News
Heat wave - More than fifty departments in France are currently on an orange or red heatwave warning which has affected the whole the country at the end of August. On Monday Météo-France extended its warning to 53 departments. Today Tuesday 22nd August, four will be in red and 49 in orange.
In the Rhône Valley, temperature levels which have never been measured in France are expected today Tuesday 22nd August, according to France’s Health Minister. According to records only seven of the 47 heat waves recorded by Météo-France since 1947 started after August 15th. They all took place after the year 2000 (2001, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and now 2023) and they lasted six days at the most. In comparison the one that currently affects France and Corsica started on August 17th and should normally experience a cooling in temperatures after the peak expected between Wednesday and Thursday, August 24. Lasting nine days in total.
Locally 41 degrees is forecast for the Var this Tuesday afternoon in Brignoles and Le Luc with between 32°C and 36°C along the coast similar to the Alpes-Maritimes, where the maximum should be 38°C inland and 36°C on the coast. Temperatures will remain high until Thursday, before gradually dropping on Friday and Saturday.
Father leaves 3-year-old daughter in van during heatwave - A father and holidaymaker from Normandy, has been summoned before the criminal court of Draguignan in the Var after falling asleep on the beach in Saint-Tropez and leaving his 3-year-old daughter in his van. The incident occurred during the current heat wave and the little girl is believed to have stayed several hours in the car park of a beach before passers-by noticed her. Taken to hospital in Frejus when the father of the family finally appeared he explained that his little girl had wanted to stay in the van to sleep.
Fire in town hall office in Saint-Tropez - Meanwhile, an investigation has been opened after the town hall office in Saint-Tropez caught fire in the early hours of this morning. Firefighters intervened to control the start of a fire in the municipal building at around 2.30am. Only one room on the ground floor was damaged.
Technical incident ground A380 at Nice airport - Following a technical incident an A380 has been grounded on the tarmac at Nice International airport. Since the incident at the weekend, speculation has been rife on social networks about the cause of the accident, with unconfirmed reports claiming it hit a drone during landing. The European super jumbo was unable to leave with its 520 passengers for Dubai. The exact cause of the incident is still unknown.
Artificial intelligence could create more jobs than it destroys according to recent study - According to a new study by the United Nations' International Labor Organization (ILO), released on Monday, August 21st, artificial intelligence could create more jobs than it destroys, suggesting that most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation. The study claims that the first consequence of this new technology will probably not be the destruction of jobs, but rather potential changes in the quality jobs, including work intensity and autonomy. Also pointing out that the effects of this new technology vary considerably according to professions and areas. The study points out that the share of employment potentially affected by automation is more than twice as high for women as for men, due to the overrepresentation of women in office work, especially in high- and middle-income countries. While this study shows significant differences between rich and poor countries, it finds that the potential number of jobs created by AI is virtually the same in all countries.
Le Touquet international airport to be renamed after Queen Elizabeth II - The international airport of Le Touquet Paris-Plage is about to undergo a historic transformation by taking on the name ‘Elizabeth II International Airport of Le Touquet Paris-Plage’. Le Touquet received the official support of the king on Monday for the change at the airport of the French seaside resort. In a statement the town hall said “this is a tribute to a great Queen and her uncle who had a fondness for France, as well as a recognition of the ‘most British of French resorts’,” adding that an inauguration date had yet to be set. Authorities had requested the name change just days after the queen died on 8th September last year aged 96. The town hall noted that the queen’s uncle, Edward VIII, used to travel over by plane to enjoy horseback riding and sand yachting, sometimes accompanied by his niece.
Business
Arm the British microchip designing giant has announced it has filed paperwork to sell its shares in the US. The Cambridge-based company, which designs chips for devices from smartphones to game consoles, plans to list on New York's Nasdaq in September. Arm did not reveal the number of shares for sale or the price, but its proposed initial public offering (IPO) could be the biggest listing this year. In March, in a blow to the UK, the firm opted against listing shares in London.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused Facebook of putting "profits ahead of people's safety" after it blocked news amid devastating wildfires in the country. Facebook banned news on its platform in response to Canadian law forcing it to share profit with news outlets. Wildfire evacuees have said the ban has impacted their ability to share critical news with each other. Meta, Facebook's parent company, calls the law "fundamentally flawed". The prime minister, during a televised news conference on Monday, said the actions of Meta were "inconceivable".
As most workers' wages were squeezed by rising prices in the UK last year bosses at Britain's biggest companies saw their pay rise by almost 16% on average. The High Pay Centre said the median pay of a FTSE 100 chief executive was £3.91m in 2022, up from £3.38m in 2021. And it said the average earnings of a FTSE 100 boss was 118 times more than a typical UK worker on £33,000 a year. Critics called the earnings extreme, but some of the firms argued they were in line with competitors.
And - A report has shown that baggage mishandling rates last year hit the highest in a decade globally, as the airline industry scrambled to recover after the pandemic. Some 26 million pieces of luggage were lost, delayed or damaged in 2022 - nearly eight bags in every 1,000. But new data has indicated that the situation is improving as passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.
Sport
Football - 10-man Arsenal battled to win their Premier League match last night 1-0 against Crystal Palace.
And - Former striker for France Thierry Henry has just been appointed head of the France Espoirs team or France’s national under 21 football team, for a period of two years. The post will allow Henry to be at the head of the French Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Games. "
Rugby Union - Wales head coach Warren Gatland has chosen flanker Jac Morgan and hooker Dewi Lake as co-captains for the 2023 World Cup in France. Wales open their Pool C campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on 10 September.
Weather
The orange heatwave alert remains in place for the Alpes Maritimes and the Var. Highs of 36 degrees in Nice, Monaco and Cannes. 41 degrees has been forecast by this afternoon inland in the Var in Brignoles and Le Luc. 32-36 degrees along the coast. Gentle breeze.
This evening going down to 28 degrees along the coast and 23 degrees inland with clear skies.
The outlook. Temperatures are set to remain high until Thursday before gradually dropping on Friday and Saturday.
Sunrise 06.42am
Sunset 08.23pm
Beach Weather
Nice – Sea temperature 27 degrees. Air temperature 31 degrees but will feel like 37 degrees. UV level 8.
Marseille – Sea temperature 25 degrees. Air temperature 33 degrees but will feel like 51 degrees. UV level 9.
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