Evening Update Tuesday 2 April

Geneviève Legay, the activist who was injured during yellow vest protests the weekend before last, has left hospital.  Madame Legay suffered head injuries after apparently being pushed by a police officer in the protests in Nice. Reports say that she has now been moved to a convalescent service at the University Hospital of Nice. 

Police investigating the discovery of a man’s body on a terrace in Monte-Carlo on March 25th believe the victim fell several meters. According to reports the young man of French nationality was in the Principality to attend a congress with his father. The investigation continues.

Ryanair has inaugurated its new base at Marseille Provence airport today.  Two aircraft will initially be based at the airport, with a third expected to operate beginning in the autumn. Ryanair plans to operate several new routes, including Marseille to Manchester. 

A man has been detained in Nice on suspicion of making death threats against French Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner. Reports say that he was placed in custody on Monday and has been released under judicial supervision pending a court appearance later this month.

Police are warning local residents and visitors to be on their guard at cash machines after two recent robberies. Criminals snatched bank cards from elderly people at service stations in Lingostière and Saint-Isidore in Nice. Two arrests have been made.  It’s believed that those responsible may have travelled from Marseille to Nice to carry out the crimes.

Authorities are alerting residents of Menton that a security exercise is being carried out this evening from 7pm in the Garavan area.  There is likely to be a large amount of activity involving police and emergency service vehicles and explosions may be heard. The authorities say that no citizens will be at risk and ask people not to call emergency numbers to report the activity as this risks diverting resources from genuine emergency calls.

Enquiries are continuing into the deaths of five elderly residents of a care home near Toulouse. It’s suspected that food poisoning led to the deaths of four women and a man, aged from 76 to 95. In all, 20 people at the home suffered vomiting and other symptoms of food poisoning.

An iconic emblem of Nice is undergoing a renovation for the summer season.  The “Hashtag I Love Nice” structure, which has featured on countless social media posts since it was installed two and a half years ago, is being removed tomorrow for a makeover and will be back on site in its usual location in about 10 days time.
The Route of the Col de la Bonette in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée has been closed. The road is closed to traffic in both directions at Pont-Haut because of bad weather.

 

BUSINESS

Global pharmacy company Walgreens Boots Alliance has cut its full-year earnings growth forecast. The business reduced its adjusted earnings forecast for 2019, from a range of 7% to 12% growth, to roughly flat. Net income fell 14% to $1.16bn in the second quarter, from $1.35bn a year earlier.

Hungarian airline Wizz Air has said that net profit for the year to 31 March will be in the upper half of a range between €270m and €300m. Passenger numbers in the 12-month period rose 16.7%.

Workers at Glasgow Airport have voted in favour of strike action. The dispute over pay and pensions affects 500 staff but talks are continuing with arbitration service Acas.


SPORT

Football…Video assistant referee system replays will be displayed to fans during this season's FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley if a refereeing decision is overturned. The VAR decision will be announced on the big screen before a "definitive video clip" is shown. The Football Association said it would provide clarity and transparency for those in attendance.

Rugby Union… Ulster captain Rory Best says that he hopes to play again this season despite the ankle injury sustained in the Champions Cup match against Leinster. Best, who will lead Ireland at the World Cup in the autumn, estimates he will be ruled out for up to six weeks.

And Ulster have signed Leinster prop Jack McGrath for the start of next season. The 29-year-old British and Irish Lions player had surgery for a long-term hip injury in November.

Tennis… Andy Murray has posted a video on Instagram of him hitting a tennis ball against a wall alongside the caption: "It's a start." Murray underwent a hip resurfacing procedure in January. Recently he said that he is pain-free following the surgery, but his chances of playing singles at Wimbledon this year are "less than 50%". He added he was under no pressure to resume his career.

 

 

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