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Day: 10 September 2023

Rugby World Cup: Wins for England, Australia, Ireland and France

by: Luke Entwistle
10/09/2023
Gilbert Rugby Ball being placed for a penalty

Hosts France won the first match of their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign, beating New Zealand in the opener, whilst England, Ireland and Australia also began with victories.

France 27-13 New Zealand

Ill-discipline and the boot of Thomas Ramos helped France get the party started in the Stade de France as they beat New Zealand, one of the favourites for the title.

Italy 52-8 Namibia

Italy scored seven tries in a dominant victory over Namibia on Saturday. They are currently top of Pool A with five points, however, they will have their work cut out trying to progress from a group that contains France and New Zealand.

Ireland 82-8 Romania

Ireland ran riot against Romania. They scored an impressive 12 tries in a victory that sees them get their campaign off to the perfect start. They are in the so-called ‘pool of death’ that includes South Africa and Scotland.

Australia 35-15 Georgia

Australia made light work of Georgia, quickly racing into a 21-3 lead by half-time. They will face sterner tests in a group that includes Fiji and Wales.

England 27-10 Argentina

Despite a Tom Curry red card in the third minute, England miraculously prevailed against Argentina at the Vélodrome in Marseille. George Ford for the protagonist in an extraordinary, scoring all 27 of England’s points with his boot.

Japan 42-12 Chile

Debutants Chile couldn’t contain Japan, the hosts of the last Rugby World Cup. Japan scored six tries on their way to a comfortable victory, earning them a perhaps crucial bonus point.

South Africa 18-3 Scotland

South Africa came out on top in one of the crucial contests in this “Pool of Death.” The reigning champions were impressive and looked in control, capable of finding another gear when needed. Scotland manager Gregory Townsend said he was left “really disappointed” by the defeat, which saw his side kick off their campaign on a negative note.

Wales 32-26 Fiji

Fiji are one the teams that could cause an upset at this World Cup, however, despite a late surge, they couldn’t beat Wales. In a tight match, Wales made a break early in the second half, but Fiji came charging back, registering two late tries and fumbling a golden opportunity in the final second to potentially grasp victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

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Photo by Fanny Schertzer

Riviera Electric Challenge: From Cagnes to Monaco via Dolceacqua

by: Luke Entwistle
10/09/2023
Riviera Electric Challenge 2022

The ninth edition of the Riviera Electric Challenge will be the most international one to date, covering three countries: France, Italy and Monaco.

Beginning in Cagnes-sur-Mer on 12th September, the electric fleet of vehicles competing in the event, which has been co-organised by the Nice Automobile Club, the Ponente Ligure Automobile Club as well as the Town Hall of Monaco, will first head towards the Italian border before winding up in Monaco on 14th September.

Cagnes to Monaco using the least energy possible

The purpose of the now annual event, founded in 2015, is not only to promote sustainability within the borders of the Principality and beyond, but to bring together businesses and exemplary communities in integrating electric vehicles into their fleets.

And whilst there is a leading social objective to the event – to promote sustainable solutions – there is a also a competitive element.

The cars will gather at the Hotel Indigo in Cagnes-sur-Mer on Tuesday ahead of a speech from the Mayor of the Riviera town, Louis Nègre, the same evening. The departure will take place from the Hotel Indigo in Cagnes-sur-Mer the following morning as the fleet embark on a 405km journey, ultimately leading them to the Principality.

Prince Albert II involved in prize-giving ceremony

Using the least amount of energy possible, the 30 teams will make their way to Monaco’s twin town in Italy, the picturesque Dolceacqua, before heading back across the border towards Monaco.

The cars will then begin to arrive in Place du Palais Princier, Monaco from 17:00 on Thursday. Prince Albert II will be involved in the prize-giving ceremony with eight trophies, including the Prince’s Cup, being handed out to the victors of the ninth edition of the Riviera Electric Challenge.

 

 

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Photo source: Riviera Electric Challenge. This article was originally published on 4th September. 

Meet Reef Pulse, the innovative French company using acoustics to listen in on coral reefs

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/09/2023

By tracking the health and functioning of coral reefs using AI and passive acoustics, French company Reef Pulse is on the cutting edge of marine protections.  

The world’s coral reefs are home to 30% of marine biodiversity. They also provide vital goods and services to about 850 million people through coastline protection and tourism, as well as being a major source for food.  

But human impacts are destroying these fragile ecosystems at an alarming rate, with experts saying the planet could lose 70% to 90% of all coral reefs by 2050.  

Steps are being taken to protect the reefs, but, as their health is deteriorating rapidly, there are fears that they are not extensive enough to help solve the crisis facing reefs in a timely manner.  

Enter Reef Pulse, the French company that is offering “continuous monitoring services for the state and functioning of coral reefs with an innovative approach”. 

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES 

Reef Pulse takes ambient sound recordings collected from coral reefs and translates them into instantly usable data via state-of-the-art technologies such as passive acoustics, signal processing and artificial intelligence (AI). The company can then use this information to establish conservation methods tailor-made for each situation.  

More specifically, the company records the sounds in the reefs over a continuous period to allow its analysts to determine the state of the reef. Compared against a range of data points and indicators, this information is translated into visuals to help those working to save the reefs do their jobs as effectively as possible.  

The data is analysed daily to allow a thoroughly understanding of the effects of the Earth’s cycles – lunar and seasonal – and identify peak periods of activity. This combination of acoustic analysis and data visualisation provides detailed insight into ecosystem life and health. 

REEF PULSE AND FRANCE 2030 

Launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in October 2021, France 2030 is a programme that supports start-ups, companies and organisations with projects that have real potential to make a difference. To date, more than €8.4 billion has been dedicated to toward 60 projects and 1,700 recipients.  

Reef Pulse is one such beneficiary of France 2030 funding, which has been instrumental in helping refine the company’s tools to make them readily available to marine parks, design offices, research laboratories and local communities. 

 

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Photo via Reef Pulse