The Prefect of the Alpes Maritimes, Bernard Gonzalez, announced wide-ranging measures earlier today aimed at keeping public order around this evening’s Africa Cup of Nations football final. The match between Algeria and Senegal is being played in Egypt and large numbers of ethnic Algerian and Senegalese football fans are expected to watch the match in bars across Nice and other cities tonight. The list of measures announced this morning by the Prefect included a ban on demonstrations and rallies by supporters covering much of central Nice from 4pm this afternoon to 2am tomorrow. Similar restrictions are also in force in Cannes. However, the Prefect this afternoon amended his order to make clear that peaceful gatherings of fans will be allowed and only gatherings that put people in danger or threaten public order will be banned. Across the whole of the Alpes Maritimes, it’s forbidden to buy, sell or transport fuel or acid until 6am tomorrow. There are various restrictions regarding fireworks on public roads. The consumption of alcohol in the street is prohibited until 6am tomorrow.
Two people have been seriously injured in a collision between a car and a motorbike side-car in Vinon-sur-Verdon today. The motorbike driver was airlifted to Sainte-Anne Hospital in Toulon and her 14 year old daughter was taken to Manosque Hospital. About fifteen pompier were involved in the rescue operation. The four people in the car were unhurt.
A paraglider is in hospital after falling about 30 metres to the ground this afternoon. The accident happened at the Gros Bessillon massif in the centre of the Var. A fire watchman witnessed the fall and was able to alert rescue services. The 50 year old paraglider was taken by helicopter to the Sainte-Musse Hospital in Toulon.
The Prefect of the Var has announced that the fire in undergrowth to the west of Toulon has been extinguished since this morning. The fire, which broke out yesterday afternoon, consumed about 16 hectares. Meanwhile, five of the eight massifs of the Var are classed as being at severe risk of fire today as the hot, dry weather continues in the department. The remaining three massifs are at moderate risk.
The region’s roads are expected to be busy this weekend as some people return home after their holidays and others arrive. Traffic is expected to be heavy on the roads between the major cities and towns today and tomorrow, with traffic returning to normal on Sunday.
BUSINESS
Boeing is taking a $4.9bn charge to cover costs related to the grounding of its 737 Max aircraft. The company is set to announce its quarterly results next week. In a statement, Boeing also said its "best estimate" is that the aircraft will return to service in the last three months of this year.
American Express has reported second quarter profits of $1.8bn. that’s up 9%, while revenue rose 8% to $10.8bn.
UK Public sector net borrowing in June was £7.2bn, according to the ONS. That's up from £3.3bn in June last year and higher than expected by economists. It's the highest borrowing figure for the month of June since 2015. Borrowing in the financial year-to-date, that’s April to June, was £17.9 billion, £4.5 billion more than in the same period last year
Pepsico is making a push into Africa by buying South Africa's Pioneer Food group for $1.7bn. Pioneer owns brands such as Weet-Bix, Liqui-Fruit, Ceres, Sasko and Safari.
Japanese beer maker Asahi is buying the Australian business of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The subsidiary makes Foster's larger and accounts for roughly half of Australia's beer market, according to Bloomberg.
SPORT
Tour de France… Defending champion Geraint Thomas lost time on Tour de France leader Julian Alaphilippe, who won the time trial on stage 13 today. Alaphilippe extended his overall lead to 1 minute 26 seconds by finishing 14 seconds ahead of Thomas.
Rugby Union…New Zealand Rugby has cancelled more than 700 tickets for an All Blacks Test match against South Africa. The sport's governing body in New Zealand said they were "fraudulent" tickets because they had been re-sold on the secondary market. The match in Wellington on 27 July is nearly sold out.
Golf… Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood shot four-under-par 67s and are one stroke adrift of clubhouse leader JB Holmes on day two of the Open at Royal Portrush. England's world number four Justin Rose is six under. World number one Brooks Koepka and 2017 winner Jordan Spieth are a shot behind. Three-time champion Tiger Woods will miss the weekend for the third time in 21 attempts after finishing his second round on six over.
Cricket…. Rain halted play in the England against Australia match after lunch on the second day of the Women's Ashes Test at Taunton. Australia had reached 341-5 by the time the rain came.
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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