Evening Update Tuesday 14 May

Both terminals at Nice airport are open to traffic once again. The airport was blocked by protesting taxi drivers earlier today. According to reports, taxi drivers called for action following an argument between a taxi driver and a representative of a Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control organization. Checks by the organization were reportedly being carried out on taxi drivers and not on tourism vehicle drivers. The move caused long delays and also disruption to the tram service but access to the airport has now returned to normal.

Several ceremonies have been held in the Var today to pay tribute to the two French commandos who were killed in an operation to free hostages in Burkina Faso. The soldiers were based in the department. The ceremonies included the observance of a minute’s silence at the naval aviation base in Hyères.

A 22 year old man has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for the attempted robbery of an elderly lady in Nice. The man tried to size her handbag on the corner of Boulevard Gambetta and rue Abbé-Grégoire on the 1st of January.  The pensioner clung on to her handbag until police arrived.

An escargot go-slow operation by public servants led to traffic disruption on the A57 motorway this morning. The agents of the Interdepartmental Directorate of Mediterranean Roads were protesting against their possible loss of status as public servants. 

A cremation ceremony took place in the Bouches-du-Rhône this morning for a 34 year old woman who was murdered in London earlier this year.  The ashes of Laureline Garcia-Bertaux will be repatriated to Corsica, her family home. A 32 year old Estonian national has been charged with murder after the discovery of her body in the garden of a house in Richmond, Surrey on the 6th of March.

It’s the first day of the Cannes Film Festival today.  The Festival is on until the 25th of May.

BUSINESS

Vodafone has reported a 6% fall in revenues to the end of March. The company also reported a loss of €7.6bn for the year and announced that it was cutting its dividend. The loss was caused in part by a transaction in India and a reduction in the value of investments in Spain and Romania.  Vodafone has also become the first UK mobile operator to announce a launch date for its 5G network. The company’s network will go live in seven cities on July 3rd with twelve other cities online by the end of 2019.

Nissan has warned that it will post its weakest annual profit in more than a decade, forecasting a 28% drop in earnings. Japan's second-largest carmaker has struggled since the ousting of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn. 

The UK's unemployment rate has fallen to 3.8%, which is the lowest since October to December 1974. Excluding bonuses, average weekly earnings for employees were estimated to have increased by 3.3%, before adjusting for inflation.

In the UK, the owner of the Richer Sounds Hi-fi chain, Julian Richer has said that he’s handing over 60% of his shares in the company to his employees. The Richer Sounds Trust will operate according to a set of principles to make sure the company is run in "a responsible manner, and is based on honesty, commitment, trust and respect". The company has 53 stores across the country.

SPORT

Cricket…. It’s England against Pakistan in the One Day International Series. 

Tennis...Caroline Wozniacki has retired from her first-round match at the Italian Open because of a leg injury. Wozniacki lost the opening set 7-6 against American Danielle Collins before she had to stop playing because of the injury.

Football.. It’s been confirmed that Michael Carrick will remain part of Manchester United's coaching staff next season. Other backroom team members Mark Dempsey and Kieran McKenna will also remain. Mike Phelan signed a new deal last week to continue as assistant manager.