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News France and Britain set to agree on Channel migrant deal - France and Britain are set to agree on a Channel migrant deal this week where the French will put more police on the beaches, pledge to stop more small boats leaving and establish a joint control centre. As part of the agreement, the UK will pay France at least £60 million in return for a significant increase in the 200 gendarmes and volunteer officers deployed on beaches in northern France. France has also agreed that it will aim for a “much higher” proportion of migrants to be prevented from leaving. This year, it has stopped 29,000 migrants – around 42 per cent of the total. The French have maintained that if they could stop between 70 per cent and 80 per cent, it would likely make the route uneconomic for people smugglers. Migrant ship docked in Toulon - Meanwhile, a Mediterranean migrant ship at the centre of a row with Italy has now docked in Toulon. The Ocean Viking had been stuck at sea for 19 days intensifying a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Rome, after Italy refused to accept the ship. Its 234 passengers have been placed in a ‘waiting zone’. The home secretary, Gérard Darmanin has condemned Italy’s “unacceptable attitude”, which he says goes against “international law”, but his Italian counterpart said his reaction was aggressive and incomprehensible as Italy has already welcomed 90,000 migrants this year alone. End to France’s operation in the Sahel - President Emmanuel Macron has formally ended France's decade-long operation to fight Islamist insurgents in the Sahel. In a major speech at a naval base in Toulon, he said some French troops would remain in the region. However, they would be there under new arrangements to be worked out with host countries. At its high point, Operation Barkhane saw some 5,500 French soldiers deployed in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The announcement also represents a major shift in French strategic priorities, brought on by the war in Ukraine and changing perceptions of the most important threats facing the country. Body found after building collapse - A body has been found in the rubble of the two buildings that collapsed in Lille on Saturday morning. The victim is believed to be a doctor who had been lent an apartment in the building just for the weekend. However, many lives were saved after the buildings were evacuated before dawn after a man warned of cracks in the structure and reported the issue to emergency services. Man living in airport dies - An Iranian man who lived in a Paris airport for 18 years and inspired a Hollywood movie has died. Caught in diplomatic limbo, Mehran Karimi Nasseri made a small area of Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport his home in 1988. Mr Nasseri was eventually given the right to live in France, but he ended up returning to the airport, where he died of natural causes age 77 on Saturday. His experience inspired the 2004 film, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks. Drone taxies - Paris has launched a new generation of drone taxis, as a test aircraft took off with a passenger on board from the Pontoise-Cormeilles airfield outside Paris. The Volocopter is an electric helicopter with multiple rotors. It’s being prepared for commercial flights from 2024. Local News Monegasque drug dealer in court - A drug dealer of Monegasque nationality has appeared in court having been apprehended in Antibes by French police last year. Police found multiple pouches of cannabis, 590 euros in cash, and cocaine. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison with a further 5 year ban from the region. FCEM World Summit Morocco - Monaco-based businesswoman Daniela Boutsen has been awarded first prize at the 69th FCEM World Summit in Morocco for her innovative international interior design business. The founder and director of the Daniela Boutsen brand was named as winner of the prestigious Export Prize at the annual networking event for leading businesswomen on Saturday 5th November. The Export Prize recognises businesses set up and run by women, which have successfully been exported to international markets. Daniela Boutsen is specialised in interior decoration of VIP business jets, yachts, and residences with clients spanning the globe. Daniela was one of around 400 businesswomen from more than 35 countries to attend the FCEM World Summit in Marrakesh. No Finish Line 2022 - This weekend in Monaco, HSH Prince Albert launched the 23rd edition of the No Finish Line challenge. The aim is to surpass the 400,000 kilometres mark by the end of the event on November 20, with one euro for each kilometre going towards children’s charities. More than 8000 runners and walkers are expected to take part. Illegal immigrant jailed - An illegal immigrant from Tunisia who was stopped by police in Cannes last month has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. The 30 year old had no legal papers and was caught eating couscous at the wheel while driving. In a last ditch gesture to escape punishment, he offered to share his couscous with the police. |
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Business Twitter - The drama at Twitter continues with confusion around the blue tick subscription. In the latest head spinning reversal at the social media platform since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company, Twitter abandoned the $8 monthly fee on Friday, although Mr Musk claims it will be reinstated shortly. The move came as a number of accounts impersonating big brands received the blue tick, previously a signal that the firm had verified the user as real. In one instance, a user claiming to be drugs firm Eli Lilly said "insulin was free". The firm's shares fell 4% on Friday amid concerns about how Mr Musk's leadership was affecting the spread of misinformation on the platform. Heathrow Airport - Heathrow Airport has stated it will not re-introduce a cap on passenger numbers around Christmas. The UK's biggest airport said it was preparing for the biggest festive travel season i |
