Local
Hiker killed in fall in the Var - A hiker has died following a fall on the coastal past between Bandol and Saint-Cyr in the Var. The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon shortly after 3pm. The 20 year old female victim did not survive the fall despite the intervention of emergency services.
Man shot in Marseille - A 21-year-old man has died from his injuries after being shot while at the wheel of his vehicle in Marseille. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon. Police and emergency services intervened shortly after 2pm following the gunfire to find the victim suffering from several bullet wounds. He was immediately taken to hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries. Police have launched an investigation but for the moment, believe it is not drugs related.
Local businesses in old Nice launch a petition - Local businesses in old Nice have launched an online petition following an announcement by the town hall that the municipal showers are to be relocated to a busy shopping street in the old town. Launched two days ago by shop and restaurant owners, the online petition STOP to the construction of municipal showers in old Nice on rue Halles aux Herbes has already gathered 116 signatures and is being widely talked about in the old town. The planned move would see the shower facilities moved to a busy shopping area popular with both the Niçois and tourists, with locals fearing a negative impact on the area.
Campaign launched by board of transport in Cannes - A campaign launched by the board of transport in Cannes entitled “I behave well you behave well” has shown positive results in the region. The transport authority of the Cannes Lerins Palmbus decided to address the younger generation during school time to encourage students to behave correctly on public transport including giving priority to elderly people. The campaign, which has already included a training period at the Capron College in Cannes has already seen a drop of 15% in uncivil behaviour over the last two years.
Road closure due to environmental campaign by students - On the region’s roads, motorists have been reminded that due to an environmental campaign the Paillon dual carriageway between La Pointe de Contes and the roundabout of Cantaron will be closed today from 9am to 4pm. Several schools in the area from Contes, L’Escarène, Nice l’Ariane and Drap are collecting rubbish in the area as part of their awareness campaign on the impact of litter on the environment.
The usual monthly public siren alert test will take place today - The monthly public siren test which is normally carried out on the first Wednesday of the month will take place today at 12.15 in several towns of the Alpes Maritmes. Areas affected by the change in time include Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Grasse
The palace goes green - His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco has this week overseen the installation of a new protocol to replace the use of fuel in the boilers of the Palace with rapeseed oil, renewable and organic. The move is a significant and unique step to reduce the energy needs footprint. The company Romano Energy took charge of the transition choosing the biofuel to supply existing boilers.
Bonnard painting returns to France - A crowdfunding launched by the Bonnard Museum in Le Cannet has successfully raised enough money to see the return of one of the artist’s masterpieces entitled “Nu orange”. 53,000 euros were collected, enough for the acquisition and restoration of the painting. In total 360 people made donations in 50 days. The painting will be unveiled at this year’s summer exhibition of works by Bonnard and Picasso.
National
May 1st - Clashes have broken out between police and protesters as "yellow vest" demonstrators and labour unions held a traditional May Day rally in Paris. Dozens of people were injured and more than 300 arrested. Some protesters smashed shop windows and threw projectiles at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.
About 38 people were wounded, including 14 officers - one of whom was hit in the head with a paving stone. The clashes forced the head of the CGT union, Philippê Martinez, to temporarily flee the march, and the group said their leader had been tear-gassed. France's interior ministry said more than 150,000 demonstrators had taken to the streets around the country, and at least 16,000 in the capital - a significant increase on last year's estimates.
Le Pen claims that Notre Dame fire was deliberate - The former president of the National Front party Jean-Marie Le Pen has claimed that the fire of Notre-Dame de Paris was "criminal". Le Pen made the claims while paying his traditional May 1st tribute to Joan of Arc in Paris on Wednesday.
Airbnb - The European Union's highest court has rejected a case filed by hotels in France against Airbnb arguing that the home rental site should be subject to the same strict rules governing French estate agents. Airbnb has denied acting as a real estate agent, and the court agreed. The court said that Airbnb should be treated as a digital service provider and a member state cannot restrict its free movement. Airbnb welcomed the opinion, saying it gave "a clear overview of what rules apply". France is Airbnb's second-largest market after the United States. Paris is its biggest single market, with around 65,000 listings.
Business
The US Federal Reserve has left interest rates on hold despite pressure from President Trump to make a cut.
At the end of its two day policy meeting in Washington , the Fed said that it would keep borrowing costs at between 2.25 and 2.5 percent.
The Fed made the decision despite comments from Mr Trump that the central bank should cut rates by 1 percent to help the US economy “go up like a rocket”.
Earlier this year ,the Fed indicated that it would not change rates for the rest of 2019.
Fed chairman Jerome Powell said that the central bank said that “we are a non-political institution and that means that we don’t think about short-term political considerations”.
He said that a “patient approach” would be maintained to rates and that economic activity had risen at “a solid rate” but that “growth of household spending and business fixed investment slowed in the first quarter”.
Apple’s upbeat forecast for the third quarter has pushed the firm’s market value back up towards the 1 trillion dollar mark.
Shares in Apple rose by 5 percent on Wednesday as investors appeared to be soothed by the firm’s forecast as well as falling sales of iPhones.
Apple first broke through the 1 trillion dollar valuation mark last August but it fell back as signs emerged of weak demand for its newest iPhone especially in China ,the world’s largest smartphone market.
21 analysts are recommending buying Apple stock while 18 are neutral and 2 advise selling according to the latest data published on Wednesday.
And-The UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has said that its failed attempt to merge with rival Asda has cost it 45 million pounds.
A proposed merger between the two firms was blocked last month by the UK competition watchdog over concerns that it would raise prices for consumers.
Sainsbury’s said that like-for-like sales growth slowed in the 4th quarter especially over the Christmas period.
It added that it would be accelerating investment in its stores and in technology.
4th quarter sales fell by 0.9 percent and by 1.1 percent over Christmas.
Sport
Football-Lionel Messi scored twice last night as Barcelona took control of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool with a 3-0 victory in the first leg.
Suarez gave the Catalan giants the lead on 26 minutes and although Liverpool came back into the game ,they were sunk by two Messi second half goals which will give them a mountain to climb in the return leg at Anfield.
The two Europa League semi-finals are being played tonight.Arsenal host Valencia and Eintraacht Frankfurt play Chelsea.
Derby County will have to wait until the final day of the English Championship season to find out if they’ve made the playoffs.
Derby drew 1-1 at Swansea last night and if they win their final game against West Brom on Sunday then they will be sure of a playoff berth.
However a draw or a defeat could let either Middlesbrough or Bristol City in if they win their final games.
Middlesbrough visit Rotherham United and Bristol City are away at Hull.
Tennis-Justin Gimelstob has resigned from the ATP board after being convicted of assault.
The 42 year old former player was given 3 years probation and 60 days community service after pleading “no contest” to a battery charge.
There had been widespread calls for the ATP to act and on Wednesday Gimelstob said that “given the current climate , he did not deserve to be in a position of influence”.
Athletics-Athletics South Africa says that it’s “reeling in shock” after the Olympic 800 meters champion Caster Semenya lost a landmark case against the IAAF.
The 28 year old had challenged new IAAF rules which attempt to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.
The IAAF says that athletes with differences of sexual development must now take medication to compete in some track events or change to another distance.
Athletics South Africa says that the decision by the Court for Arbitration of Sport “goes to lengths to justify” discrimination.
Weather
Sunshine and showers with the chance of some thunder inland.
Moderate south westerly winds and a high of 19 degrees Celsius.
Overnight lows of 13 degrees on the coast and 10 degrees inland with clear skies.
Friday and the start of the weekend-Sunshine and occasional showers.Highs of 16-19 degrees.
Finally
Buskers in London could face £1,000 fines if they fail to play different music, because they are making residents' lives a 'misery' with their repetitive tunes.
Kensington and Chelsea Council could be set to introduce a stringent set of new rules to street artists, limiting them to a 45-minute time limit on performances and demanding they play a 'full and varied repertoire'.
Buskers will be told to avoid 'excessive repetition' and could be restricted to certain zones within the borough.
The proposals, which look set to be given the green light at a council meeting on Wednesday come amid a wave of complaints from business owners and residents.
The council says it receives more than 1,200 complaints about noise each year from stricken residents in the well-heeled London borough.
The rules would apply to buskers in tourist hotspots including Notting Hill and Portobello Road, around the museums in South Kensington, Westminster and Kensington High Street.
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A judge has authorised a dive to inspect the wreckage of a plane in the sea off Antibes. The plane crashed into the Mediterranean on September 11 1968...
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In France, drinking water is heavily contaminated with "forever pollutants," particularly trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), as revealed by two studies from ...
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The trial of the Tunisian man accused of the murder of three people in the Nice Basilica attack is continuing in Paris. Yesterday the families of the ...
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Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." ...
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