Lunchtime News Monday 18th October 2021

News

Disruptions on the region’s motorway due to accident - A motorist has been injured on the A8 motorway this morning after the bucket part of a crane, being transported on a lorry, fell on to the roof of his car. The incident occurred westbound just after the Saint Isidore pay toll. The motorist was taken to hospital suffering slight injuries. Traffic was heavily disrupted during this morning’s rush hour. Meanwhile a second accident occurred at the same time in the opposite direction involving three vehicles. No injuries were reported. The accidents led to major disruptions for motorists during this morning’s rush hour.

Covid incidence rate on the rise in the Var region - The covid incidence rate in the Var has gone up, nearly reaching the alert threshold. As schools in the region have been told students no longer need to wear a mask from today the latest figures have shown an incidence rate of 48.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The alert threshold for the incidence rate is set at 50 by the French government.

The figure is still far from the peak reached this summer, in August: at the height of the fourth wave, the incidence rate reached 549 in the Var. The most affected population category at the moment is that of 20-29-year olds with a rate of 78 cases per 100,000. Last August young people from the Var were also the most affected with a peak in the incidence rate at 1775.

Mooring offenses off the Var and Alpes Maritimes coastline - The Maritimes prefecture has announced that there were more than 600 mooring offenses this summer off the Var and Alpes Maritimes coast. A ban on mooring on certain parts of the coast, for yachts over 24 meters, had been introduced in October of last year. Yet according to authorities more than 600 violations were noted and a dozen legal proceedings have been initiated by the maritime court from Marseille.

Several illegal moorings have even been attributed to the same boat. The Marseille maritime court has taken action. Offenders theoretically face a fine of 150,000 euros and one year in prison.

France’s Prime Minister in Rome today to meet Pope Francis - France's Prime Minister Jean Castex is to meet with Pope Francis in Rome today. The visit comes amid shocking revelations of sexual abuse and a "secrecy of confession" controversy that have shaken the French Catholic Church to its core. Castex's visit, that has been coordinated to celebrate the centenary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See, has been overshadowed by reactions following the publication of the conclusions of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase), released at the beginning of October. 

 

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