Evening Update Monday 1 July

The Var and the Alpes Maritimes have once again been placed on an Orange weather alert for high temperatures until at least 6am tomorrow. Meanwhile a level 2 pollution alert remains in place today, the alert was issued last week and concerns the Var, the Vaucluse, the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Alpes-Maritimes. The alert means speed restrictions on the region’s road with authorities advising people not to practice outdoor sports activities, and to limit their movements.  The differentiated traffic system set up in Marseille last week, which only allows less polluting vehicles to enter the city, is being continued until at least Wednesday.  The authorities said it was because of the “exceptional magnitude” of the ozone pollution.  

A fire broke out in undergrowth near Marseille-Provence airport this morning. Over 50 pompiers and a water bombing helicopter brought the fire under control. Air traffic was not disrupted at the airport.

Separately, firefighters in the Var have reminded motorists not to throw cigarette ends out of the window due to the “severe” risk of fire in the region. Six forest areas have been classified as a “severe” risk with access being restricted to the public.

A pregnant woman has died in a car crash near St Tropez airport at La Mole this morning. The crash involved a local ZOU bus on the Saint-Tropez-Toulon line and a Renault Megane. Renaud Muselier, president of the PACA region, which runs the bus service, said in a statement that he extended his sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.

Initial tests appear to confirm that a 17 year old pupil at a school in Nice, who died on the 13th of June, was suffering from meningitis. The public prosecutor of Nice, who has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death, said that analyses revealed traces of a type of meningitis.

A judicial investigation for voluntary homicide has been opened after the death of a man in Sanary last Thursday.  The man and his colleague, who were both inebriated at the time, were playing Russian Roulette with a 19th century weapon belonging to the man who survived, according to the police.

On a lighter note, a local team have done well in the French National Barbecue Championships.  Team Galinette from Antibes were awarded 3rd place in the beef category. The Championships were held in difficult conditions, because of the heatwave over the weekend, in Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer in the Bouches-du-Rhône.  It’s the sixth time the team have entered the competition.

BUSINESS

In the UK, Manufacturing PMI is at its lowest level in six and a half years. The June IHS Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers' index showed a reading of 48, down from 49.4 in May. A figure under 50 indicates contraction.

Port operator DP World is buying Topaz Energy and Marine from Standard Chartered and Renaissance Services. Topaz provides marine logistics to the global energy industry.

The Japanese government is to tighten restrictions on exports of certain high-tech materials to South Korea, pointing to a "significant damage to the relationship of mutual trust". The exports are not banned outright but screening of applications will take about 90 days.

Liberty Steel has completed the acquisition of seven major steelworks and five service centres across seven European countries from ArcelorMittal for €740m. The seven sites include  two plants near Liege in Belgium and service centres in France and Italy.

SPORT

Tennis… It’s the first day of Wimbledon today. Second seed Naomi Osaka is out of the tournament in the first round, losing 7-6 6-2 to Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva. British number two Heather Watson is through to the second round after beating Caty McNally today. Novak  Djokovic beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets this afternoon. Simona Halep defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4. 7-5.

Cricket… It’s Sri Lanka against West Indies at The Riverside in Durham. West Indies won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. They were 338 for 6 at the end of their innings.

Football…Derby have excused Frank Lampard from reporting for pre-season training duties, with the club expecting him to be offered the head coach role at Chelsea. Lampard isn’t at training  today or tomorrow as he continues talks with Chelsea. Derby have said they will now step up efforts to find a replacement for Lampard.