Local
Missing person - Police in the Var have found the vehicle of Jean Marc Sandré who was reported missing on Tuesday. Sandré the owner of a large shipyard located in Cavalaire sur mer was reported missing by his family earlier this week. The investigation into his disappearance continues.
Road accident - Four people have been seriously injured in a road accident in the Var. The accident occurred on Wednesday evening on the RN97 near Solliès-Pont. Emergency services intervened causing the closure of the road in both directions. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
Fire - A building in Beausoleil has been evacuated after a fire broke out in an apartment on Wednesday afternoon. Fourteen firefighters from Monaco tackled the blaze on rue des Martyrs de la Resistance. One person was treated at the Princess Grace hospital for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. Seven people are being temporarily rehoused by the municipality of Beausoleil as a result of the fire.
Weather – The company Thales Alenia Space in Cannes has announced that the Meteosat Satellites currently under construction have passed the stage of structural testing and will be put into orbit by the end of 2021. The system which is set to “revolutionise European meteorology” mark the next and third generation of Meteosat satellites in the hope of obtaining a rapid prediction of extreme weather conditions.
Ban - The city council of Villeneuve-Loubet has announced a ban on electric scooters and other motorized personal transport devices on the town’s pavements. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the ban coming into effect on June 15th and possible fines of up to 135 euros for anyone who ignores the ban.
A special Fan Zone is being set up in Nice for the Women’s Football World Cup. The area, which will be inaugurated at 3pm this Friday, is located in the gardens of the kiosque Albert Ier. Fans will be able to watch the games on big screens and get information about the tournament.
Meanwhile the official poster of the Women's World Cup of a modern Marianne, has been created by an agency in Nice. The illustration was unveiled by FIFA and the poster of the event reflects the official slogan of the competition "Dare to shine".
30th Anniversary - The gardens of Rayol-Canadel otherwise known as the “Domaine du Rayol” is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Located along the coast in Rayol-Canadel in the Var the gardens are part of the Conservatoire du Littoral, a corner of paradise offering a variety of plants to visitors.
National
D-Day - French President Emmanuel Macron has accompanied US President Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II in Portsmouth, on the first day of commemorations of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history that turned the tide of World War II. Trump and Macron were among several heads of state or government to address 300 WW2 veterans in Portsmouth, along with the Queen and Prince Charles, giving them a standing ovation as the ceremony began with a movie of the Normandy D-Day landings.
Today British Prime Minister Theresa May will join Emmanuel Macron in northern France for a second day of events marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Politics - French politician Valérie Pécresse has announced her departure from the Republican Party. The announcement comes a few days after the resignation of its leader Laurent Wauquiez following the historically low score of the party in the European elections. With many members of the party calling for its reconstruction Pécresse’s departure has been met with “disapproval and misunderstanding” from acting president of the party and the mayor of Antibes Jean Leonetti. Speaking to French media Pécresse said that with the current situation and lack of a party which falls between that of French President Emmanuel Macron’s “Republique en Marche” and Marine le Pen’s “National Rally” could well lead to the possible election of Marine Le Pen in the future.
Business
Fiat Chrysler has announced that its withdrawn its merger proposal for the French carmaker Renault.
The announcement came following a failed attempt by members of the Renault board to reach agreement on the offer.
Renault said that French government officials had asked for a postponement on the decision.The French state is the firm’s largest shareholder with a 15 percent stake and has been concerned that a merger with Fiat Chrysler could lead to job cuts and a shift in production.
Fiat Chrysler said that the merger would have been “transformative” for the car industry but said in a statement that it had become clear that the “ political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to be successful”.
A crucial vote aimed at saving Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group has been postponed for a week.
Landlords of the Group’s stores which include Topshop ,Miss Selfridge ,Burton and Dorothy Perkins had been due to vote on a Company Voluntary Arrangement(CVA) on Wednesday but reports say that the plan has been initially rejected.
The deal would have meant the closure of 48 stores and the loss of around 1,000 jobs but the vote has been put off for a week to allow further dialogue.
There are 7 separate CVA’s to be agreed, all of which must be approved if Arcadia is to avoid going into administration.
The UK Pension Protection Fund has already said that it will support the scheme after receiving assurances from Sir Philip and his wife ,Lady Christina Green over a 100 million pound contribution to the Arcadia pension fund.
And-Ford is set to close its plant at Bridgend in Wales with the loss of 1,800 jobs.
Ford Europe management are to meet union leaders at the firm’s Essex headquarters today to discuss the closure.
Ford has refused to discuss the reported closure but trade unions say that it would mean “disaster” for the region.
The development comes on the back of falling UK car sales amid declining demand for diesel vehicles and a slowdown in sales to China.
Brexit uncertainty has also cast a shadow on the industry with the threat of tariffs on cars and parts travelling to and from the UK.
Sport
Football-Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Portugal last night to put his side through to the final of the Nations League competition.
Portugal beat Switzerland 3-1 and will meet the winners of tonight’s second semi final between England and the Netherlands.
The spectre of hooliganism raised its head again last night after England supporters clashed with police in Porto.
Television pictures showed England supporters hurling bottles and other missiles at police in a fan zone in the city.
Police described the behaviour as “totally unacceptable” and moved in with shields and batons to break the disturbances up.
Around 18,000 England supporters are in the city for tonight’s match and security has been stepped up.
Cricket-South Africa have suffered their third straight defeat in the World Cup after being beaten by 6 wickets by India in Southampton
South Africa made a modest 227-9 from their 50 overs but they made life difficult for India who got to the target in a total of 230-4 from 47.3 overs.Rohit Sharma top scored with 122 not out.
In Wednesday’s other match New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 2 wickets.
There’s one game today.Australia play West Indies at Trent Bridge.Play starts at 11.30.
Tennis-Play was abandoned for the day at the French Open on Wednesday owing to persistent rain.
The remaining women’s quarter finals will now be played today with both semi finals on Friday.
The weather should be better today but more rain is forecast for Friday.
Golf-Former world number one Luke Donald has qualified for next week’s US Open at Pebble beach but Podraig Harrington and Lee Westwood will both miss out.
Donald made the grade in qualifying at Ohio but Harrington missed out by 2 shots at qualifying in Canada.
Westwood finished three shots adrift in qualifying at Walton Heath.
Weather
Mainly fine with the chance of an isolated shower in the Alpes-Maritimes.
Moderate westerly winds and highs of 22-26 degrees.
Overnight lows of 16 degrees on the coast and 14 degrees inland with clear skies.
Friday and the start of the weekend –Mainly fine in coastal areas tomorrow,some showers inland.Clear skies across the region on Saturday .Highs of 22-26 degrees.
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