A driver suspected of fatally injuring a gendarme at a road check near the A8 last night is still being held in custody. The suspect was arrested in Cannes in the early hours of this morning after allegedly failing to comply with a control in an area next to the motorway near Mougins at about 8.30 last night. Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that one hundred officers as well as helicopters had been deployed in the search and he had been partially geo-located by his mobile phone. The minister said that the suspect is from the Cape Verde islands and is in France legally.
A teenager has died in a kayaking accident in the Hautes-Alpes. The 14 year old was taking part in supervised kayaking in the Durance river yesterday afternoon. A helicopter was involved in the search. Despite efforts by rescuers, he couldn't be revived.
Firefighters tackled a fire in a building in Frejus last night which was reportedly caused by an electric scooter exploding. Residents of nearby apartments were evacuated but no injuries were reported.
The Var prefecture has said that several forest massifs in the department are at severe fire risk level today. They are the massifs of Monts Toulonnais, Sainte-Baume, Haut-Var, Corniche des Maures, Maures and Estérel. Access is not recommended. Many restrictions are in place including a prohibition on smoking, starting fires and wild camping. If you see a fire, call 18 or 112. You can find a fire risk map updated daily on the prefecture's website www.var.gouv.fr
President Macron has said that "the work continues" to form a new government. Speaking in Paris this evening just before a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris, President Macron said that "the door is open" and he welcomes "all those who want to come and continue to work in the best interests of the country". He has continued to hold discussions with political leaders today. Meanwhile, left-wing party La France Insoumise has called for a rally to be held on 7 September to protest at what they called "Emmanuel Macron's coup".
A ban on mobile phones is going to be tested in almost 200 French schools from the beginning of the new school year. Acting Education Minister Nicole Belloubet said that 199 schools had volunteered for the trial. It will see pupils leaving their phones at the school entrance, which is a step further than the current ban in schools. She said that she expected a ban in all schools would come into force from January.
BUSINESS
UK retail sales volumes fell for the third consecutive month in the year to August according to a survey by the CBI. Retailers said that they expect the downturn in sales to ease further in September. Retail employment in the year to August declined for the eighth consecutive quarterly survey.
The CEO of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has indicated that fares may fall less than previously expected. The company had said last month that fares could fall by over 10%. However, Mr. O'Leary said today that he expected a drop of about 5% compared to last year.
The German economy contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter. Federal statistics office Destatis left first quarter GDP unchanged at a rise of 0.2%, thereby avoiding a technical recession which is usually defined as two quarters of economic contraction in a row.
SPORT
Football...Uruguay player Manuel Ugarte is moving to Manchester United. United have agreed a 50 million euro fee with Paris St-Germain which also includes a potential for 10 million euros in additional payments.
Bournemouth have agreed a one season loan for Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arri-za-bal-aga. He's also extended his contract with Chelsea until the end of the 2026 season. His deal was due to expire in June 2025.
Cricket...England have named Linsey Smith and Bess Heath in the women's squad for the T20 World Cup in October. The squad is almost identical to the one that beat New Zealand in July but Lauren Filer isn't included, although she will be traveling to the training camp in Abu Dhabi.
The Cap Azur metropolitan area is installing 30 additional electric vehicle charging stations by year-end 2024, with a goal to increase stations by 30...
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A bus has caught fire on the A8 motorway on Thursday night near Villeneuve-Loubet, Alpes-Maritimes.
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French lawmakers have backed a bill aimed at increasing the regulation of tourist accommodation such as Airbnb to combat the shortage of affordable ho...
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The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has celebrated 20 years of Stelios Scholarships at a reunion in Monaco, raising £255,000 (including matching dona...
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An "incentive fee" system that charges households based on the volume of their garbage has been implemented to reduce waste in the Var. ...
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