Evening Update 19 June

A new allegation of abuse has been brought against a former parish priest in Nice. The accuser, who was an 11-year-old boy at the time, said the priest touched him sexually while on a trip to Rome. The priest in question has been suspended from all church duties and remains on bail, as he faces eight other charges of assault between 1983 and 2017.

It’s been announced that former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy will face prosecution for corruption. Monsieur Sarkozy is being charged with bribery and trading influence. The case centres on conversations that were tapped by investigators looking into claims that Sarkozy accepted illicit payments from the L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. He’s also facing charges of illicit financing for the 2012 campaign, where he is said to have spent nearly €43 million on his re-election bid, almost double the legal limit. Enquiries have also revealed that Sarkozy often communicated using cell-phones obtained under false identities. He is not the first ex-president to be prosecuted - his predecessor Jacques Chirac was given a two-year suspended sentence in 2011 for embezzlement and misuse of public funds during his time as Mayor of Paris.

A suspected gas leak saw customers being evacuated from the Burgerking Restaurant on Rue Jean-Medcine in Nice this morning. Firefighters immediately on the scene, discovered the alarm was activated by a carbon dioxide leak on one of the machines for carbonating soft drinks.

BUSINESS

Monaco businessman and restauranteur Riccardo Giraudi has received the distinction of ‘Goodwill Ambassador in the Principality’ in a ceremony headed by Minister of State Serge Telle. Monsieur Giraudi has developed leading restaurants in Monaco and exported the concepts to Paris, Dubai and the Michelin starred Beefbar in Hong Kong.

American Airlines will become first US carrier to order the new Airbus A321XLR. The airline will convert orders and options, previously placed for A321neos, into firm orders for fifty A321XLR.

SPORT

Football - In breaking news this afternoon, Spain manager Luis Enrique has stepped down from his role and will be replaced by assistant Robert Moreno after less than a year in charge. The former Barcelona boss signed a two-year contract last July.

Neymar's three-match European ban has been upheld after UEFA rejected an appeal by his club Paris St-Germain. The forward was charged with insulting match officials after the French teams Champions League exit to Manchester United last March. The ban means Neymar will now miss half of next season's Champion’s League group stage.

Formula 1 - Honda will give an upgraded engine to its Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams at this weekend's French Grand Prix. Three of the company's four drivers will have the engine including Red Bull's Max Verstappen. However, the move means a grid penalty for Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat for exceeding the permitted usage of engine parts in a season.

WORLD CUP FOOTBALL

Two games in Group D tonight.

England will be looking to be the group winners with a 100 percent record when they play Japan at the Stade Allianz Riviera in Nice tonight. Having already beaten Scotland and Argentina, the England team are two points above second-placed Japan. Kick-off for the game is at 9pm.

The other match, also at 9pm, is between Scotland and Argentina. Scotland are bottom of the group at the moment but could still make the last 16 if they win tonight and England beat Japan.

Last night Italy and Australia went into the last 16 after their respective wins, while Brazil will need to win a knockout match if they are to progress.