French and Riviera News Monday 9th October 2023

News

Security stepped up in Marseille - Following the attack by Hamas on Israel, France’s interior minister Gérald Darmanin, has announced an increase in security around Jewish places of worship as well as schools, especially in Marseille.  Marseille has the second largest Jewish community in France, with between 70,000 and 80,000. The mayor Benoit Payan who strongly condemn the terrorist attack said that “the city had a duty to protect the Jewish community in Marseille”.

Woman threatened on bus in Toulon - Police have opened an investigation after a woman in her fifties was threatened by a man with a Stanley knife on a bus in Toulon. The incident occurred on Sunday morning shortly before 8am. The bus at the time was nearly empty and the driver failed to notice that anything was wrong. It was only when the man got of the bus that the victim raised the alarm and police later managed to arrest the individual.  

Classroom closed - Eight classes in a primary school in Bandol will be closed this Monday morning, due to part of the ceiling collapsing over the weekend. Lucky it happened when the building was empty. However, the incident is being looked into as “major energy renovation work” was carried out just last summer, at a cost of 200,000 euros.

H.S.H Prince Albert to visit the Roya valley - H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco is to visit the Roya valley today Monday 9th October. The visit, which is part of his regular trips to territories historically linked to his family, will see the Prince unveil a plaque of the “Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco” in the village of Piène-Haute, which is part of the Breil-sur-Roya commune and is in the Alpes-Maritimes region. The Prince will then be welcomed by the people of Olivetta San Michele, a town located just across the border in Italy.

New Sunday paper - A new Sunday paper has gone into circulation in France at the weekend. La Tribune Dimanche went on sale and sees the launch of a paper with a mix of news, regional reporting, culture and lifestyle content. The paper marks the launch of the first new print newspaper in France for 10 years.

Michelin Guide to rate hotels - The world-famous Michelin Guide launched in France in 1900 by brothers André and Edouard Michelin, founders of the tyre company of the same name, is to begin rating hotels using key symbols. The gastronomic bible that awards stars to the best restaurants, wants to create a “trusted reference” to help travellers navigate the large and varied offers of accommodation on the internet by flagging up “establishments offering exceptional hotel and travel experiences”.

Business

Oil prices have jumped by 4% following concerns that the situation in Israel and Gaza could disrupt output from the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark for US oil, rose to more than $86 (£70) a barrel. The price of Brent crude also surged in early Asian trading. The Israel and Palestinian territories are not oil producers. But the Middle Eastern region accounts for almost a third of global supply. A wave of attacks launched by the Hamas militant group on Saturday was the biggest escalation between the two sides for decades. Western nations condemned the attacks.

After a turbulent week last week. Metro Bank has managed to secure capital. The bank has reached an agreement for a £925 million financial package with investors.  Metro had spent the last several days working to secure its financial position. According to published reports, its shares had plunged following news that it was seeking £600 million to strengthen its balance sheet.

Sport

Rugby World Cup – Portugal certainly put on a fine performance in Toulouse on Sunday evening with their first World Cup victory beating Fiji 24-23 but, a losing bonus point was enough to send Fiji into a quarter-final against England. The result also confirmed Australia's exit from the World Cup, making it the first time the Wallabies have ever gone out before the knockout stage. Fiji required only one point from the match to go through to the last eight.

Football - In the Premier League on Sunday Brighton draw 2-2 against Liverpool, West Ham drew 2-2 against Newcastle, Wolves drew 1-1 against Aston Villa and Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0.

Formula One - Max Verstappen has won the Qatar Grand Prix at the weekend as he dominated the race which to begin with saw Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide. The crash caused Hamilton's retirement and dropped Russell to the back of the field, from where he fought back in impressive fashion to finish fourth. McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took second and third after holding position in the final stages.

Cycling - Britain's world champion 24-year-old Tom Pidcock has won the final stage of the Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup series at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec. Pidcock also won the opening race of the season in the Czech Republic, and had a third and fifth-place finish.

Weather

Fine with clear skies and a gentle breeze. Highs of 24 degrees in Monaco and Nice. 25 degrees in Saint-Tropez and 26 degrees in Marseille. This evening going down to 17 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes and 14 degrees in the Var, with clear skies.

The outlook for tomorrow and Wednesday, remaining fine with some cloudy patches tomorrow morning. Highs of 24-25 degrees.

Sunrise       07.36am

Sunset        06.57pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

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