Local
Exam fraud - Police have arrested 19 high-school children in Marseille and Paris as part of an investigation into the leak of a maths paper sat by thousands of students which was shared via text message and WhatsApp in June. Seven have been released, while 12 remain in custody and could face charges of exam fraud, breaching trust and conspiracy. French education authorities have decided for the time being not to cancel the exam, which was sat by about half of the 740,000 students who completed their baccalaureate this year.
Meanwhile education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, faces another crisis caused by markers in some regions, who are threatening not to return exam papers as part of efforts to resist changes to the end-of-school exam from 2021. The results are due to be published on Friday.
Nice terror attack - Nice city council has confirmed that objects which were found on the Promenade des Anglais following the terror attack in Nice on July 14th, 2016 are to be returned to the families of the victims. For three years, the personal belongings had been kept by the city "in a suitable and secure place". At the request of the families, the city of Nice intervened with State authorities in order to allow the objects to be returned to the families. The attack in Nice left 86 dead and nearly 300 wounded.
Meanwhile according to a study carried out by the Lenval Foundation in Nice, figures show that the trauma caused to all survivors and witnesses, direct or indirect still affects 60% of children who three years later are suffering from psychological trauma. Figures showed that the psychological distress rate is 21% for children aged between 7 and 12 and 32% for children under 7 years old.
As the hot weather continues, the Prefecture in the Var has announced that reduced speed limits will continue to be in effect in the department today. Speed limits on Motorways are reduced by 20km per hour, but without falling below 70 km per hour.
Yacht - "Venus", the yacht of the late Steve Jobs has been spotted anchored in Porquerolles. A luxury yacht it was built in the Netherlands in 2012. Steve Jobs never sailed on this super yacht a collaboration between Jobs and Philippe Stark as it was unveiled a year after he died. The yacht is reportedly cost 100 million dollars.
Auction - Souvenirs, photos, newspaper articles and a selection of books signed by the American Neil Armstrong and his predecessors are to be auctioned in Cannes on July 21st to mark the 50th anniversary of man's first step on the moon. In total, 138 lots will be up for sale.
National
Bee attack – A 60 year old man remains in critical condition in hospital after being attacked by bees. Police have since opened an investigation into the attack which took place on Tuesday as the couple were hiking in the Haute Loire. According to police a beekeeper's beehives were located relatively close, a few meters away, from the marked path. The victim was stung between 200 and 300 times.
Lyme disease - A press release published by the French Minister of Health on Wednesday has shown that the number of diagnosed cases of Lyme disease in France has increased significantly, with 104 cases registered per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018, compared to 69 cases in 2017. According to the Ministry of Health the increase is due to an increase in awareness of the diagnosis of the disease.
Business
Asian stocks have continued to rally today following sharp gains on Wall Street as recent data from multiple sectors pointed to slowing growth in the US thus bolstering the chances of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Wall Street closed early on Wednesday for today’s Independence Day holiday but there was enough time in the shortened session for all three major indexes to close at record highs.
Recent reports suggest that the US labor market is softening and there are also signs of a slowdown in manufacturing.
Markets are interpreting the latest data as a signal that the US Federal Reserve will take a move dovish tone on rates and make cuts to keep the economic revival on track.
Europe’s largest conservation charity has announced that it’s to sell off the shares that it holds in fossil fuel companies.
The National Trust says that it wants to invest in green start-ups and portfolios that benefit nature and the environment.
Currently ,4 percent of the National Trust’s 1 billon pound stock market investment is in fossil fuel companies.
The organisation has set out a three year timescale for the change but said that most of the shares would be sold within a year.
The National Trust has 5.2 million members and 60,000 volunteers.
And-Oil prices have fallen back this morning after making solid gains on Wednesday ,pressured by data showing a smaller than expected decline in US crude stockpiles.
Brent Crude futures were trading down 0.4 percent at 63 dollars 60 a little earlier this morning with West Texas Intermediate down 0.3 percent at 57 dollars 18.
US crude inventories dropped by 1.1 million barrels last week against expectations of a fall of some 3 million barrels.
Analysts say that the US oil market remains oversupplied.
Sport
AEROPORT DE NICE –QATAR AIRWAYS FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP REPORT.
The Netherlands have beaten Sweden 1-0 to reach the final of the women’s World Cup.
Jackie Groenen scored the only goal of the game in the first period of extra time after the sides were tied at 0-0 after 90 minutes.
A crowd of 48,452 watched the match at the Stade de Lyon with the result meaning that the Netherlands will play the USA in the World Cup Final in Lyon on Sunday.
England will face Sweden in the third placed playoff final in Nice on Saturday.
Football-Manchester City are set to sign the Athletico Madrid midfielder Rodri for a club record 62.8 million pounds.
The 23 year old had his contract at the Spanish side terminated on Wednesday after his lawyers and representatives from Manchester City paid a release clause to La Liga.
Rodri joined Athletico in May 2018 and made 34 league appearances as they finished second in La Liga last season.
Tennis-The 15 year old teen sensation Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon fairytale continues after she made the third round on Wednesday following a 6-3 6-3 win over Magdalena Rybarikova.
The American qualifier needed just 1 hour and 9 minutes to get past her opponent on Court number 1. She’ll now face Polona Hercog in round 3.
Also on Wednesday there were second round wins for Caroline Wozniacki ,Simona Halep and Viktoria Azarenka.
In the men’s event ,the British number one Kyle Edmund was beaten in the second round by Fernando Verdasco.
Top seed Novak Djokovic breezed into round 3 following a straight sets win over Denis Kudla of the United States but the last man to win a grand slam apart from the big three Stan Wawrinka was beaten by Reilly Opelka of the USA.
Cricket-England are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup following an emphatic 119 run win over New Zealand at Chester-le-Street.
England won the toss and batted first.They made 308-5 from their 50 overs including 106 from Jonny Bairstow.
In reply New Zealand were bowled out for 186 in 44.5 overs.
England will play either Australia or India in the last 4.New Zealand are 99.9 percent certain of completing the semi-final lineup barring a miracle win for Pakistan over Bangladesh.
There’s one game today.West Indies play Afghanistan at Headingly.Play starts at 11.30.
Weather
Clear skies in coastal areas-showers and possible thunderstorms inland later.
Light to moderate south westerly winds and highs of 29-30 degrees in coastal areas and up to 31-33 degrees inland.
Overnight lows of 24 degrees on the coast and 20 degrees inland with clear skies.
Friday and the start of the weekend-Clear skies with highs of 20-36 degrees.
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