NEWS
National Assembly - Following the resignation of Gabriel Attal and all ministers, Marine Le Pen criticized France's political state as chaotic and leaderless, hinting at a technical government led by Macron. Marine Tondelier expressed frustration over the political situation. Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignations, and current ministers are handling "current affairs" until a new government is formed. Gabriel Attal proposed political meetings for a "pact of action" but ruled out becoming the next Prime Minister. The New Popular Front agreed on a single candidate for the Assembly presidency. Gérald Darmanin called for introspection and announced he does not wish to lead his party, seeking to reflect on the Macronists' mistakes.
Monaco's Port Sewage System - In Monaco's port, ships will soon connect directly to the Principality's sewage network when docked, eliminating the need for internal generators. Currently, floating barges handle waste disposal, but the new system will allow direct, free connections to the public network. This upgrade is being implemented gradually, with full completion expected in two years.
Fire in Peillon Under Control - A fire broke out on Tuesday evening in Peillon, near Nice, burning two hectares. Nearly 80 firefighters, along with water-bombing helicopters, managed to control the blaze by early morning. One firefighter, suffering from heatstroke, was taken to Pasteur Hospital but is not in life-threatening condition. Around fifty firefighters remain on site to monitor and prevent any flare-ups.
Extreme Weather - Météo France forecasts scorching temperatures exceeding 30°C in Alpes-Maritimes and 39°C in eastern Var until Friday. A new decree now allows heatwaves to be considered a valid reason for technical unemployment in the construction sector, affecting 5,000 companies and 22,000 workers in Alpes-Maritimes. This provides workers with compensation during extreme weather, protecting their health and safety.
Drownings - An 80-year-old man is in critical condition after nearly drowning this morning near Kiosque 23 Le Rocher in Cannes. He was resuscitated by firefighters and taken to La Fontaine Hospital. Around the same time, a 74-year-old woman drowned and lost her life at Garonne Beach in Pradet, Var.
Fête de la Bayonne Assault - A 58-year-old man, hospitalized after a violent altercation during the Fêtes de Bayonne, has died on Tuesday morning in the Côte Basque Hospital. The incident occurred last week, and the suspect, a repeat offender, has been charged with attempted homicide and will be detained on Saturday. This follows a previous fatal incident at the festival in 2023.
Evicted Young People In Marseille Church - More than fifty young people, including three minors, are housed since last Saturday in the Saint-Ferréol church of Marseille. Evicted from their home, they are temporarily staying in the church, although the rector emphasizes that this arrangement cannot last due to the lack of showers and toilets. The Samu Social association is providing meals, while other organizations are working to expedite the procedures. The Department of Justice has yet to offer an alternative solution.
BUSINESS
UK-based Banking Giant HSBC has appointed Georges Elhedery as its new CEO, succeeding Noel Quinn who is retiring. Elhedery, currently the finance chief, joined HSBC in 2005 and will assume his new role on September 2. Quinn, who led the bank since 2019, oversaw significant sales and steered HSBC through the pandemic. Elhedery is praised for his leadership and dedication to the bank. In April, the lender reported a 1.8% drop in profit for the first three months of 2024, compared to the same time last year. The company said its pre-tax profit for the period came in at $12.7bn (£9.8bn), which was better than expected by market analysts. HSBC is due to announce its financial results for the second quarter at the end of this month.
And - Guo Wengui, a self-exiled Chinese businessman, was convicted in the US for a billion-dollar fraud scheme. Found guilty on nine counts, including fraud and money laundering, he faces decades in prison with sentencing set for November 19. Guo defrauded online followers to fund his lavish lifestyle which include a mansion, a Lamborghini and a yacht. Guo's political activism earned him a large following. Guo's lawyers unsuccessfully tried to convince the jury their client was not driven by money and instead portrayed him as an opponent of China's political system and his ostentatious lifestyle was a critique of the Chinese Communist Party. An associate of his and ex-White House strategist Stephen Bannon, was arrested over an unrelated fraud case while on Guo's yacht in Connecticut and is currently serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.
SPORTS
Football - England will be at Euro 2025 to defend their title - but will need to improve if they are to convince supporters they can go all the way again. Sarina Wiegman's side had the task in Sweden of securing automatic qualification for next year's tournament in Switzerland. They did that by holding on for a 0-0 draw in Gothenburg. Captain Leah Williamson said they could do "a lot more".
Cricket - Scotland were denied victory by the rain during their one-day international against Oman in Dundee. Having won the toss and chosen to bowl first, Scotland skittled the visitors for just 123.
Rugby Union - Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell has joined NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan. The 31-year-old spent the 2024 Super Rugby season with Highlanders in New Zealand but will now link up with former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, who is in charge at Green Rockets.
Cycling - Belgium's Jasper Philipsen sprinted to his third stage victory at the 2024 Tour de France after Biniam Girmay suffered a late crash on stage 16.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny with moderate to strong winds near Toulon. Highs of 27 degrees in Nice, 28 in Cannes, 31 in Saint-Tropez and Marseille, and 32 degrees in Toulon.
Tonight, clear skies with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, fine and bright all day with highs 29 degrees and a gentle breeze.
BEACH WEATHER
Mostly sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 27 degrees in Nice, 30 in Saint-Tropez, and 31 in Hyères les Palmiers. The water is calm and warm reaching 26 degrees in Nice. Be careful with sunburns though as the UV levels are of 9 all across the riviera.
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