Evening Update Monday 24 June

Preparations are underway for the heatwave due to affect France this week.  In the PACA region, the peak in temperatures is expected on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures of 39 in the shade are expected in Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. 41 degrees is expected in the Vaucluse. The north of France, including Paris, is expected to be badly affected by the heatwave. The area around the capital is currently under a Meteo France Orange weather alert for extreme heat.

Pompiers are fighting a fire which broke out this afternoon in undergrowth near Frejus. The fire, which apparently started in the area of a mobile home and two boats, quickly spread to nearby undergrowth. 35 pompiers are fighting the fire, backed up by several fire appliances and two water-bombing helicopters.

French firefighters have announced strike action from this Wednesday, the 26th June until August 31st. Seven unions have filed for strike action in protest against the lack of resources. The unions have written to France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner demanding an increase in resources following the rise in the number of interventions. A minimum service is expected as of Wednesday.

A thick plume of smoke was visible in Nice this morning after an apartment fire in the west of the city. The cause of the fire, on Avenue de Carras, is still under investigation. More than twenty firefighters were involved in extinguishing the blaze. Two people were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

Traffic on the A8 motorway was severely disrupted by a pileup involving 7 vehicles at the height of this morning’s rush hour. The accident happened just after 7am between Antibes and Villeneuve-Loubet on the carriageway in the direction of Italy.

has been visiting unemployed people in a northern area of Marseille today. He is in the city to attend the closing day of the two shores of the Mediterranean summit, which has brought together representatives of 10 countries around the Mediterranean.

BUSINESS

Carrefour has agreed to sell 80% of its Chinese business to a Chinese company. Carrefour has been operating in China since 1995.  Tesco and Walmart have also withdrawn from China recently.

One of the best known names in gambling, Caesars Entertainment, has agreed to a takeover offer from rival gambling firm Eldorado. The deal is worth $17.3bn according to reports.

Shares in car maker Daimler have fallen today after it reduced its outlook for profits this year. It was the third time in a year that the company has reduced its profit forecast. This time the warning related to extra costs related to probes into diesel vehicles.

The US has added several more Chinese businesses to its list of companies that American firms can’t trade with unless they have a licence.  The additions to the list come only days before a G20 summit in Japan where US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet. The US added Huawei to the list last month.

SPORT

Cricket… Bangladesh and playing Afghanistan at the Hampshire Bowl today. Bangladesh were 262 for 7 at the end of their innings.

Meanwhile, England opener Jason Roy has been ruled out of tomorrow’s World Cup match against Australia at Lord's. Roy tore his hamstring in the defeat of West Indies on the 14 June.

Football…. Newcastle United have announced that Rafael Benitez will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this month. The statement said that it hadn’t been possible to reach an agreement on a contract extension and that the process to appoint a successor will now begin.

Tennis… World number one Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from the Nature Valley International tournament at Eastbourne with a right arm injury. Barty said that she needs to "rest and recover" before Wimbledon begins next Monday.