Red heatwave alerts gradually lifted - Four departments in central France remain on a rare red heatwave alert today, down from 16 yesterday. The alert was first raised by Météo France yesterday and has been extended until at least tonight. The red warning means a potential danger to life from the heat, and it gives local authorities the power to shut down public events and take extra precautions including closing schools and modifying public transport. Across France, the education ministry said 1,350 schools were partially or completed shut yesterday due to overheated and unventilated classrooms. Paris imposed extra limits on vehicle traffic, including reduced speed limits, as air pollution spiked and the summit of the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors. The Bouches-du-Rhône has extended its level 1 air pollution alert for a third day running. Speed limits on major roads in the department have been cut by 20 kilometres per hour. Temperatures are expected to improve this evening in the French capital, but the hot weather persists here on the Mediterranean.
Estrosi couple released without charge - Nice mayor Christian Estrosi and his wife have been released after 13 hours in police custody as part of an embezzlement investigation. Estrosi's lawyer has condemned the summons and described it as politically motivated. The couple were freed without charge, on the eve of Estrosi’s 70th birthday. The questioning relates to two publicly-funded events in Nice in 2023: the Nice Climate Summit and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Two rehoused after Nice apartment fire - Nice city hall is helping to rehouse a couple whose rented apartment has become completely uninhabitable after a fire. 25 firefighters were called out to the fire in a second-floor apartment in a small building on Avenue de Saint-Sylvestre. A pharmacy on the ground floor has had to temporarily close, with nine staff put on temporary unemployment. No one was injured.
Pharmacists protest in Nice - Pharmacists took part in a go-slow protest through Nice in their cars yesterday as part of ongoing protests against reforms to the sector by the French government. They're protesting proposals to reduce profit margins on generic prescription medicines - a measure that could save €600 million from the state budget, but which pharmacists say jeopardise their financial viability. Other strike action is planned throughout the summer, including refusing to cover shifts as an out-of-hours pharmacy and refusing third-party insurance payments.
Ikea staff walk out on strike - Meanwhile some staff at the Ikea store at Nice Saint-Isidore walked out on strike yesterday, protesting outside the store entrance in a dispute over pay. Three unions have called on Ikea's 10,000 French employees to strike at the furniture retailer's 40 stores nationwide. They say benefits and bonuses are being phased out and discussions on a collective pay rise are going nowhere, while the firm is making record profits.
Ubaldi rescue plan succeeds - Local electronics retailer Ubaldi has completed a corporate rescue package that aims to ensure the long-term viability of the business. Last June, Ubaldi voluntarily placed itself in administration to protect the firm from potential bankruptcy and avoid job losses. A year later, Nice commercial court has now approved the firm's reorganisation and a new management plan, including new investment, to keep the business going. Some less profitable stores have since closed and Ubaldi is also placing greater importance in its e-commerce site, which delivers throughout France from its warehouse in Carros.
Louis Sarkozy to stand for election in Menton? - Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's son, Louis, has registered as a resident in Menton and joined the voters' register there - fuelling speculation that he plans to stand as a candidate in the municipal elections there next March. Sarkozy junior, who's 28, is reported to have a keen interest in local politics and wants to ensure Menton stays with the Républicains and doesn't slip into the hands of the far-right.
BUSINESS
Police in Singapore can now seize control of a person's bank account and block money transfers if they suspect the person is being scammed, under a new law that kicked in on Tuesday. The move is aimed at addressing a common issue faced by the police where victims often refuse to believe they are being scammed despite warnings, authorities have said. The law was passed earlier this year by lawmakers, though some members of parliament have described the measure as intrusive.
The FTSE 100 share index has gained 7.2% so far this year, its best January-June performance in four years, and its third-best first half to a year in the last decade. Stocks in London have recovered from their trade war shock in early April, helped by Donald Trump’s 90-day pause to new tariffs which ends next week. Britain’s trade deal with the US, which kicked in earlier this week, has also helped the mood.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Bank of England has predicted that UK interest rates will continue to fall, gradually. Andrew Bailey has told CNBC in an interview that the UK’s labour market “is softening”, pointing to signs that pay increases are starting to come down.
SPORT
Tennis - Players, ground staff and spectators had to contend with sweltering conditions as Wimbledon recorded its hottest opening day on record. Air temperature on the grounds had reached 32.3C on Monday afternoon. Players were given ice packs, cold towels and plenty of water to help regulate their temperature during changeovers. The hottest temperature ever recorded during the tournament remains the 35.7C reached in 2015.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her Wimbledon return with victory in the first round. Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, who missed last year's tournament with a shoulder injury, got off to a flying start on Court One before a more testing second set as she beat Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5. Tunisian former world number two Ons Jabeur visibly struggled in the heat, leaving the court for 14 minutes for a medical timeout in the first set of her match against Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova. Jabeur eventually called it a day while trailing 7-6 2-0 after looking uncomfortable for much of the match.
Two-time semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev took his frustration out on his racquet after he suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon. The Russian world number nine lost 7-6 3-6 7-6 6-2 to the 64th-ranked Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Meanwhile, world number 33 Yulia Putintseva raised security concerns about a spectator during her first-round match at Wimbledon, asking for them to be ejected. Early on in her match against Amanda Anisimova on court 15, the 30-year-old complained directly to the umpire about a spectator, whom she described as "crazy" and "dangerous". A club spokesperson said the matter was "dealt with".
Formula One - Toto Wolff says Mercedes will make a decision about who drives for them in the 2026 season in Formula 1's August summer break amid fresh rumours surrounding Max Verstappen. Focus on Mercedes' driver line-up for next year was heightened at the Austrian Grand Prix after George Russell disclosed in an interview with Sky Sports F1 that the team were talking to Verstappen, Red Bull's reigning four-time world champion. Team boss Toto Wolff later confirmed that there were "conversations behind closed doors" taking place in order to explore "what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future - and that can be long into the future". However, expressing his happiness with his current pairing, Wolff also said that it was still more likely that Russell would be driving for them in 2026 than Verstappen.
Football - Defending champions Manchester City were knocked out of the Club World Cup at the last-16 stage after being stunned in extra time by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal in an incredible seven-goal thriller. Pep Guardiola's side had come through the group stages unscathed but failed to reach the quarter-finals after conceding four times. The Saudi Pro League side, led by former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, produced a remarkable performance to win 4-3.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed that Jorgen Strand Larsen has signed a permanent contract, keeping him at the club until 2029. The Norway striker joined Wolves on a season-long loan from Celta Vigo in July 2024. During his debut Premier League season, Strand Larsen made a significant impact, scoring 14 goals in 35 appearances. Notably, he became the first Wolves player to score in four consecutive victories, contributing to the club's historic six-match winning streak.
WEATHER
Thundery showers inland across the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var today, while it should stay fine and sunny on the coast. Temperatures this afternoon still around 32 degrees Celsius in the Alpes-Maritimes and up to 34 in the Var. Noticeably cooler inland in the Alpes-Maritimes, with 28 in the Mercantour and 24 on the Italian border this afternoon. Clear skies tonight, staying very warm, 27 degrees Celsius on the coast - 22 inland in the Var overnight. The outlook for Thursday: more inland thunderstorms, possibly reaching the Var coast in the afternoon, while the Alpes-Maritimes coast is forecast to stay sunny. Temperatures tomorrow reaching 31 on the Alpes-Maritimes coast and up to 35 inland in parts of the Var.
More than 100 flights departing from and arriving at Nice airport today have been cancelled due to a nationwide strike by French air traffic controlle...
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Due to an ozone pollution spike, only vehicles with Crit’Air green, 1, or 2 stickers can drive in Marseille's Low Emissions Zone (ZFE) on Wednesday, t...
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Four departments in central France remain on a rare red heatwave alert today.
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This first summer holiday weekend will see very heavy traffic across the VINCI Autoroutes network, especially in the Rhône Valley, towards the Atlanti...
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The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and his wife Laura Tenoudji have been questioned as part of an investigation into suspected misappropriation of ...
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