Evening Update Monday 6 July 2020

Eleven migrants have been found in the back of a truck in La Seyne sur Mer this morning. The driver of the Italian registered vehicle called police after making the discovery. Firefighters said the men are from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan and were suffering from discomfort but none needed hospitalization. An inquiry has been launched to determine how and where the men boarded the vehicle.

The Cannes town hall has announced various preventative measures to help local people during the summer heatwave. An Isolation Prevention File has been opened, which identifies the most vulnerable and isolated, with 949 people in Cannes to date. Regular telephone calls are being made by the the town hall to check on vulnerable people. For the homeless, the Lycklama site, which combines day and night reception, remains open this summer.  A heatwave information telephone service as been established for advice on how to protect yourself and those around you. The number is 0800 06 66 66.

Police in the Var are calling for witnesses after the dissapearance of a hiker. 63 year old Jurgen Stober was last seen on Tuesday 30 June when he left Pramousquier to walk towards Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Route des Crêtes. When last seen, he was wearing a red T-shirt and denim shorts and had an orange backpack. Anyone with information is asked to call 04.94.46.97.94.

Two people have died and ten have been seriously injured on our region's roads over the weekend. The two people who lost their lives were a cyclist, who was involved in a collision with a motorbike in central Nice on Friday night, and a man of about 80 years old who was in a multi-vehicle accident on the D5 in La Roquebrussanne in the Var yesterday.

Several people are in custody after an attack on a bus driver in Bayonne on the west coast of France. Four people attempted to get on his bus yesterday evening without a ticket and not wearing masks. When the driver refused them entry, he was attacked. He is now in hospital on life support and is reported to be brain dead. Several dozen bus drivers gathered outside the hospital in Bayonne this morning in support of their colleague.

New French Prime Minister Jean Castex is scheduled to reveal his new government early this evening. He paid an unannounced visit to a police station in La Courneuve in the Seine-Saint-Denis this morning before having lunch at the Elysees with President Macron. Meanwhile, President Macron is due to address the nation on Bastille Day, 14 July. He's expected to outline his policies for the remaining two years of his presidential term.

Two French consumer rights groups have filed an appeal before the Council of State demanding refunds for holiday cancellations. Under a government order, tour operators and travel agents have the option of giving a credit note valid for 18 months instead of a cash refund. The measure was intended to help businesses with their cash flow. Last week the European Union started infringement proceedings against France and several other EU member states to compel reimbursement in the event of cancellation.

 

BUSINESS

Food retailer Pret a Manger has announced the closure of thirty outlets. The company said that the changes were needed to adapt to what it called "the new retail environment". Pret a Manger owns 550 outlets globally, employing 13,000 staff, of which 8,000 are in the UK.

New car registrations in the UK are down by 48.5% in first six months of this year, which is the lowest level since 1971. Just over 653,000 new cars were registered in the half year. Industry trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said that a quarter of a million sales to private buyers had  now been lost since lockdown, at a cost of £1.1bn to the UK Treasury in VAT receipts.

Lloyds Banking Group have announced management changes. António Horta-Osório is stepping down as Chief Executive in 2021 after a decade in the job. The bank also announced that Robin Budenberg will become chairman after current chairman Lord Blackwell retires early next year.

Retail spending in the Eurozone rose by 17.8% in May compared to April. However, the figures, from EU statistics agency Eurostat, show that retail sales volumes were still 5% lower than the same month last year.

Japanese technology company Fujitsi has announced a permanent plan to allow staff to choose where they work, whether from home, a major corporate hub or a satellite office. Staff will also be able to work flexible hours. It said that the "Work Life Shift" programme will offer unprecedented flexibility to its 80,000 workers in Japan.


SPORT

Cricket...Rescheduled dates for the England series against Pakistan and Ireland have been confirmed this afternoon. England will host Pakistan in a three-Test series starting on 5 August. England will also host Ireland in three one-day internationals starting on 30 July. Three Twenty20s between England and Pakistan will take place in August and September .

Football... Nemanja Matic has extended his contract with Manchester United until June 2023. The Serbia international joined from Chelsea in 2017 and was due to be out of contract with United in June next year.

There’s one game tonight in the English Premier League. Spurs host Everton.

Rugby Union... Japanese Top League side NTT Shining Arcs have announced the signing of Australian Liam Gill, New Zealander Anaru Rangi and former Scotland Captain Greig Laidlaw. Laidlaw announced his retirement from international rugby after Scotland's defeat by Japan at the World Cup last year. Most recently he's been playing for French side Clermont.

Former Nice player Jean-François Meslier de Rocan has died at the age of 50 from lung cancer. He played for the club in the 1990's.

Last local news

French and Riviera News Friday 29th March 2024

Poland has announced that its armed forces will "join the international coalition” to help secure the Olympic and Paralympic games in Paris. ... French and Riviera News Friday 29th March 2024 Read More

29/03/2024

Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024

Seven people have been questioned by police in a fraud investigation relating to the loss of almost half a million euros by Nice university hospital.... Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024

France's prime minister Gabriel Attal has announced that a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of striking her in a heated exchange over... French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has asked for national police reinforcements to help bring the Les Moulins housing estate under control.... Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024

French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024

The headmaster of a high school in Paris has resigned after receiving death threats on social media following an altercation with a student, which dat... French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024