Evening Update Friday 24 May

An accident involving several vehicles caused disruption on the A8 motorway this afternoon. A bus and several cars were involved in the accident near Mandelieu and those who had suffered injuries were being treated at the site.

Students have been marching through the streets of Draguignan today to protest about climate change. According to reports, about 170 people were on the march, which ended at the town hall, where local officials answered demonstrator’s questions.

Swimming has been prohibited in the bay of Carnoles.  The decision was taken today by the town hall of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and the Agglomeration Community of the French Riviera because of the suspicion of pollution in the sea. A descision on the lifting of the swimming ban will be made once water samples have been analysed and the water declared safe.

One persons has died after an apartment fire in Frejus. The body of a woman was discovered after firefighters were called to a fire on the third floor of a four storey building this morning. Twenty pompiers with several vehicles were involved in extinguishing the fire and searching the apartment.

About 900 students were confined to their classrooms this morning at a college in Nice.  Pompiers responded after reports of a suspected gas leak at the college Raoul-Dufy.  According to reports, initial investigations didn’t locate a specific leak this morning and investigations were continuing.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged "swift clarification" on Brexit after Theresa May’s resignation statement today. President Macron said Mrs May had done what he called "courageous work" on Brexit but he stressed the need to "maintain the smooth functioning of the EU, which requires swift clarification".

 

BUSINESS

President Donald Trump has said Huawei could be part of a trade deal between the US and China, despite branding the telecoms firm as "very dangerous".  The US argues Huawei poses a national security risk, while Beijing accuses the US of "bullying" the company.

Facebook is reportedly finalising plans to launch its own crypto-currency next year. It is planning to set up a digital payments system in about a dozen countries by the first quarter of 2020. The company apparently wants to start testing its crypto-currency by the end of this year. Facebook is expected to outline plans in more detail this summer.

In the UK, the Office for National Statistics said retail sales in April were virtually unchanged on March figures.  Sales from online-only retailers rose 9.4% over the three-month period - the highest three-month-on-three-month growth rate since records began, but department stores continued to see their sales fall.

 

SPORT

Tennis...World number 36 Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the French Open because of illness.
He was due to play British number two Cameron Norrie in the first round.
Britain's Katie Swan has missed out on a place in the main draw of the French Open following a 4-6 5-7 defeat to  Kristina Kucova in the final round of qualifying today.

Rugby Union...It’s the Gallagher Premiership play-offs tomorrow. Saracens play Gloucester and Exeter play Northampton. The games kick off at 2.30 and 5.30. It’s also the Guinness Pro 14 play-off final between Glasgow and Leinster. That one kicks off at 7.30pm

Cycling.. . Lance Armstrong says that he "wouldn't change a thing" about the doping that helped him win and then subsequently saw him stripped of seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong was banned from cycling for life in 2012 before admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs. In an interview with NBC Sports he said he had "learned a lot" from his "mistakes".

 

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