Next week’s Cannes Film Festival is facing the threat of a strike as workers mobilize for better conditions. Cinema workers, including projectionists, programmers, ticket office managers and others are asking to be recognised as ‘intermittent entertainment workers’ and receive the benefits which come with that recognition, in particular unemployment insurance. Organisers say any strike action will not stop the festival but could disrupt the event.
Another strike, this time with cabin crew for the airline Veuling is expected to affect flights to and from Nice airport between tomorrow and the weekend. Passengers are advised to check their flights with Veuling before leaving for the airport.
In Menton, there was disruption at the Pierre et Marie Curie school as around 100 students protested in support of Palestine outside the lycée this morning. The school remained open and no arrests were made. Elsewhere in Menton, sixty people were evacuated from a five-story building after a fire last night. Although the fire completely destroyed a ground-floor apartment, no serious injuries were reported.
Tensions are rising before the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille tomorrow. Bin collectors in the city have been using the occasion to strike to better pay. Yesterday, the city removed uncollected rubbish which had been gathering in the port area where the flame will arrive. Bin collectors say they will gather again tomorrow morning at 10am to continue their protest. Meanwhile, the Olympic flame will travel from Marseille to Toulon on Friday before embarking on a national tour which will arrive in Nice on June 18th, where representatives of the July 14th attack victims will carry the flame on the Promenade des Anglais.
The Allianz Riviera has announced it will hold a big summer concert this year after all. They revealed this morning that American rap superstar Travis Scott will headline at the stadium on July 6th. It’s not the rappers first appearance at the grounds. Last year, he filmed the video for his global hit with Canadian singer The Weeknd at the Allianz Riviera. Tickets for the gig are on sale this Thursday.
The UK and Ireland are to appear in the first semi-finals of this years Eurovision Song Content which gets underway in Malmo Sweeden tonight. Ireland are playing in the fourth spot, with their non-binary singer ‘Bambie Thug’ while the UK, while not competing for a place in the final, will perform their entry by Years and Years singer Olly Alexander in the fifth spot. The semi-finals can be seen in France live from 9pm tonight on YouTube, while the grand final will be shown live on televion, Saturday night on France 2.
BUSINESS NEWS
Shares in several cognac makers have rallied this afternoon thanks to a visit from China’s President to France. After a meeting between the two country’s presidents, Emmanuel Macron suggested trade tensions between China and the European Union could ease, benefitting the drinks manufacturers. Two of France’s biggest cognac producers, Pernod Ricard and Remy Cointreau, were up 2.7% and 7.6% respectively just after lunchtime today.
Shares in Boeing are down after a failed launch of its first ‘Starliner’ taking crew to the International Space Station, along with separate reports today of incomplete inspections on brand new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The FAA is to investigate the case but Boeing insist there is no immediate ‘safety of flight issue’ with the Dreamliner. Its expected the Starliner will make another attempt at launch toward the end of this week.
Mixed fortunes for Walt Disney today after a surprise profit in its streaming entertainment division, was eclipsed by a drop in its traditional TV business and weaker box office. Shares were down 6% before the bell this afternoon.
SPORT
Football - Nottingham Forest have failed with an appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules. The appeal upheld the decision that the teams 2022 losses breached the £61m threshold by £34m. It means Forest remain 17th in the Premiere League, just one place ahead of relegation zone with two games left to play.
Tennis - After Andrey Rublev’s first Madrid Open title win on Sunday, all eyes now move to Rome for the Italian Open which gets under way this week. World No 1 Novak Djokovic will return to action in preparation for the French Open, with the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal hoping to continue his build up to Roland Garros where he is a 10-time champion. has been drawn in the same quarter as second seed and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev, meaning the pair could meet in the quarter-finals should they each reach that stage.
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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SNCF unions are warning of a "dark week" ahead as a strike looms over the May 8th bank holiday weekend. Fabien Villedieu, federal secretary of the SUD...
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