French and Riviera News Monday 3rd December 2018

Local

Yellow Vests - French President Emmanuel Macron has held an urgent security meeting following a day of riots by thousands of anti-government protesters. More than 100 people were injured in Paris, including 23 members of the security forces, and nearly 400 people were arrested. Three people have been killed in the protests since demonstrations started more than two weeks ago. France's interior ministry says about 136,000 people took part in the protests nationwide, showing widespread support for the movement known as the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vests).

In the Alpes Maritimes protestors gathered at several motorway pay tolls in Antibes and Nice. At least ten people were taken into police custody after clashes with police at Park Phoenix in Nice and the Carrefour supermarket closed its doors earlier than usual as yellow vests protestors gathered nearby.

Elected officials from the Var and the Alpes Martimes including Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti, condemned the violence committed in Paris.

Meanwhile France's far-right and far-left leaders have called for snap elections following the third weekend of violence between Yellow Vest protesters and police. The leader of the hard-right, Marine Le Pen, and the far-left's Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the only way to resolve the chaos was to dissolve parliament.

Missing person - Police in Hyères have appealed for any witnesses to come forward following the disappearance of 57 year old Thierry Bourlioux, who has not been seen since 28th November. Described as short with brown hair and brown eyes anyone with any information is invited to contact the police on 04.94.00.73.30

Changes in December - Several new measures have come into effect as of 1st December. The price of gas it to drop by 2.4% affecting 4.6 million French homes. In the fight against AIDS and sexually transmitted deseases France’s health minister announced that condoms will be reimbursed from 10th December. From the 9th December Ouigo the low cost SNCF service will expand its network operating in six new cities of the South East Antibes, Draguignan, Cannes, Nice, Saint Raphael and Toulon and taxpayers who have filled in their income tax declarations on line have until the 18th December to make any amendments.

Riviera Business Club Awards – The Riviera Business club Awards took place at the weekend I caught up with some of the nominees ahead of the ceremony Simon Crann from Nice Homes and Bradley Mitton from Vivanova. Congratulation to Niemh Cogan director of Nunnii Laboratoire who was awarded Start up of the Year and this Year’s Business person of the year award went to Antoinio Barona founder and general manager of Vertech group.

National

#AlertPollution - As the 24th annual UN conference on climate change opens today Franceinfo has launched #AlertePollution. The aim is to give you the opportunity to report polluted sites near your home. Be it dirty water, toxic discharges or cases of pollution linked to industry, agriculture or by businesses and individuals. For more information go to franceinfo.fr/AlertePollution or call 06 13 76 73 41.

Euro 2020 - France is to face Iceland and Turkey in the qualification for Euro 2020. The draw took place in Dublin on Sunday with the competition kicking off in March next year. For the first time the matches will be divided between twelve cities from twelve different countries, with the semi-finals and final being held in London.

Business

Asian markets have risen this morning after the United States and China agreed a temporary truce in their trade war.

The agreement was reached between President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Argentina over the weekend with the leaders signing up to a 90 day moratorium on tariffs to allow further negotiations.

The escalating trade war between the two countries has been affecting market sentiment in recent weeks.

Failure to agree a truce would have resulted in tariffs on 200 billion dollars of Chinese goods rise from 10 percent to 25 percent at the start of next year and would have also seen the US impose tariffs on additional  Chinese imports.

High level trade talks are now planned in a bid to settle the dispute.

 

Amazon is reported to be testing its cashierless checkouts  for bigger stores with larger floor space.

The Wall Street Journal says that the online retail giant will start testing the technology in Seattle  in an experiment to test cashierless payments.

The technology already works well in smaller stores but is harder to use in bigger spaces with high ceilings and more production.

The checkout system allows shoppers to buy goods with the aid of a smartphone app by tracking what they pick up from the shelves and what they put back with their credit cards billed after they leave.

 

And-Oil prices have rebounded from their biggest monthly loss in a decade after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to extend their deal to manage the crude market next year  and Canada’s largest producing province ordered a cut in output.

Brent crude rose by 5.3 percent on the news after falling by more than 20 percent last month.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deal extension following a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina on Saturday.

Prices also rose after the Canadian province of Alberta ordered production curbs of 350,000 barrels a day in order to ease a crisis in the country’s energy industry.

 

Sport

Football-There were 3 games in the English Premier League on Sunday.Liverpool scored a last gasp winner against Everton to give them the points at Anfield while Arsenal moved up to 4th place following a 4-2 win in the North London derby against Spurs and Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0.

Celtic have won the Scottish League Cup after beating Aberdeen 1-0 in the final at Hampden Park on Sunday while in the Scottish Premiership Rangers have gone top of the table following a 2-1 win at Hearts.

England have been drawn with the Czech Republic,Kosovo,Montenegro and Bulgaria in Group A for Euro 2020 qualifying.

The draw is kind for the World Cup semi-finalists who also have the safety cushion of a guaranteed play-off place after winning their Nations League group last month.

Scotland,who also have a play-off place have been drawn with Belgium,Russia,Cyprus,Kazakhstan and San Marino while Wales are in the same group as Croatia,Slovakia,Hungary and Azerbaijan.

Northern Ireland have drawn Germany,the Netherlands,Estonia and Belarus while the Republic of Ireland  will play Switzerland,Denmark,Georgia and Gibralter.

Qualifying begins in March and will conclude in November.

Boxing-Tyson Fury has said that the world “knows who the real WBC champion is” after his fight against Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles on Sunday morning was called a draw.

Most boxing experts called the fight for Fury on points but he was knocked down twice by his opponent and was lucky to recover after the second knockdown in the 12th round.

There is now almost certain to be rematch next year and then a bid to unify the heavyweight division with Anthony Joshua waiting in the wings to meet the eventual winner.

Rugby Union-There was one game in the Gallagher Premiership in England on Sunday.Bath and Sale shared a 7-7 draw.

 

Weather

Partially cloudy with light to moderate westerly or variable winds.

Top temperatures 15-18 degrees Celsius.

Overnight lows of 9 degrees with clear skies.

Tuesday and Wednesday-Clear skies with highs of 17-18 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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