An alert has been issued for reduced air quality in the Var today. The air quality monitoring organization AtmoSud says that the amount of “fine particles” in the air will exceed regulatory limits today. The pollution is caused by several factors including high temperatures, industrial and traffic pollution and calm wind conditions.
A brush fire is currently being fought by pompiers in Lantosque, just north of Sospel. An area of about five hectares is affected by the fire which started around lunchtime today. About 30 firefighters are reportedly involved in the operation. No residences are currently threatened by the fire. Some of the firefighters were flown into the difficult to access area by Dragon 06 helicopter.
Nearly two thirds of teachers from the biggest high school of Nice Parc Imperial have announced strike action today. The action comes in protest against working hours and the suppression of teaching posts. Nearly 80 teachers, out of about 120, were gathered in front of the high school this morning.
A report released into air pollution in the Roya valley has shown that some measure of pollution in the rural area are similar to those found in central Nice and Cannes. A large number of trucks use the roads through Breil-sur-Roya, Saorge, Fontan, Brig and Tende. The survey measured pollution levels from March to May 2018.
Some residents of Carros were alarmed this morning when the emergency sirens were activated. The sirens are usually tested on the first Wednesday of the month at midday. However, because of a technical problem the sirens weren’t activated on Wednesday the 6th of February and were tested today instead. Apparently many local residents hadn’t seen the notifications of the delayed test date.
Five people have been arrested in an early morning police operation in Salon-de-Provence, north of Marseille. The five are accused of being involved in the trafficking of stolen cars which were dismantled and the parts then offered for sale.
About 120 people were rescued from a gondola at a ski resort in the Savoie region at the weekend. The gondola, at Les Menuires, experienced a technical failue on Sunday afternoon. The passangers were evacuated by helicopter in an operation which took several hours. No injuries were reported.
Investigations are underway after a woman in her nineties died at her home in Cannes yesterday afternoon from cardiac arrest. It is believed that an oxygen canister used for assisting breathing may have exploded causing severe burns.
BUSINESS
President Donald Trump has said that he will delay a planned tariff hike on $200bn worth of Chinese goods which was scheduled to begin on 1 March after negotiations over the weekend. He said that, assuming both sides make additional progress, a presidential summit would be planned to conclude an agreement.
Société Générale is set to slash 1,500 jobs in its corporate and investment banking business, according to Le Figaro newspaper. The bank is apparently planning two scenarios which both expect 1,500 jobs to be cut in France, Europe, the UK, the US and Asia. Around 700 of the job losses would be in France, according to an internal company document cited by Le Figaro. A statement from Société Générale said it would not be possible to comment on the job losses as it was still assessing business within the corporate and investor client business.
The aerospace trade body, ADS Group, has said that the risk of a no-deal Brexit is turning into a "full-blown economic crisis". ADS Group said it was now able to track what it called "the very real economic damage” being caused by the continuing uncertainty over Brexit.
SPORT
Cricket…The third one day international between West Indies and England is being played in St George’s today. The 5 match series is tied at 1-1 after West Indies won the second game. The start of play has been delayed because of rain.
Rugby Union…Bath lock Charlie Ewels has replaced the injured Courtney Lawes in an England training squad for a camp in Oxford this week. Lawes is ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations and it’s thought that Ewels may feature in the match against Italy on 9 March. The four-day camp will start in Oxfordshire tomorrow and will include 25 players.
Football.. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his behaviour at the end of the 2-1 defeat at Burnley. He angrily confronted referee Mike Dean and also argued with the fourth official during the match. He has until 18:00 UK time on 28 February to respond to the charge
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