Local
Nice attack - A second man suspected of involvement in the Nice attack has been released after two years in prison. 38 year old Hamdi Zagar was arrested on July 25th 2016 suspected of having helped the perpetrator of the attack. The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi expressed his misunderstanding and anger following the release requesting that the French government provide answers to address the legitimate concern of the families of the victims.
Clashes between football supporters and police - Three people have been arrested following clashes between Marseille football supporters and police after the match against Lazio de Rome on Thursday night. Violence broke out outside the stadium in Marseille. No injuries were reported.
Pollution – According to local media reports fifty beaches in the Var are now affected by oil pollution from the ship collision off Corsica. The number has increased from thirty seven a few days ago. One hundred and fifty employees of a specialist company, as well as many government staff, continue to track and clean up the areas of oil on the shore. Authorities have reminded residents and visitors not to attempt to pick up any oil they may find.
Meanwhile there was an unpleasant discovery for bathers on the beaches of Saint-Laurent du Var on Thursday afternoon after human waste was discovered floating in the water. The spillage is believed to have come from a nearby treatment plant. Local authorities have launched an investigation.
An audit by local authorities has concluded that many speed bumps on roads in the Var are non-compliant with recommended specifications. The Departmental Council of Var conducted an audit after complaints by motoring organisations. The survey found that 428 speed bumps out of 668, that’s 64 per cent, are non-compliant. The Departmental Council is now looking to carry out works to standardise the speed bumps.
The Tour de France will be returning to our region in 2019 after bypassing us this year. The Tour will arrive in the Hautes-Alpes on Tuesday 24th July next year for the 16th stage, starting from the Pont du Gard and finishing the day in Gap. The Tour de France is celebrating its 100th anniversary next year.
Marriage - Following a recent survey the region which boasts the most marriages in France is the Vauclause, with 4 out of five couples tying the knot. The study also showed that the average budget spent on getting married in the region was 15,000 euros while in its neighbouring region the Côte d’Azur the cost could reach up to 80,000 euros.
National
Sarkozy losses appeal - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has lost an appeal against an earlier decision to send him to trial over charges of illegal campaign financing. A Paris court said on Thursday that it had rejected Sarkozy’s appeal. The affair centres on claims that Sarkozy’s party, then known as the UMP, connived with a friendly PR company to hide the true cost of his 2012 presidential election campaign.
Father sent to prison - The father of two boys, aged three and four, has been sent to prison in France after rotting their teeth with cake and Coca-Cola. The man, described as an alcoholic who was violent to his wife and children, was jailed for three months. Limoges Criminal Court found he had failed to meet his obligations as a parent between 2016 and 2018.
Business
The retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has been named in the UK Parliament as the leading businessman accused by a newspaper of sexual and racial harassment.
Speaking in the House of Lords on Thursday,Lord Peter Hain said that it was his duty to name Sir Philip given the “serious and repeated” nature of the allegations.
The Daily Telegraph broke the story on Tuesday following an 8 month investigation but did not name the businessman at the centre of the allegations.
The Court of Appeal issued an injunction banning the newspaper from naming Sir Philip but Lord Hain’s statement which was made under Parliamentary privilege has now been widely reported.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening,Sir Philip Green “categorically and wholly” denied the allegations of “unlawful sexual or racist behaviour”.
The internet giant Google says that it has sacked 48 people including 13 senior managers over sexual harassment claims since 2016.
In a letter to employees,the firm said that Google was taking a “hard line” on inappropriate conduct.
The letter came in response to an article in the New York Times that said that the creator of Android Andy Rubin had received a 90 million dollar exit package despite facing misconduct allegations.
The letter from Google to its employees said that the firm found that the New York Times story had been “difficult to read” and that it was “dead serious” about providing a “safe and inclusive” workplace.
A spokesman for Andy Rubin said that he denied the New York Times allegations.
And-Shares in Amazon have fallen in after-hours trading on the back of a disappointing sales forecast for the Christmas season.
Amazon said that it expects year-on-year sales growth of between 10 and 20 percent for the three months to December the 31st.
If correct it would represent a marked slowdown from the 29 percent jump in sales for the most recent quarter.
Amazon made record profits of 2.9 billion dollars in the third quarter
Sport
Football-It was a mixed night for the British clubs playing in the Europa League last night.
Arsenal made it 11 wins out of 11 as they beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 away in Group E while Chelsea were too good for BATE Borisov coming out 3-1 winners at Stamford Bridge in Group L.
Rangers drew 0-0 at home with Spartak Moscow in Group G but Celtic lost 2-0 away at Leipzig in Group B.
In the English Premier League this weekend.
On Saturday Brighton play Wolves.Fulham host Bournemouth.Liverpool play Cardiff.Southampton are at home to Newcastle.Watford host Huddersfield and Leicester play West Ham.
On Sunday Burnley play Chelsea.Crystal Palace host Arsenal and Manchester United play Everton.
Spurs play Manchester City on Monday.
Formula 1-Lewis Hamilton needs to finish only 7th at this weekend’s Mexico Grand Prix to secure his 5th world championship.
Hamilton says that despite the modest requirement,he wants to win the race and will be going all out to take the chequered flag.
First practice is at 5pm this afternoon with second practice at 9pm.
Qualifying is at 8pm tomorrow night with the race at 8pm on Sunday.
Rugby Union-There are four games in the Guiness Pro 14 tonight.
Southern Kings play Scarlets.Zebre face Edinburgh.Ulster play Dragons and Opsreys host Connacht.
Tennis-The defending champion Caroline Wozniacki has been knocked out of the season ending WTA Finals in Singapore.
The world number three went down in three sets to Elina Svitolina and later admitted that she’d been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
She said that she was determined to carry on playing and wants to become a “role model” for people suffering from the condition.
Weather
Partially cloudy with light to moderate south westerly winds.
Top temperatures 20-22 degrees.
Overnight lows of 15 degrees on the coast and 13 degrees inland with rain spreading across the region.
The weekend-Rain ! Highs of 17-19 degrees.
Finally
A new study claims that taking a good, relaxing soak in the tub could be even better for soothing depression than exercise.
Scientists now believe that a hot bath can help to restore the body's natural temperature rhythm - which can be disrupted in people living with depression.
We already know that exercise is a great mood-lifter but this study suggests that regular bathing might be faster acting than hitting the gym in lifting symptoms of poor mental health.
And, of course, having a bath is much easier and more accessible to do than taking a 45-minute spin class.
Depression can leave people totally deflated and unable to exercise, so this is really positive news for anyone who feels like gymming or getting outside is a bit out of their reach.
A man from Nice used a stolen bank card to make purchases in Monaco, spending over €1,700 in various shops, mostly on airpods that he planned to resel...
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Gabriel Attal announced new measures In response to recent acts of violence among young people during a visit to Viry-Châtillon. Attal highlighted the...
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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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