Twelve departments in the west of France have been placed on a top-level red alert for extreme heat. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne made the announcement this afternoon. The alert will be operational from tomorrow afternoon. An additional twenty five departments, mostly also in the western half of France have been placed on an orange alert, which is the third highest level of the Meteo France alert levels. The French government education departement has said that students in schools and colleges in the departments under a red alert will be allowed to stay at home tomorrow.
The French government has activated the heatwave toll-free telphone number. The number, 0800 06 66 66 is open from 9am to 7pm and provides advice on how to protect yourself and those around you, especially the most fragile.
Meteo France have said that a very intense heatwave which is unprecedentedly early is in progress. It said that over the next few days temperatures may very often exceed the records for June and may sometimes reach absolute records.
The French government has issued a warning about the risk of fires breaking out during the heatwave. The General Directorate of Civil Security said that it "recommends great caution" for this Friday and Saturday due to the heat wave situation and the high danger of fires which results from it, particularly for low vegetation such as agricultural fields, wasteland, and roadsides. It said that this very high fire danger is linked to very hot and dry conditions and the moderate winds expected on Saturday.
A speed limit of just 10 km per hour has been imposed on the Ile-de-France region tomorrow because of ozone pollution. The Prefect of Police has asked motorists to defer road travel if possible and to use public transport, car pooling, walking or cycling and appealed to businesses to consider teleworking.
The migrant who was shot by police during a chase from Sospel to Nice yesterday has died from his injuries, according to the Nice prosecutor, who was speaking to France Bleu. The man was 35 years old and was of Egyptian nationality.
President Macron is in Ukraine today on a visit with several other European leaders. Earlier today he visited the town of Irpin before a meeting with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
BUSINESS
The Bank of England has raised interest rates by a quarter of one per cent. It's the fifth consecutive rise in rates in the UK and means that rates now stand at 1.25%. Three out of the nine members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted for a half a per cent rise. The Bank said that it expects inflation to rise to over 11% in October.
Meanwhile, a body which provides analysis to grocers has said that grocery prices in the UK could rise by 15% this summer. The Institute of Grocery Distribution said that households will pay more for staples such as bread, meat, dairy and fruit and vegetables and that the UK was facing the highest cost of living pressures since the 1970s
SPORT
Football... Premier League fixtures have been announced for next season. The first match takes place on Friday, 5 August when Crystal Palace host Arsenal. Manchester City face West Ham, Liverpool play Fulham, with Nottingham Forest away at Newcastle. There will be no Premier League games after the weekend of 12-13 November until 26 December because of the World Cup.
Cricket... Jamie Overton has received his first call-up to England's Test squad for the final Test against New Zealand. He'll play alongside his twin brother Craig who has also been included in the squad. The third Test gets underway at Headingley on 23 June.
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Marseille has been hit by heavy rain with businesses in the old port of the city flooded on Wednesday afternoon. Shopkeepers found themselves taken b...
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