Evening Update Thrusday 13th of June 2024

NEWS
14th July Trial - The appeal trial for the July 14 attack is concluding, with a verdict expected tonight June 13. Held at the Special Assize Court in Paris, some victims from Nice are striving to attend. The attack on July 14, 2016, resulted in 86 deaths and 458 injuries. The trial of the two defendants began on April 22, with both previously sentenced to 18 years for terrorist activities. One defendant claims innocence, while the other remained silent. One victim, suffering physical and psychological harm, including partial blindness, wants to be in Paris for the verdict. She had to pawn family jewellery for 2,220 euros to afford the trip.

Vidauban Fire Under Control - The fire that broke out in Vidauban on Tuesday afternoon is now under control. Firefighters remain vigilant, with 300 firefighters and 80 vehicles on-site for monitoring. The burned area has not expanded since Tuesday evening, staying at 600 hectares. The fire is believed to be accidental, possibly caused by a tractor hitting a metal object and creating sparks. Further investigations will confirm the cause. The monitoring efforts will continue for several days. There were no casualties, and the 65 residents evacuated from nearby hamlets have returned home. Nine out of ten forest fires are caused by humans.

Republicans Oppose Far-Left - François-Xavier Bellamy, head of the right-wing Republicans party, has affirmed that in the event of a left-wing and far-right face-off in the second round of the legislative elections, he would oppose the far-left.

F1 Micro-Traumas Study in Monaco - The Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG) of Monaco is studying brain micro-traumas in former F1 drivers. Dr. Benoît Paulmier, deputy head of nuclear medicine and Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA) member, has led this study for the past two years. Despite F1 drivers' developed musculature and the use of the HANS device to absorb G forces, brain movement during impacts can cause micro-traumas similar to concussions. These can result in headaches, dizziness, and loss of focus. However, F1 drivers' training appears to mitigate long-term damage.

Illegal Animal Domestication in Cannes - An individual was illegally housing animals in their apartment in Cannes. Emergency services and the Office Français de la Biodiversité (French Biodiversity Office) have been called to Cannes on Tuesday. They discovered a young fennec and a hen, illegally caged and in poor health, in a private home. The individual was taken into custody. The fire brigade and the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) seized the two animals and transported them to Fréjus zoo, where they will be treated.

Stabbed in the Neck with a Screwdriver near Nice Airport - A transgender person was stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver at the entrance of a hotel near Nice Airport. The 60-year-old victim was taken to Hospital Pasteur 2 in critical condition. The circumstances of the attack remain unknown, and an investigation for attempted murder has been opened.

 

BUSINESS
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that shareholder votes on his $56 billion payout and the plan to move Tesla's legal headquarters to Texas are "passing by wide margins." Official results are expected on Thursday. Despite the votes, it's uncertain if a court will accept the re-vote on Musk's compensation package, which was voided by a Delaware judge earlier this year for being "unfair." The package had previously received 73% shareholder support in 2018.

Jeremy Bunch, CEO of Shepherd’s Grain, is using AI-powered software ClimateAi to combat the impact of climate change on his business. This software helps farmers plan for crop management by providing accurate, locally tailored weather forecasts. ClimateAi assists in deciding when to plant and harvest crops, improving crop yields. The AI technology also speeds up the development of climate-resilient seeds, a process typically taking 10-15 years. Other Agri-tech firms, like Avalo in North Carolina, use AI to study crop genetics and create climate-resilient crops, such as faster-maturing broccoli and drought-tolerant potatoes. Despite AI's potential, challenges remain, including data quality and technology accessibility.

 

SPORTS
Basketball – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped the Boston Celtics hold off a Dallas Mavericks fightback to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the NBA finals. Tatum scored 31 points and Brown 30 as the Celtics won 106-99 in game three of the best-of-seven series.

Tennis - Defending champion Katie Boulter reached the third round of the Nottingham Open with an assured win over Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino. The British number one broke early in both sets in her 6-4 6-4 victory to set up a quarter-final tie with either fifth seed Magdalena Frech or Tatjana Maria.

Cycling - The Union Cycliste Internationale, (UCI), will trial yellow cards to make professional cycling a "safer sport". David Lappartient, president of the sport's governing body, said the cards will be issued "for any offence likely to pose a risk" to safety on a trial basis, from 1 August until 31 December in men's and women's professional road races. No sanctions will be issued in the trial period but punishments, ranging from fines to disqualifications and suspensions, will be imposed on riders from 1 January 2025. Two yellow cards in a one-day or stage race will result in a seven-day ban.

 

WEATHER
Partly sunny across the region today with moderate to strong winds around Toulon. Highs of 23 degrees in Nice, Cannes and Marseille, 24 in Toulon and 29 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, cloudy skies with lows of 17 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, partly sunny throughout the day with highs of 23 degrees.

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