NEWS
Some communes in the Alpes-Maritimes will be plunged into darkness this Monday evening. For the third year running to mark Earth Day, mayors in the Alpes-Maritimes are invited to turn off their street lighting on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 April. A photo competition is being organised to mark the occasion. The idea is to "continue the fight against light pollution".
Singer Kendji Girac was seriously injured by gunfire, which hit him in the chest this Monday morning in Landes, he was later hospitalized in Bordeaux. According to the singer’s initial statements, the accident resulted from poor handling of the weapon on his part. However, an investigation has been opened.
French President Emmanuel Macron will participate in a charity football match on Wednesday in Plaisir, Yvelines, to support the Pièces Jaunes charity. The game will involve the Variétés Club de France, an organization that organizes charity matches, against carers. The match will take place at the Stade Bernard Giroux, in the presence of Macron's wife, Brigitte Macron, at 5pm. After the match, the Variétés Club team will be received at the Élysée Palace. This is not the first time Macron has played a football match with the club. In October 2021, he played as a midfielder alongside former Olympique de Marseille coach Rudi Garcia and former French international Alain Giresse.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, accompanied by Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti and Youth Affairs Minister Sarah El Haïry, visited a secondary school in Nice to supervise an experiment aimed at addressing truancy and violence among teenagers. The experiment involves boarding students who have dropped out of school and are truanting. Educators from the national education system, youth protection services, and associations will be responsible for looking after these students for 15 days. The program, known as 'colo', includes activities, sports, and a focus on getting these minors back on track and preventing them from getting into trouble. The aim is to remove them from their neighbourhoods during the holidays and provide a positive environment. If successful, this approach could be expanded nationwide. Prime Minister Attal's visit aligns with his call for a "surge of authority" and a general national mobilisation to tackle teenage violence and addiction.
In other News, Miss Ronde Monaco is aiming for the tricolor title. Elected last November, Anaïs Castellino will appear this Autumn in the French election for Miss ronde in her category. In her own words, this competition is intended for women who do not fit into the codes of current beauty competitions. This competition advocates the diversity of women. It is the women in general who are represented. This year, 16 candidates are running for Miss Ronde France. Organized by plus-size modelling agencies, the competition will end in November 2024.
BUSINESS
Chinese companies are using Mexico as a way to gain access to the United States market while avoiding tariffs and sanctions imposed by the ongoing trade war between the US and China. Companies such as Man Wah Furniture have set up factories in northern Mexico, using Chinese capital to produce goods that are then labeled as "Made in Mexico." This practice, known as "nearshoring," allows Chinese companies to save on transport costs and bypass US tariffs. Man Wah Furniture, for example, supplies major American retailers like Costco and Walmart with leather sofas. Despite only arriving in Monterrey in 2022, Man Wah already employs 450 people in Mexico and plans to expand to over 1,200 employees with additional production lines at the plant in the coming years. Mexico's total exports grew by 5.8% year-on-year to $52.9 billion (£42.4 billion) by June of the previous year.
Tesla has reduced prices in key markets such as the US, China and Germany as a result of declining sales and increased competition in the electric vehicle sector. The company recently experienced a significant drop in vehicle deliveries worldwide in the first quarter of this year. Chinese companies in particular have intensified competition, triggering a price war between manufacturers. Ahead of announcing its first-quarter financial results for 2024, Tesla has lowered the starting price of the redesigned Model 3 in China by 14,000 yuan. Additionally, prices for Model Y, Model X, and Model S vehicles has been cut by $2,000 in the US. Similar price reductions have been observed in other regions, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Tesla's challenges have been further compounded by recent events such as job redundancies, the postponement of CEO Elon Musk's India trip, and a safety recall of its new Cyberruck due to accelerator pedal issues. Consequently, Tesla's shares have fallen more than 40% since the beginning of the year.
SPORTS
Tennis - Casper Ruud won his first title of 2024 as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to win the Barcelona Open. Norwegian third seed Ruud defeated the Greek fifth seed 7-5 6-3 to claim the biggest title of his career. It is the first time the 25-year-old, who is ranked sixth in the world, has won an ATP 500-ranked event. The win also avenged Ruud's defeat by Tsitsipas in last week's Monte Carlo Open final. Elsewhere, Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff earned a straight sets win over American Taylor Fritz to win the BMW Open in Munich. Fourth seed and home favourite Struff beat the third seed 7-5 6-3 to secure a maiden ATP Tour title at the clay-court ATP 250 event. At the Bucharest Open, Hungary's Marton Fucsovics beat Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4 7-5 for his second ATP Tour title.
Rugby Union - Grand Slam-chasing France ran in six tries to condemn Wales to another heavy defeat in the Women's Six Nations. Wales had hoped for a response after a disappointing display in Ireland, but failed to score a point as they again struggled with accuracy and composure. France will now play defending champions England for the title on 27 April, while Wales remain rooted to the bottom of the table with a single losing bonus point.
Football - Jude Bellingham scored a late winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after an enthralling El Clasico. Bellingham smashed into the roof of the net as the clock ticked into stoppage time as Real twice came from behind at the Bernabeu. Andres Christensen scored the opener for Barcelona but a Vinicius Jr penalty had the game level at half-time. Fermin Lopez made it 2-1 to Barca before Lucas Vazquez equalised again. The victory puts Real firmly on track to reclaim the title with just six games left to play this season.
Volleyball – The AS Cannes are back in the top flight. Two years after their descent, the Dragons will be back in Ligue A next season. In the Ligue B final on Sunday 21 April against Ajaccio, they clinched their place with a golden set. The Ajaccians won the match (1-3), but succumbed to the Azuréens, who won the golden set (15-12) to book their place in the elite.
WEATHER
Cloudy this afternoon between Nice and Saint-Tropez while Marseille basks in the sunlight. Moderate to strong winds with gusts of up to 65 km/h. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice and Cannes, 15 in Saint-Tropez and Marseille and 16 degrees in Toulon.
Later this evening light showers should fall onto Saint-Tropez and Draguignan. And tonight, the clouds will cover the skies of the Riviera, lows of 10 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, cloudy with episodic light showers in Nice, highs of 15 degrees.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has accompanied municipal police officers on a tour of the city as part of the enforcement of the curfew order for minors...
Read More
Police have intervened this Friday morning to evacuate pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Sciences Po in Paris. ...
Read More
A 14-year-old boy has been injured during a pellet shooting at a drug dealing point in Aix-en-Provence. The incident occurred at around 7:30pm on Thur...
Read More
- The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has taken to the city’s streets following the introduction of a curfew for minors. The mayor invited the press t...
Read More
Marine Le Pen the leader of the National Rally, France’s far right political party, has urged for a “crushing defeat” of French President Emmanuel Mac...
Read More
