Evening Update 07 Aug

Speed - Significant reductions in speed are planned for the A8 motorway between Antibes and Nice St Izadore. Having gone from 130 to 110km/h in 2008, the new reduction will cap the speed at just 90km/h from the first the October. Following an uproar on social media, Eric Ciotti is now demanding the state make that stretch of the motorway free, saying that Nice is the only major city in France where motorists are forced to pay for access to an urban bypass.

Heat - The heatwave is to continue officially until 4pm on Wednesday, but relief is expected through showers forecast for tomorrow and Thursday. Today was slightly cooler on the coast with 31d recorded in Antibes at 3pm and a slightly lower 24d forecast for tonight. Meteó France say the heatwave of the past week could be among the top three on record for France.

Death - The town of Collobrières near St Tropez is in mourning, after a popular sixty year-old resident was found floating in her pool. Foul play is not suspected. In Marseilles, a 36 year old woman has died after receiving 30 stab wounds from her partner, who told police he was acting in self-defense. And a 44-year-old from Cannes has died on holiday near Montpeiller after being hit by rock which fell on his campervan.

Drone - Authorities say a drone of unknown origin, which was flying over Fort Brégançon in the Var, where President Macron is spending his summer vacation, has ‘fallen into the water’. The area is a complete no-fly zone while the President is in residence. Police are looking for the drone to continue their investigation.

BUSINESS

Danish jewellery maker Pandora is to cut almost 400 jobs as shoppers turn to online stores. Pandora who are the world's largest jeweller by production volume, saw shares drop by almost 20% in Copenhagen, their lowest level in four years.

Chinese State Media has warned that Apple could be used as a bargaining chip in its trade war with the United States. The opinion piece said Apple has benefited from cheap labour, and a strong supply chain in China, and needs to share more of its profit with the Chinese people or face nationalist sentiment in the ongoing trade war.

SPORT

Swimming - Niçoise Charlotte Bonnet is celebrating today, after winning Gold in the 200m Freestyle Women’s Final at the European Championships in Glasgow. It’s her first individual Gold, and will go nicely with her first team Gold, which she won on Friday, when the French team won the 4x100 relay. Charlotte is now a strong contender to represent Nice and France at the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Motor Racing - The 22nd Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique has added Milan and Athens to its roster of starting cities. The event is open to cars that participated in Monte Carlo Rally’s between 1955 and 1980, who will start at various cities across Europe, finishing the race in Monaco on February 6th.

Football - Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov says he will accept rival Stan Kroenke's bid, to buy him out for £550m and take full control of the club. The American billionaire already owns 67% of Arsenal, and this new buyout will value the club at 1.8 billion pounds sterling. However, the deal has been described as a ‘dreadful day for Arsenal’ by the teams Supporters Trust.

Tennis - British number one Kyle Edmund was completely thrashed 6-1 6-2 by Diego Schwartzman in the first round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. It comes on the back of being beaten by compatriot Andy Murray at the Washington Open last week.  Serena Williams who suffered the worst loss of her career last week, in a 6-1 6-0 beating from Johanna Konta, has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup. Initially she cited ‘personal reasons’ which today she explained as being in a funk and not feeling like a good mom.