The heatwave continues, with virtually the whole of France being under Meteo France yellow or orange alerts for heat today. Only some coastal areas in the north remain unaffected. The government has activated their heatwave information toll free-telephone line. The number is 0800 06 66 66. The line provides advice on how to protect yourself and those around you, particularly the most vulnerable, and how to adopt the right reflexes in the event of extreme heat. The government's advice is to:
Stay cool or spend several hours a day in a cool place;
Drink water without waiting until you are thirsty;
Moisten and ventilate your body several times a day;
Close the shutters and windows during the hottest hours and when it is warmer outside than inside;
Eat a fresh and balanced diet;
Avoid alcohol;
Check on the most vulnerable.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has said that professionals from the Multipurpose Home Help and Care Service, who provide daily care and support to 800 retired people from Nice, are being mobilized to detect and prevent the effects of dehydration or heat stroke.
The Heatwave Plan in operation in Nice provides for one telephone call to registered vulnerable people every 48 hours. If there is no response, a link is made with the trusted people appointed by the user. The mayor said that currently CCAS agents are monitoring 2,513 isolated people.
The Var prefecture has said that six massifs in the department are at severe fire risk today and access is not recommended. Another three are at moderate risk. You can consult a frequently updated map of fire risks on the Var massifs on the prefecture's website var.gouv.fr
One person has died after a road accident in the Var this morning. The accident happened near the village of Ollieres between Brignoles and Aix-en-Provence. A bus reportedly hit a bridge and fell into a ravine. The driver, who was the only person on the bus at the time, died in the accident. The water supply to the village has been cut off as a result of infrastructure being brought down by the crash.
Investigations are continuing to identify the perpetrators of the arson attacks on the TGV network which seriously disrupted services last Friday. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has said that the authorities have “identified a certain number of profiles of people who could have committed these acts of sabotage”. Speaking on French television, he said that the actions were “very precise” and “extremely well targeted”. The Transport Ministry said yesterday that train services had returned to normal.
A man has died after a fall at a shopping center in Nice. Reports say that the man in his seventies fell several floors at Nice Etoile yesterday evening.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has said that she wants to see the Olympic rings remain on the Eiffel tower after the Olympics have finished. She added that the cauldron and the female statues should also remain. Speaking to French media, she described the three types of objects as a legacy of the games.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office has taken charge of an investigation into damage to the fiber optic telecoms network in six French departments. The networks were reportedly cut overnight on Sunday night in the Bouches du Rhone, Aude, Drome, Herault, Oise and Meuse departments. Marina Ferrari, currently responsible for Digital Affairs in the French government said in a social media post that she condemned “in the strongest terms these cowardly and irresponsible acts”. She said that fiber, fixed telephony and mobile telephony were all affected on a localized basis.
The French agriculture minister Marc Fesneau has said that the government is willing to help grain farmers if needed. Visiting a farm in the Eure-et compared-Loire, he said that initial estimates suggest grain yields may drop by 10 to 20 per cent this year to last year, although the amount won't be fully known until later in the season. He added that the government is monitoring the situation.
BUSINESS
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a series of new tax measures. Speaking to the House of Commons, she said that the Labor government has inherited a projected overspend of £22bn from the Conservatives, saying that the projected overspend on the asylum system, including the Rwanda plan that Labor has now scrapped, was more than £6.4 bn for this year alone. Reeves announced the cancellation of various road and rail projects and said that winter fuel payments will now be restricted to those on pension credits or other means-tested benefits. She also confirmed the government has made a 22% two-year pay offer to junior doctors. Teachers and NHS workers will get a 5.5% rise
The UK's telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced a new clampdown on scam telephone calls from abroad. The regulator said that fraudsters based abroad often spoof UK numbers of trusted people or organizations, knowing people are more likely to pick up these calls. Following a consultation, OFCOM said it is strengthening its guidance in this area. Phone companies will now have to identify and block calls from abroad which falsely display a UK telephone number, except in a limited number of legitimate cases. It added that BT has already prevented up to one million calls per day from entering its network within the first month of implementing the measures on a voluntary basis, and the new guidance “will ensure this becomes standard practice across the industry”.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is on a five day visit to China where she held a meeting with President Xi Jinping. She said that China is an "important interlocutor" in managing global tensions. The president hailed what he called the "long-established friendly" ties, as well as "tolerance, mutual trust and mutual respect" between Italy and China.
SPORT
Olympics...The Olympic men's individual triathlon has been postponed after tests early this morning revealed water quality in the River Seine did not reach the required standard. The race was due to start at 08:00 today and will now take place on Wednesday at 10:45am instead.
Team GB have announced that Adam Peaty has tested positive for Covid-19, a day after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke . Peaty was expected to be part of the British relay teams later in the Olympics and Team GB said he is “hopeful to be back in competition”.
Tom Daley and Noah Williams have won silver in the men's synchronized 10m platform diving event. It's Daley's fifth Olympic medal.
Britain's Tom Pidcock challenges a puncture to retain his Olympic mountain bike title. French rider Victor Koret-zky won silver.
Team GB retained their Olympic team eventing title to win a first gold medal at the Games, before Laura Collett claimed individual bronze. Collett and Tom McEwen, joined by world number one Ros Canter, sealed victory in Monday's final showjumping stage at the Chateau de Versailles.
In Olympic tennis news, Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in their second-round match. The final score in the match, which was played at Rolland Garros was 6-1 6-4.
Motorsports.... Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is joining Williams next season on what the team calls a "multi-year" contract. Sainz lost his seat at Ferrari after the team decided to sign Lewis Hamilton. The Spanish driver said that he is “extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team” as Williams. Sainz has won three grand prix during his time with Ferrari, which he joined in 2021.
Football... Arsenal have signed Italy defender Riccardo Cala-fiori from Bologna for a fee of up to £42m including add-ons. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year deal.
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