French and Riviera News Tuesday 20th November 2018

Local

Yellow vest movement - As the « yellow vest » movement continues in parts of the country today a final assessment given by the French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has shown that so far one person has died, 528 people have been injured, 17 of them seriously. The movement which started on Saturday continues today targeting some motorway tolls and oil depots. In our region Monday saw disruption at the Antibes and Nice Saint Isidore paytoll on the A8 motorway which remained closed for much of the afternoon eastbound. Demonstrators were also present at other motorway slip roads at Le Muy Sainte Maxime, Frejus and Le Ciotat. The movement has said it will continue until Saturday with protesters being encouraged to stage a demonstration on Saturday at the Place de Concorde in Paris.

Meanwhile the Criminal Court in Grasse has handed a six month suspended sentence and a 3,000 euros fine to a motorist, who struck a police officer, slightly wounding him on Saturday during the yellow vest protests.

Nice Attack - A meeting is to be held in Nice today between several civil parties and the magistrates responsible for investigating the Nice Attack of July 14th 2016, which left 86 dead and more than 450  wounded. The President of the association “Promenade des Anges” said answers are needed after nine people were arrested in connection with the attack of which two have since been released and one committed suicide in prison. 

Tribute to schoolboy from Beausoleil - Hundreds of people have gathered on the bridge of the Grima Valley, to pay tribute to Gonçalo, the 11-year-old schoolboy who killed himself last week. Gonçalo jumped from the bridge in Beausoleil on November 15th after leaving his college following two hours of detention. Questions are being asked as to what led to such a tragic end, as other students and parents showed their solidarity on Monday afternoon.

Hit and run - Police in Nice have appealed for any witnesses to come forward after three cyclists were hit by a motorist on the Boulevard Gambetta in Nice on Monday afternoon shortly before 3.30pm. The motorist fled the scene leaving the two parents seriously injured and their child in a state of shock.

AIDS - Nice is to take part in a global network founded by the UN in an attempt to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region is the 2nd region of France most affected by the virus after the Capital. Ahead of World AIDS day on December 1st the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi signed a declaration on Monday making Nice part of the “Fast Track Cities” which is a network of cities which are most committed to the fight against AIDS. A charity race "Let's run in Nice against AIDS" is to take place for 1 hour on the Promenade du Paillon with all funds raised being used to finance local projects throughout the Alpes-Maritimes.

Christmas collection - OGC Nice and the association ABI 06 have launched a collection of clothes for Christmas. Donations can be made directly at the entrance of the Stadium Allianz Riviera this Sunday the 25th November from 2pm.  Abi 06 was created 20 years ago to manage donations - especially clothing and footwear to help people in difficulty.

National

Football leaks - French prosecutors have opened an investigation into alleged racial discrimination at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after a news website reported the club's scouts had listed the ethnic origins of young recruits. The alleged practice at the reigning French champions was first revealed by investigative website Mediapart. Documenting information on racial or ethnic origins is illegal in France.

Foreign students - France has announced plans to simplify visa procedures, reform tuition fees and boost English courses at French universities in an effort to more than double the number of foreign students over the next decade. Unveiling the new measures on Monday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said increasing the number of foreigners studying in the country would help build French influence overseas. The number of foreign students at French universities fell by 8.5 percent between 2011 and 2016 and the country has seen increased competition from Germany, Russia, Canada and China.

Business

Shares in Nissan and Mitsubishi have slumped in Tokyo trading following the arrest of company chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Mr Ghosn,who’s also the chairman of Renault is accused of under reporting his income by 44.4 million dollars over five years.

Prosecutors say that he also used company assets for personal uses.

Shares in Nissan fell by 4 percent on the news with shares in Mitsubishi down 7 percent.

In Europe on Monday,Renault shares fell by 8 percent.

In a press conference on Monday night,Nissan said that an internal investigation had revealed “significant acts of misconduct”.Mr Ghosn is expected to be removed as chairman.The board of Renault is also to meet to discuss his future.

 

The value of the crypto-currency Bitcoin has fallen below 5,000 dollars for the first time since October 2017.

The fall means that the total value of all  Bitcoin in existence is below 87 billion dollars.

Last week,Bitcoin Cash-an offshoot from the main currency split into two,creating competition in the market.

At its peak in November last year,Bitcoin briefly hit 19,783 dollars meaning that the price has fallen by around three quarters.

 

And-Fairfax Media of Australia has won shareholder approval to merge with the television network 9 Entertainment in a massive shakeup of the country’s media industry.

The deal became possible after Australia relaxed its media ownership laws last year.

The new business will be called Nine,meaning that the Fairfax name will disappear.

The deal will wrap 9’s television network with Fairfax newspapers which include the Sydney Morning Herald,The Melbourne Age and The Australian Financial Review.

Sport

Football-The Netherlands are through to the semi-finals of the Uefa Nations League after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in their final Group A 1 game last night.

The result means that World Champions France don’t make it through to the final’s in Portugal next summer where The Netherlands will now play England and the hosts will face Switzerland.

Also last night Denmark and the Republic of Ireland drew 0-0.The Republic had already been relegated from Group B4.

Scotland play Israel in Group C1 tonight  and will be guaranteed a Euro 2020 playoff place if they win.

Formula 1-Hopes are growing that a Dutch Grand Prix will be reinstated on the back of the popularity of the country’s favourite driver Max Verstappen.

The race was last held at Zandvoort in 1985 but could be back on the calendar in 2020.

Formula 1’s commercial managing director Sean Bratches says that he’s “very interested” in re-establishing the event.

Rugby Union-England have dropped scrum-half Danny Care from the squad for the final autumn international against Australia at Twickenham next Saturday.

Coach Eddie Jones says that he “wasn’t happy” with some aspects of Care’s play last weekend against Japan and that he can “go back to his club and work on it”.

Winger Chris Ashton has had a scan on a calf injury but it doesn’t appear to be too serious while Manu Tuilagi and Piers Francis are included in the squad.

The Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien could be back in action before the 6 Nations after being ruled out for 6-12 weeks with a broken arm.

O’Brien sustained the injury in Ireland’s win over Argentina on the 10th of November.

His club Leinster say that he’s undergone surgery  and could be back in training in January.

Weather

Partially cloudy with moderate easterly winds and a high of 14 degrees Celsius.

Clouding over this evening with rain tonight and a low of 10 degrees.

Wednesday and Thursday-Rain tomorrow with a high of 13 degrees-mainly fine on Thursday with a high of 16.

Finally 

A recent study has warned that watching television for hours on end each day is bad for your health and can even lead to an early death.

The study linked long spells in front of the TV to habits like smoking, drinking and bad diet as well a higher threat of heart disease.

The research by the University of Glasgow examined the health of people aged 40 to 69, checking how many watched television for four hours or more a day. 

This was classed as ‘high’ and such viewers were highly likely to be watching daytime or late-night TV.

Those with the most healthy lifestyles viewed their set for 2.2 hours a day while 2.9 hours was moderately healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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