Evening Update Thursday 11 April

A motorcyclist died on the A8 motorway in the early hours of this morning. The 35 year old man apparently lost control of his bike just after the La Turbie toll booths in the direction of Nice.  Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police in Saint Martin Vesubie in the Alpes-Maritimes have issued an urgent appeal for information about a missing man. 49 year old Christian Belveze has been missing since the 21st of March. His car was found abandoned at Utelle on the 22nd of March. He is described as being 1 meter 70 tall, of normal build and with short black hair. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 04 93 03 20 10

According to reports, the SNCF is planning to stop its AutoTrain service. The service, which allows users to transport their car by train, has become less and less used over the past few years.  Only six stations are presently served by the service, including three on the Riviera - Toulon, Frejus-Saint-Raphael and Nice.  Reports say that the last car carrying train will be on the 14th of December.

The French observatory of thunderstorms and tornadoes has released data about yesterday’s thunderstorms which affected our area.  The observatory said that there were more than 1,800 lightning strikes recorded in the Var.  About 5,300 strikes were recorded in the whole of France yesterday. 

BUSINESS

US airline JetBlue has announced that it will launch its first transatlantic services in 2021, with flights from New York and Boston to London. JetBlue currently operates in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The US and China have largely agreed on a mechanism to enforce a potential trade deal between them according to US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The issue of enforcement has been a key sticking point in trade talks between the two countries.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called a general election. The poll will decide whether the conservative government wins a third term or is replaced by a Labor administration led by Bill Shorten. Voters go to the polls on 18 May. All 151 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, and half of the 76 seats in the Senate. And Indians have been heading to the polls today to vote in the first phase of their general election. The seven-phase vote to elect a new lower house of parliament in India will continue until 19 May. Counting day is 23 May.

SPORT

Football.. Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been banned for eight games after being found guilty of abusing a referee. The former Chelsea player was sent off by official Jesus Gil Manzano during Atletico's 2-0 loss to Barcelona. Manzano said in his match report that the Spanish international had "insulted his mother", a claim Costa denied.
The Europa League quarter finals are being played tonight. Arsenal host Napoli. Benfica play Eintracht Frankfurt. Slavia Prague host Chelsea and Villareal play Valencia. 

Golf… The US Masters has got underway in Augusta today with Rory McIlroy favourite for the first Major of the year.  World number one Justin Rose will be teeing off in a group with Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas.