NEWS
40 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Beausoleil last night due to a gas leak as a result of building work. Although the leak was stopped by Gaz Réseau Distribution France GRDF teams, major resources were mobilised, with a total of 26 fire-fighters.
Children aged 11 can now book a part-funded holiday camp called "Pass colo" starting from 15 April. This scheme is means-tested and available to households with a monthly income of up to €4,000. It can be combined with other funding options, such as support from works councils. The jeunes.gouv.fr website will provide a catalogue of approved holiday camps eligible for the "Pass colo", but only holidays within France will be eligible. When booking through the website, the amount of financial aid will be deducted directly from the bill. As stated by the Minister for Children and Families, the amount of aid will vary based on the family's income level. It ranges from 200 to 350 euros.
A window cleaner has died this morning after falling from the fifth floor of a municipal building in Nice. The man in his forties was cleaning the windows at Côte d'Azur Habitat, the social housing agency on Boulevard René Cassin. The window cleaner, who specialised in acrobatic work, fell from the fifth floor for an undetermined reason. The fire brigade attended the scene. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, it was too late to save him, despite resuscitation efforts. An investigation has been launched.
Prince Albert II of Monaco has announced a new mission by Explorations de Monaco, focusing on marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. The mission, taking place in Greece in October 2024, will follow the same triptych approach as previous expeditions - diplomacy, science and mediation. It will involve operations and meetings with MPA site managers, with visits planned to various sites, including Alonissos and Zakynthos, using an innovative boat that combines sailing expertise and renewable energy management. The objective of the mission is to protect and sustainably manage at least 30% of the marine and coastal areas in the Mediterranean, covering a vast expanse of 2.5 million km², by 2030. This aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, which sets this target. Currently, only 8% of the Mediterranean is protected, making the achievement of the target particularly challenging. Prince Albert II highlighted the importance of marine protected areas in promoting sustainable use of marine resources that benefit both nature and the communities living alongside them.
American tennis player Sebastian Korda had his €300,000 watch stolen before the start of the Monte-Carlo Masters tournament. Two individuals on a scooter stopped Korda in the middle of the street in Roquebrune-cap-martin as he was descending a staircase between avenue de France and avenue Varavilla. The case was handed over to teams from the Menton police station, who took DNA samples from the locations where the player was seized. Investigations are continuing, with the support of video surveillance in particular, to identify the two individuals, who are being actively sought.
BUSINESS
Apple has faced criticism after the Palestinian flag emoji was automatically suggested to users typing in "Jerusalem" on iPhones. This comes as both Israel and the Palestinians claim ownership of the ancient city. The issue was pointed out on social media by Jewish TV presenter Rachel Riley, who noted that national flags were not suggested for other capital cities. Apple has stated that this change was unintentional and will be fixed in a future software update, though the timing is unknown. Riley has called on Apple to provide an explanation for what happened and stated that double standards towards Israel are a form of anti-Semitism. The problem is linked to a function called "predictive emoji", where iPhones suggest emojis when words are typed in messages and other applications.
The number of single-parent families is rapidly increasing worldwide, with the United States having the highest number of single-parent households, exceeding 10 million, representing nearly a quarter of American children living with just one parent. Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicates that the number of single-parent households is set to rise in many of its 38 member countries. Projections suggest that by 2030, these numbers could increase by 22% to 29%. This trend is particularly evident in countries such as Canada, where lone-parent households have steadily increased over the past 15 years. Similarly, in Australia, lone-parent families have become the fastest-growing family type, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. While some single-parent families may be experiencing improved financial outcomes, this is not the case for everyone.
SPORTS
Golf - The start of the 88th Masters was delayed because of thunderstorms at Augusta National. The opening tee shots were due to be struck at 08:00 local time (13:00 BST), but "heavy rainfall and wind gusts of 40-45mph" prompted a delay of about an hour. A statement on the Masters website read: "Tee times have been delayed until further notice. The first round will not begin before 09:00." This is sure to bring flashback of last year's Masters, where three pine trees fell over during the second round amid stormy weather at Augusta National in 2023 The weather is forecast to be better on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Cricket - Shaun Udal woke up in the back of an ambulance. The former England spinner had fallen down a flight of 16 stairs at his office. Udal had not been feeling well for a number of years. He had begun to lose dexterity in some of his fingers and was struggling to tie his shoelaces. His neck was in pain and it had been suggested his issues might be connected to an operation he had several years ago. But six weeks after his hospitalization a letter arrived in the post informing him the symptoms he had been experiencing suggested the onset of Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure.
Rugby Union - Zoe Aldcroft will captain England in their Women's Six Nations game against Scotland on Saturday, with regular skipper Marlie Packer named on the bench. The 27-year-old, who won her 50th cap in England's victory over Wales, moves from lock to blind-side flanker. Meanwhile, center Emily Scarratt is managing a calf injury and misses out again.
ROLEX MONTE CARLO TENNIS MASTER REPORT FROM BANQUE HAVILLAND
TENNIS - Jannik Sinner was the best player on hard courts over the first three months of the season, and he started his clay swing in impressive fashion as he beat Sebastian Korda in straight sets. World No. 2 Sinner has only lost one match this season and is aiming for a first Monte Carlo title. Defending champion Andrey Rublev was upset by Alexei Popyrin while Stefanos Tsitsipas won. Sinner said ahead of his opening match in Monte Carlo that his expectations were not too high as he started the switch of surfaces, but he looked just as good on clay as he has done on hard courts so far this season.
WEATHER
The sun is shining across the riviera today with a gentle breeze. Highs of 21 degrees in Cannes, 22 in Nice and 23 degrees in Saint-Tropez, Toulon and Marseille.
Tonight, lows of 12 degrees with clear skies.
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