NEWS
New National Assembly President - The French National Assembly is electing a new president today, with a fragmented chamber making the outcome uncertain. Candidates include the current president Yaël Braun-Pivet, Horizons party Naïma Moutchou, left-wing André Chassaigne, centre party Charles de Courson, far-right Sébastien Chenu, and right-wing Philippe Juvin. The Modem party supports Braun-Pivet and won't present a candidate. The idea of having left-wing MPs vote on a Prime Minister candidate is controversial, with some opposing it as demagogic.
Tour de France in Monaco, Free Buses - The Tour de France cyclists will pass through Monaco on July 21st. To mark the occasion, the princely government is offering free buses all day. However, bus routes 1, 5, and 6 will be suspended, and routes 2, 3, and 4 will have modified schedules for the day. More information on https://www.cam.mc/
Travelling during the Tour de France - The prefect of the Alpes Maritimes has advised people to limit their travel ahead of the Tour de France arriving on the Côte d’Azur this weekend. Nearly 4,000 personnel will be mobilized to secure the event which includes two stage and the final stage on Sunday. The public is advised to avoid using private vehicles from Friday to Sunday, and to favour public transport.
Fatal Fire in Nice - A fatal fire in an apartment of the Moulins district in Nice has claimed the lives of seven people, including three children. One person is in critical condition. Authorities suspect the fire may be of criminal origin. The public prosecutor has confirmed that an investigation into arson is underway. Forensic experts from Marseille will be arriving to analyse the crime scene. Gabriel Attal and Gérald Darmanin have arrived on site at noon. The victims’ families have been received in the salle Nikaïa in Nice and food banks have delivered 450kgs of food for them.
Caravans in Levens - 140 travelling caravans are currently stationed in the commune of Levens near Nice. According to the mayor, this group includes the family of singer Kendji Girac. They are occupying 4.7 hectares of land in the Grand Près of Levens and are expected to vacate the area by July 22nd.
Yellow Heatwave Alert - A yellow heatwave alert has been issued for Thursday, July 18th, starting at noon in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and Hautes-Alpes-de-Provence regions. Météo France forecasts temperatures reaching 39 degrees inland and up to 40 degrees on Friday. The prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône advises residents to keep their homes cool, drink water regularly, spend two to three hours in a cool place, avoid going out during the hottest times, and refrain from physical activities.
Fatal Truck Accident - A fatal truck accident occurred at 11:30 this morning in Mandelieu, claiming the life of a 94-year-old man. His 91-year-old wife is in shock and is being cared for by medical staff. An investigation has been launched.
BUSINESS
A stegosaurus skeleton named Apex has been sold for a record $44.6 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. Discovered in Colorado in 2022, Apex is 11ft tall and 27ft long, making it one of the most complete skeletons found. An anonymous buyer hinted it may be loaned to a US institution. The sale exceeded estimates by over 11 times, breaking the previous record of $31.8 million set by a T-Rex in 2020.
LVMH founder Bernard Arnault is no longer the richest man in the world. When it comes to billionaires Arnault is now behind Elon Musk ($270 billion) and Jeff Bezos ($215 billion) on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He has seen his net worth plummet this year, part of a larger downturn in the luxury market that has caused billionaires in the field to lose a collective $24 billion in 2024 so far. Arnault himself is down $10.8 billion year to date, with his wealth sitting at $197 billion.
And - The Trade Union GMB narrowly lost its bid for union recognition at Amazon's Coventry warehouse, with 49.5% voting in favour and 50.5% against. The union needed a majority to win, which would have made it the first time Amazon recognized a union in the UK. Amazon emphasized its preference for direct engagement with staff. The GMB, accusing Amazon of "union-busting," plans to retry. The union's effort began in 2022 over pay disputes, leading to strikes and growing membership. Despite the setback, the GMB remains determined, and there are hopes that future legislation might lower the threshold for union recognition.
SPORTS
Football - Former France captain Hugo Lloris has described the controversial song sung by some Argentina players as an "attack on French people" but hopes it was a mistake that the players involved will learn from. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is facing sanctions from the Premier League club after posting a video on social media that the French Football Federation said included alleged "racist and discriminatory language".
Cricket - Rory McIlroy will begin the Open Championship alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa when play gets under way at Royal Troon on Thursday, 18 July.
Cycling - Richard Carapaz completed the set of victories in cycling's Grand Tours by winning stage 17 of the Tour de France.
Tennis - Malaga will host the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November after they were moved from Seville. The 12-team women's competition will take place from 13-20 November at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, the same venue as the men's Davis Cup Finals.
WEATHER
Bright and clear throughout the region with a gentle breeze. Highs of 29 degrees in Nice and Marseille, 30 in Cannes, 31 in Toulon, and 35 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, clear skies with lows of 23 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, mostly clear with highs of 30 degrees.
BEACH WEATHER
Bright and warm with highs of 29 degrees in Nice, 31 in Hyères les Palmiers, and 34 degrees in Saint-Tropez with a gentle breeze. The sea is smooth and warm reaching 26 degrees. The sun hits hard on the Côte d’Azur with UV levels reaching 8 and 9.
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