Lunchtime News.Monday July 19th 2021

Manhunt-Police have launched a manhunt after the body of a woman was discovered in front of an apartment block at Plan-de-la-Tour in the Var on Sunday morning.She’d been shot three times.

Authorities say that the 32 year old woman  who’s been named as Doriane Ragon ,is thought to have been shot  by her partner who is now on the run in the Alpes Maritimes.

Some 150 gendarmes and police are searching for the suspect in the Greolieres area.Local residents have been instructed to stay indoors.

Reports say that the presumed murderer fired at police when they went to his home to question him on Sunday before managing to escape.

 

Infections increasing-New cases of coronavirus and in particular the delta variant are continuing to grow as the government prepares to introduce more widespread use of the health pass from Wednesday.

Authorities in some parts of the south west and east of France have reintroduced mask wearing in most outdoor areas and bars and restaurants have been told they must close at 11pm.

On Sunday ,new cases of the virus detected in the previous 24 hours rose to 12,532-the highest number on a weekend since the middle of May.

Hospital occupancy rates remain relatively low with 819 people in intensive care, the lowest number since September.

Its hoped that vaccines will prevent a rise in serious cases of the virus with more and more French people registering for the jab.

 

Tignes death-A 56 year old man from the Alpes-Maritimes has been killed in a mountain bike accident at Tignes in the French Alps.

Reports say that Pierre Ronchetti was on a guided trip when his bike slipped on loose ground and he fell into a ravine.

Emergency services who arrived by helicopter were unable to save him.

 

Summer Heat-Sunday was the hottest day of the year so far in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var with several temperature records falling.

In Carros ,temperatures hit nearly 37 degrees on Sunday afternoon with the mercury rising to 35.5 degrees in Lantosque and 36 degrees at Puget Theniers.

In the Var ,the temperature hit 38.9 degrees,the hottest anywhere in France since the start of 2021.

The weather will continue to be very hot for at least today and tomorrow with night time temperatures not falling below 22 degrees on the coast and as high as 25 degrees in some places.

 

Zizou-One of two shirts made for the French football legend Zinedine Zidane for the 1998 World Cup final has sold at auction in Los Angeles for 100,000 dollars.

The auction house said that although the number 10 French shirt had been authenticated by Fifa and Adidas ,it couldn’t actually say that Zidane had worn it during the match or not.

France won the final against Brazil 3-0 with Zidane scoring two goals in the first half.

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