National News
Paris Olympic Games - 250,000 tickets for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will go on sale on April 17th. If you failed to get your hands on a ticket last time, now is your chance, although you’ll have to be quick given the speed at which the tickets went during the last sales session. Amongst the tickets are 10,000 to attend the artistic gymnastics, 15,000 for swimming, 12,000 for table tennis, 35,000 for beach volleyball and 12,000 for tennis. Nearly 50% of the tickets will cost less than 100 euros according to the organizers.
Petrol prices on the rise - Petrol prices are on the rise again due to the geopolitical tensions which are shaking oil prices. After a significant drop in prices in the last quarter of 2023 petrol is reaching new highs for motorists in France but have not yet reached the historic prices of February and March of 2022. According to latest data published by the French government in the last four months, the price of unleaded 98 reached 1.98 euros per litre, compared to 1.85 at the beginning of January. Unleaded 95-E10 reached 1.90 euros, an increase of 13 cents. Unleaded 95 experienced a similar rebound, reaching 1.93 euros. As for diesel, it stands at 1.79 euros per litre, compared to 1.73 at the start of the year.
Fatal stabbing in Bordeaux – In other news, a man has died, and another has been hospitalized in a critical condition following a knife attack in the city centre of Bordeaux. The incident occurred at around 7.50pm on Wednesday evening. Following a rapid police intervention the attacker was killed by police. The exact circumstances remain to be determined but so far police believe the fatal stabbing was following an altercation and not related to a terrorist attack. France is currently on a high security alert and was particularly cautious on Wednesday after Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that he had "considerably strengthened security" around the Champions League quarter-final match at the Parc des Princes in southwest Paris”, due to an online threat to European sporting events which had been "publicly expressed" by IS.
Local News
Tourism on the rise in the region - Latest figures have shown a rise in tourism for the French Riviera. Figures published on Wednesday showed a 69.2% occupancy rate for March 2024, marking a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
Warm weather - A peak in temperatures is expected in mainland France from today Thursday 11th April, through until Sunday. Temperatures will rise in the coming days according to Météo-France. The heat is expected to last longer in the South than in the North where there will be a drop in temperatures from Sunday. 25 degrees is expected in Brittany, Paris and Alsace.
Cannes announces new competition section dedicated to immersive cinema - This year’s Cannes Film Festival has announced that it is launching a new competition section dedicated to immersive cinema. In line with the festivals commitment to exploring new technologies and art forms through its innovative focused programmes a new Immersive competition will be launched for its upcoming 77th edition. It was the Venice Film Festival in 2017 which became the first major festival to launch a competitive section dedicated to immersive cinema called Venice VR. The upcoming 77th edition of Cannes runs from May 15th to the 24th and the festival’s main competition will be announced today Thursday 11th April.
Clean up campaign - Finally, the famous litter-picking event is back! Children, adults, families, and friends are all welcome this Saturday 13th April for the clean-up campaign on the Le Petite Afrique beach of Beaulieu sur mer from 9am to midday. Registration required at nettoyons.maregionsud.fr
Business
The attempt to slow inflation in the US appears to have stalled after latest figures showed that consumer prices rose faster than expected last month. The US Labor Department said that prices rose 3.5% over the 12 months to March, up from 3.2% in February. The increase was driven by higher costs for fuel, housing, dining out and clothing. Analysts have warned that failure to curb price rises will force the US central bank to keep interest rates higher for longer.
Meanwhile in France the French Finance Minister Bruno Le Marie announced on Wednesday that the government forecasts a deficit of 5.1% of GDP in 2024, instead of predicted 4.4%. Public deficit in France had already seriously slipped to 5.5% in 2023, mainly due to lower revenue than expected. The French government is now banking on “an ongoing reform agenda without increasing household taxes, according to promises Bruno Le Maire.
The main air traffic controller’s union in France has threatened strike action on April the 25th. The SNCTA has denounced the restructuring of air navigation services calling it "unacceptable". The organization which represents 60% of the votes among controllers refused on Wednesday afternoon to participate in a meeting called “urgently” by the DGAC. The negotiations, which began 15 months ago, plan to overhaul the organization of air traffic control in France, in particular the territorial coverage of air navigation services, to reorganize the workload for controllers with an increase in air traffic in return for better pay and an increase in staff.
Sport
Football – It was a disappointing night for PSG on Wednesday, after they lost 2-3 to Barcelona in the quarter finals of the Champions League. Security in and around the stadium was stepped up ahead of the match to reassure the public amid warnings that the Islamic State group might be planning to attack European football events. Both teams will meet again in the return match next Tuesday 16th April.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid managed to hold off a late comeback from Borussia Dortmund beating them 2-1 after the first leg of their Champions League quarter final.
In other football news Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp says he hopes "nothing gets between us and the supporters" amid a fan protest about the club's ticket price rise. it follows the club raising the price of season tickets and members' tickets by 2% for next season.
Golf – The start of the Masters looks set to be disrupted by bad weather today, with thunderstorms forecast to hit Augusta. In response to the weather forecast, Augusta National said in a statement that there will be a delay to the opening of spectator gates and that tournament organisers will issue a further update.
ROLEX MONTE CARLO TENNIS MASTER REPORT FROM BANQUE HAVILLAND
Tensions were rising at the Monte Carlo Masters after Russia’s 28-year-old, Daniil Medvedev was asked by the umpire not to shout at a line judge during his 6-2 6-4 win over Gael Monfils on Wednesday. Medvedev was leading 6-2 1-2 when he became angry and disagreed with two calls and shouted at the official.
In other action second seed Jannik Sinner is through to the last 16. The Australian Open champion beat American Sebastian Korda in straight sets - 6-1 6-2. Today he will play unseeded German player Jan-Lennard Struff. Meanwhile, Frenchman Ugo Humbert will face Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the third round today.
Weather
Sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 19 degrees in Nice, 20 degrees in Monaco, 21 degrees in Menton and 22 degrees in Tende. This evening going down to 12 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for Friday and heading into the weekend. Fine and sunny with light winds and high of 22 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes and the Var. Reaching highs of 25 degrees in Marseille.
Sunrise 06.53am
Sunset 08.09pm
Sea temperature
Toulon 15.01°
Weather elsewhere
Copehagen 14° cloudy.
Miami 32° sunny intervals.
Cardiff 15° rain.
Authorities have recalled batches of organic flour in western France due to cases of poisoning caused by datura, a plant that can cause hallucinations...
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The Menton campus of Sciences-Po university has been closed until further notice after students occupied the site in a pro-Palestinian protest against...
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The 29-year-old arsonist of Cimiez in Nice was found guilty of deliberately setting fire to thirteen vehicles in March. Arrested on 2 April, he was br...
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Parents on the Riviera are being urged to make sure that they, and their children, are up-to-date with their vaccinations, after a three-week-old baby...
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Bordeaux, France's largest AOC vineyard, is tackling a crisis in the wine industry by grubbing up 8,000 hectares of vines by 31 May, with up to 1,500 ...
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