lunchtime News Thursday January 20th 2022

Covid-19 -The French health council is expected to report that “another two weeks of effort” are required across the country before some coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

The council ,which is meeting at the Elysee Palace today is facing a paradox with on the one hand , new cases averaging more than 300,000 over the past 7 days while on the other ,there are no indications that extra stress is being put on hospital services with admissions stable.

Meanwhile ,the Employment Minister Elizabeth Borne says that the government is in favour of extending the 3 days working from home regulations for at least another two weeks but is consulting with trade unions.

 

Zemmour-The far right French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour will be attending a campaign rally in Antibes tomorrow.

Mr Zemmour ,who’s recently been convicted to aggravating racial hatred is to visit Menton tomorrow afternoon before a rally in the old town of Antibes on Friday evening.

He’ll also visit the Forville market in Cannes on Saturday morning before visiting the Iles de Lerins in the afternoon and conclude his visit with a rally a the Palais des Festivales on Saturday night.

It’s still not clear whether Mr Zemmour will get the 500 mayoral signatures necessary for him to stand for election and even if he does ,he’s likely to be knocked out in the first round of voting according to the latest opinion polls.

He’s also facing further court action today in Paris for denying crimes against humanity charges after saying that wartime leader Marechal Petain “saved” French jews.

 

Le Pen-The leader of the Rassemblement National ,Marine Le Pen is in Frejus today as the campaign for the French presidential election moves up again.

Le Pen will be outlining her plans for the health service as well as other parts of her manifesto.

She’s visiting a care home in Frejus and has promised an extra 20 billion euros for health if she’s elected as French President.

She’ll later give a press conference.

Latest opinion polls suggest that Le Pen may make the second round runoff against the encumbent Emmanuel Macron but she’s facing challenges from Eric Zemmour who will split the far-right vote as well as the centre-right Les Republicains candidate Valerie Pecresse.

 

Terrorist probe-French judges have ordered a terrorist probe into the murder of a French citizen at Tiznet in the south of Morocco last Saturday.

The 79 year old victim was stabbed to death by a 31 year old man who was arrested shortly afterwards in Agadir,15 kilometers from the crime scene.

Moroccan police say that same man attempted to murder a Belgian tourist in Agadir last week.

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