French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced that there will be an automatic suspension of a motorist's driving licence for driving under the influence of narcotics. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that driving under the influence of narcotics is responsible for one in five accidents.
The mayor of Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence has extended the ban on visitors to Haut-Vernet until the end of this month to maintain the privacy of residents. Nine days after his disappearance, there are apparently no new developments in the search for two and a half year old Emile. The search for evidence locally is continuing as are interviews. Analysis of telephone calls and other data is also continuing.
Four arrests have been made after gunfire in Marseille yesterday lunchtime. The incident occurred in the 14th arrondissement. There were no reports of injuries.
The prefect of the Var has convened a meeting of the water resources committee for a situation update. The prefecture said that the rains of May and June allowed for an improvement in the flows of rivers but with the return of the strong heat, the levels have dropped quickly. It wasn't proposed to move to higher critical stages, but the prefecture said that the situation can quickly change in view of the rapid drop in the flow rates of the rivers and the summer pressure on resources.
President Macron will be visiting the French territory of Nouvelle-Caledonie in the south Pacific next Monday. He last visited five years ago. He will hold meetings with elected officials in the territory which has a population of about 270,000. Discussions are currently taking place on the future status of the territory. He will also visit Vanuatu and Papa New Guinea.
A boat caught fire in the port of Saint-Lauren-du-Var yesterday afternoon. Smoke from the blaze could be seen over a wide area as firefighters intervened and cordoned off the area. There were no injuries.
A pedestrian has died after being hit by a car in La Seyne-sur-Mer. The woman didn't survive her injuries after the accident yesterday afternoon.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has created a new video campaign to reinforce awareness of the risk of drowning. Three short videos have been made to remind the public that children under 6 years old are the main victims of drowning and that parental vigilance is essential. A fourth video targets young people, highlighting the need to monitor the impact that the heat and the sun have on physical wellbeing. The videos can be found on social networks.
BUSINESS
The Chinese economy grew by 6.3% in the second quarter compared with a year earlier, according to official government data. The figure was less than expected by many economists. On a quarterly basis , GDP grew by 0.8% in the second quarter, down sharply from 2.2% in the first quarter.
UK train drivers' union Aslef has announced further industrial action. Drivers will refuse to work overtime for six days from Monday 31 July. It comes as the union begins its second overtime ban in three weeks today. The long running dispute revolves around pay, jobs and conditions. In a separate dispute members of the RMT union will strike on Thursday and Saturday this week.
SPORT
Cricket.... England have recalled James Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford. He replaces Ollie Robinson. Australia lead the series 2-1, meaning that England must win the Test to be in with a chance of regaining the Ashes.
Football... Sheffield United have signed Yasser Larouci on loan from French club Troyes with an option to make the deal permanent. Algeria-born Larouci has been capped four times by France at under-21 level.
A new optional regional transport tax for businesses, introduced in France’s 2025 budget, aims to fund eco-friendly mobility projects. ...
Read More
A judge has authorised a dive to inspect the wreckage of a plane in the sea off Antibes. The plane crashed into the Mediterranean on September 11 1968...
Read More
In France, drinking water is heavily contaminated with "forever pollutants," particularly trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), as revealed by two studies from ...
Read More
The trial of the Tunisian man accused of the murder of three people in the Nice Basilica attack is continuing in Paris. Yesterday the families of the ...
Read More
Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." ...
Read More
