Evening Update Wednesday 18th September 2024

NEWS
Border Control - Menton's mayor, Yves Juhel, supports the call made by Nice's mayor, Christian Estrosi, for the reintroduction of temporary border controls at the French-Italian border. Both believe these measures are necessary to combat illegal immigration, especially following Germany's recent decision to restore identity checks at its borders. Juhel emphasized the importance of strengthening border controls, which are already reinforced with drones, but sees further measures as essential.

Nighttime TER Train - Nighttime TER train services between Nice and Ventimiglia have been suspended from Sunday to Thursday until June due to track modernization. Monaco's government and the PACA region are demanding solutions from SNCF, especially for events like football matches. A temporary extension of service until 22:45 has been granted for Monaco's match against Barcelona, but concerns remain, especially for cross-border workers reliant on nighttime trains.

Truck Accident on the A52 Motorway - A truck carrying a camper has lost control, causing significant traffic disruptions on the A52 motorway next to Pont de l'Étoile tollbooth, near Aubagne. The camper detached and overturned on the opposite lanes, blocking two out of three lanes towards Aix-en-Provence and one towards Aubagne. No injuries were reported, but traffic was disrupted for over 3 km in both directions.

1 Ton of Cannabis Seized - In a major operation on the night of September 15-16, one ton of cannabis resin and 4 kg of cocaine destined for Vaucluse have been seized in Domazan (Gard), near Avignon. Five individuals have been arrested after months of investigation by Avignon's customs and judicial police, who were targeting a drug trafficking network between Spain and Vaucluse. The seized drugs are valued at around €10 million.

More Drugs Seized - Following over two years of investigation, nine individuals have been arrested and charged for drug trafficking and involvement in a criminal organization linked to Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Var. During operations in Marseille and Perpignan, authorities seized 5 kg of cocaine, 3.7 kg of cannabis resin, heroin, luxury watches, vehicles, and cash. Eight suspects remain in custody as the investigation, which uncovered drug imports from Spain, continues.

Canine and Mounted Units in Nice - For the first time, the canine and mounted units of the Nice municipal police trained together. The goal was to familiarize the dogs and horses with each other to improve teamwork in the field. Exercises included dogs attacking a threatening individual while horses secured the area.

Lucky PMU Winner - A man has won nearly €500,000 after placing a €2 bet on a horse race in Carros, the largest PMU win in the Alpes-Maritimes this year. The winner, whose identity remains unknown, has yet to claim the prize. Several other bettors in the region have also won large sums in 2024.
 

BUSINESS
Inflation in the UK held steady at 2.2% in August, with rising airfares offset by lower fuel and restaurant prices. Although inflation remains above the Bank of England's 2% target, it is significantly lower than during the 2022 cost of living crisis. The Bank is expected to keep interest rates at 5% but may consider a cut in November.

Instagram is introducing new teen accounts with stricter privacy settings for users under 18, aimed at protecting them from harmful content. These changes, launching in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, include default private accounts, sensitive content controls, and parental supervision features. While praised as a positive step, concerns remain about enforcement and the effectiveness of these measures in safeguarding young users.

Tupperware has filed for bankruptcy due to declining sales and financial struggles, despite attempts to modernize its products. The iconic food storage brand plans to continue operations and seek court approval for a potential sale. Rising costs and competition have hurt profits, following a brief surge in demand during the pandemic.

And - The US Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates for the first time in four years, affecting loans, mortgages, and savings rates both in the US and globally. The move is aimed at balancing inflation and rising unemployment, with analysts uncertain about the size of the cut. This marks the potential start of a series of rate reductions to stimulate the economy.
 

SPORTS
Football - Referee Chris Kavanagh said he "didn't like" the decision to send off Declan Rice in Arsenal's draw with Brighton last month but said he "had no choice". Rice was sent off during the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium for a second yellow card after nudging the ball away from Joel Veltman as he prepared to take a free-kick.

Cricket - An astonishing 21 wickets fell on day one of the County Championship match between relegation-threatened Lancashire and title-chasing Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford.

Tennis - Heather Watson is out of the Korea Open following a straight-sets defeat by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Seoul 6-2 6-2.

 

WEATHER
Cloudy with occasional rain and a gentle breeze. Highs of 22 degrees in Nice and Marseille, 23 in Cannes, and 24 degrees in Toulon and Saint-Tropez.

Tonight, bit cloudy with lows of 16 degrees.

Outlook for tomorrow, mostly sunny with highs of 24 degrees and a gentle breeze.

Sunset: 7:37pm


BEACH WEATHER
Sea temperatures 24 degrees

Air temperatures 25 degrees near Saint-Tropez with a gentle breeze.

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