French Villa Holiday News.

French News, Tues 12 May 2006
Equine anaemia tests

Results are expected tomorrow on the first of hundreds of horses across the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var, who have been quarantined since a suspected outbreak of equine infectious anaemia. It was first detected on April 7 at the Hippodrome on the Cote d’Azure, in a horse from Carcés in the Var. This has led to seven horse facilities and properties being placed under quarantine, effecting around 160 horses, donkeys and even a circus zebra. The minimum incubation period for the disease is 35 days.

Break-out inquiry

Two patients from a Nice psychiatric hospital remain on the loose six days after a break-out from the facility. The inmates escaped after climbing over the roof of the Saint-Marie facility. 37-year-old Italian-Moroccan Charhan Benmaimoun, who is considered dangerous, and 19-year-old Ismaël Diaby remain on the run. An inquiry is underway into their escape.

Beach restaurant demolished

A beach restaurant at Cagnes-sur-Mer was demolished yesterday by the Prefecture; the latest step in a battle to reclaim beaches for the public. The demolition signalled the end of a 12-year legal battle, which cost 50-thousand euros. There are four other restaurants on the beach also facing demolition.

Royal fundraiser

Almost 20-thousand euros was raised for the Prince Albert II Foundation. The funds from the dinner, at Monaco’s Zest Restaurant, will be used to continue the Foundation's environmental work. The food was prepared by the 2008 Chef of the Year, Yannick Alléno, and Ronan Kervarrec the Chef at the Zest. Guests were also treated to a 15 minute film extract of the Prince’s voyage to the Antartic.

Prison guard agreement

The two main unions involved in last week’s prison blockades yesterday signed an agreement with the Justice Minister, Rachida Dati. Guards blockaded prisons across the country, including Nice and Grasse, preventing the movement of prisoners and stopping visitors from entering.

Caterpillar peace package

The long running dispute at the Caterpillar factories could be drawing to a close. The American manufacturer yesterday announced improved redundancy packages for 733 workers. Facing the sack the employees briefly took their bosses hostage during negotiations.

Output drops

France saw sharp falls in industrial output in March, which were much larger than forecast. French output was down 1.4% on the previous month, said national statistics office INSEE. Economists had predicted a decline of only 0.5%. Production of electronic goods and output in the energy and food sectors fell, outweighing a rise in transport.

SPORT

Football - Newcastle United are out of the relegation zone in the English Premier League with 2 matches to go before the end of the season. Sheffield United are through to the Championship playoff final after beating Preston 1 nil last night to take the semi final tie 2 one on aggregate. The Blades will meet the winners of tonight’s other semi final play off between Reading and Burnley-Burnley lead one nil from the first leg.

Formula One - Ross Brawn has insisted that there’s no pecking order at Brawn GP and the team does not operate a favouritism policy. Brawn was speaking following threats from Rubens Barrichello that he’d hang up his helmet if he found that his teammate and championship leader Jenson Button was being favoured. He told the BBC that Brawn GP does not have a one and a two driver and they’re both on equal terms and conditions.

Cricket - The former England cricketer Chris Lewis has appeared in court charged with smuggling 140,000 pounds worth of Cocaine into the UK. Lewis who’s 41 was arrested at Gatwick airport last December. Jurors at Croydon Crown Court were told yesterday that he’d brought the drugs concealed in fruit and vegetable juices from St Lucia. Both Lewis and his co-defendant Chad Kirmon who’s a basketball player deny the charges.

Rugby Union-The Scotland captain Mike Blair has been called into the Lions squad to replace injured scrum half Tomas O’Leary. The 28 year old’s call up means that there are now 3 Scottish players in the South Africa tour party.
Cycling - Allesandro Petacchi has the overall lead in the Giro d’Italia after the 3rd stage. The Italian won Monday’s stage to eclipse Britain’s Mark Cavendish-The gruelling mountain sections start today.

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And finally, workmen dismantled a large sculpture mocking European Union member states Monday after its Czech artist demanded its removal from the EU's headquarters. The 16-metre high "Entropa" sculpture portrays Bulgaria as a squat toilet, Italy as a football ground, and the Netherlands as entirely flooded, with only a few minarets sticking out. It caused outrage when it was unveiled in January, but has attracted many visitors to see it in the entrance of an EU building that is often used for summits. It had been due to remain on display in Brussels until the Czech Republic's EU presidency ends in June, after six months. But the artist, David Cerny, said he no longer wanted to be associated with the Czech Republic because its new government involves former communists.