Two drivers have been charged with manslaughter after an accident on the A8 Monday which caused the death of a 47-year-old motorcyclist. In the incident, near the Trinité exit north of Nice, the motorcyclist was hit by first by a van and then a truck. Following the accident, the driver of the van tested positive for narcotics and alcohol.
Police in Nice have arrested the man who attacked a doctor who was visiting his home to check his sick leave. The elderly doctor, who was sent by the Primary Insurance Fund to check a long-term claimant, said the man was hostile on arrival. When it was obvious the man was in good health, the doctor asked him to sign an attestation saying he no longer required sick leave. That was when the man became physically violent and attacked the 80-year-old doctor, to the extent he needed several stitches in his face. There has been widespread condemnation against the attack, with doctors associations say they are getting more and more frequent. They have called on control checks like these to be conducted at CPAM.
Prince Albert of Monaco has written to the President of Slovenia to express condolences over the enormous tragedy in the country where extensive flooding has taken the lives of six people and affected tens of thousands of homes. The Prince said his thoughts and prayers are with the rescue teams and people helping the injured. The EU is to make €400m available immediately to Slovenia saying ‘help will be quick, efficient and nobody will be forgotten’.
Unemployment in France has steadied in the last year with 7.2% of people out-of-work in the last quarter, compared to 7.1% in quarter one. INSEE figures out today show the long-term unemployment rate, people who have been without work for more than a year, stands at 1.8%.
Monaco has announced a new three-way agreement to share information between the Attorney General, the Director of Public Security and Monaco’s Financial Intelligence Unit. Tripartite agreements like this are an international standard in the fight to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Almost 20,000 people are expected in Cagnes-sur-mer tomorrow evening for the second Promenade en Fete. The town has erected five stages and multiple amusements for the evening where the highlight will be fireworks at 10.15. Traffic diversions are in place from 6pm Saturday to 4am Sunday morning.
Business
The company which owns the luxury brands Versace, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo has been sold to American group Tapestry in a deal worth $8.5bn. Tapestry's boss said the deal creates a new powerful global luxury house to compete with European giants such as LVMH.
Swiss bank UBS has ended its ‘loss protection agreement’ worth €9bn and a €100bn public liquidity backstop. Both were put in place by the Swiss government when UBS took over their rival bank, Credit Suisse in March.
India's Tata Group has unveiled a new logo, branding and livery for Air India. It’s part of a multi-million dollar transformation of the airline which includes a deal with Boeing to buy a record 470 new aircraft.
Sport
Football - France are bracing themselves for a hostile crowd tomorrow when they take on hosts Australia for their crunch World Cup quarter-final clash. 50,000 fans are expected at the stadium in Brisbane, with 49,000 cheering on the Aussies. France are confident though, with a 6-3 first round win over Panama and 4-0 win over Morocco boosting their form, while Australia started slowly at the tournament needing a penalty to beat Ireland 1-0 in the opening match, then losing 3-2 to Nigeria in the second. Victory over Australia would secure Les Bleues their second semi-final appearance and their first since 2011 when they beat England on penalties to advance to the last four. The game kicks off in Brisbane at 9am tomorrow morning French time and can be seen on the M6 television channel. In other quarter final news today, Sweden produced a magnificent performance winning 2-1 over Japan to set-up a semi-final date with Spain who beat the Netherlands 2-1.
Tennis - Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Canadian Open due to an abdominal strain. He was due to face Italian seventh seed Jannik Sinner in the last 16. In his entire career, this is just the seventh time Murray has conceded a walkover. Sinner advances to the quarter-finals and will face Frenchman Gael Monfils later today.
Rugby - More World Cup warm-ups tomorrow with England against Wales and a very interesting match lined up with France hosting Scotland. Last Saturday, Scotland were 21-3 down to France at half time before sealing a brilliant 25-21 comeback victory against Les Bleues. But that was a home game and tomorrow they’re in St Etienne facing a French team determined to settle the score. That game kicks off at 9pm with the England/Wales match scheduled for 6.30.
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