Local
Fire -A campsite in the Ardèche has been evacuated after two fires broke out on Tuesday afternoon.63 holidaymakers were taken to the village hall as 300 firefighters were mobilized in the region. By 10.30pm the Prefecture announced that 90 hectares of forest land had already been affected by the blaze. According to local media the flames were fanned by strong winds.
Pile up on the Voie Mathis in Nice - Three people have been injured after a pile up on the dual carriageway, the “Voie Mathis” in Nice. The incident happened shortly after 5.30pm on Tuesday. Eight cars were involved in the collision which caused major traffic jams while emergency services intervened. The cause of the accident is still to be determined.
West Nile virus - The regional health agency for the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region has confirmed that a case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in Frejus in the Var after a woman was bitten by a Culex mosquito. The patient is reported to be recovering as officials advise the public to take extra protection to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.
Two homes evacuated - Several Residents have been forced to evacuate their home after a car caught fire in Roquebrune Cap Martin on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters at the scene managed to control the blaze which was extremely close to woodland. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Motorist charged for drink driving - A motorist has been charged for drink driving after presenting himself at the police station in Antibes in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Accompanied by a fellow motorist the two men had reportedly, decided to go to the police in order to settle a disagreement over a small collision which had occurred earlier on. However, hoping to settle the dispute amicably, with the help of officers, it soon became apparent that one of the drivers was indeed over the limit.
Man searching for woman he saved from drowning - A 54-year-old tourist from Paris has appealed for information, hoping to track down a 70-year-old woman who he saved from drowning on August 1st in the sea at Cagnes sur mer. Having suffered a heart attack emergency services transported the victim to hospital where she made a full recovery. Hospital staff were unable to give any details concerning the patient so Patrick has now launched a search through local media asking for anyone who may know the woman to contact the Nice Matin.
National
Water shortage - A report published on Tuesday has shown that nearly a quarter of the world's population is in severe water shortage. The map prepared by the World Resources Institute measures the risks of water shortage, drought and river floods. Andrew Steer, CEO of the World Resources Institute says "Water scarcity is the biggest crisis no one is talking about - its consequences are food insecurity, conflict, migration, and financial instability”.
People smuggling - A man found with 11 Albanian nationals in his van near the Channel Tunnel entrance in France has been jailed. 51-year-old Peter Martin was stopped by border officers in 2016 and said he had been buying beer for a party. When they opened the Ford Transit's back door, they found most of the space was taken up by 10 men and a woman. Martin, was found guilty of people smuggling and jailed for five and a half years.
Business
Walmart, scene of two recent gun horrors, is under pressure to use its corporate power to help crack down on the sale of weapons in the US. The country's biggest retailer, often cited as the biggest gun seller, has faced criticism before over arms sales. But after a multiple shooting at a Texas store, and the death of two staff at a Mississippi branch, critics say Walmart has a responsibility to act.
Walt Disney's latest profit has failed to impress Wall Street, despite producing blockbuster movie hits including Avengers: Endgame and Toy Story 4. Disney's shares fell 5% in after-hours trading when the firm posted figures that missed analysts' forecasts. Avengers has become the biggest grossing movie ever, beating Avatar. But profits from a string of movie hits, including Aladdin, failed to offset other costs at the company.
And - Vivendi is set to sell a 10% stake in the Universal Music Group (UMG) to Chinese tech group Tencent. Universal - the world's biggest music company - already has its content streamed by Tencent in China as the result of a deal struck in 2017. Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are among the artists on the Universal label.
Sport
Football - A damning report has revealed that young Chelsea players were targeted for years by a "prolific and manipulative sexual abuser" who was able to operate "unchallenged". Evidence from 23 witnesses’ details how ex-chief scout Eddie Heath, who died in 1983, groomed and abused young boys aged between 10 and 17 in the 1970s. In a statement, Chelsea's board apologised "unreservedly".
Golf - Ryder Cup winner Thorbjorn Olesen will appear in court on 21 August after being charged with sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and common assault. The Dane was arrested on 29 July after returning on a flight from Nashville to London. Police were waiting for the 29-year-old when the aircraft landed at Heathrow. He was taken into custody and later released under investigation.
Rugby Union - Centre Ben Te'o and full-back Mike Brown will not have a final chance to impress head coach Eddie Jones after being left out of the squad to face Wales this weekend. Scrum-half Ben Spencer and rookie forward Alex Dombrandt have also been excluded from the 33-man group. Jones will name his World Cup squad of 31 the day after Sunday's warm-up at Twickenham. England then face Wales in Cardiff before games with Ireland and Italy.
Weather
Mainly cloudy along the coast with some sunny spells. Possible showers and thunderstorms expected inland in the Alpes Maritimes. Highs of 28 degrees in Nice, 30 degrees in Antibes and Hyeres with a moderate easterly wind. Cloud clearing by late afternoon giving way to a clear night with lows of 21 degrees in the Var and 22 in the Alpes Maritimes.
Outlook for Thursday and Friday clear skies highs of 28 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes and up to 34 degrees in the Var.
Finally
If you're concerned about getting a good night's sleep, you might be better off having an espresso rather than indulging a night cap.
As a surprising new study has found that drinking alcohol within four hours of sleep is far more likely to disrupt your sleep than caffeine.
Nicotine - whether from smoking cigarettes or vaping - was even more strongly associated with insomnia, particularly if vaped or smoked in the evening.
As for coffee, the researchers at Florida Atlantic University, found no significant link to sleeplessness.
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