French and Riviera News Monday 20th June 2022

News

Firefighter dies during intervention in Monaco - A firefighter has died after a fire broke out in a luxury apartment in Monaco on Sunday afternoon. The fire broke out in a first floor apartment in “Le 21” on Avenue Princesse-Grace. The victim Sergeant Thierry Pérard who had served the Monaco Fire Brigade for 26 years, died from his injuries in hospital. The 52-year-old was married and the father of a 21-year-old daughter. Another firefighter was slightly injured during the intervention and ten people were treated for smoke inhalation, including two firefighters. Police have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

Vegetation destroyed in the Var - Meanwhile more than 700 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed after a fire broke out at Europe’s largest military camp in Canjuers in the Var. Six Canadair’s and 300 firefighters intervened overnight from Saturday to Sunday and were still on site on Sunday evening, as the weather conditions remained unfavourable due to the heat and strong winds. The prosecutor’s military office in Marseille has opened an investigation to determine the origin of the fire. The Canjuers military camp covers 35,000 hectares and is where several tens of thousands of soldiers, French and foreign, carry out exercises throughout the year.

Macron loses parliamentary majority - French President, Emmanuel Macron has lost the parliamentary majority he needed in order to push through promised tax cuts and pension reforms. Several ministers lost their seats in Sunday’s second round of voting. The left-wing coalition led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon will form the main opposition bloc in the National Assembly, followed by Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally who was the surprise winner on Sunday night with a historic breakthrough winning 89 seats.

Kite-surfer dies - A thirty-one-year-old kite surfer has died in Villers-sur-Mer along the Normandy coast. On Saturday the surfer was thrown against the window of a restaurant by a sudden gust of wind. The strong gales which hit the region resulted in five people being hospitalised. French media described the wind as a 'mini tornado', adding that forecasts had not predicted the winds to be so strong.

Météo France – Meanwhile, according to Météo France the heat wave is expected to gradually end today Monday 20th June, with thunderstorms forecast for most of the country until next Sunday.

Business

Oil prices edged down on Monday, reversing earlier gains, as concerns about slowing global economic growth and fuel demand offset worries about tightening supplies.

Meanwhile the US central bank has announced its biggest rate hike in nearly 30 years as it ramps up its battle to bring soaring consumer prices under control. It lifted the rate the Federal Reserve charges banks to borrow by three quarters of a percentage point as the consequences will be felt in nearly every corner of the economy both in the US and abroad.

On Sunday Bitcoin rose around 7.6% signalling a recovery from a sharp drop on Saturday. Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, is now up 16.7%. According to the head of international fixed income at National Alliance Securities, the rise in Bitcoin was likely the result of retail investors buying up the digital currency over the weekend, when few professional traders are working.

Large tech companies, such as Google and Meta, will have to take action on deepfakes and fake accounts - or risk facing huge fines. Deepfakes are videos using a person's likeness to portray them doing something they never did. New EU regulation, supported by the Digital Services Act (DSA), will demand tech firms deal with these forms of disinformation on their platforms. Firms may be fined up to 6% of their global turnover if they do not comply.

Sport

Golf - England's Matt Fitzpatrick has claimed his first major title with a one-shot victory in the US Open. The 27-year-old has become just the third Englishman in 52 years to win the sport's second oldest major.

Football - Chelsea are targeting Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling as their major summer signing. Sterling's Manchester City future is in doubt as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. The England forward has attracted interest from major clubs overseas but Chelsea believe they can persuade him to remain in the Premier League.

Formula One - Red Bull's Max Verstappen held off a late challenge from Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to win the Canadian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took third and fourth for Mercedes as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc recovered to fifth from the back of the grid. Verstappen extended his championship lead over Leclerc to 49 points.

Cycling - Geraint Thomas has become the first Briton to win the Tour de Suisse after finishing second on the final day time trial.

Weather

Fine with light winds. Highs of 27 degrees in Nice, Cannes and Antibes. 30 degrees in Saint Maxime and Saint Tropez. This evening going down to 21 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes and 18 degrees in the Var with clear skies.

Outlook for Tuesday and Wednesday - Remaining fine tomorrow with highs of 27 degrees. Sunny intervals on Wednesday with possible storms inland and highs of 26-27 degrees.

Sea temperature     24 degrees       UV level   9

Sunrise                        05.48hr              Sunset      21.15hr

Last local news

Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024

Seven people have been questioned by police in a fraud investigation relating to the loss of almost half a million euros by Nice university hospital.... Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024

France's prime minister Gabriel Attal has announced that a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of striking her in a heated exchange over... French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has asked for national police reinforcements to help bring the Les Moulins housing estate under control.... Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024

French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024

The headmaster of a high school in Paris has resigned after receiving death threats on social media following an altercation with a student, which dat... French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024

Evening Update Tuesday 26th March 2024

More than 20 secondary schools on the Riviera have been targeted by bomb alerts today, forcing some of them to stay closed all day.... Evening Update Tuesday 26th March 2024 Read More

26/03/2024