The two ships which collided off Corsica last weekend have finally been separated. The maritime prefecture in Toulon announced that the third attempt to separate the two vessels was successful last night. Several government ships remain in the area to ensure the safety of the vessels and monitor the environmental impact of the collision. Six hundred tonnes of fuel oil have reportedly escaped as a result of the collision and attempts to treat the resulting slick are continuing.
The mayor of Nice, Christain Estrosi, held a press conference on a street in central Nice this morning to highlight his bicycle plan for 2020. The mayor said that the plan, which has a budget of half a million euros a year, would offer comfortable and secure cycling routes for the city. The plan will start in October next year with the completion of the East/West tram lines allowing the existing bus lanes to be converted to cycle lanes.
Police in Marseille are investigation an incident in which a delivery driver was threatened at knife point while 60,000 euros worth of computer equipment was stolen from his vehicle. The incident, in the 15th arrondissement of the city, apparently occurred after the Polish driver asked for directions from a passer-by after his GPS equipment failed.
Several climate change marches have been planned for tomorrow in about fifty cities throughout France. As part of a national movement, marches will take place in Grasse at 10am, and Antibes and Nice at 2pm. The aim is to sound the alarm and call on the public authorities to take vigorous and immediate action in favour of the environment.
Internet security professionals have been meeting in Monaco this week at The Assises de la Securite cyber security conference. The conference, which is in its 18th edition this year and is taking place at the Grimaldi Forum, features seminars, workshops and roundtables on internet related security issues.
BUSINESS
Sir Richard Branson has reportedly suspended talks over a $1billion Saudi government investment in Virgin space firms after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Virgin was in talks with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund the Public Investment Fund about a proposed investment in space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit. Sir Richard said that Virgin have asked for more information from the Saudi authorities and have asked them to clarify their position in relation to the journalist’s disappearance. Meanwhile, business news network CNBC is the latest media organisation to announce that it’s pulling out of a Saudi investment conference scheduled for later this month.
Citigroup have announced that third quarter profits have risen to $4.6bn from $4.1bn in the same period last year. Revenue was flat at $18.4bn.
Car sales in China have dropped by the largest percentage in seven years, amid mounting fears about the country's sluggish economy and ongoing trade war
with the US. Vehicle sales slumped by 11.6% last month according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Sales also fell in July and August
UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has said he believes a Brexit deal is now in sight and that the right agreement could lead to a dividend for the UK finances. The chancellor told the BBC that there had been what he called a “really important step change” in the last 10 days.
SPORT
Rugby Union…England lock Joe Launchbury has been ruled out of the autumn internationals after having knee surgery. The 27-year-old, who has 54 caps, will be out of action for 10 to 12 weeks.
Motorsports…George Russell will become the third British driver in Formula 1 next year after signing with Williams. The 20-year-old leader of this year's Formula Two championship, has secured what Williams describe as a "multi-year contract".
Football... There are several Nations League games tonight including Croatia against England , Austria against Northern Ireland and Belgium against Switzerland.
Usain Bolt has scored his first goals for a professional football team, putting two shots in the net in his maiden start for Central Coast Mariners in a friendly. The eight-time Olympic sprint champion scored the Mariners' third and fourth goals in a 4-0 win over Macarthur South West.
Speed restrictions are in place on all major roads in the Alpes-Maritimes today because of a smog alert....
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A Marseille magistrate has been sentenced on the 17th of June in Nîmes for repeatedly avoiding motorway tolls using fake license plates. ...
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A major police stop-and-search operation along France's borders is being carried out today, involving 4,000 police officers, gendarmes and customs off...
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SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers following a major network outage on the 16th of June....
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French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ...
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