News
Greenhouse gas emission fell by 2.5% in France last year - Figures published on Monday have shown that greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.5% in France last year. Emissions for 2022 were estimated at 408 million tonnes of CO2 which is 10 million tonnes less than the previous year. While the trend is down it is still not in line with the reduction necessary for France to meet its objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. France has committed to reducing its emissions by 40% by 2030, a ambition which must be reinforced to take account of new European objectives (-55%). According to the High Council for the Climate (HCC), to achieve these objectives, the country should double the rate of reduction in its emissions to around 16 million tonnes of CO2 per year from 2022 to 2030.
Warning issued for consuming eggs collected south of Lyon - The prefecture of the Rhône has issued a warning to the public about consuming eggs collected near chemical factories south of Lyon, which are reported to show levels of pollutants eight to sixteen times higher than the regulated levels. Operations in private chicken farms in four municipalities south of Lyon have shown that 26 samples out of the 30 taken" have "values which exceed" the thresholds set by European regulations. The results have led to the prefecture to maintaining "recommendations" to not consume eggs and "meat from poultry from henhouses belonging to individuals" in these four municipalities. The measure will also be extended to eleven other neighbouring municipalities, as well as to two districts of Lyon.
Walk to collect rubbish - A total of 15 kg of rubbish has been collected in the streets of Monaco and France. On Monday, thirty schoolchildren from the principality and Beausoleil (Alpes-Maritimes) walked to La Turbie having met at 9am in front of the Prince's Palace of Monaco. Led by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and former and current Monegasque Olympic athletes, everyone was equipped with protective gear and large bags. This year’s edition marked the walks second anniversary. The event was organised on the initiative of former Olympic athlete Jérémy Bottin.
Seasonal rental scam - A seasonal rental scam in the Var has claimed dozens of victims. Nearly fifty people were victims of the seasonal rental offers in Saint-Raphaël and in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Two men from Lyon have since been arrested in Fréjus and are due to appear before the Criminal Court of Draguignan. The individuals are suspected of having participated in a scam based on the publication on the Internet of false offers of seasonal rentals. The complaints filed by five victims said they realized that the apartment they thought they had rented for a holiday in Saint-Raphaël was just a decoy. Arriving to find the door closed and having to find a last-minute solution. The total damage from the scam reportedly amounts to several tens of thousands of euros.
Frost - Meteo France has warned of ground frost from today Tuesday 4th April through until Thursday. The local frost will concern the Var and the Alpes Maritimes from the north to the massif central and the Mediterranean hinterland. Temperatures are expected to drop to -6 degrees tomorrow and from today, lows of -4 degrees to 0 degrees are expected in the hinterland. Last year, the beginning of April was marked by three consecutive days of intense frost, causing numerous agricultural losses which led the then Prime Minister Jean Castex releasing an emergency an aid fund of 20 million euros.
Towards infinity and beyond - Towards infinity and beyond in Cannes as Thales Alenia Space is preparing to launch a European satellite that will seek “a second Earth in the Universe. The satellite of the European Space Agency will attempt, from 2026, to discover “habitable” exoplanets in our galaxy, or beyond. For more than thirty years, the observations of exoplanets (5,346 identified to date) has led scientists to imagine that no, we would indeed not be alone in the Universe.
Cannes Film Festival - Organizers of the Cannes Film Festival have confirmed that actor Harrison Ford will be launching the world premiere of the fifth instalment of Indiana Jones at the festival in May. The 80-year-old actor will also receive an honorary award for his career. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is set for a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 18 May. It will be released in theatres on 28 June in France and 30 June in the United States.
Business
The electric carmaker Tesla has been ordered to pay almost £2.6m to a former employee after he won a racial harassment lawsuit dating back to 2015. A federal jury found that lift operator Owen Diaz, had been subjected to a racially hostile work environment. However, the payment has been slashed by 98% from the $137m that he was originally awarded in 2021. A judge ruled last year that the initial amount was excessive. On Monday, Mr Diaz was awarded $3m in punitive damages and $175,000 in damages for emotional distress.
McDonald's is temporarily closing its US offices this week ahead of an expected announcement on corporate job cuts. The fast-food chain had told US and some international staff to work from home so it can deliver decisions on jobs virtually. The company has declined to comment on how many posts are affected. The cuts are part of a wider company reorganisation it announced in January.
King Charles' portrait will appear on all standard Royal Mail stamps from now, but stock of those featuring the late Queen will be sold first. The change in the monarch's portrait comes the day after the prices of first and second class stamps went up. On Monday, the cost of a first class stamp went up by 15p to £1.10, while second class stamps rose by 7p to 75p. Presentation packs of the new design featuring the King's head, which is without a crown, are now on sale.
Sport
Football – It was a Premier League draw for Everton against Tottenham ending 1-1. In a game that saw both sides finish with 10 men. In this evening’s Premier League action with a 8.45pm kick off French time, Bournemouth are at home to Brighton, Leeds play Nottingham Forest, Leicester City play Aston Villa and at 9pm French time Chelsea are at home to Liverpool.
Rugby Union - Ulster and Ireland back row Jordi Murphy has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season. The 31-year-old joined Ulster in 2018 after coming through Leinster's academy. Murphy won three Six Nations titles and scored a famous try in Ireland's first-ever win over New Zealand in 2016.
Formula One - Australian Grand Prix organisers have promised to investigate after fans invaded the track before Sunday's race had officially finished. Footage showed a "large group" of the 131,000-strong crowd squeezing through barriers and climbing fences just metres from speeding cars. The sport's governing body, the FIA, said the incident was a serious breach of the sporting code.
Weather
Mainly fine, showers are forecast for this afternoon with a moderate breeze. Highs of 16 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Cannes. 12 degrees in Tende. 15 degrees in Saint-Tropez with cloud and showers forecast inland in the Var. This evening going down to 9 degrees.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday. Tomorrow similar to today with sunny spells in the morning and rain forecast for the afternoon. Feeling cooler due to ground frost forecast with highs of 14 degrees. Thursday fine with highs of between 15-16 degrees.
Sunrise 07.07am
Sunset 08.00pm
The owners of a vast floating artificial island that had been planned for last summer off the coast of Mandelieu have won a legal battle to be allowed...
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The Monegasque State has successfully conducted its first national voluntary surrender operation, with 123 firearms being handed over by private indiv...
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A hospital in Cannes has had to postpone all non-urgent consultations and operations after falling victim to a cyberattack....
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Potential presence of broken glass in pizzas. A recall has been issued for several pizzas distributed by Auchan Avallon in France due to the potential...
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The Riviera's ski resorts are celebrating a record winter season.
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