French and Riviera News Wednesday 10th August 2022

News

Body of teenager found in lake Saint-Cassien - A teenager has been found dead in the lake of Saint-Cassien in the Pays de Fayence in the Var. Emergency services, alerted by witnesses, discovered the body of the 17-year-old on Tuesday evening. The circumstances are not yet known.

Dengue fever - A case of dengue fever has been detected in Fayence in the Var. Regional Health Agency employees have been going door to door to warn residents in the vicinity of the outbreak and identify areas of stagnant water. The agency will carry out mosquito control on a perimeter of 200m around the contaminated house on Thursday or Friday. Detailed instructions for local residents can be found on the Fayence Town Hall's Facebook page.

Monkeypox - From today Wednesday August 10th, five pharmacies have been authorized to vaccinate against monkeypox in France. One of them is in Marseille and another in Fréjus. This is an experiment in five pharmacies in the cities of Marseille, Fréjus, Lille and Paris which are located near hospitals capable of storing vaccines at -80°C. For the moment, appointments can only be made via Doctolib and the patient will be directed to the nearest vaccination site, whether it is a vaccination centre, hospital or pharmacy. As of August 4, more than 2,400 cases of monkeypox have been identified in France, including 152 residing in the PACA region. It is the fourth most affected region in France.

Heat Wave - Along with 18 other departments in France the Var and the Alpes Maritimes remains on a yellow heat wave alert. Meteo France has forecast thunderstorms from Sunday. As it stands the summer of 2022 is set to be a record for the number of consecutive heat wave days. The previous record at a national level dates back to 1983, with 23 days.

Gorges du Verdon becomes inaccessible – Meanwhile, following a decision announced by the prefect swimming and navigation in the Gorges du Verdon has been prohibited. The historic decision comes as water levels are reported to be dropping by up to 6cm a day.

Forest fire resumes in the Gironde - 3,500 people have been evacuated and more than 1,000 hectares have been destroyed in the Gironde as forest fires resume. The prefecture has called for the public to avoid the sector in the face of a deteriorating situation. The renewed outbreaks come after the region was ravaged by forest fires in July.

Beluga Whale successfully taken out of the river Seine - After six hours and the intervention of 80 people, including around twenty divers the beluga whale, which had become stranded for almost a week in the river Seine has been successfully taken out of the water at around 4am this morning. Its state of health was said to be “stationary”.

French MP calls for the right to vote in local elections for all foreigners - French MP Sacha Houlié has called for all foreigners in France to be given the right to vote in local elections. The proposal of the Macronist MP has provoked criticism from France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. On Tuesday Houlié presented the proposal saying, “that the recognition was long overdue” and that it was “time to grant the right to vote as well as stand as a candidate in local elections" to all foreigners, even non-Europeans.

Local MP for the Alpes-Maritimes Eric Ciotti also expressed his opposition towards the proposal calling it an “extremely dangerous move” adding that the vote must be linked to nationality. Asked about the subject in 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron had preferred to promote access to French nationality rather than granting the right to vote to foreigners in local elections.

French President and Boris Johnson hold telephone conversation – Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson have spoken of their "comradeship" and “cooperation in recent years” in a telephone conversation on Tuesday. A few days ahead of the departure of Boris Johnson, the French President and the British Prime Minister stressed the importance of continuing to “support Ukraine for as long as necessary” and thanked each other for “their friendship camaraderie” feeling that their “cooperation had made a difference on many international issues”.

This year’s Monaco Yacht Show - A list of yachts which will be present during this year’s Monaco Yacht Show has been unveiled by the organisers. The annual international show dedicated to the world of superyachts returns over four days at the end of September. Inaugurated in 1991, the Monaco Yacht Show (MIS) is divided into two main exhibition spaces: afloat and dockside. More than 100 superyachts and 50 luxury tenders will be presented, from September 28th to October 1st, by the most renowned builders and brokers in the industry. The MYS is world famous for the impressive length of its superyachts.

Business

A movement in the UK which hopes to reach one million participants is putting pressure on the government and energy suppliers to get prices reduced. The movement called "Don't pay UK" is urging British citizens not to pay their gas and electricity bills from October. The date was not chosen at random and marks the moment where gas and electricity bills set by the regulator in the UK will indeed increase from £1,971 to £3,300 per year on October 1st, after an already spectacular increase of 54% last April. And the surge could continue with an increase to £4,400 in January and £4,700 in April 2023, according to some analysts. The UK is now facing one of the biggest cost of living crises in decades. Inflation reached 9.4% in June, and should stand at more than 13% in October, according to the Bank of England.

US President Joe Biden has signed a law committing $280bn (£232bn) to high tech manufacturing and scientific research amid fears the country is losing its technological edge to China. The investments include tax breaks for companies that build computer chip manufacturing plants in the US. Business groups have long pushed for more government support, citing the need to reduce reliance on China.

Domino's Pizza's last stores in Italy have been closed after the firm that operated its outlets in the country filed for bankruptcy. Master franchise holder ePizza SpA said it was impacted by the pandemic. Domino's had struggled to win over customers in the birthplace of pizza since launching there in 2015. News of the fast food giant's exit from the country was celebrated by some social media users.

Sport

Golf - Three players from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series have lost a court bid against the PGA Tour to play in the FedEx Cup Play-offs. The PGA Tour has suspended members for taking part in the breakaway series. Australian Matt Jones and Americans Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford sought a temporary restraining order, clearing them to play at the first FedEx Cup play-off tournament this week. However, US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman sided with the PGA Tour.

Cricket - Trent Boult has been released from his New Zealand contract in order to spend more time with his family and play in domestic leagues around the world. As a result the bowler will have a "significantly reduced" role with his country. Boult has taken 317 wickets in 78 Tests and is currently top of the one-day international bowling rankings. He said it has been a "really tough decision" but "the time is right to move into this next phase".

Formula One – Lewis Hamilton has said that turning down a role as a fighter pilot in Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick was "the most upsetting call that he thinks he’s ever had”. The British seven-time Formula 1 world champion said he accepted a part in the hit sequel to the original 1986 film. However, he had to pull out because filming took place during the Formula 1 season. Hamilton says he "built a friendship" with Cruise after the Hollywood star invited him to the set of his 2014 science fiction film, Edge of Tomorrow. Top Gun made Hamilton determined to become a fighter pilot as a child, and he could not resist asking Cruise if he could be involved in the long-awaited follow-up film.

Rugby Union - England head coach Eddie Jones has been warned by the Rugby Football Union for criticising the national team's reliance on the private school system. In an interview, Jones claimed the pathway produced players who had enjoyed a "closeted life" and lacked "resolve". Eight of the England squad that won July’s Test decider in Australia were fully or partially privately schooled. The RFU said that Jones had been reminded of the "valued role" the sector played.

Football – It’s been reported that Manchester City are in discussion with Barcelona over the sale of Portugal playmaker Bernardo Silva, 27, for a fee of between £42m and £46.5m. 

Weather

Cloudy with scattered rainfall inland in the Alpes Maritimes which could reach the coast. Highs of 29 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Cannes. A light south-easterly wind. 31 degrees and sunny in Saint Tropez with a gentle breeze.

This evening going down to 24 degrees with clear skies.

Outlook for Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow; similar to today with the possibility of some scattered showers in the afternoon and highs of 29-32 degrees. Friday fine and highs of 29-31 degrees.

Sea temperature:    27 degrees       UV level   8

Sunrise:                       06.28hr              Sunset      20.41hr

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