French News

French News, Fri 17 April 2009: biker arrest... gare du Sud plans... velos bleu roll-out
Biker arrest

A 43-year-old man was arrested at les Arcs station at lunchtime on Wednesday as part of a worldwide swoop by Canadian police against the Hells Angels motorcycle group. 123 people were nabbed around the world as part of Operation Shark. The man, and his co-accused, after facing charges of drug trafficking, profiting from crime and murder.

Gare du Sud plans

The redeveloped gare du Sud in Nice will be ready for use by July 2013. The 10-million euro project, the latest in a long list of plans for the building, includes a library, gym, sport and culture centre and 900 parking places.

Avalanche alert

The Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes has re-issued its avalanche warning for mountain areas. 30 to 50 centimetres of snow has fallen in areas above 2-thousand metres. There is a strong fear that this wet and heavy snow could cause avalanches.

Velo bleu

Work began yesterday to install Nice’s new free bicycle network. Ninety cycle stations will be installed across the city over the next two months. “Velo Bleu” is set to be rolled out in July.
Nice semi-marathon

The 18th edition of the Nice semi-marathon takes place this Sunday. Traffic will be disrupted from the port of Nice, along the Promenade des Anglais, to Avenue Gambetta. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi will be lining up with almost 2-thousand other athletes for the 21.1 kilometre event.

Pirate trial

Eleven Somali pirates captured this week by a French warship are being taken to Kenya for trial according to the French defence ministry. The pirates will be tried under an agreement between the EU and Kenya. They were captured by a warship from an EU force deployed to tackle a recent surge in piracy.

Advertising spending good
The latest studies have revealed that 90% businesses are continuing to spend the same amount on marketing as last year, despite the economic downturn. In France spending has dropped only 5%. Spending on the internet continued to grow last year, but slowed in the last quarter, while newspapers are struggling to keep readers. The Aegis media agency says it expects the advertising spending in the U-K to grow in 2010.

SPORT

TENNIS - World number 2 Roger Federer was the biggest casualty in a rain blighted Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday as he crashed out in the 3rd round. Federer who admitted afterwards that he was having big problems with his serve lost 6-4 7-5 to fellow Swiss and number 12 seed Stalislas Wawrinka who’ll now play the German qualifier Andreas Beck in the quarter finals. Beck, who’d never won a masters series match before this tournament beat Juan Monaco of Argentina in three sets. The fact that any tennis took place on Thursday was a tribute to the organisers who worked extremely hard to get the courts fit for play. Third seed Novak Djocovic who beat Albert Montanes in three sets is now up against the number 7 seed Fernando Verdasco who beat fellow Spaniard and number 10 seed David Ferrer 6-2 6-1.

Out on the Princes Court Andy Murray will resume his third round match against the Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini. Murray is leading by a set to love following a marathon tie breaker and he’s 1 love up with a break of serve in the second. The first match on Centre Court is the 3rd round clash between defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal and Nicolas Lapenti of Ecuador.Lapenti had broken the world number one’s serve in the opening game when the rain forced the players of court yesterday evening.

Formula One - Lewis Hamilton was quickest in first practice this morning for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.The McLaren ace was slightly quicker than the Brawns of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Heikki Kovaleinen in the second McLaren was 4th fastest. Lewis Hamilton is running with a new look front wing and interim diffuser which appears to have given the McLaren a little more pace.

Football - Manchester City’s European dream is over for another season after they lost their UEFA cup quarter-final tie. Hamburg will play German rivals Werder Bremen in the semi final. The other semi will be between Dynamo Kiev and Shaktar Donetsk. It’s F.A Cup semi finals weekend in England. Arsenal play Chelsea tomorrow afternoon at 6.15 French time while on Sunday Everton face Manchester United at 5pm.Both ties are being played at Wembley Stadium. In the English Premier League tomorrow Aston Villa play West Ham. Middlesboro take on Fulham. Portsmouth play Bolton. Stoke face Blackburn and Sunderland play Hull. On Sunday Manchester City host West Brom and Tottenham play Newcastle.

Rugby Union - Jonny Wilkinson is holding discussions with the French club Toulon about a big money move to the South of France this summer. Phillipe Saint-Andre who becomes director of rugby at Toulon on the 1st of July has confirmed that the players representatives are in discussions with the club’s chairman. It’s reported that the Paris side Racing Metro are also interested in signing Wilkinson.

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