Protests across France
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France yesterday in a 12th day of protests against President Emmanuel Macron's contested pension reforms.
In Nice organisers claim up to 15000 people were involved in the demonstrations, although the official figure from the police is 2700. There were also organised protests in Cannes, Draguignan, Brignoles and Toulon
The demonstrations come before today’s much-anticipated verdict by the Constitutional Council on the legality of the bill. President Macron has snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks but has said he will invite them for discussions after today’s court ruling.
L'Affaire Galtier
Christophe Galtier, the current coach of PSG and former coach of OGC Nice, has decided to file a lawsuit against Julien Fournier, Daniel Riolo, and Romain Molina. The lawsuit will allege defamation and endangerment caused by the three individuals after Fournier accused Galtier of racist remarks towards PSGs Senegalese goalkeeper while he was still at Nice. The lawsuit will refer to harassment and death threats against Galtier and his son. The incident has caused controversy and outrage, with Galtier denying the accusations and promising to fight to clear his name. Galtier will hold a press conference today at 1 pm.
Fridge Affair
The public prosecutor has requested the ineligibility of the Mayor of Toulon, Hubert Falco over an ongoing corruption case known as the "fridge affair." Falco is accused of having received a luxury fridge as a gift from a real estate developer in exchange for favorable treatment in a construction project. The prosecutor has asked for a one-year ineligibility sentence, which would prevent Falco from holding any public office. Monsieur Falco denies the allegations.
Paris Pollution Levels
Despite a slight improvement, air pollution levels in Paris remain well above recommended limits set by the World Health Organisation, according to air quality watchdog Airparif. The city has been grappling with high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide, linked to respiratory problems and premature deaths. Despite efforts to combat pollution, including measures to reduce traffic and encourage cleaner transport, officials believe that 7,900 premature deaths could have been avoided in the Paris area in 2022 if adequate measures had been taken to limit air pollution.
Anti-Bullying Measures
France has announced new measures to prevent and tackle bullying in schools. One in ten children in France has experienced bullying, leading to depression, withdrawal, and even suicide. The new measures include extending the current anti-bullying plan to secondary schools, teacher training to recognize and act against harassers, and dedicated hotlines for reporting incidents of harassment and cyberbullying. The government also plans to bring parents and students together to resolve conflicts, with school officials given extra powers to remove bullies if necessary.
Drought Risk
There's a high risk of drought this summer in our region despite March's rainfall. Nice-Matin reports that the recent rains were not enough to alleviate the risk of water shortages. The region has experienced a below-average rainfall in recent months, which means that the ground is still dry. According to experts, this could lead to a severe water shortage in the coming months. Water-saving measures have already been implemented in some areas, such as restrictions on watering gardens and washing cars. The authorities are urging everyone to use water carefully and wisely to avoid exacerbating the situation
Cannes Film Festival
In a ground-breaking move, the Cannes Film Festival has selected six female directors to compete in this year's official selection. Three French films are also in the running for the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
The festival is expected to be a star-studded affair with big names like Wes Anderson, Sean Penn, and Leos Carax set to present their latest works. This year’s President of the Jury is the Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund who won 2 Palmes d’Or
Tax Declarations
Yesterday was the first day you can submit your French tax declarations on line.
This year, there’s a 5.4% increase in income tax brackets to account for high inflation, meaning those who received a salary increase may end up paying less taxes. Additionally, commuters who carpool may now deduct their travel expenses from their taxes. Parents who employ domestic help to care for children under six years old are now eligible for a tax credit of up to €600. Finally, property owners must submit an additional tax declaration to the authorities by June 1, 2023, or face a fine of €150 per undeclared property.
The deadline is May 25th in Alpes Maritimes and June 8th in the Var.
Monte Carlo Summer Festival
Robbie Williams, Sting, Norah Jones, Seal, and Mika are set to perform in Monaco this summer as part of this year’s Monte-Carlo Summer Festival this year. The concerts will take place from July 8 to August 31 in the Salle des Etoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo. Tickets can be purchased on the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer website. www.montecarlosbm.com
Other highlights will include Ricky Martin backed by a Philharmonic Orchestra on July 11th, the Italian singer Eros Ramazotti on August 8th and Chris Isaak (Wicked Game, Blue Hotel) who will be performing for the very first time in Monaco. There’ll also be a Michael Jackson tribute show on July 21st for the Fight Aids Monaco Gala Dinner, where fans of Michael Jackson are invited to come dressed up.
Monaco Book Fair
This weekend is the The Monaco Book Fair, with the aim of promoting every as
