Evening Update Monday 8 August 2022

Enquiries are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the death of a diver off the coast of Saint Raphael at the weekend. Local reports say that the man in his sixties was diving from his boat on Saturday. He couldn't be revived after being brought to the surface by rescue services.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced an intensification of controls aimed at so-called "urban rodeos". He said that such criminal acts, which often involve driving dangerously at high speed on public roads, very seriously injure people and he anticipated that ten thousand control operations would take place throughout France. Gerald Darmanin has been in Marseille today where he was present at a ceremony to welcome sixty five new national police officers. The increased number of officers is part of an initiative to bolster the police presence in Marseille launched by President Macron during his visit to the city in September last year.

Virtually all of the departments in the south east and south west of France are still on either yellow or orange alerts for heat from Meteo France. Locally, the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are both on yellow alerts until 4pm tomorrow, which may be extended. Meteo France are saying that the heatwave is due to last until the middle of the month.

A man is in a serious condition after being shot in Marseille at the weekend in an attack believed to be related to drugs trafficking. The attack took place in the 12th arrondissement in the east of the city. Police sources said that the attackers reversed over the victim in their vehicle after shooting him.

The construction of the new police headquarters in Nice is getting underway. The demolition permit for the old building has just been posted and mayor Christian Estrosi has said that work will probably begin shortly. From September 1, bus lines 5 and 8 will be diverted to avoid the works.

 

BUSINESS

China has reported a record trade surplus. Exports rose by 18% in July compared to the previous year. It's a larger than expected increase. China has recently started to reopen many areas after severe Covid-19 lockdowns.

Qantas has asked senior executives to work as baggage handlers for three months because of a labour shortage. The airline is looking for at least 100 volunteers to work at Sydney and Melbourne airports. A Qantas spokesperson told the BBC that "our operational performance has not been meeting our customers' expectations or the standards that we expect of ourselves - and that we've been pulling out all stops to improve our performance."

 

SPORT

Athletics... It's the final day of the Commonwealth Games today. Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix won her third diving medal with a mixed synchronised 10m platform gold for England alongside Noah Williams. James Willstrop and Declan James defeated fellow England pair Darryl Selby and Adrian Waller to take the gold in the squash finals.

Rugby Union...Saracens have signed prop James Flynn from Jersey Reds. The 28-year-old was previously with Ampthill and began his career at Sale.

 

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