Macron and the craftsmen, fight between Harry and William, funeral of Benedict XVI: the info to remember this afternoon

The info not to miss

Emmanuel Macron spoke, this Thursday noon, to bakers and, more broadly, to all craftsmen and entrepreneurs affected by the energy crisis, on the occasion of the Epiphany cake ceremony at the Élysée.

Recalling that the price increases were linked "first to the war" but also to the fact that France had not "produced as much electricity with its nuclear fleet" as expected, the Head of State estimated that two-thirds of VSEs (very small businesses) had to renegotiate their energy contracts.

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“Some have negotiated contracts that increase in reasonable proportions.

But there are others who have had x5 or x10 and this is not normal, it is abusive and aberrant”, he hammered.

He therefore called on suppliers to "renegotiate" "excessive contracts" in January.

I have “enough” of those who make “excessive profits” in this period of crisis, he further affirmed.

Emmanuel Macron also recalled that the State would bear “40% of the increase” in energy prices.

Although he acknowledged that the toll-free number dedicated to the rise in energy prices was not working, the President of the Republic announced that numbers by department will be relayed “from Monday”.

What else to remember

• The 60 measures of Dupond-Moretti for Justice.

  The Keeper of the Seals, Éric Dupond-Moretti, unveiled around sixty measures to remedy the "slowness" and "complexity" of justice.

  He undertook to increase the Justice budget from 9.6 to 11 billion euros in 2027. This increase in the budget would finance the hiring – already announced – of 10,000 justice officials, including 1,500 magistrates.

  He also expressed his desire to build 15,000 prison places and to “modernize and expand the courthouses”.

  This action plan will make it possible to “sanctuarize” the promises to hire 10,000 justice officials by 2027, including 1,500 magistrates.

• Funeral of Benedict XVI in Rome.

  Pope Francis paid a final tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday at the age of 95, during the funeral of the former German pontiff in the solemn setting of Saint Peter's Square, in the presence of 50,000 faithful who mingled heads of state and crowned heads.

  The mass, of the Latin rite and in several languages, was concelebrated by more than 4,000 cardinals, bishops and priests, but its exceptional character resided in the presence of a pope at the funeral of his predecessor, a first in the recent history of the Church.

• French tanks delivered to Ukraine.

  Paris has promised Ukraine to deliver French-made AMX-10 RC light battle tanks to it in response to kyiv's pressing needs to confront the Russian army, French President Emmanuel Macron told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

  Ukraine's European allies have delivered Soviet-designed tanks before, but never yet Western-built tanks.

  You can follow the news in Ukraine in our direct.

• A royal altercation unveiled by Harry.

  In his book "The Substitute", in reference to his role in the monarchy and to be published on January 10, Harry says he was physically attacked by his older brother William during an argument in London in 2019. After a heated exchange, William "m 'grabbed me by the collar, ripping my collar off, and knocked me to the ground,' Harry would relate.

  "I landed on the dog bowl, which shattered under my back, the pieces cutting into me," the prince would add.

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