Evening Update Monday 29 April

Lawyers representing Geneviève Legay, the yellow vest protestor injured during a demonstration in Nice several weeks ago, have announced their intention to re-file a complaint against the prefect and the entire chain of command on the day of the demonstration. The lawyers were speaking at a press conference this morning during which Madame Legay also gave an update on her health after her hospitalization following the protest.

Virtually all of the beaches in Cagnes-sur-Mer have re-opened today after being closed over the weekend because of pollution. The pollution, which was caused by an electrical fire in a wastewater treatment plant, led to the cancellation of the swimming part of the trialthlon which was held over the weekend.  The only beach in the area to remain closed is the Cousteau beach.

A prisoner has been found hanged in his cell at Grasse prison. The 25 year old from the Ivory Coast was due to be repatriated to his home country.  He had been sentenced in 2015 for offences related to the illegal entry of foreigners.

A 17-year-old has died after being stabbed in Avignon.  He was reportedly attacked by several individuals in the Monclar district of the city last night.

Four pickpockets were arrested in Nice Old Town last night. The four females, who claimed that they had Bosnian nationality, have now been handed over to the National Police.

The Scandinavian airline SAS has cancelled more than 1,200 flights worldwide, including to and from Nice, because of strike action by pilots. The industrial action began on Friday following a breakdown in negotiations between the company and its pilots who have demanded a 13% salary increase.


BUSINESS

Travel company Thomas Cook has said that fewer British holidaymakers have booked a summer holiday inside the EU this year amid continuing uncertainty over Brexit. The company said that 48% of the holidays it sold up to the end of February were to non-EU destinations, which is up 10% on last year.

Spotify has announced that the number of paid subscribers for its premium service has hit the 100 million mark for the first time. Spotify said the overall number of monthly active users grew 26% from a year earlier to 217 million. Total revenue for the quarter rose to 1.511 billion euros.

Consumer spending in the United Sates rose by 0.9% in March - the biggest rise in nine and a half years.

 

SPORT

Football… Czech international striker Josef Sural has died after being involved in a bus crash yesterday.  The bus was carrying players from his Turkish team back home from an away match. Sural died at the hospital where he and six of his team-mates were taken after the crash.

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly will miss the final two games of the season and also this summer's African Cup of Nations after sustaining a knee injury. The Ivory Coast international injured his medial ligament in a collision during the match against Chelsea yesterday.

Cricket… The ECB has said that Alex Hales has been withdrawn from England's preliminary World Cup squad to ensure the team is "free from any distractions". Last week, a spokesman for the batsman said he had been suspended following what was referred to as an "off-field incident". The ECB has so far refused to say what Hales has done to warrant his withdrawal, citing confidentiality concerns.

 

Last local news

French and Riviera News Thursday 28th August 2025

It’s been reported that Uber plans to launch high-speed trains between London, Paris, Lille, and Brussels by 2029, partnering with Gemini Trains. ... French and Riviera News Thursday 28th August 2025 Read More

28/08/2025

Evening Update Wednesday 27th August 2025

Éric Ciotti has officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Nice in the March 2026 municipal elections, challenging current mayor Christian Estros... Evening Update Wednesday 27th August 2025 Read More

27/08/2025

French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th August 2025

As 12 million students return to class in France on the 1st of September, several key changes are being introduced. These include mandatory sex educat... French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th August 2025 Read More

27/08/2025

Evening Update Tuesday 26th August 2025

A stormy and rainy episode is expected tomorrow in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, with heavy rainfall possibly reaching 100mm along the coast.... Evening Update Tuesday 26th August 2025 Read More

26/08/2025

French and Riviera News Tuesday 26th August 2025

France is preparing for a nationwide shutdown on September 10th called “Bloquons tout,” organized mainly through social media. ... French and Riviera News Tuesday 26th August 2025 Read More

26/08/2025