Evening Update Tuesday 5th November 2024

NEWS
Espace Lamartine Closed - Monaco’s Espace Lamartine is closed indefinitely due to water damage, with reopening contingent on safety evaluations. In the meantime, the city is arranging alternative outdoor activities and workshops at other community sites, with further details to be shared soon on the city’s website and social media.

11kgs of Drugs Seized - After a lengthy investigation, Nice police seized over 11 kg of drugs and €84,000 in cash on the 31st of October, arresting four people in a "go fast" operation near Vidauban, Var. The suspects, linked to a Nice neighbourhood, transported cocaine and cannabis from Spain for local distribution, and one attempted to ram police vehicles, slightly injuring an officer. All suspects now face charges.

Students Confined After Intruder Alert - 850 students have been confined to the school’s gymnasium after a man entered the premises unexpectedly at the Pablo-Picasso middle school in Vallauris, Alpes-Maritimes. Police later identified him as someone scheduled to conduct a presentation, and his bags contained equipment for his visit. No injuries have been reported, though one staff member and one student experienced mild panic.

Evacuated Students due to Fire - 600 students have been evacuated on Tuesday morning due to an electrical fire on the ground floor in La Salle high school in Avignon. Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze, allowing students to return to the building, with two staff members treated for smoke inhalation on site.

A mother Sues Tiktok - A mother has sued TikTok after discovering disturbing suicide-related videos on her TikTok account following her 15-year-old daughter’s suicide in 2023 in Nice. Six other families are suing TikTok for insufficient content regulation, claiming the platform’s algorithm exposed the adolescent to harmful content. TikTok, which denies responsibility, asserts it has extensive moderation to prevent such content.

Nekfeu Allegations - French rapper Nekfeu issued a statement on the 4th of November, responding to allegations from his ex-wife, made public by her lawyer, amid an ongoing custody dispute over their child. Nekfeu denied accusations of violence and claimed his ex-wife's statements aim to damage his reputation, especially after prior accusations were dismissed. He emphasized his support for victims of violence while noting that he himself is pursuing legal actions related to child custody issues.
 

BUSINESS
A University of Leeds study with Primark found that cheaper clothes, like a £15 pair of jeans, often outperformed pricier items in durability tests, challenging the belief that higher cost means longer-lasting quality. The findings, which examined wear factors like seam strength and fabric pilling, will inform Primark’s new Durability Framework aimed at enhancing value for customers.

To meet its 2030 clean energy goal, the UK needs to build about 1,000 km of power lines and speed up infrastructure approvals significantly, according to a new report. The plan, which requires £40bn annual investment largely from the private sector, calls for rapid expansion in offshore wind and grid connections. Although local opposition is likely, government reforms aim to fast-track projects, with NESO emphasizing manageable consumer costs due to savings on natural gas.

And - Auchan announced plans to cut nearly 2,400 jobs in France, including closing around ten underperforming stores, and ending its home delivery service, which would impact 224 positions. While the retailer aims to avoid forced layoffs by offering retraining, redeployment, and voluntary departure options, Auchan will also create 319 new roles in other areas. This restructuring follows previous job cuts and comes after the company reported significant financial losses in early 2024.
 

SPORTS
Cricket - England will play a women’s Test in West Indies for the first time as part of the new Future Tours Programme.

Rugby Union - England prop Dan Cole says he was surprised by the timing of Joe Marler's retirement from international rugby because "his close friend" was closing in on 100 caps.

Tennis - Cameron Norrie secured his first win on the ATP Tour since July as he came from behind to beat Roberto Carballes Baena 3-6 6-4 6-3 at the Moselle Open in Metz.
 

WEATHER
Meteo-France predicts cloudy skies for this afternoon though Nice and Monaco continue to enjoy mostly sunny skies. Highs of 21 degrees in Nice, Toulon and Marseille, and 22 degrees in Cannes and Saint-Tropez.

Tonight, cloudy with lows of 14 degrees.

Outlook for tomorrow, back to cloudy skies across the region with highs of 21 degrees with a gentle breeze.

 

Last local news

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