The Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are on an orange heatwave alert from midday tomorrow, Saturday. A yellow alert is in force for the rest of Friday until midday tomorrow. Temperatures could reach 36 degrees in places in the Alpes-Maritimes and 39 degrees in the Var tomorrow afternoon. Meteo France have said that minimum temperatures in Nice are not expected to drop below 29 on Saturday night and Sunday night.
A pharmacy in Draguignan was evacuated this morning after the discovery of a bottle of acid. A nearby road was closed as firefighters investigated and several businesses and residential premises were also evacuated. A unit specializing in chemical hazards was on the scene. The all-clear was given at about midday today.
The first private train service in France is due to start operating in our region this Sunday. Franco-German company Transdev will operate a regular service between Marseille, Toulon and Nice. The company has said that there will be one train per hour, with extra services planned for the weekend. The new service is the result of a competitive bidding process started in 2018 by the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region, the first region in France to launch such an initiative.
The National Police in the Alpes-Maritimes have conducted an operation to combat drugs trafficking in Cannes and Le Cannet. 17 individuals were arrested. 15 kg of cannabis resin, 560 g of cocaine, two weapons, and large sums of cash were also seized.
The long-awaited inauguration of the Tende tunnel is taking place this evening. The project to renovate the existing tunnel, which has existed since the 1800's, and create a new tunnel, was officially commenced in 2007. Construction got underway in 2014, with damage caused by Storm Alex in 2020 delaying the project, amongst other delays. Several ceremonies are taking place this evening on both the Italian and French sides of the border.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has announced details of several new parking lots in the La Madeline district which are being built to ease traffic fluidity in the area. A 36-space parking lot, located at the top of Boulevard de la Madeleine, will be completed next November. A 320-space parking lot, compared to approximately 80 today, to relieve congestion in Magnan area, will be completed by the end of 2026 and there is also a 19-space parking lot, already completed, which incorporates ecological solutions.
BUSINESS
UK car and commercial vehicle production fell for the fifth consecutive month in May, down by 32.8%, according to the latest figures published by industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Excluding 2020, when Covid lockdowns saw factories closed or running at greatly reduced capacity, it was the lowest performance for the month since 1949. As far as the year to date is concerned, total output is down by 12.9% on 2024, which is the lowest figure since 1953.
Canada's parliament has passed a bill giving the country's government new powers to speed up the development of major national projects. The One Canadian Economy Act permits the cabinet to streamline approvals processes and bypass certain provisions of federal law for projects that could boost the economy. Those in favor of the act see it as a way of reducing Canada's reliance on the United States.
Sportswear company Nike has said that President Trump's tariffs on key trading partners could add about $1bn to its costs this year. The company announced fourth-quarter revenue of $11.1bn, which beat analyst's estimates but is the lowest since the third quarter of 2022.
SPORT
Football...Brentford have appointed Keith Andrews as their new head coach. He was already on the club staff, having worked as the club's set-piece coach. He succeeds Thomas Frank who left to join Tottenham.
Motorsports...Mercedes driver George Russell was first in first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix this afternoon. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was second, with only 0.065 seconds between the two drivers. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third fastest, with 19-year-old Irishman Alex Dunne in the other McLaren in fourth place.
A 38-year-old man has been fatally struck by a truck early Thursday, the 17th of July, on the A8 motorway near Coudoux, Bouches-du-Rhône. ...
Read More
Tensions are running high in Antibes, where around thirty animal rights activists from the group One Voice have gathered outside the former Marineland...
Read More
Météo-France has extended the yellow heatwave warning in the Var for today Thursday, July 17th. The warning is in place until 10pm this evening with h...
Read More
Due to ongoing drought, the Var department has placed nearly 150 communes under water vigilance and four under official drought alert. ...
Read More
Meteo France have placed the Var on a top-level red alert for forest fires today. Two other nearby departments, the Bouches-du-Rhone and the Vaucluse ...
Read More
