NEWS
Paris-Orly Airport Strikes - More than two thirds of flights in Paris-Orly Airport will be cancelled this weekend. Due to an air traffic controllers' strike, the French civil aviation authority has ordered airlines to cancel 70% of flights at Paris Orly airport from 4am on Saturday to late Sunday. This is the second major strike in a month, ahead of the Paris Olympics starting July 26, and follows the previous strike that caused thousands of flight cancellations across Europe.
Out of Service Defibrillators - Many cardiac defibrillators in France are not working. Franceinfo revealed that nearly a third of the 500,000 cardiac defibrillators installed in public places are completely out of order. After having access to an audit carried out by a maintenance company, Matecir Defibril noted that nearly 60% of the functioning defibrillators inspected have ‘an anomaly that could lead to a malfunction’.
Senator of Far-Right Party Sentenced to Prison - The senator for the far-right party Reconquête! Has been sentenced to prison. In the Bouches-du-Rhône region, Stéphane Ravier, has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence and a one-year ban on standing for election. He was convicted for taking illegal interest in the hiring of his son by the city of Marseille when he was mayor of the area in 2015. He is intending to appeal.
Bus Drivers on Strike in Aubagne - Bus Drivers of the Régie des transports métropolitains are striking today in Aubagne. This strike action has been going on for over a week in Aubagne. They are denouncing the conditions in which they work and demanding financial compensation from management. They continue to carry out actions such as the roadblock at the exit of the Gémenos depot.
Farm Fire in Les Bourjules - A fire has broken out in a hamlet of the Vaucluse. Straw bales ignited under a greenhouse on a farm of ‘Les Bourjules’ In Pernes-les-Fontaines ‘. About thirty firefighters and twelve vehicles responded, with 6,000 m² of fields affected. The fire brigade reported that nearby homes are not at risk.
Year 10 Placement - 550,000 pupils in Year 10 will be starting the new end-of-year work placements From 17 to 28 June. This had been introduced in November by Gabriel Attal, then Minister for Education. Many of them are reportedly having difficulty convincing a company to take them on and are falling back on their parents' contacts. More than 25,000 young people in the Bouches-du-Rhône region are involved.
Marseille Public Schools' Canteens Closing - The vast majority of school canteens in Marseille's public primary schools have announced that they will be closed this Thursday 30 May. School staff have called a strike to demand fairer recognition of their work, according to information available on the city council's website. This may affect up to 470 schools in Marseille. As a result, parents will have to collect their children for lunch from 11.30am onwards.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Spring Stopped Overflowing - The Fontaine-de-Vaucluse spring in Vaucluse has stopped overflowing after more than three months. The Morenas family, who monitor the spring daily, made the announcement on social media. A barrier remains in place to prevent people from getting too close due to the risk of falling rocks.
BUSINESS
Samsung Electronic workers will be on strike for the first time. The National Samsung Electronics Union representing around 28,000 workers at Samsung Electronics has called the company's first-ever strike since its founding over five decades ago. The South Korean Union plans a one-day protest on June 7 by asking members to use their paid leave and hasn't ruled out a full-scale strike. The union is demanding a 6.5% pay rise and a bonus linked to the company's earnings, citing neglect of labourers by the management. Talks between the union and management over wages have been ongoing since the start of the year without reaching an agreement. Analysts warn a full-scale strike could disrupt Samsung's chip manufacturing and impact global electronics supply chains. Samsung Electronics, part of the South Korean Samsung Group, saw its shares drop about 2% following the announcement.
Plans of exploring the Titanic wreck using a submersible are being discussed. A US luxury real estate billionaire, Larry Connor, and deep-sea explorer Patrick Lahey plan to do so using a submersible capable of reaching depths of 3,800m. This expedition follows a tragic incident last year when an OceanGate vessel imploded in direction to the Titanic, killing five people. The trip will only proceed once the submersible is fully certified. The duo aims to rekindle interest in the private submersible industry, which suffered after the OceanGate disaster. Connor and Lahey previously explored the Mariana Trench together in 2021, an oceanic trench about 200 kilometres deep located in the western Pacific Ocean.
Former FTX executive Ryan Salame has been sentenced to 90 months in prison for his role in the cryptocurrency giant's collapse in late 2022. Salame, who was co-CEO of FTX's Bahamian subsidiary, pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and operating an illegal money-transmitting business. This follows FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's 25-year sentence for stealing $8 billion from customers. US Attorney Damian Williams said Salame's involvement in the fraud undermined public trust. Salame also received three years of supervised release and must pay over $11 million in forfeiture and restitution. He is one of four former executives to plead guilty in the case.
SPORTS
Tennis - Dan Evans and Katie Boulter both exited the French Open at the first-round stage on Tuesday to leave Britain without any representatives in the main singles draw.
Golf - Lexi Thompson has confirmed she will retire at the end of the 2024 LPGA Tour season. Thompson, 29, has won 15 times since turning professional in 2010 and secured her only major title in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship - now renamed the Chevron Championship.
Rugby Union - Leinster back row and former Ireland international Rhys Ruddock is to retire from playing rugby at the end of the season. The 33-year-old will call time on his career as one of the province's most decorated players, having played 228 games for Leinster since making his debut in 2009.
Former England trio Shaunagh Brown, Emily Scott and Rachael Burford have also announced their retirements from rugby at the end of the season. The three former Red Roses all play for Harlequins, who are currently sixth in the Premiership Women's table.
Football – French football manager Franck Haise is leaving Racing Club de Lens. After 4 years on the bench at the Artésien club, the coach will be signing for OGC Nice today for a transfer fee of €2 million
WEATHER
Sunny with partial coverings on the riviera while clouds cover the rest of the paca region. Highs of 23 degrees in Cannes and Nice, 25 in Marseille and 27 degrees in Toulon and Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, light clearings from Marseille to Toulon while the Alpes-Maritimes’s skies are painted in grey. Lows of 17 degrees.
Outlooks for tomorrow, fine and bright with some risks of thunderstorms higher in the Alpes-Maritimes in the evening. Highs of 24 degrees.
TGV services across much of France are gradually improving after several arson attacks affected the network in the early hours of this morning....
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Paris is getting ready to shut down it’s city centre and its airspace as well as mobilise 45,000 police and several army units in what has been billed...
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Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, reiterated her desire to lead the government during a media appearance on July 25. A poll s...
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French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key ...
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France will host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alpes, conditional on state and regional financial guarantees. President Macron confirmed his full su...
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