A new heatwave is underway, affecting much of France during the next few days. Meteo France this afternoon had 21 departments on a level 3 Orange alert and many more on a level 2 yellow alert. The Atmosud air quality monitoring organization has placed the Var on a Level One Ozone alert for today and also for tomorrow. Meteo France have said that Thursday will be potentially a “historically hot” day with temperatures rivalling those experienced in the heatwave of 2003. Temperatures of 41 or perhaps 42 degrees are expected in Paris on Thursday. More moderate temperatures are expected to return on Friday.
850 kilos of meat unfit for human consumption has been seized from a market in Nice. According to the Nice town hall, the operation by authorities took place yesterday on the boulevard du Mercantour in the west of Nice. One ton of perishable food such as fruit and vegetables was also destroyed in the raid. Five people were arrested in connection with various other offences.
A French navy submarine which disappeared in the 1960’s has been found off Toulon. The Minerve was based in the port when it disappeared in 1968. The missing submarine was found 45km off Toulon at a depth of 2,370m. The precise reason behind the accident involving the Minerve has never been revealed.
Two people have been hospitalized after a fight apparently broke out at a party in Vallauris. According to reports, the fight broke out at a villa yesterday evening during a private party. The two men were taken to La Fontonne hospital in Antibes suffering from knife injuries.
A major fire broke out at a scrap yard in Saint-Laurent-du-Var over the weekend. Several gas canisters exploded during the fire but pompiers brought the blaze under control and no injuries were reported.
A motorbike rider has died after a collision with a car in the Var this morning. The accident happened on the RD17 between Les Cannet-des-Maures and Le Thoronet.
Gastroenteritis has officially reached epidemic levels in the PACA region. The disease often affects large sections of the population in winter, but outbreaks can occur at any time of the year. The PACA region recently had 118 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Corsica is experiencing the highest levels of the outbreak with 155 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
BUSINESS
Credit score agency Equifax has agreed to pay up to 700 million dollars in a settlement with authorities in the United States following a data breach in 2017 in which the records of at least 147 million people were exposed. Part of that amount will be set aside to compensate customers whose data was exposed and the rest of the settlement amount will be paid in fines.
Volvo has announced the recall of over half a million of its vehicles worldwide because of a problem with plastic intake manifolds. Volvo said that in "very rare cases" the plastic engine intake manifold was known to melt and deform, sometimes even causing a fire in the engine bay.
French retailer E. Leclerc Group has announced its intention to appeal a fine imposed by the French government to the European Court of Justice. The French Finance Ministry announced earlier today that it had fined the retailer 117.3 million euros for what it called “abusive commercial practices”. The government alleges that Leclerc uses its Belgian purchasing centre to circumvent French law and impose tariff cuts on its suppliers. Reports quote Leclair as saying that it believes the fines are discriminatory and that European legislation aims to promote such exchanges and encourage such partnerships.
SPORT
Swimming…. Great Britain's Adam Peaty has won the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships in South Korea. The 24-year-old’s time was 57.14 seconds, beating fellow Brit James Wilby, with China's Yan Zibei in third. Meanwhile, Australian swimmer Mack Horton publicly reignited his feud with Chinese rival Sun Yang, years after accusing him of being a "drug cheat". Sun beat Horton into second place to claim gold in the 400m freestyle but Horton refused to share the medal podium with Sun.
Football… Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is "very close to leaving" the Spanish club, according to manager Zinedine Zidane. Bale was left out of the club’s 3-1 pre-season defeat by Bayern Munich. Speaking after the game, Zidane said: "We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team.”
Also in football news, Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu has joined German team RB Leipzig on a season-long loan. He failed to make a Premier League appearance last season after signing a new five-year deal in September 2018.
Basketball… American basketball player J.J. O’Brien has signed for Monaco’s Team Roca.
A major union representing French air traffic controllers has cancelled its strike notice for 18 September...
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Monaco’s new Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand has given his first press conference since taking office, pledging to serve with humility, transpar...
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Two additional people have been arrested today in Normandy in northern France in connection with a knife attack at a school in Antibes yesterday...
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Protesters across France have blocked roads, set fire to barricades, and clashed with police over President Emmanuel Macron’s planned spending cuts. L...
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Several people have been injured in a knife attack at a school in Antibes. The attack happened at the Campus Vert d’Azur horticultural school this aft...
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