Lunchtime News Wednesday 17th November 2021

News

President of the PACA region says the "unvaccinated" are "viral time bombs" - The president of the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region Renaud Muselier has said that the "unvaccinated" are "viral bombs" adding that a "vaccine pass" would prevent "the fifth wave" and that he would like to set up a 3rd dose for everyone. Muselier claimed that the establishment of a "vaccination pass" would encourage the population to be vaccinated a third time, including caregivers saying "we are not going to stop our entire economic and social life because some people do not want to be vaccinated. Let us use our experience and our knowledge to avoid what we have gone through in the 'past year ". According to the latest report from the ARS Paca, the epidemic figures are on the rise, the regional incidence rate has gone from 91 cases per 100,000 inhabitants last week, to 135. It is higher than the national average rate: 104.

Circus sets up in Marseille - A circus with wild animals has set up in the city of Marseille despite the city council voting for a ban of wild animal circuses in October of 2020. The Muller circus with lions, tigers and camels has set up in the parking lot of a supermarket yet the Mayor of Marseille had publicly committed to being against wild animal circuses in 2020. The Muller Circus is regularly the target of animal rights groups which denounce the use of tigers, lions, zebra, and hippos in its shows.

Menton Lemon Festival - The 88th Menton lemon festival is already being prepared behind the scenes as organisers are busy preparing the floats that will parade loaded with citrus fruits next February. This flagship event of the festive program of the Alpes-Maritimes department had like so many others been cancelled last winter, due to the Covid pandemic. Planned to take place from 12 to 27 February next year, health situation allowing, this year's theme is "Operas and Dances". The Lemon Festival represents, in Menton, 16,000 hotel nights and 70% of the occupancy of establishments over a fortnight. It requires 140 tonnes of citrus and 240,000 spectators are expected.

Femicide - A few hundred people mostly woman, have gathered in Paris in memory of the 100th and 101st victims of femicide since the beginning of the 2021 in France. The collective #NousToutes were present forming a circle on Tuesday evening to pay tribute to all those who have been murdered and to denounce as they said in a statement "the French government's lack of commitment to effectively combat male violence". According to the Ministry of the Interior, 146 women were victims of femicide, that is, killed by their spouse or ex-spouse in 2019, and 102 in 2020. Tuesday's rally comes just days before the International Day to Combat Violence against Women on November 25th.

Decathlon stops sales of boats such as kayaks in Calais - Sports brand Decathlon has announced that it will no longer sell boats such as kayaks in its stores in Calais and Grande-Synthe because these products "could endanger the lives of people using it as part of a crossing" of the Channel. In a press release, the brand explains that "the recent increase in crossing attempts has made the move necessary in order to not endanger the lives of people attempting to cross the channel. For the association the Auberge des migrants this decision "will probably not be effective" but "it is strong on a symbolic level".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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