French and Riviera News Tuesday 18th June 2019

Local

Dead body - A body has been found near the entrance to the A8 motorway at Villeneuve Loubet. Police made the discovery on Monday morning. The man’s body has not yet been identified as police continue to investigate the cause of death.

Local elections - “Grow tomatoes instead of buildings" are the words of local National Rally MP Philippe Vardon who has announced his candidacy for the municipal election of Nice. The leader of the National Gathering for Nice and vice president of the National Rally in the region his heading for the 2020 local elections.  Vardon announced that he will be holding a public meeting about “building the future” in Nice on Saturday 22nd June.

Abortion - Abortion is to be de-criminalized in Monaco after the National Council voted unanimously to amend legislation relating to terminations. The Council also voted to extend maternity leave from 16 to 18 weeks, placing the Principality ahead of France, Germany and Belgium.

Nice Matin - The businessman who founded the mobile, internet and television company Free, is looking to acquire a major stake in the Nice-Matin newspaper. Xavier Niel, who is also a co-owner of Le Monde, is looking to buy 34% of the publication, with the remaining shares held by a co-op society of employees.

New bus with no driver - A new bus with no driver will soon be seen on the streets of Monaco. Starting in July, the new self-driving bus will take passengers to four stops; the Place du Palais, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum and Place de la Visitation. If successful, a second driver-less bus could be operational in the Larvotto area by autumn.

Water Safety Day - The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, along with the Aquatic Rescue and Diving Center of Monaco (CSAPM) and the association Cap ô Pas Cap, have organised the Water Safety Day, in partnership with the Monaco Red Cross here in the Principality. In the presence of HSH Princess Charlene and Mr. Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, 58 school children aged between 11 and 13 were welcomed at the Larvotto Beach in Monaco on Monday to discover and learn about aquatic rescue.

During the event, the Maritime Police of Monaco participated in a rescue demonstration using a new jet ski.

Sébastien Uscher launched the challenge "Stand up for the planet", 30,000 paddle strokes for 30,000 pieces of waste collected. His start from Larvotto beach formalised the beginning of his awareness campaign to encourage young and old to pick up waste both on and offshore.

The messages of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation are more relevant today than ever: to raise public awareness of the dangers of water, to educate children about prevention measures and to teach them how to swim. It was a tragic summer last year in France: from 1st June to 30th September 2018, 1,960 drownings were recorded, 597 of which were fatal, according to Santé Publique France.

National

Missing person - A 35-year-old Chinese tourist has been reported missing since Friday 14 June. She was last seen entering the train station in Tours having left her belongings in her hotel room. The woman was at the time with a group of 25 tourists who were visiting the castles of the Loire in Touraine. Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Baccalauréat - The French final school examination, the Baccalauréat, got under way on Monday with the traditional Philosophy test. There appeared to be no additional problems for the candidates, despite a call by some teaching unions for a strike by supervisors.

Meanwhile a high school student from Tarn in South western France has had a fortunate encounter with the police, all be it in rather difficult circumstances, after they made sure he made it on time to attend his baccalaureate exam on Monday. Having missed his bus he borrowed his father car only to then loss control of the vehicle at which point police deployed to the scene of the accident decided to assist the young student by taking him to his exam. Arriving with two minutes to spare, the police wished him luck and all the success he deserves. 

Minister of Happiness - Finally as New Zealand has just presented the first budget based on the "well-being" of its citizens. France’s media is asking if this original initiative could be applied in France?

New Zealand’s government has just presented a budget "well being" for the inhabitants, placing this notion at the heart of public decisions, before the economic indicators. More specifically, this budget, presented as a world first, provides for an increase in public spending on mental health (New Zealand has one of the highest rates of suicide among teens and young adults), as well as the fight against poverty and domestic violence.

A Minister of Happiness would it be possible in France? "For many men and women politicians, this is a notion that is not in their field of thought. According to researchers generally, in France, there is a problem with this notion due to the strong culture of pessimism. At a social and economic level, a Frenchman will generally be less happy than an inhabitant of the Netherlands or Germany.

Business

The US aerospace giant Boeing has suffered a fresh blow at the opening of the Paris Airshow as its engine supplier revealed a delay to its new 777X jet while rival Airbus targeted the middle of the market with a new plane.

Engine maker GE Aviation said that it had found unexpected wear in a component for the GE9X engine that it’s making for Boeing’s 777X which is the world’s largest twin engine jet.

The launch of the plane will now be delayed for several months while the part is redesigned and tested.

Boeing is still struggling following the grounding of its top-selling 737 Max aircraft in March following two deadly crashes.

Meanwhile ,Airbus is using the show to launch a long-range version of its A321neo Jet which it hopes will carve out new routes for airlines with smaller planes and get a head start on Boeing’s own plans for a new plane.#

 

Still with aviation-and Heathrow Airport will publish its expansion plans today with the aim of constructing a third runway by 2026 with a range of other projects to be completed by 2050.

The “Masterplan” as it’s become known will include diverting rivers ,moving roads and rerouting the M25 Motorway through a tunnel under the new runway.

The expansion is facing fierce local opposition  but Heathrow says that it has been engaging with local communities and other stakeholders.

The proposals will be open to public consultation until the 13th of September.

Environmental groups have warned that expanding Heathrow and construction of a third runway would mean unacceptable levels of noise and pollution and would also add to the UK’s carbon emissions from the increased number of flights.

And-The auction house Sotherby’s is being bought by the French telecoms billionaire Patrick Drahi in a deal which values the company at 3.7 billion dollars.

Sotherby’s ,which has been listed on the New York Stock Market for the past 31 years will return  to private ownership.

The firm has suffered a few lean years since the financial crisis and went through a series of cost cutting measures as well as facing attack from hedge funds.

Mr Drahi who’s the founder of the telecoms group Altice is buying the firm amid signs that the art market is booming again.

The price being paid is a 61 percent premium on Sotherby’s closing share price last Friday.

Sport

AEROPORT DE NICE –QATAR AIRWAYS FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP REPORT.

France scored a 79th minute penalty to beat Nigeria 1-0 in an incident packed match in Group A to confirm their place as winners of the group.

The penalty was taken twice with the initial shot hitting the post but it was ordered to be retaken after the Nigerian keeper was ruled to have moved off her line early and then Wendie Renard scored with her second attempt.

Despite losing ,Nigeria could still make it through to the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Norway made it through to the last 16 following the other Group A match last night after beating South Korea 2-1.

In Group B Germany who’d already qualified for the knockout phase beat South Africa 4-0 while China and Spain drew 0-0.Both sides qualify for the last 16 with Spain runners up in the Group and China as the best third-placed side.

There are two games in Group C today.Italy play Brazil and Jamaica play Australia.Both matches kick off at 9pm.

Football-Frank Lampard is set to return to Chelsea as manager according to his uncle Harry Redknapp.

In an interview with the BBC ,Redknapp said that Lampard would find it “difficult to say no” if Chelsea come calling.

The 40 year old Derby manager is favourite to replace Maurizio Sarri who left Chelsea on Monday to sign a three year deal with Juventus.

Cricket-Bangladesh have beaten West Indies by 7 wickets in the World Cup in Taunton.

West Indies batted first and made 321-8 from their 50 overs but Bangladesh managed to overhaul the total in just 41.3 overs with a score of 323-3.

The defeat leaves West Indies struggling to make the semi finals.

Today-England play Afghanistan at Old Trafford.Play is due to start at 11.30.

Tennis-Andy Murray will play his first competitive match since hip resurfacing surgery at the start of the year when he competes in the men’s doubles at the Queens Tournament in London.

Murray is playing with Feliciano Lopez and the pair face the top seeds in the doubles Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the first round this afternoon.

The 32 year old says that he’s pain free and enjoying tennis again and hasn’t ruled out a return to playing competitive singles again.

Racing-Royal Ascot starts today with some 300,000 people expected to attend the meeting over the next 5 days.

There are 30 races on the card with total prize money in excess of 7.3 million pounds.

The feature race today is the Queen Anne stakes which is off at 3.30 this afternoon.

Weather

Clear skies with light variable winds.

Top temperatures 25-31 degrees.

Overnight lows of 21 degrees on the coast and 17 degrees inland with clear skies.

Wednesday and Thursday-Clear skies.Highs of 25-31 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

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