Lunchtime News Wednesday 2nd February 2022

News

Police officer seriously injured during road check - A police officer in Montpellier has been serious injured after a car drove into him during a police road check. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the Paul-Valéry district of Montpellier. The officer, accompanied by two of his colleagues, was carrying out the check on the reportedly stolen vehicle. The driver fled the scene and is actively sought by police. The officer was taken care of by the emergency services and taken to hospital.

Easing of covid restrictions - From today February 2nd, wearing a mask outdoors, teleworking and limitations on the number of people at public gatherings, are no longer mandatory in France. The move comes as part of an easing of covid restrictions. Both teleworking and wearing a mask outdoors are still recommended, when possible, especially wearing a mask in crowded situations.

French President cancels visit to Marseille - French President Emmanuel Macron has cancelled his trip to Marseille. The Head of State was due to attend the "Forum of the Mediterranean Worlds" on Monday and Tuesday of next week at the Parc Chanot and was also expected to announce his candidacy for the presidential election. Macron visited the city last September announcing the "Marseille en grand" project, followed by a second visit in October evaluating the progress in the city on urgent matters such as housing, schooling, security and transport. According to reports Macron will now attend the forum by videoconference.

Local MP questions the destruction of the National Theatre of Nice - The Republican MP of the Alpes Maritimes Eric Ciotti has once again questioned France's Minister of Culture, on the destruction of the National Theatre of Nice. For the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes, "it is a part of the cultural soul of the city of Nice that will be brought down by a form of megalomaniac madness", to which the Culture Minister answered that "the state of the building no longer meets the technical, functional and artistic needs" adding that she will "of course be extremely vigilant that the theatre can fully continue its activities during the works and that the programme and then the planned construction meet the needs and expectations".

Looking for actors for new Brigitte Bardot series in Saint Tropez - The production of a new series about the life of Brigitte Bardot is looking for actors. The casting team is looking for a young girl between 12 and 14 years of age, a young woman aged 18 to 21 and a 22- to 28-year-old man from Poland or Eastern Europe. Candidates must be residents of the Var or the Alpes Maritimes. To find out more go to  

Sale of hybrid cars match those of diesel - For the first time, sales of hybrid cars in Europe have matched those of diesel vehicles in 2021. Sales of non-rechargeable hybrids (diesel or gasoline) continued to grow (+60.5% over one year) with 1.9 million cars sold, or 19.6% market share. Sales of electric vehicles, continued to grow by 63.1% in the European Union, with 878,432 vehicles sold and 9.1% market share (compared to 1.9% in 2019, and 5, 4% in 2020), propelled by public aid for purchases and the increasingly wide electricity supply from manufacturers. While the European Commission aims to ban sales of combustion engine cars by 2035, France and Germany, the two main markets, have continued to go electric, while Sweden, Ireland or Italy saw their electric sales double in one year. Meanwhile the United Kingdom saw electric sales increase by 76% over one year. In Norway, nineteen of the 20 best-selling new car models in Norway in January were electric, with an unprecedented market share of 83.7%.

 

 

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