Evening Update Friday 28th March 2025

NEWS
Mixed Weather this Weekend - The weather this weekend will be mixed in the Alpes-Maritimes department, with sunny spells on Saturday morning followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon, then clearing in the evening. Sunday will be sunny all day, with temperatures rising up to 24°C, well above seasonal norms. The start of next week is expected to be mostly sunny, with possible showers on Wednesday.

Refusal to Comply Leads to Crash - A stolen Audi A3 has been involved in a high-speed police chase after the driver failed to pay for fuel at a gas station in Nice. The pursuit ended in a crash, with the Audi hitting another car, a Nissan, flipping it over, and then colliding with a pole. The Nissan driver has suffered minor injuries. Two suspects were arrested, while a third remains on the run.

Major Arrests As Part of Mafia Attacks - Police have arrested 18 people in connection with shootings and arson attacks on two restaurants in Nice linked to extortion. The suspects, mostly in their twenties, are allegedly part of the "DZ mafia," and a raid uncovered weapons, including a Kalashnikov. Eight individuals face detention, while investigations and interrogations continue.

Italian Woman Burnt in Cannes Wakes up from Coma - Julia, a 35-year-old Italian woman severely burned by an ethanol lamp at a Cannes restaurant in November, has finally emerged from a coma but remains hospitalized and requires further surgeries. Two other victims, also seriously injured, have returned to Italy but still need ongoing medical care. A judicial investigation is underway, and witnesses, some suffering psychological trauma, are being questioned.

Power Outage in Avignon - A power outage has left 4,000 households without electricity overnight due to an underground network failure in Avignon, Vaucluse. Enedis teams have worked under difficult conditions to restore power by late morning. Smoke seen near a parking area came from backup generators, not a fire, as confirmed by local firefighters.

Former Gilets Jaunes Sentenced - Seven former "gilets jaunes" protesters have been given two-month suspended prison sentences for damaging SNCF railway infrastructure in 2018, while an eighth received a fine. They admitted to their actions but claimed they never intended to endanger anyone, expressing regret in court. The defendants must also reimburse SNCF €7,613 in damages and additional legal costs.

Heay Rainfall Hurts Honey Production - Heavy rainfall in March, has severely impacted honey production in Provence, particularly for rosemary honey. Beekeepers report that bees couldn’t forage due to the wet conditions, leading to lost harvests and slower colony development. However, they remain hopeful for lavender honey production, provided April stays warm and sunny.

La Pampa to Reopen - The historic restaurant "La Pampa" will reopen before the 15th of April under new ownership on Monaco's Place du Palais. William Scheffer, co-founder of Monte Carlo Beer, is renovating the space while preserving its name and transforming it into a bistrot-brasserie. With its prime terrace facing the Prince’s Palace, it remains a popular spot for tourists.

The AMWC has Record Attendance in Monaco - The AMWC, the world's leading aesthetic and anti-aging medicine conference, has opened in Monaco on Thursday the 27th of March with record attendance—18,000 visitors, 150 speakers, and 350 exhibitors. While no major breakthroughs were announced, trends show a shift from hyaluronic acid fillers to biostimulators that boost collagen production. The event will expand globally, with Dubai set to host its first edition in October 2025.
 

BUSINESS
Adani has fully restored electricity supply to Bangladesh after reducing it by half for four months due to unpaid dues. The country, facing an economic crisis, has reduced its outstanding payments to Adani from $850m to $800m and expects to clear them within six months. The deal, signed in 2017 under ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, is now under review by the interim government, which claims it may be overpriced.

Octopus Energy's CEO, Greg Jackson, argues that introducing zonal pricing in the UK would make electricity cheaper in Scotland due to its high renewable energy production. However, rival firms like Scottish Power and SSE oppose the idea, warning it could create a "postcode lottery" and threaten £75bn in energy investments. The UK government is currently reviewing potential electricity market reforms, with a decision expected in the summer.

And - Videographer Mathilde Fréoa offers to capture the memories of elderly people on film to preserve their life stories in Nice. After regretting not recording her late uncle’s stories, she launched Miroir Media to create personalized video documentaries. Her service, starting at €850, helps families keep lasting audiovisual memories beyond photos or text.
 

SPORTS
Cricket - West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach will return to Surrey for their first four matches of the upcoming County Championship season. The 36-year-old, who has been part of the club's past three title-winning campaigns, has claimed 284 Test wickets for his national side.

Rugby Union - Edel McMahon will lead Ireland out in Sunday's Six Nations game against Italy as coach Scott Bemand makes three changes for the Parma encounter. McMahon started on the bench in last weekend's 27-15 defeat by France in the opener but is named at blindside flanker in place of Brittany Hogan.
Meanwhile, Gloucester's match with local rivals Bristol on Saturday could be "one of the best" this season, says Bears director of rugby Pat Lam. Two of the Premiership's most attacking sides sit first and third in the league table for most points scored this campaign.

Tennis - Novak Djokovic overcame American Sebastian Korda in their rescheduled match to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open. The world number five rallied in the second set from a break down to close out a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory.
 

WEATHER
Mostly sunny with occasional cloudy intervals and moderate winds. Highs of 20 degrees in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, 21 in the Alpes-Maritimes and 22 degrees in the Var.

Tonight, mostly clear with temperatures dropping to 11 degrees.

Outlook for this weekend,
Sat: clear morning before thunderstorms visit the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments in the afternoon with temperatures reaching 19 degrees.
Sun: Mostly clear with warm temperatures reaching 24 degrees and moderate to strong winds.
Mon: bright and clear with highs of 22 degrees and moderate to strong winds.

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