Riviera Radio News - Wednesday, April 19th

Local News

More Demonstrations Planned - Despite the recent validation of the retirement reform law, the CGT has called on two new demonstrations, scheduled for tomorrow, April 20th and May 1st. Protests are planned tomorrow at 10am in Nice at the Place Massena. The CGT is also warning of potential future attacks on the 35 hour work week, paid leave and social security.

Mayor Of Toulon Appeals - Hubert Falco, the mayor of Toulon, has finally broken his silence and decided to appeal his conviction and defend his honour. He was sentenced by the Marseille Criminal Court to three years of suspended imprisonment and five years of ineligibility for complicity in embezzlement of public funds. M. Falco has received support from "thousands of Toulonnais and Varois" since his conviction.

Immigration Negotiations - Negotiations are underway between French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and local MP Eric Ciotti regarding changes to the immigration law. M. Ciotti is calling for a "paradigm shift" on immigration and expects "precise and bold proposals" from M. Darmanin. In particular, M. Ciotti is pushing for a strong law to combat irregular immigration and strict adherence to French secularism, including banning the wearing of veils for school outings and minors. He is also suggesting potential reforms to the nationality code and asylum process. M. Ciotti is warning that some of these changes may require constitutional reforms and referendums for approval.

Renovation of holding cells - The holding cells at the Auvare barracks in Nice are now set for urgent renovation following concerns raised over the inhumane conditions. The administrative court has ordered the Minister of the Interior to carry out the repairs within three months or risk facing a daily fine of €250.

Exam controversy - A controversy has arisen in Nice after it was revealed that Anthony Borré, the deputy to Christian Estrosi, was granted an exemption required to pass the bar exam. The exemption was approved by the bar council, however, the decision has been challenged by Maître Henri-Charles Lambert, a former lawyer for Jacques Médecin, claiming that there are conflicts of interest between some members of the council and the deputy mayor of Nice. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the bar council's decision-making process and the potential influence of political connections. A source close to the city has suggested that this may be a politically motivated attack by enemies of Christian Estrosi.

New health centre in Biot - The municipal council of Biot has approved the sale of three communal plots of land along la Route de la Mer. The long-awaited project will house a health centre, bringing together doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratories, physiotherapists, and offices. Previously, the former council had granted two building permits for a total of 72 homes, 69 of which were social housing. However, the new mayor negotiated with the developers and scrapped the housing project, which was deemed too risky due to the risk of flooding.

Help For Victims Of Domestic Violence - Isabelle Rome, the French Minister for Gender Equality, announced her "Nouveau Départ" (New Start) pack in Marseille yesterday to support women who are victims of domestic violence. The pack, which aims to better coordinate the assistance for these women, will be tested in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, following trials in Val d'Oise and Réunion. With one woman in France becoming a victim of domestic violence every three minutes, the pack includes measures such as a single point of contact to trigger emergency aid, including financial assistance, job training, childcare, psychological support, and emergency accommodation. The pack is set to be implemented nationwide by 2025.

Water Restrictions - As the tourist season gets underway, the Var prefecture has called on tourists as well as hosts to be vigilant about saving water. 95 communes out of the 153 in the department are already affected by water restrictions. Details can be found on the prefecture's website www.var.gouv.fr

MipTV Ends On A High - The international audiovisual market, MipTV ends tonight in Cannes on a high after a challenging post-COVID period. There’s been a 20% increase in participants this year, with over 6000 attendees. The growth can be attributed to increased participation from from Asian countries and a boost from European buyers. Notably, China has made a big impression with new offerings in entertainment and documentaries.

La Turbie Murder Suspect Named - The real estate agent, who has been accused of attempting to murder his wife in their villa in La Turbie, has been named as Damien Carew. The Australian remains in police custody, while his 33 year old wife, Anna Polianskaya Carew remans in a coma.

Menton spring sale - The Menton Sourire association's spring sale begins today. 160 traders offering discounts of up to 60% will liven up the town until Sunday. The event has been extended by one day compared to last year to meet the demands of traders. In addition to attractive discounts, there will be numerous live events this year, including clown shows, juggling, makeup, and zumba classes. The weekend will feature the most significant events, including concerts by various artists in the Biovès gardens and musical processions in the streets of the city.

Nice Jazz Festival - The lineup for the 2023 Nice Jazz Festival has been revealed, featuring 24 performances between July 18th and 21st at the Théâtre de Verdure and Scène Masséna. Legendary musician Herbie Hancock will be the patron of the festival, performing on July 20th, and Sir Tom Jones will be on stage on July 19th. Tickets have just gone on sale, with a reduced price of €40 offered until May 2nd. More details on www.nicejazzfestival.fr

Monaco Ste Devote Rugby Tournament - The Monaco Rugby Federation is inviting you to a series of matches this coming Saturday, April 22nd. The Ste Devote Tournament starts at 8.30am at the Stade Louis II, and there will be events and matches throughout the day. The finals will be at 4pm and the Awards Ceremony will be at 5.40pm. The event is organised in association with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

AI Gastronomy - ChatGPT, the conversational AI that's changing the game, has now set its sights on the world of fine dining. Tasked with recommending the top 5 restaurants in Nice, the AI has delivered a list of the city's crème de la crème. With three Michelin-starred restaurants, the most iconic establishment in Nice, and one of the trendiest chefs in town, ChatGPT's refined palate has proved it can deliver beyond just education.

 

Business

Fox Settles With Dominion - Fox News has settled a defamation lawsuit from the voting machine company, Dominion, over its reporting of the 2020 presidential election. In a last-minute settlement before trial, the network agreed to pay $787.5m - about half of the $1.6bn initially sought by Dominion. Dominion argued its business was harmed by Fox spreading false claims the vote had been rigged against Donald Trump. The deal spares Fox executives such as Rupert Murdoch from having to testify.

All-Inclusive Popularity Surging - The world's largest hospitality brands are embracing a new wave of all-inclusive resorts that focus on luxury and unique experiences. Unlike the all-inclusives of the past with mediocre buffets and cheesy entertainment, the new wave of all-inclusive resorts offer luxury experiences such as gourmet dining, personal butler service, and high-end activities unique to their locations.

The surge in popularity is driven by a post-pandemic shift in consumer mindset and demand for clear pricing with no surprises. Marriott, the world's largest hospitality company, has seen significant growth in its all-inclusive segment, with plans to introduce new properties under its luxury brands such as Ritz-Carlton and W Hotel. Other major hotel chains like InterContinental, Hilton, and Hyatt have also entered the all-inclusive market for the first time, with plans for expansion in popular destinations like Mexico. The trend is seen as a response to changing consumer preferences for curated and crafted experiences, combining entertainment with education in a convenient and all-inclusive package.

TruthGPT - Elon Musk has announced plans to create a rival to the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, which he calls "TruthGPT." In an interview with Fox News, Mr Musk expressed concerns about the potential liberal bias of ChatGPT and stated that he wants to create a "maximum truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe." Musk also advocated for the regulation of artificial intelligence, calling it "more dangerous" than cars or rockets and warning of its potential to destroy humanity.


Foreign Exchanges

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$1 = €91 cents, £81 pence, 90 Swiss centimes

BITCOIN $30230 €27550 EUR

ETHEREUM  $2094 €1908
 

Commodities

An ounce of gold is $1999

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Markets

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Sport

Champions League - Where do Chelsea go from here? Now out of the Champions League and no chance of silverware on the horizon, nor any prospect of European football next season. Yesterday, they were beaten 2-0 at home by Real Madrid, following two second half goals by Rodrygo, going out 4-0 on aggregate. Real Madrid will play Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. City are defending a 3-0 lead in the return match tonight in Germany.

AC Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2007 as they saw off Serie A rivals Napoli in an incident-packed game. AC Milan could face Inter Milan in the last four, with their city rivals going into tonight’s second leg with Benfica holding a 2-0 lead.

Football - Manchester City has submitted a planning application for a £300m expansion of Etihad Stadium. The club aims to increase the capacity from 53,400 to 60,000 by expanding the North Stand, with proposals including a sky bar, stadium roof walk experience, fan zone, club shop, museum, and hotel. The project, which would take three years to complete, is expected to create jobs and boost the local economy. The club says the expansion will provide a "best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination".

American Football - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been cleared to return to play, four months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field during an NFL match. Hamlin, 25, collapsed during a match on 2 January after making a tackle and had to be resuscitated on the pitch. After approval from doctors, he has returned to Bills' off-season training and could play again later this year.

Formula 1 - Ferrari's attempt to overturn Carlos Sainz's penalty at the Australian Grand Prix has been rejected. The race stewards reconvened yesterday and decided that "no significant and relevant new element" had been presented by Ferrari, so dismissed the petition. Stewards said their view that Sainz was wholly to blame had not changed.

Weather

Mostly sunny today, with just a few passing clouds. Light to moderate winds and highs of 20° in Monaco – up to 22° towards St Tropez. Clear skies tonight with lows of 11°.

Tomorrow will start clear, becoming unsettled later in the afternoon. Temperatures will be lower, peaking at 16° in Alpes Maritimes.

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