotti and Valérie Pécresse. Ciotti has gone from an outsider to the surprise top position in Thursday's first round while Pécresse, head of the Paris region, has defined herself as "two-thirds Angela Merkel and one-third Margaret Thatcher".
Migrant crisis in the English Channel - France has refused "joint patrols" with Britain concerning the migrant crisis. French Prime Minister Jean Castex rejected the proposal from the UK on Thursday, saying that France "cannot accept the British police or military patrol its shores adding our sovereignty is at stake". Boris Johnson had made the proposal during a telephone conversaion with Emmanuel Macon on November 25th.
Speed restrictions are in place on all major roads in the Alpes-Maritimes today because of a smog alert....
Read More
A Marseille magistrate has been sentenced on the 17th of June in Nîmes for repeatedly avoiding motorway tolls using fake license plates. ...
Read More
A major police stop-and-search operation along France's borders is being carried out today, involving 4,000 police officers, gendarmes and customs off...
Read More
SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers following a major network outage on the 16th of June....
Read More
French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ...
Read More
