NEWS
21 cases and 2 deaths after cheese contamination - French health authorities have identified 21 cases of listeriosis, including two deaths, possibly linked to pasteurised cheeses from the Chavegrand dairy in Creuse, sold nationwide and abroad. Over 40 lots, including camembert and goat cheese, have been recalled, and the public is urged not to consume them. Victims are aged 34-95, and investigations point to contamination from an old production line closed in June. Listeriosis is a serious foodborne illness especially dangerous for pregnant women and vulnerable people and can have an incubation period of up to eight weeks.
Yellow storm alert - Météo-France has placed the Var under a yellow “storms” alert from 12pm to 8pm on Wednesday, the 13th of August, with similar risks in the north of the Alpes-Maritimes. Storm cells could bring 40-60 mm of rain in a short time, hail, intense lightning, and wind gusts up to 80 km/h, mainly in the north Var, Mercantour, and northern Préalpes de Grasse. Authorities warn of significant runoff due to dry soils and urge caution, especially near rivers and during travel. Residents are advised to shelter indoors, secure belongings, and avoid using electrical devices during storms.
Violent thunderstorm led to road closures - A violent thunderstorm has hit the Briançon area on the 12th of August in the Hautes-Alpes, bringing heavy rain, hail, flooding, mudslides, and rockfalls. Over 62 mm of rain fell near Val des Près, blocking roads and stranding campers and vehicles. Around 50 firefighters rescued 45 people, and no injuries were reported. Roads reopened by midnight, but repairs and clean-up continued the next day.
Shooting in Nice - A shooting broke out in the evening of the 12th of August in the Moulins district of Nice, at Place des Amaryllis. A man in his twenties was injured by gunfire and treated by firefighters. Police have launched an investigation to find those responsible.
Motorbike accident - A collision between two motorbikes in the early hours of the 13th of August has injured three people, two of them seriously on Antibes’ seafront. The victims were two men aged around 20 and 40, and a woman in her twenties. Police have opened an investigation into the accident.
Candidate for Toulon's Mayoral race arrested for identity theft - An 18-year-old declared candidate for Toulon’s 2026 mayoral race, has been arrested in Ardèche after months on the run over fraud and identity theft allegations. He is accused of posing as high-ranking officials to deceive institutions, associations, businesses, and individuals. Among his scams was presenting a fake €175,000 cheque and a false national honour medal to a beauty contest organiser. He is now in police custody and will appear before an investigating judge.
NEWS UPDATE
Morning fire causes residents to be rehoused - A balcony fire broke out around 3 am on the 13th of August in a six-story building spreading to an upper balcony and two adjacent apartments on Rue Trachel in Nice. No injuries were reported, but seven residents had to be rehoused. Twenty-five firefighters with six vehicles contained the blaze using two hoses, preventing more serious damage. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Presidential couple attended Dany Boon's show - While vacationing at Fort de Brégançon, President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have made a surprise public outing on the 12th of August to attend comedian Dany Boon’s show at the Ramatuelle Festival. They arrived discreetly at the last minute, were warmly applauded, and left quietly after the traditional cushion toss. Several other celebrities were present, but the humourist made no mention of the presidential couple. The next day, Macron resumed his duties with talks on Ukraine ahead of upcoming international meetings.
Lightning strikes and sparks a fire - Lightning has struck, sparking a small wildfire of under 100 m² on the 13th of August above Saint-Dalmas de Tende in the Roya Valley, Alpes-Maritimes. Three helicopters and about 20 firefighters were deployed to contain it. Rain in the area is expected to help extinguish the blaze.
BUSINESS
Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic says the company’s plan to power AI data centres with small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) could make it the UK’s most valuable firm. Already supplying reactors for submarines, Rolls-Royce has signed SMR deals with the UK and Czech Republic, targeting a trillion-dollar global market by 2050. The company has also rebounded strongly in aircraft engines, with profits expected to exceed £3bn in 2025 and shares up tenfold since 2023. While SMRs remain unproven and face environmental concerns, Erginbilgic believes they, alongside a push into narrow-bodied aircraft, represent the UK’s biggest industrial growth opportunity.
And - Former Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon has pleaded guilty in New York to two counts of fraud over the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD and Luna, which wiped out over $40bn in value. Prosecutors say he misled investors about measures to maintain TerraUSD’s $1 peg, secretly using a trading firm to prop up prices. Under a plea deal, he will forfeit up to $19.3m, pay restitution, and faces a sentence capped at 12 years by prosecutors, though the judge could impose up to 25. Kwon, who fled South Korea before being arrested in Montenegro, still faces charges in his home country.
SPORTS
Football - Bournemouth have completed the signing of French centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille for £34.6m. He made 31 Ligue 1 appearances last season as Lille finished fifth in the French topflight, and also played 10 times in the Champions League.
Cricket - Veteran seamer Chris Rushworth has signed a one-year contract extension at Warwickshire which will see him take up a new role as a player-coach. The 39-year-old joined the Bears in 2023 after departing Durham as the club's all-time leading wicket-taker.
Tennis - Nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles has revealed she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis - a neuromuscular autoimmune disease - three years ago. The 51-year-old has chosen to go public with the rare long-term condition, which causes muscle weakness, to raise awareness and educate people about the disease before this month's US Open. The American won eight major titles by the age of 19, after capturing her first aged 16 at the 1990 French Open.
WEATHER
Hazy sunshine on the coast while hail and showery thunderstorms roar in the rest of the PACA region accompanied by strong winds. Temperatures are still very high with temperatures reaching 33 degrees in Marseille, 35 in Nice and Cannes and 36 degrees in Saint-Tropez and Toulon.
Tonight, back to mostly clear skies with lows of 28 degrees
Outlook for tomorrow, showers and thunderstorms cover the entire region this time with highs 33 degrees with strong winds reaching 95km/h.
French health authorities have identified 21 cases of listeriosis, including two deaths, possibly linked to pasteurised cheeses from the Chavegrand da...
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The heatwave gripping the south-east France is showing no signs of easing, with an orange heatwave alert extended for the Alpes-Maritimes and Var this...
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Perla is looking for a good forever home. She is a five-month-old female hunting dog mix. She is chipped, vaccinated and will need to be sterilised at...
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The orange heatwave alert remains in place across our region today. Clear skies to start with highs of 33 degrees in Nice and Monaco, 34 degrees inlan...
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President Emmanuel Macron has enacted the Duplomb law, without the reintroduction of the banned pesticide. ...
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