National News
French President prepares to welcome world leaders - French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key venues before they open, in order to both ramp up France’s global image and appeal to French people who are sceptical about the cost and impact of the games. At the volleyball arena, he recorded a video of himself wishing the world a “great games”, then posted a photo of the picturesque backdrop saying soon France would understand that these games were “worth it”.
Dancers for opening ceremony lift strike notice - Meanwhile, dancers taking part in the opening ceremony have lifted their strike notice after receiving a “final proposal” from the organizers. The SFA-CGT union, representing performing artists, lifted, on Wednesday July 24th, the dancers' strike notice for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games on Friday, after having obtained a partial "victory" on its demands concerning renumeration and broadcasting rights.
Local
Residents gather to pay tribute - Residents of the Moulins neighbourhood in Nice have paid tribute to the seven victims of last week’s tragic arson attack. Gathering on Wednesday afternoon in front of the Saint-Monique Church people brandished signs saying “Punishment has no colour, no religion” and “Stop violence, squats and insecurity” in a moving farewell to the victims.
Car crashes onto the pavement in Antibes following altercation between two individuals - Two people have escaped with just minor injuries after a car crashed onto the pavement in Antibes. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at around 3.30pm when, during an altercation between the driver and a pedestrian, the vehicle accelerated crashing into a barrier on a pavement in the city centre. The two people involved in the accident escaped with minor injuries and fortunately, the car did not hit any pedestrians. Polce are investigation the incident.
Racist graffiti flourishing in the Var, but no complaints filed - Racist graffiti is flourishing along roadsides in the Var region. In recent weeks and following a clear victory for the far-right National Rally in the region after the recent parliamentary elections, signposts as well of bus stops have fallen victim to acts of vandalism, but not one complaint has been filed according to the public prosecutor’s office of Draguignan. When asked by local media the national gendarmerie explained that it had not noted any problem during patrols carried out on the roads in the area.
Four out of ten companies created in France in 2022 were created by women - According to a study published by INSEE four out of ten companies created in France in 2022 were created by women. However, women remain less inclined than men to create their own company, even though they represent almost half of the active population. Women’s proportion amongst business creators increases, from 32% in 2010 to 40% in 2022 with the share of women among business creators varying depending on the sector of activity. They represent a majority in service activities (75% of creators) and in human health and social action (73%) but remain largely under-represented in construction (4% female creators) and transport-warehousing (11%). More than half of creators launched their business without any financial means or with an investment of less than 1,000 euros. In addition, in 2022 as in 2018, six out of ten business creators are under 40 years old.
Monaco says goodbye to Eugénie Allavena - A well respected and much-loved figure of the Principality has sadly left us. Eugénie Allavena has died at the age of 91, six years after the death of her husband Lucien. Allavena died in the company of her children. A descendant of the Barone Family of builders she was considered one of the pillars of Radio Monte-Carlo. From the generation of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace she was one of those people who, as a family, modestly shaped the reputation and prosperity of the Principality in the 20th century. An active woman committed to her community. Arriving in Monaco in 1860, the day after the County of Nice was annexed to France, the Barone brothers, whose company name had been Frenchified to "Baron Frères" - as was often the procedure at the time - , went on to participate in the development of the Moneghetti district first, but also that of "Monte-Carlo Supérieur", future Beausoleil, after its detachment from the commune of La Turbie in 1904. Builders of Piedmontese origin they participated in the real estate development of the Principality until the early 1970s. In 1957, Eugénie Allavena met the man of her life, Lucien, at the Radio Monte-Carlo station, indeed the figure of Radio Monte Carlo who spent his entire career there. They went on to get married in the town hall of Monaco on July 27th, 1959 and celebrated their Golden Wedding there in 2009. Riviera Radio sends its most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Eugénie Allavena, whose funeral will be celebrated this Friday at the Sainte-Dévote church.
White rhinoceros born at a zoo in Montpellier - A white rhinoceros has been born at the Montpellier Zoo, a first for the animal park. An endangered species, the birth was eagerly awaited by the mayor of the city. Important work has been carried out since the end 2022 to transform the enclosure and improve the animals' quality of life", including a "dedicated space for giving birth". Modern rhinos have roamed the planet for 26 million years, and it is estimated that more than a million of them were still living in the wild in the mid-19th century. They have very few natural predators but have been decimated by poaching since the 1970s. South Africa is home to nearly 80% of the world's white rhino population, estimated today at fewer than 13,000.
American actress Ashley Benson spotting enjoying the region - Finally, the American actress Ashley Benson has been spotted in Ramatuelle in the Var enjoying a stroll with her baby and husband. The actress who starred in the series Pretty Little Liars, was seen holidaying in the region and leaving the famous Club 55 restaurant and private beach in Ramatuelle. Ashley Benson is married to Brandon Davis, grandson of American billionaire and oil tycoon Marvin Davis. The two married in October 2023 and announced the birth of their first child in February 2024, a daughter named Aspen.
Business
A tanker carrying close to 1.5 million litres of industrial fuel has capsized off the Philippine capital causing an oil spill. Sixteen crew members of the Philippine-flagged vessel have been rescued while one remains missing. Official reported the incident this Thursday saying that an oil spill had been detected but strong winds and high waves were hampering the authorities' response.
Amazon Prime Video has announced the purchase of a UK film studio. Bray Studios in Berkshire has been creating films for more than 70 years and the US-based company Amazon Prime has been filming there since 2022. Amazon will become a more permanent feature in the area and provide a boost to the local economy.
And – The cybersecurity company behind the global IT outage last Friday has promised to improve its software tests. CrowdStrike’s mistake resulted in problems for banks, hospitals and airlines as millions of PCs displayed "blue screens of death". In a detailed review of the incident published on Wednesday, CrowdStrike said there was a "bug" in a system designed to ensure software updates work properly. The review comes as the company faces a backlash for giving $10 Uber Eats vouchers to the "teammates and partners" who dealt with the crisis.
Sport
Olympic Games – France’s Antoine Dupont made a dramatic entrance at the Paris Olympics with a stunning solo try taking France into the quarter finals of the men’s rugby sevens on Wednesday. France beat the Uruguay 19-12. While the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics does not take place until Friday, rugby sevens was chosen as one of the curtain-raising events to get the party started in the French capital. And Ireland have joined the hosts in the last eight after winning both of their Pool A matches on the first day of Games action. Ireland will today play New Zealand in the day’s final pool game kick off is at 4.30pm French time.
In men’s football hosts France beat the United States 3-0 while Argentina lost 2-1 to Morrocco in a match that the Argentinian coach described a "disgrace" and "a circus". Crowd trouble forced the first football match of Paris 2024to be suspended for nearly two hours, with the game eventually completed in an empty stadium.
In the Women’s football today in Group A Canada play New Zealand, France face Colombia. In Group B Germany play Australia, the United States play Zambia and in Group C Spain play Japan and Nigeria face Brazil.
Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis. Sinner had struggled with illness during his Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Daniil Medvedev earlier in July. The tennis tournament takes place from 27 July to 4 August.
Finally, competitions in Handball, Archery and Artistic gymnastics are also taking place today as part of the Paris Olympics.
Football – The European governing body Uefa has sanctioned seven of the 24 competing countries at Euro 2024 because of racist or discriminatory behaviour by their fans. The Serbian, Croatian, Romanian, Slovenian, Austrian, Hungarian and Albanian Football Associations have all been sanctioned.
Weather
Mainly fine highs of 29 degrees in Nice and Monaco, 31 degrees in Toulon and Marseille, 33 degrees in Saint Tropez. Gentle to moderate winds. This evening going down to 25 degrees along the coast and 20 degrees inland with clear skies.
The outlook for Friday and heading into the weekend. Fine with highs of 35 degrees. Thundery showers are forecast inland in the Alpes Maritimes by Sunday evening.
Sunrise 06.12am
Sunset 09.00pm
Beach weather
Sea temperature Nice 26°
UV level 8
Air temperature 28° feel like 36° gentle breeze.
Weather elsewhere
Paris 26° sunny intervals.
Brussel 25° light rain.
London 24° sunny intervals.
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