President Macron has been visiting the Hauts-de-France region in the north of France today. During his visit he congratulated Xavier Bertrand on his re-election as head of the regional council. President Macron was in the region to inaugurate a new factory built with Chinese investment. The facility will produce batteries for Renault electric vehicles. This afternoon he is hosting a gathering of foreign business management at which he's expected to unveil several billion euros worth of investments by foreign companies in France.
Unsettled weather continues to affect much of France with many departments across the country on a Meteo France yellow warning for storms. About a dozen departments in the east of France remain on an orange alert for storms. Several properties had to be evacuated in the Puy-de-Dome department last night after a mudslide caused by torrential rain and flooding. Several families took shelter in a local town hall and reports say that 800 homes were still without power at midday today.
France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, has banned so-called "glue hunting". The LPO animal protection organization said that the judgement has made illegal what it called "this odious and non-selective practice of which thousands of birds were victims each year". It is demanding the repeal of a 1989 decree on the use of glues and the inclusion of the ban on glue hunting into law.
More than 800,000 college students across France are sitting their Brevet or National College Certificate exams today and tomorrow. French exams were held this morning and maths this afternoon. History-geography will take place tomorrow morning with science and foreign languages in the afternoon.
A person has been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to compensate the City of Cannes after setting fire to a container against the facade of the Municipal Police station of La Frayère in Cannes-La Bocca. The incident occurred during a night of urban violence on May 9-10 after several drug seizures and the arrest of a suspected drug dealer. Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard said that the City of Cannes "is delighted with the swift and effective sentencing of this individual who actively took part in the incendiary acts of early May, degraded public space and disturbed the peace of residents."
A public inquiry into the application for a building permit for the Ecotone building in Antibes started today. Located on a plot of land to the north-west of Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, the construction project involves the building of a complex for office use, a hotel and shops in the Trois Moulins sector within the Sophia-Antipolis technology park. Documents can be viewed and comments made on the city's website until July 30.
BUSINESS
UK financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, has said that Binance, the world's biggest crypto-currency exchange, cannot conduct any "regulated activity" in the UK. It also issued a warning regarding cryptoassets generally, advising consumers to be wary of adverts online and on social media promising high returns on investments in cryptoasset or cryptoasset-related products.
Fashion retailer Burberry has announced that CEO Marco Gobbetti will be stepping down after nearly five years with the company. It said that he's taking up another opportunity that will enable him to return to Italy and be closer to his family but it expects that he'll remain with Burberry until the end of this year.
UK bakery retailer Greggs has said that recovery in sales is stronger than it had anticipated. In a trading update today it said that in recent weeks, pent-up demand for retail has reduced but like-for-like sales growth in company-managed shops has been between one and three per cent higher than the same period in 2019.
The start of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was delayed on Monday because of bad weather. The exchange opened at 1.30pm local time after the cancellation of a top-level Black Rainstorm Warning.
SPORT
Euro 2020... Belgium and the Czech Republic are both throught to the quarter finals after their victories over the weekend. Belgium will be playing Italy on Friday and the Czech Republic play Denmark on Saturday. There are two more round of 16 ties today. Croatia play Spain at 6 pm and France play Switzerland at 9 pm.
Tennis.. It's the first day of Wimbledon today and no play was possible on the outside courts this morning and for much of this afternoon because of rain. Novak Djokovic is through to the next round after beating 19 year old British wild card Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-4 under the roof on Court One. Matches later today include Andy Murray on Centre court against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili. Dan Evans faces Feliciano Lopez and Katie Swan takes on American 23rd seed Madison Keys.
Cycling... Tim Merlier has won stage three of the Tour de France from Lorient to Pontivy today, a distance of 182.9km. More crashes happened this afternoon in difficult conditions with torrential rain in places.
Football.... Arsenal have appointed Jonas Eidevall as their new women's team head coach. He was previously with Swedish side Rosengard. He succeeds Joe Montemurro, who left after four years in charge.
A light plane has crashed on takeoff at Saint-Tropez-La Mole airport this morning
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Delegates from 175 countries will meet in the French capital from today May 29th in the hope of reaching a multilateral agreement by 2024. Seven year...
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The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has passed a municipal decree banning the controversial comedian Dieudonné from performing in the city this week...
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French police have charged five soldiers over the deaths of 27 people who sank while trying to cross the English Channel on 24 November 2021. ...
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A kidnapping alert has been triggered by the French government. The alert was issued on Thursday evening May 25th, following the abduction in Fontaine...
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