Lunchtime News Wednesday 8th December 2021

News

Second victim found after building collapses - The body of a second victim has been found in the rubble following the collapse of a three-storey apartment block in Sanary-sur-Mer in the Var, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Forty firefighters are still on site this lunchtime.

The building collapsed after an explosion on the night of Monday 6 to Tuesday 7 December. Firefighters were alerted shortly before 4 a.m. and were immediately dispatched on the rue Jean-Jaurès, in the port district. When they arrived, several people were trapped under the rubble, from which there was a strong smell of gas. The first body of a 30-year-old man was discovered on Tuesday. One person is still reported missing, and five others are being cared for by the emergency services.

Forty new cases of covid in Monaco - Forty new cases of covid have been identified in the Principality on Tuesday bringing the total number of residents affected to 3,942. Nine people are currently hospitalised and 153 are being cared for by the Home Monitoring Centre.

Omicron variant - A World Health Organisation official has said that there is "no reason to doubt" the efficacy of existing vaccine on the new Omicron covid variant. The emergency of the new covid variant has caused some panic - especially in Europe, which is already experiencing a massive fifth wave of Covid-19 cases caused by the Delta variant. The WHO official said that the studies of the variant, first detected on 24 November, were still in their early stages, adding there was no clear sign that is would be better at evading vaccines than other variants.

AFP and Google launch fact-checking project - Agence France-Presse and Google France have announced the launch of a fact-checking project to identify and delete false information ahead of the French presidential and legislative elections in 2022. In a joint statement, the AFP news agency said it is to coordinate an alliance of media and fact-checking organisations, with the support of Google.

Snowfall - Nice-Météo has announced snowfall from 1,000m in the Alpes Maritimes from last night and into today, with 10 to 20cm expected in the Mercantour. Authorities have advised motorists to have the necessary equipment to access the regions winter resorts. The snow accompanied by cooler temperatures are not expected to last however, with an improvement by this afternoon and milder temperatures returning.

And Finally

Shops owners in Caen (Calvados) have written to Prince Charles in the UK asking for support in their protest at the new tramline planned for the city. Opposed to the project business owners on the rue Guillaume-le-Conquérant de Caen (Calvados) say that in view of their historic links with the Crown of England they request the support of Prince Charles in an attempt to block the project adding that "the historic link between the Normandy region since William the Conqueror and the Crown of England, in the name of the people, local businesses ask for his  written support in their struggle". The new East-West tram line would possibly pass in front of their shop windows. Written in English and French, with the Saint-Etienne church as a watermark, the letter is about to cross the Channel.

 

 

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