Police have searched the headquarters of the organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Anti-corruption investigators arrived unannounced at the headquarters of the Olympics organising committee in Saint-Denis as well as at the offices of Solideo, the public body in charge of building projects for the games. The PNF, the French judicial organisation responsible for investigating financial crime, told the BBC that their searches were being carried out across several locations involving the two organisations. A spokesperson for the Paris 2024 organising committee said that the body was "co-operating fully with the investigators".
A police office has taken his own life at a police station in Toulon. The 50 year old leaves a wife and three children. He worked in the financial brigade of the departmental security.
The Prefect of the Var has drawn attention to the risk of fires, especially in the current windy conditions. The use of fire is prohibited until September 30 and the Prefect said that residents and vistors should pay attention to work that can cause fires to start and never throw cigarette ends onto the ground. Advice on preventing fires and the regulations in force can be found on the Prefecture's website www.var.gouv.fr
Psychiatric nurses have staged a demonstration this morning in Nice. The nurses were protesting at alleged lack of resources and staff shortages.
In a landmark legal decision, the French state has been ordered to pay compensation to individuals whose health has been affected by air pollution. The case heard by the administrative court in Paris involves two children who lived with their parents near the periphique in Paris. The judge ruled that part of their breathing illnesses were linked to pollution levels being exceeded and that the state was responsible. They were awarded 2,000 and 3,000 euros. It is still possible for the government to appeal against the decision.
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has announced a clampdown on doctors who over-prescribe work stoppages. Warning letters have been sent to the top two per cent of doctors who prescribe sick leave. The highest prescribing doctors will be asked to reduce their prescriptions and some will be offered interviews to help them change their prescribing habits to bring them in line with their colleagues in the profession. The minister said that in the ten years up to 2022, the time prescribed for sick leave absences had risen by ten per cent.
Meteo France have orange weather warnings for storms in force for several departments. Storms affected Northern France on Sunday before moving to central areas yesterday. The current orange warnings are for over a dozen departments, mostly in the south-west of the country.
BUSINESS
Annual grocery price inflation in Britain stood at 16.5% in the four weeks to 11 June according to data company Kantar. Although still at a high level historically, the figure is the lowest this year. Grocery inflation was 17.2% in the previous month.
The UK government has ruled out introducing major financial support to mortgage holders. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said offering mortgage relief schemes would "make inflation worse, not better". However, he said this afternoon that he would meet mortgage lenders later this week to ask what help they could give to households struggling with rising bills.
SPORT
Cricket... Australia have beaten England by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series. On the final day, ninth-wicket pair Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon added an unbroken 55 to get Australia to their target of 281.
Football... Chelsea have signed Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for £52m. The 25 year old plays for France at national level and has been capped ten stimes so far.
Tennis... Anett Kontaveit has announced her retirement from tennis due to a back condition. The 27-year-old rose to number two in the world rankings and reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2020.
Train traffic is completely halted after 5:30pm today, Thursday 17th of October.
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A 26-year-old biker has died following a road accident behind the Eze-Village tunnel.
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Thirteen departments in southern France are under orange weather alert for rain, flooding, thunderstorms, and/or river surges. ...
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All schools in the Alpes-Maritimes will be closed today Thursday 17th October, due to the orange weather alert which is to be reinstated from 9am this...
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The Alpes-Maritimes and Var regions were placed under an orange weather alert for storms and rain-induced flooding on Wednesday, the 16th of October,...
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