NEWS
Duplomb Law - President Emmanuel Macron has enacted the Duplomb law, without the reintroduction of the banned pesticide. The law still includes measures easing administrative rules for large livestock farms and agricultural water storage projects, under certain environmental safeguards. It has faced major protests, with over 2.1 million people signing a petition for its repeal. Environmentalists plan to push for a full abrogation, while supporters may try to reintroduce the banned pesticide acetamiprid under stricter conditions.
Extreme heat, Météo-France sees no end to it - Extreme heat in southern France is posing a severe threat to plants and animals, with many unable to survive above 42–43°C. Crops such as tomatoes stop growing well above 33°C and can suffer burns and fruit loss beyond their tolerance limits. Most agricultural sectors and livestock are affected, with reduced milk and egg production due to heat stress. Heatwaves have quadrupled since 2000, and these extreme temperatures could become the summer norm within 30 years. Météo France sees no clear end in sight to the prolonged heatwave and severe drought in Provence. The Mediterranean Sea is also unusually warm, at 25–26°C and possibly rising to 30°C by week’s end.
18 communes under orange drought alert - Eighteen communes in the Sud-Drôme and Nord-Vaucluse, including the Enclave des Papes, have been placed under an orange-level reinforced drought alert. The entire Lez River basin is affected, triggering new water restrictions. Residents may only water vegetable gardens at night, while lawn and flowerbed watering are banned. Authorities warn that with the ongoing heatwave; further restrictions may soon extend to more areas.
17-year-old boy falls 3-meters on his head - A 17-year-old-boy from Paris is in critical condition after an accidental 3-meters fall on his head on the Promenade du Soleil in Juans-les-Pins, Alpes-Maritimes. Suffering from severe head trauma, emergencies carried him to the Pasteur 2 Hospital in Nice.
BAC officers seize 1 million euros worth of drugs and ammunition - BAC officers have arrested a man on the 8th of August who was carrying cannabis and cocaine, before searching his apartment in Avignon, Vaucluse. The search uncovered two pistols, over 400 rounds of ammunition, and nearly 70 kg of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, and methamphetamine. The stash’s street value exceeded €1 million. The case is now handled by the organised crime division.
Luxury watch theft - Luxury watch snatch thefts and violent home robberies have surged this summer in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, prompting the Var prefect to deploy extra CRS officers alongside gendarmes. Since mid-June, 23 watch thefts worth tens or hundreds of thousands of euros have been recorded, along with armed home invasions and a hotel burglary exceeding €1 million in losses. Recent arrests include Italian suspects caught stealing a €100,000 watch and an attempted theft of a €300,000 watch from a Swedish film producer. A specialised investigation unit has been created, and prosecutors vow swift, tough legal action.
Mayor of Théoule-sur-Mer wants to ban jet-skis - The mayor of Théoule-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, has asked the maritime prefect to ban jet-skis along the town’s coastline, citing noise, pollution, high speeds, and risks to marine life. Despite speed limits already in place within the local marine park, rules are often ignored, prompting the call for stricter measures. Local rental operators argue that most problems come from private owners, highlighting safety systems they’ve introduced to control their fleets. Similar bans already exist in nearby towns like Cannes, and the debate is fuelled by recent jet-ski accidents in the region.
Two rare barn owls released, a small victory for conservation - Two rare barn owls, a protected species in France, have been released in Grimaud, Var, after over a month of care at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Saint-Césaire-sur-Siagne. They had arrived extremely weak, likely due to the heatwave, and were rehydrated and fed carefully until recovery. With only 40,000-120,000 owls of this species left in France, their release is seen as a small but meaningful victory for conservation.
NEWS UPDATE
Man threatening to jump on the A8 saved - Emergency services have rescued a man threatening to jump from a bridge over the A8 motorway near Nice. The incident began around 11 am, causing major traffic delays as negotiators and rescue teams intervened. Gendarmerie negotiators eventually convinced him to abandon his attempt. He was taken into care by firefighters, and his motives remain unknown.
Listeria in cheeses - Several cheeses sold in Lidl, U, and Netto stores in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var are being recalled due to possible listeria contamination. Products include various Chêne d’Argent cheeses from Lidl, as well as specific U and Netto camemberts. Listeria can cause fever, aches, and serious complications in pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Customers are advised to return the products for a refund, with recall dates running until late August or mid-September.
Hottest night ever recorded for Nice and Valbonne - Nice and Valbonne recorded their hottest night ever last night, with temperatures of 28.7°C and 29.4°C respectively, far above seasonal norms. Other towns in the Alpes-Maritimes also saw unusually high minimums. The extreme heat is set to continue, with peaks up to 38°C inland. Météo-France warns of strong storms, heavy rain, and high winds in the mountains later today, urging caution for outdoor activities.
Golden Odessey - The Golden Odyssey, one of the largest yachts in the world, has been spotted anchored off the Îles de Lérins on the French Riviera. This 124-meter luxury vessel can host 30 guests and 70 crew, featuring pools, a gym, a spa, and even a helipad. Once owned by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan al Saud, it was seized due to financial scandals and later sold to a Chinese billionaire. The yacht is now reportedly up for sale again.
BUSINESS
UK job vacancies fell 5.8% to 718,000 between May and July, the lowest since 2021 outside the pandemic, with hospitality and retail hit hardest. Payroll numbers dropped by 8,000 in the month, marking a slow cooling in the labour market, though unemployment stayed at 4.7% and wage growth held at 5%. Analysts say the decline may be easing after April’s rise in the minimum wage and employer National Insurance costs. Economists expect slower wage growth ahead, which could prompt another Bank of England interest rate cut in November.
And - Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot on X, has been briefly suspended on the 12th of August after posting controversial remarks accusing the US and Israel of genocide in Gaza, alongside antisemitic content, including positive references to Hitler. This suspension was enforced directly on X itself. Grok has faced similar controversies in recent months, including antisemitic comments and conspiracy theories. A recent update aimed at making it less “woke” appears to have increased its provocative output, raising concerns over AI content moderation on social media.
SPORTS
Football - OGC Nice face Benfica in Lisbon on the 12th of Augustt for the Champions League third qualifying round second leg, after losing 2–0 at home in the first match. The game will be broadcast free on BFM Nice Côte d’Azur, as well as on RMC Sport’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Coverage starts at 8 pm French time, with kick-off at 9 pm. Nice need a big comeback to advance.
Rugby Union - Energy drinks giant Red Bull has completed its takeover of English top-flight club Newcastle Falcons. Newcastle, who were put up for sale towards the end of last year, are the first rugby union club to become part of the Red Bull stable and will now be known as Newcastle Red Bulls.
Tennis - World number one Jannik Sinner played through a fire alarm to beat Gabriel Diallo and reach the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. The alarm began to sound and lights started flashing in the second game of the second set but the pair agreed to play through it after a delay of several minutes. Sinner, 23, remained composed and booked his spot in the last 16 with a 6-2 7-6 (8-6) victory against the Canadian.
WEATHER
Mostly clear with occasional cloudy patches along the coast while showery thunderstorms continue inland accompanied by strong winds. On the other hand, we’ve got a gentle breeze on the riviera with very warm temperatures reaching 33 degrees in Nice, 34 in Cannes, and 36 degrees in Saint-Tropez, Toulon and Marseille.
Tonight, clear skies but extremely warm with lows of 30 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, hazy on the coast while thunderstorms are gaining ground, covering most of the PACA region accompanied by strong winds and highs of 33 degrees.
President Emmanuel Macron has enacted the Duplomb law, without the reintroduction of the banned pesticide. ...
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