Evening Update Monday 8 July

Firefighters are still attempting to bring a brush fire under control near Saorge. About 30 hectares has so far been destroyed with reports saying that the fire is still alight this afternoon. The fire broke out on Friday night and pompiers have been trying to bring it under control over the weekend.  It’s in a particularly difficult to access uninhabited area. Meanwhile, a fire which started near Lorgues this afternoon was quickly extinguished by pompiers and water carrying helicopters.

The 10 year old child who was struck by lightning at the weekend is still in intensive care at the Lenval hospital in Nice.  He was struck by lightning on Sunday shortly before 9am when he was with his parents on the plage du Midi in Vallauris-Golfe-Juan.

Fireworks and firecrackers have been banned in the Var from the 12th to the 14th of July. The sale, possession and use of all categories of fireworks has been prohibited by the prefect on public order grounds.

Travellers have left the two sites in Hyeres where they had been encamped since last month.  The city had notified one of the two groups of an expulsion order last Wednesday which required them to vacate that land within 48 hours.

Two men have received prison sentences for thefts in Menton.  The men stole bank cards from elderly people while distracting them when they were withdrawing money from an ATM. The cards were used to make fraudulent withdrawals and the cash was then spent on sports betting. The two men, who were arrested in Marseille, received sentences of 3 years and 1 year in prison.

A woman has died after a car crashed into the Rhone River at Villeneuve-lez-Avignon in the Gard department last night. The 25 year old driver of the car managed to escape but pompiers were unable to revive the 22 year old passenger.


BUSINESS

The UK Information Commissioner's Office has said that it’s proposing to fine British Airways £183.4m because of a breach of customer data laws. The fine relates to an incident in which the personal data of approximately 500,000 customers was compromised. IAG says it intends to appeal the decision.

Tobacco company Imperial Brands has announced a   share buyback and a change to its dividend policy. It will abandon its annual 10% dividend increase from next year and instead adopt a progressive policy that takes into account the underlying performance of the business.

Tesco is to open 750 convenience stores across Thailand over the next three years. The new plans will create up to 10,000 new jobs.

 

SPORT

Tennis...world number one Ashleigh Barty is out of Wimbledon, losing her fourth round match against world number 55 Alison Riske. The final score was 3-6  6-2  6-3. Meanwhile, Serena Williams has reached the quarter-finals after beating Spanish player Carla Suarez Navarro. Final score was 6-2  6-2. Williams will play Alison Riske in the last eight. 15-year-old American qualifier Coco Gauff is out of the tournament after losing 6-3  6-3 to former world number one Simona Halep. Rafael Nadal is into the quarter-finals after defeating Joao Sousa 6-2  6-2  6-2. Karolina Muchova beat third seed Karolina Pliskova to go through to the next round.

Cycling...Stage 3 of this year’s Tour de France has been underway in Epernay today.  France's Julian Alaphilippe took the yellow jersey with a solo win. Meanwhile, Geraint Thomas lost five seconds to his Ineos co-leader Egan Bernal and France's Thibaut Pinot at the finish.

Cricket.. The World Cup semi-finals will be played this week as the tournament reaches its climax. There are no matches today but India will play New Zealand at Old Trafford tomorrow while England play Australia at Edgebaston on Thursday. The final will be at Lords on Sunday.

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