Local
Migrants arrive at centre despite mayor’s opposition – Twenty migrants have arrived at a centre in Sainte-Agnes located behind Nice, despite furious opposition from the Mayor of the village. The center had been renovated and adapted, to accommodate "unaccompanied young migrants". The mayor who has strongly objected to the project expressed his shock and fear for the village following news that the migrants had arrived on Thursday.
Investigation into football match - As an investigation is opened following the interruption of the League 1 match between Nice and Marseille on Wednesday, due to homophic chants from supporters, the mayor of Nice Chrisitan Estrosi has spoken against the decision to interrupt the match. Speaking to the press on Thursday Estrosi said "Homophobia is to be fought everywhere and not only in the stadiums, however unfortunately it’s expressed in a much more violent way on a daily basis without being sufficiently sanctioned and he did not believe that the interruption of the match as well as the ban on travel is necessarily the right sporting decision”. Adding he believed in dialogue and education.
Meanwhile the conclusion of a study carried out on half a million DNA profiles by a group of researchers in Europe and the United States, published today by the prestigious Science journal aims to bury the idea which was born in the 1990s that there is a "gay gene". Scientists say it’s like being short or tall, or more, or less intelligent, loving men or women is not defined by a single gene, but by multiple regions of the genome and, like any complex human character, by elusive non-genetic factors.
Heavy traffic - It's expected to be a very busy few days on the roads this weekend as many head home. Today is classified as a "Red" day in the south of France. It's expected to be very heavy during the day and early evening.
Niçoise through to 3rd round of US open - The Niçoise Fiona Ferro has qualified for the 3rd round of the US Open. In a tense match, initially scheduled for Wednesday, but postponed due to rain, Ferro the 74th player in the world, beat her compatriot Kristina Mladenovic. Today Ferro will face Wang Qiang.
Eric Cantona steals the show in Monaco - Footbally Eric Cantona has stolen the show a the Champions league draw which took place here in Monaco last night. The French legend quoted Shakespeare in a speech that left soccer star vicibly baffled. Cantona was receiving the 2019 UEFA President's Award, moments before the Champions League group draw, in front of an audience that included Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 53-year-old was asked, perhaps unwisely, what was going through his mind. Cantona replied “As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods,” “They kill us for the sport.” He continued: “Soon, science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon science will fix cells to the state and so we will become eternal. Only accidents, crimes, wars will still kill us, but unfortunately, crimes and wars will multiply.” A wide-eyed Ronaldo looked as confused as anyone as Cantona suddenly wrapped up: “I love football. Thank you.”
National
Prison sentence for members of far-right group - A court in southeastern France has sentenced the president of the far-right anti-migrant group Generation Identity, its spokesman and a third person to six months in prison for a spectacle-like expedition in the Alps to stop migrants. Generation Identity president Clement Gandelin, spokesman Romain Espino and Damien Lefevre, who helped organize last year's expedition were also deprived of their civic rights, notably not being able to vote in elections, for five years. The sentences are a huge blow to the group known for high-profile stunts to promote its anti-migrant and anti-Islam agenda, which has spread across Europe in recent years.
Climate investment - In a statement, on the sidelines of the Meeting of entrepreneurs of France it has been announced that some 55 French companies have submitted to the Medef climate investment forecasts, amounting to 73 billion euros over the period from 2020 to 2023. In total, around one hundred companies, representing more than 1,650 billion euros in sales and 6 million jobs worldwide, have reaffirmed "the need to collectively change course by accelerating innovation and research".
Brigitte Macron thanks Brazilians for support - The wife of the President of the Republic, Brigitte Macron, has thanked Brazilians who have supported her, following the offensive comment from their President. She added that she was very touched" by the support expressed by many Brazilians. On his side the Brazilian president removed the comment posted on Facebook, "to avoid a misinterpretation," said his spokesman.
Businesses in Biarritz receive compensation - The French Secretary of State for Economy and Finance Agnès Pannier-Runacher has announced the release of 350 000 euros to compensate businesses in Biarritz whose activity was affected by the G7 summit. The move comes following Emmanuel Macron’s promise on national television on Tuesday that all businesses who suffered a significant loss will be compensated.
Business
The United States and China gave signs on Thursday that they will resume trade talks as the two economic superpowers discussed the next round of in-person negotiations in September ahead of a looming deadline for additional U.S. tariffs. A new round of U.S. tariffs on some Chinese goods is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, threatening to escalate an already bitter trade war. President Donald Trump said some discussions were taking place on Thursday, with more talks scheduled. China’s commerce ministry also said a September round of meetings was being discussed by the two sides, but said it was important for Washington to cancel a tariff increase.
And - Security researchers at Google have found evidence of a “sustained effort” to hack iPhones over a period of at least two years. The attack was said to be carried out using websites which would discreetly implant malicious software to gather contacts, images and other data. Google’s analysis suggested the booby-trapped websites were said to have been visited thousands of times per week.
Sport
Uefa player of the Year - England's Lucy Bronze has been named the Uefa Women's Player of the Year, while Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk took the men's award.
Champion League draw - French team Paris St Germain drew with Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions’ League group stage that took place in Monaco on Thursday evening. Joining PSG in Group A will be Club Brugge and Galatasaray. But current champions Liverpool drew with Naples in Group E just like last season in the group phase, and they will be joined by Red Bull Salzburg, and Genk. Tottenham has drawn to meet Bayern Munich in Champions League B group stage, and Olympiakios and Red Star Belgrade make up the rest of the group. Manchester City heads up Group C, playing with Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta from Italy. Also, from Italy, Juventus was drawn to compete with Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen from Germany and, Lokomotiv Moscow for the group stage. Barcelona, Dortmund, Inter Milan and Slavia Prague will be fighting it out in their group stage. Chelsea to face Ajax in group stage matches with Valencia and Lille. And rounding out the draw, group G consists of Zenit Saint-Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, and RB Leipzig.
Premier League play this weekend – On Saturday Southampton play Manchester United, Crystal Palace face Aston Villa, Leicester play Bournemouth, Manchester City play Brighton, Newcastle play Watford, West Ham play Norwich and Burnley play Liverpool. On Sunday Everton play Wolverhampton and Arsenal play Tottenham.
Formula One - Valtteri Bottas will remain at world champions Mercedes for the 2020 Formula 1 season. Mercedes exercised an option to extend his contract after team boss Toto Wolff decided to retain the Finn rather than promote reserve driver Esteban Ocon.
Tennis - American teenage sensation Coco Gauff is set for an intriguing US Open third-round match against defending champion Naomi Osaka. The 15-year-old, came to prominence at Wimbledon.
Weather
Sunny intervals along the coast showers and possible storms forecast inland this afternoon. Highs of 30 degrees in Nice, Vence, Cannes and Theoule sur Mer. 32 in Saint Tropez and the Var with a moderate south westerly wind. This evening going down to 24 degrees in Nice and 21 degrees in Frejus with clear skies.
The outlook for the weekend clear skies along the coast rain expected inland with highs of 31 degrees. Monday clear skies and feeling slightly cooler with highs of 27 degrees.
Finally
Recent research has suggested that divorcees may be twice as likely to develop dementia.
Scientists from Michigan State University looked at the cognitive function of more than 15,000 people with varying marital statuses.
They found divorcees, particularly men, were more likely to develop the memory-robbing disorder over 14 years than their married counterparts.
The scientists believe 'differing economic resources' and 'health-related behaviours' may be partially to blame. A low income and loneliness are increasingly being linked to dementia.
The social support that comes with marriage, as well as dodging the emotional and financial stress of divorce, has also been linked with better overall health
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