French and Riviera News Thursday 7th July 2022

News

Häagen-Dazs recalls vanilla ice cream - Häagen-Dazs has recalled its “Vanilla Ice Cream” sold in France. The food giant General Mills that own the brand has asked people to throw away the products and contact them. The American group recalled the batches of its vanilla ice creams that it markets in France under the Häagen-Dazs brand after detecting traces of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic pesticide banned in Europe. A toll-free number is available 08 00 33 32 31. The company specifies that “no other Häagen-Dazs product is affected” and apologises to its customers and consumers for the “inconvenience caused”. A refund will be offered. Ethylene oxide contamination had led to the withdrawal of many products in Europe - including ice cream - between 2020 and 2021, contaminated with this active substance which is classified as carcinogenic and has been banned for food use in the EU since 1991.

Power cut in the Var - 133,000 households in the Var have been affected by a power cut. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon affecting several municipalities. According to the Electricity Transport Network (RTE), the cut was linked to a control station problem, and would have affected around 133,000 households for one hour. An investigation is in progress and RTE has apologised to its customers for the inconvenience caused.

Memorial service for five-year-old boy killed by an electric scooter - A private memorial service will take place today, a week after a five-year-old Ukrainian boy was killed by an electric scooter on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The Ukrainian community of Nice will gather, with the boy's family, in a city centre church. The child had taken refuge in Nice with his mother after fleeing the war in Ukraine. His father has now been able to leave Ukraine to be with family here on the Riviera. The boy was on a marked pedestrian crossing when the scooter knocked him over. It was travelling at more than 50 kilometres per hour. The scooter rider has been charged with manslaughter.

Wearing a mask will become compulsory - Wearing a mask will become compulsory again from Monday on Lignes d'Azur public transport services throughout the Nice metropolitan area. Mayor Christian Estrosi said a joint decree had been signed with the mayors of other communes that make up the Nice region. It comes after the coronavirus incidence rate in the area grew by 50% in just a week - from 800 to more than 1,300 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The mask requirement applies to buses and trams on the entire Lignes d’Azur network - but not SNCF train services. However, the SNCF says wearing a mask on trains is "strongly recommended", even though it is not yet compulsory again.

Cannes makes new covid vaccination slots available – Meanwhile, the town hall of Cannes has opened new vaccination slots at the city’s vaccination centre. The move comes as the number of Covid-19 cases explodes in France with the 7th wave. New slots have been made available at the municipal vaccination centre, which is located at 74 rue Georges Clémenceau and is accessible by appointment several days a week, from 8am to 2pm depending on demand. You can also call the town hall switchboard directly on 04 97 06 40 00 to get a slot.

French Prime Minister asks companies to raise wages - French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has asked companies to raise wages if they "can". Faced with inflation the Prime Minister has asked companies to take their responsibility by increasing wages, in particular via tax-free bonuses. Speaking on TF1 on Wednesday evening Borne said "I invite companies that can afford it to increase salaries or to mobilize purchasing power bonuses” adding that while “the government is acting” in the face of inflation “it is also necessary for companies to take their responsibilities”. The Prime Minister also confirmed that the bill, presented today at the Council of Ministers, would include "emergency aid at the start of the school year" for French people with modest incomes, in the amount of "100 euros per household" with " 50 euros per child". Borne concluded that with this new package "to the order of 20 billion euros", "the government is making every effort to protect the purchasing power of the French".

Tropical night-time temperatures - Tropical night-time minimum temperatures have been recorded in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, on the night of Tuesday July 5th to Wednesday July 6th. Météo France recorded minimum temperatures of 24.1°C in Toulon and 22.6°C in Nice, as experts warn that this is a consequence of global warming.

American offers 80 million euros for Bernard Tapie’s villa in Saint Tropez - It has been reported that an American is ready to pay 80 million euros for Bernard Tapie's villa in Saint-Tropez. The Mandala was up for auction this week as part of the liquidati