French and Riviera News Monday 14th October 2019

Local

Man stabbed in Villefranche sur mer - A 29-year-old man has been left in a critical condition after being stabbed in Villefranche sur mer. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning after a fight broke out on the seafront. Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact reason behind the attack.

Road accident kills motorcyclist - A 33-year-old motorcyclist has been killed in an accident in Tourettes in the Var. The motorbike caught fire after the motorcyclist lost control shortly after 1pm on Sunday. Authorities have appealed for extra care on the region’s roads following a recent spate of fatal accident especially motorcyclists.

Meanwhile a motorist has been slightly injured following an accident with a tram in Nice. The incident occurred at Nice Acropolis at 7.15 on Sunday morning causing the tram to derail and the service was interrupted.

Computer bug at cinema - Cinema goers in Nice and across France have been unable to purchase tickets from Pathé-Gaumont cinemas due to a computer bug. Customers reported a payment problem online and at the cinema on Saturday afternoon. The problem affected Pathé-Gaumont cinemas across France and was reportedly back to normal by 11pm.

Electric bus network - Four electric buses are to be tested today on the  Monaco bus network. Circulating on line 5 from Monday 14th October to Friday 8th November and line 3 from the 9th November to the 24th November.

Registration for Fete Nationale - As every year residents of the Principality who are over 60, have been invited to register for this year’s Fete Nationale here in the Principality to receive a gift from His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco. The event is on November 19th and registration is open on Monday 21st, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23rd October.

National

Weather warning for west and central France - Météo France has placed the west and central France on an orange weather alert. 17 departments have been issued the warning with storms, heavy rain and violent winds forecast from 2pm this afternoon.

Man released after he was mistaken for a French fugitive - Police in Scotland have released a man after he was mistaken for a French fugitive wanted for killing his wife and four children eight years ago in Nantes. Le Parisien newspaper, reported on Friday, the arrest in Glasgow. French judicial sources had initially believed that they had finally caught up with Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, who was subject to an international arrest warrant for the 2011 killings which transfixed France. But Scotland's police said they had informed their French counterparts that forensic tests proved the man detained at Glasgow airport on Friday was not Dupont de Ligonnes.

French MPs hit out at mother wearing a veil - French MPs are up in arms following an incident which occurred during at audience at the Regional Council of Bourgogne Franche Comté. The incident happened when a mother accompanying a group of school children was asked to leave by a member of the National Assembly because she was wearing a veil. Applauded and supported by some elected RN members others pointed out that this “was not in line with the law” and were “horrified by the comments”. The scene was soon relayed on social media platforms. Wearing a veil is forbidden in French schools but is not forbidden in public places. The mother in question was at the time accompanying a group of school children and was not on school premises. Later speaking to French media on the matter the French Minister of Education Jean Michel Blanquer said “that he would prefer that mothers accompanying school children on outings do not wear the veil because it is not desirable in our society" adding “It is not part of our beliefs”.

Unemployment reform - A reform in the French employment sector will soon make it possible for employees to resign and still be entitled to unemployment benefit. The new measure is expected to come into effect in 2020. Until now those who handed in their notice maybe wishing to change jobs were not entitled to unemployment benefits. The reform voted by Macrons government in 2018 will allow an unemployment benefit which will last on average 15 months.

Extinction Rebellion - An activist of the Extinction Rebellion has climbed the pyramid of the Louvre. The activist climbed the famous structure of the Louvre in Paris on Sunday stopping before reaching the tip of the pyramid and planting a flag.

Extinction Rebellion has performed several actions in recent days. The environmental movement has notably blocked the National Assembly and occupied the center of Paris. Their actions are part of a global week of civil disobedience to call for action against global warming.

Business

A report by the G7 group of nations has warned that Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency must not be allowed to go ahead until the firm proves that it’s safe and secure.

In a blow to the social media giant ,the G7 report warns that cryptocurrencies such as Libra pose a risk to the global financial system adding that the project may not even get the go ahead from regulators.

The report comes just days after the payments giants Visa and Mastercard pulled out of the Libra project citing regulatory uncertainty.

The G7 report was produced by senior officials from central banks ,the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Board which coordinates rules for the G20 economies.

It warns that the backers of digital currencies such as Libra must be legally sound ,protect consumers and ensure that coins are not used to launder money or fund terrorism.

 

The governor of the Bank of England has warned that companies that are not moving towards zero-carbon emissions will be punished by investors and go bankrupt.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper ,Mark Carney also said that it was possible that the global transition needed to tackle the climate crisis could result in abrupt financial collapse  and that the longer action to reverse emissions was delayed ,the more the risk of collapse would grow.

Mr Carney has been leading efforts to address the dangers that global heating poses to the financial sector from increasing weather disasters to a potential fall in asset values such as fossil fuel company wealth as government regulations bite.

Last week ,the Guardian carried a report that said that just 20 fossil fuel companies have produced coal ,oil and gas linked to more than a third of all emissions in the modern era.

The Bank of England has said that up to 20 trillion dollars of assets could be wiped out if the climate emergency is not addressed effectively but also said that great fortunes could be made by those working to end greenhouse gas emissions.

 

And-US firms are preparing to report third quarter earnings following a rocky few months in which the trade war between Washington and Beijing has been undermining the business environment while the economy has been showing signs of a slowdown.

Earnings among S&P 500 firms are set to be the weakest in around 3 years with analysts forecasting a 3.2 percent decline from the same quarter last year.

Poor results are expected in particular from the technology sector  with materials and energy also forecast to be in decline.

The largest US banks are also set to report a slight dip in earnings.

Sport

MA NOLANS RUGBY WORLD CUP REPORT.

Scotland’s World Cup is over after they were beaten 28-21 by the hosts Japan in their final Pool match on Sunday.

The game was lost in the first half despite Scotland taking the lead as Japan ran three tries and added a fourth early in the second half to secure their first ever quarter final place in the competition.

Scotland did fight back in the second half but it was always going to be a tough ask and they go out of the competition at the pool stage for only the second time in the history of the World Cup.

Also on Sunday Tonga ended their World Cup with a 31-19 win over the USA in Pool C while Wales confirmed their position as Pool D winners with a 35-13 win over Uruguay.The Pool B match between Canada and Namibia was called off because of the effects of Typhoon Hagibis.

So the quarter final line-up has been decided.

England will play Australia and New Zealand will face Ireland next Saturday while on Sunday Wales play France and Japan play South Africa.

Formula 1-Lewis Hamilton has one hand on his 6th drivers’ championship as Mercedes clinched a record 6th straight constructors championship at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ferrari blew another front row lockout at the start with Valtteri Bottas taking the lead after what looked like a false start by Sebastian Vettel.Charles Leclerc also got a slow start and tussled with Max Verstappen in the Red Bull  which led to a spin and the Dutch driver’s retirement.Leclerc’s chances of winning the race were effectively ended because of damage to his front wing which led to him pitting on lap 3.

Bottas held on for the win with Vettel in second and Hamilton third.

Only Bottas can catch Hamilton at the top of the driver’s championship with 100 points left to play for but it looks like the British driver is a racing certainty to win the world title.

The next race is the Mexican Grand Prix on the 27th of October.

Athletics-Brigid Kosgei has smashed Paula Radcliffe’s 16 year old women’s marathon world record with victory in the Chicago Marathon.

The 25 year old came home in a time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 04 seconds ,easily beating Radcliffe’s time of 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds set at the London Marathon in 2003.

Paula Radcliffe was at the finish line in Chicago  to witness Kosgei’s remarkable performance and was one of the first to congratulate her.

Lawrence Cherono won the men’s event with Britain’s Mo Farah finishing 8th.

Football-In European Championship qualifying last night Wales drew 1-1 with Croatia in Group E while Scotland thrashed San Marino 6-0.

There are more games tonight.Bulgaria play England in Group A while France host Turkey in Group H.

In the FA Women’s Super League on Sunday Liverpool and Bristol City drew 1-1.Manchester United were 3-0 winners at Spurs.West Ham were 3-1 winners at Brighton.Reading beat Everton 3-2  and Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1.

Manchester City lead the table on 12 points from 4 games with Chelsea on 10 and Arsenal on 9.

Birmingham are bottom without a point with Liverpool one place above them on 1 point.

Cricket-India have thrashed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test at Pune to record their 11th straight home Test victory.

All the damage was done in the home side’s massive first innings total of 601-5 declared.

South Africa couldn’t live with that and were bowled out for 275 and then 189.

Weather.

Partially cloudy with moderate to strong easterly winds.

Top temperature 22-24 degrees.

Overnight lows of 18 degrees with overcast skies.

Tuesday and Wednesday-Overcast with rain and scattered thunderstorms tomorrow.Fine on Wednesday. Highs of 20-22 degrees.

Finally 

Would you go to a bar naked?

A Pub has  launched a completely nude 'Sunday sesh' for customers to drink and dine in the buff

A Sydney bar is set to host a one-off event for courageous diners to enjoy cheeky drinks and food while completely naked. 

Stitch Bar on York Street has teamed up with Young Nudists of Australia to run 'Bottoms Up Sydney' - a Sunday session to be held on October 27.

Guests are asked to keep their footwear on between 3pm and 8pm - and to bring a towel with them to sit on at the strictly non-sexual event.

'It's been to London. It's been to France. It's been to Melbourne. Now, it's Sydney's turn to experience dining in the raw,' the bar said.

Tickets cost $30 per person, and any pubgoers who attends the event must abide by the rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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