NEWS
More Millionaires in Alpes-Maritimes - The number of millionaires on the Côte d'Azur has increased by 25% over the past ten years. The area from Nice to Èze has the second-highest concentration of millionaires in France, with 26,300 individuals, trailing only the Paris region. Monaco holds the highest density of millionaires worldwide, with nearly half of its residents being millionaires. The principality is also the most expensive city globally, with an average price per square meter exceeding €55,000.
Avalanche in the Alps - A 32-year-old Frenchman has died in an avalanche in the Alps, and four others were injured. A large rescue team was mobilized, including 4 helicopters, avalanche dogs, mountain specialists, and other units from the Bernese cantonal police. They warn of a constant avalanche risk in the mountains and advise consulting forecasts before hiking. This latest fatality brings the total number of avalanche-related deaths to 20 since the hydrological season began on October 1, 2023, according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF). The hydrological season ends on September 30, 2024.
Busy Traffic this Weekend - After an extremely busy Wednesday, with a peak of 1,457 km of traffic jams, traffic is also expected to be very heavy on Saturday, for the start of the return journey from holiday. Bison Futé has classified the day as orange, ahead of a black and red Sunday.
Collisions in Eze and Nice - A collision between a two-wheeler and a car left one person seriously injured this Friday morning in Eze. Another spectacular collision in Nice resulted in a minor injury.
Proposal Gone Wrong - To mark the passage of the Olympic flame, the prefects issued a series of decrees banning overflights of certain areas. In Marseille, a Slovenian tourist who wanted to immortalise his marriage proposal with a drone ended up in police custody.
Four opera mini-concerts in Nice - Four opera mini-concerts will be offered free of charge in Nice from 10 to 28 June. The concerts will take place every Friday in four different venues, on the initiative of the Conseil Départemental. The aim is to democratise this art form among those who have not had access to it.
BUSINESS
The UK economy grew by 0.6% between January and March, the fastest pace in two years, indicating an end to the recession. Growth was driven by the services sector, including hospitality, arts, and entertainment, with an early Easter in March likely contributing. The UK had fallen into recession last year with two consecutive quarters of contraction. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted anecdotal evidence from credit and debit card transactions showing increased consumer spending on clothing and home furnishings. This strong start to the year is expected to be a key discussion point in the upcoming general election campaign.
A major Japanese bread brand, Pasco Shikishima Corporation, is recalling about 104,000 packs of sliced white bread after parts of a rat were found in at least two packets. This recall affects a popular staple in Japanese supermarkets and convenience stores. So far, there have been no reports of illness, but Pasco has suspended the factory's assembly line and issued a statement offering refunds through a form on the company's website. Despite Japan's high sanitation standards, food recalls are rare but not unprecedented. Recently, hundreds of students in Miyagi prefecture fell ill after drinking contaminated milk at school. Last year, 7-Eleven recalled rice balls after a cockroach was found. Pasco's bread products are also exported to the US, China, Australia, and Singapore, among other countries.
SPORTS
Basketball - Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 29 points as he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers level their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics at one game apiece. The Cavaliers fell behind in each of the first two quarters but Mitchell scored 23 points in the second half to lift the visiting Cavaliers to a 118-94 victory.
Golf - Nelly Korda is six shots behind the leader at the Cognizant Founders Cup, where she's aiming for a record-breaking sixth consecutive LPGA Tour title. The 25-year-old trails fellow American Rose Zhang, who leads with a bogey-free opening round of 63, putting her at nine under in New Jersey. Korda, currently the world's top-ranked golfer, recently secured her fifth straight tour title at the Chevron Championship, tying the record set by Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.
Tennis - Rafael Nadal continued his French Open preparation by fighting back from a set down to beat Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs in the opening round of the Italian Open in Rome. The former world number one, a 10-time champion in the Italian capital, won 4-6 6-3 6-4. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka all made it through comfortably to the last 32 of the Italian open in Rome.
Historic Grand Prix - The historic grand prix kicks off today in Monaco with three days of action on the iconic circuit. Free practice sessions run from 11:00am to 6:20pm today, followed by qualifying sessions from 8:15am to 4:35pm on Saturday. The races will take place from 8am to 5:40pm on Sunday, with the circuit reopening to the public at 7:30pm. For details on traveling into Monaco during the event, you can visit the Riviera Radio website.
WEATHER
Not a cloud in the sky this afternoon on the Riviera. Highs of 23 degrees in Nice and Marseille, 24 in Cannes and Toulon, and 25 degrees in Saint-tropez.
Tonight, clear skies all across the region with lows of 17 degrees in Nice.
Outlook for this weekend, much the same this Saturday with bright clear skies and highs of 24 degrees, and the clouds are making a comeback this Sunday though the region remains predominantly sunny with highs of 23 degrees.
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