NEWS
Paris-Orly Airport Flights Cancelled - 70% of flights will be cancelled in Paris-Orly Airport this weekend. Led by the DGAC, air traffic controllers are protesting against the lack of resources associated with a reform of the organization of air traffic control in France. However, flights to overseas destinations should be spared.
Richest Man in the World - LVMH boss Bernard Arnault has relinquished his position as richest man in the world to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. According to the economic media, the Amazon founder now heads a fortune estimated at $205 billion, compared with $203 billion for the Frenchman.
Gaza Demonstrations - Several town halls in France have turned off their lights in memory of the civilian victims in Gaza. Marseille, Montpellier, Lille and Bordeaux all took part on Wednesday evening, following Sunday evening’s strike by Israel on Rafah in which 45 people were killed. Meanwhile, demonstrations were held in the French capital for a third consecutive evening to demand a ceasefire. Demonstrators brandished Palestinian flags and chanted: "Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people", "this is not a war, it is a genocide”. The Lycée Students' Union have called for manifestations in support of the Palestinian people this Thursday at 1pm at the Guillaume Apollinaire high school in Nice.
Parcousup Answers - Parcoursup is the web portal which manages the balance between undergraduate places in French universities and other higher education institutions. After waiting for two and a half months, the applicants for Parcoursup, will discover the first answers to their application choices this Thursday evening. 945,500 applicants have confirmed at least one choice for higher education.
Firefighter Sismic Training - Firefighters from the south of France are being trained in earthquake response. For three days, they are being brought together in the Velleron and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue areas to immerse themselves in almost real-life conditions, so that they are ready to send reinforcements abroad if needed. To do this, for 36 hours non-stop, 90 firefighters are going into an abandoned building to simulate an earthquake and put themselves in a real-life situation. Breaking up concrete, inserting a camera through the cracks to rescue fake victims trapped under the debris and prepare themselves as much as possible for any eventuality.
Bus Agency 'Voyages Arnaud' Hiring - The bus agency ‘Voyages Arnaud’ in Carpentras are recruiting coach drivers. They are looking for around ten drivers to fill in during the summer holidays. The positions are part-time or full-time. These fixed-term contracts could become permanent contracts after the summer. To apply, send your CV and covering letter to [recrutement@voyages-arnaud.fr](mailto: recrutement@voyages-arnaud.fr)
Marseille Bus Line Night Updtae - Buses’ night timetable in Marseille will be updated starting this Saturday 1st June. After consulting transport users, the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolitan Authority and the RTM transport authority promise more frequent buses with better coverage of the area and a new evening service until 1am on several lines.
Onion Pissaladière in Liberation, Nice - No more onion pissaladière in the Liberation district of Nice. A caterer in Nice’s Liberation district has had to give up on cooking pissaladière with onions in them due to strong smells which allegedly disturbed the caterer’s neighbours. Gourmet costumers now have to fall back on pans bagnats. Quite a feat for the man who won the ‘Mondialette de la pissaladière’ in 2018.
BUSINESS
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that law enforcement agencies worldwide have dismantled a global malware network that stole $5.9 billion and was involved in various crimes. A botnet is a group of internet-connected devices, such as a computer or a smartphone, that have access to the internet and whose security have been breached. They can therefore be controlled by a third party from a distance to steal data or money from users. The operation, in partnership with the FBI and international agencies, targeted what is likely the largest botnet ever. Chinese national YunHe Wang has been charged with creating and operating a botnet which infected over 19 million IP addresses in nearly 200 countries between 2014 and 2022. Wang faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted. The botnet facilitated cyber-attacks, fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations. Wang allegedly earned $99 million from the network and bought properties in several countries. Assets worth around $60 million have been seized. The investigation involved agencies from Singapore, Thailand, and Microsoft.
Swapnil Shrivastav has developed a system to convert air into water using atmospheric generators. When a severe drought hit Kozhikode, India, in 2016, residents, including student Swapnil Shrivastav, faced water rationing. Inspired by the experience and a Star Wars device, Shrivastav co-founded Uravu Labs in 2019, developing a system to convert air to water using atmospheric water generators. These generators use desiccants to absorb moisture, which is then condensed into drinking water. While aiming to supply communities, the technology proved too costly, leading Uravu to sell water to hospitality clients. The global atmospheric water generation market, valued at $3.4bn in 2022, is expected to grow significantly. Another example, Majik Water in Kenya, uses similar technology to provide water in arid regions. Advancements in material science and digital payments are driving further adoption. Uravu Labs plans to use waste heat from data centers to produce fresh water, potentially reducing water consumption by 95%.
SPORTS
Rugby Union - Northampton and England fly-half Fin Smith has capped a sensational season by winning the prestigious Rugby Players' Association (RPA) Player's Player of the Year award. Leicester Tigers centre Meg Jones was named RPA Women's Player of the Year following her influential role in England's third consecutive Grand Slam
Cricket - A new women's T20 franchise tournament in the United States featuring the world's best players could be launched in the near future. Discussions are said to be at a very early stage and no specific time frame has yet been established.
Cycling - Colombian cyclist Miguel Angel Lopez has been handed a four-year doping ban. The sport's governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), said the 30-year-old had violated rules for "use and possession of a prohibited substance" before the 2022 Giro d'Italia.
WEATHER
Cloudy with sunny intervals this afternoon. Strong winds with gusts of up to 70km/h near Toulon. Highs of 23 degrees in Nice, 25 in Cannes and Marseille, 26 in Toulon and 29 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
The skies should clear up this evening and stay that way for the rest of the night. Lows of 17 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, fine and bright all day with highs of 24 degrees.
Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has said that there is now no hope of rescuing the sailor who fell overboard from a French Navy ship early yes...
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Mainly fine with moderate to strong winds in the Var. Highs of 19 degrees in Monaco, Nice, San Remo and Saint-Tropez....
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French President Emmanuel Macron has praised the courage of teachers who intervened during a fatal stabbing at a private school in Nantes, western Fra...
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The 11th edition of the Champagne and Oyster Cycle Club (COCC) ride from Saint-Tropez to Monaco will take place this Sunday, 27th April, bringing toge...
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A student at a school in Brittany has died after being stabbed by another student this afternoon. Three other pupils were also injured in the incident...
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