French and Riviera News.Monday July 22nd 2019

Pollution alert-The Var has been placed on a level 1 air pollution alert with poor air quality across the region.

Members of the public are advised to use public transport if at all possible and reduce speeds when driving.

Physical exercise is not encouraged and particular attention should be paid to the elderly and young children as well as people with underlying health problems.

 

Stabbing death-A 45 year old man who was stabbed at Le Cros-de-Cagnes in the early hours of Saturday has died in hospital.

The victim was rushed to hospital in Nice after being stabbed twice in the stomach and abdomen during a violent argument at 3.30 on Saturday morning.

Doctors were unable to save him.

The presumed perpetrator has since turned himself into police.An enquiry is underway.Alcohol is thought to have played a part in the events.

 

Missing girl-Police in the Var are appealing for information about a 15 year old girl who’s been missing since the 28th of May.

Cleophee Gerecke was last seen at Sollies-Pont at 3pm on Monday the 28th of May.She’s 1 meter 65 tall of medium build with mid to long chestnut hair.

When last see she was wearing a grey Nike sweatshirt and black leggings.

Anyone with information is asked to call police in Saint-Cyr on 04 94 26 26 52.

 

Water accidents -There have been more as accidents in the sea and in private swimming pools over the weekend.

In Grasse ,emergency services were called to go to the aid of a 5 year old girl who was reported to be in a critical condition after getting into difficulty in a private swimming pool.Police have launched an investigation.The girl is recovering at the Lenval Children’s Hospital in Nice.

In Cannes ,an 80 year old man was rescued off Bijou Plage as he was on the point of drowning after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.He’s recovering in hospital.

 

Fire risk-6 out of the 9 forested zones of the Var at very high risk of fire today as temperatures climb and woodland tinder dry.

The prefect of the Var has banned the public from several areas including the Maures, the Corniche des Maures ,the Haut Var and the Saints-Baume.

The Esterel and the Plateau de Canjuers are also at risk but at a lower level than other areas.

The public is reminded that lighting fires is completely banned anywhere in or around forest land and motorists are urged not to discard cigarette ends from car windows.

 

The bells ? Two church bells from two small chapels near Rians in the Var have disappeared.

The bells went missing overnight between Friday and Saturday and authorities say that whoever stole them must have had access to a vehicle and would have had to have considerable strength.

The bronze bells are practically worthless-around  30 euros each and it’s thought that they may have been wanted for a private collection.

Anyone with information should give police a ring on 04 94 80 30 34.

 

Antibes app-The town council of Antibes Juan-les-Pins has launched a new app which allows members of the public to report unsociable civil behaviour.

Local residents can now report anything from fly-tipping to rubbish left out at incorrect times or street lights not functioning.

Users of the app will be required to leave their name and location of the offence.

The Mayor of Antibes Jean Leonetti says that he hopes that the new app which is available on all smartphones and called Smart Antibes Juan-les-Pins will help authorities to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

 

Bardot rant-The film star Brigitte Bardot has launched a scathing attack on St Tropez and the beaches of Pampelonne.

In an interview with the French weekly magazine Marianne ,the star said that the St Tropez area had fallen under the influence of a “billionaires cartel” and that nothing else apart from yachting was being taken into consideration.

She deplored the fact that local businesses and restaurants had gone to the wall to allow new developments across the beaches and said that the small local fishing industry had been decimated.

Bardot said that all that was needed to turn St Tropez into Miami was a motorway and that she would never set foot in the village again.

 

XV de France-The French World Cup rugby union squad has been training at the Stade Louis Deux in Monaco over the weekend as preparations for Japan 2019 continue.

37 players are in Jacques Brunel’s squad with Monaco seen as an ideal place to train given that temperatures in Japan during the World Cup in September are expected to be high.

The squad has been staying at the Marriott Hotel in Cap d’Ail just 50 meters from the stadium and plenty of fans have been on hand to wish the players well.

France are being given little chance of making a major impact at the tournament given their recent patchy form but as they say ,you should never write the French off !

 

In National News.

 

Heatwave -Most of Metropolitan France is set to be gripped by a heatwave this week as high temperatures spread across the country from the south west.

Météo France says that it expects the heatwave to last for three or four days with temperatures climbing to between 35-40 degrees across the south of the country and in excess of 35 degrees in the north.

Much of France is experiencing extreme drought conditions because of dry conditions over the past few months coupled with the damaging  heatwave at the end of June.

Water restrictions are in force in several regions and farmers are warning of poor harvests.

 

Jams-Thousands of motorists have spent a frustrating weekend stuck in cars as the summer holiday season continues to unfold.

Traffic jams totaling 700 kilometers were reported around the country with the worst affected area between Paris and Avignon.

A jam of 50 kilometers built up around Valence in the Rhône Valley and roads around Bordeaux were also thick with traffic..

The French road monitor Bison Fute has warned that there are likely to be big problems on the roads for several weekends until the middle of August with Saturday the 3rd of August set to be the worst day as the July to August holiday changeover takes place.

 

Business.

 

US markets start the week on the back of a negative session last Friday with the slide prompted by a report in the Wall Street Journal which said that the Fed will make less aggressive interest rate cuts than investors have been hoping for.

The S&P stands at 29 67 with the Dow Jones Industrials at 27 ,154 and the Nasdaq at 81 46.

 

The UK Finance Minister has said that he will quit if Boris Johnson becomes the next occupant of 10 Downing Street.

Phillip Hammond says that a no deal Brexit is not something that “he can sign up to” and that he expects to resign following Theresa May’s final Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Boris Johnson is widely expected to beat Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative Party leadership contest and will succeed Mrs May who will step down after visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Johnson has said that the UK will quit the European Union “come what may” on the 31st of October.

He’s facing a possible rebellion from several moderate Conservatives including Mr Hammond who may even be prepared to join the opposition in a vote of no confidence which could trigger a general election as soon as the autumn.

 

The economic adviser to the White House is to hold a meeting with executives from the semi conductor and software industries today to discuss the ban on sales to China’s Huawei Technologies.

Larry Kudlow will meet with executives from Qualcomm and Intel with representatives from Google and Micron also present.

The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will also be present with a White House spokesman saying that Huawei is not reason the meeting has been called but that the subject is “bound to come up”.

The Chinese tech giant was placed on a national security blacklist by President Trump in May.

Most US firms are banned from supplying it with parts without a special license but last Month Mr Trump says that he would allow American companies to resume sales with a view to reviving trade talks with Beijing.

 

And-The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with the Mexican Foreign Minister to discuss immigration and trade.

The meeting was held amid growing tensions between the US and Mexico ahead of a deadline on a deal that withdrew tariff threats on Mexican exports.

The United States agreed to scrap punitive tariffs if Mexico stemmed the flow of illegal immigrants across the border by the 22nd of July.

President Trump is due to rule later today whether he considers that Mexico has done enough to fulfill its side of the bargain.

In addition , US lawmakers are still haggling over a new regional trade deal which is supposed to replace the North American Free Trade agreement NAFTA.

 

Sport.

 

Golf-Shane Lowry has won the Open Championship at Royal Portrush after making the most of the conditions on a wet and windy course.

The Irishman secured his first Major after finishing with a final one over par 72 to reach 15 under par.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood finished 6 shots back in second place with Tony Finau of the United States in third place on 7 under.

 

Cycling-Simon Yates of Great Britain has won a second Tour de France stage victory after coming home first at the end of stage 15 between Limoux and Foix Prat d’Albis.

Yates kicked away with just over 8 kilometers to go  with Julian Alaphilippe holding onto the leader’s yellow jersey although he did finally crack in the mountains and lost time to defending champion Geraint Thomas.

Alaphilippe is 1 minute 35 seconds ahead of Thomas in the General Classification.

Today is a rest day before the riders before a mainly flat stage around Nimes tomorrow.

 

Football-Gareth Bale is getting “very close” to leaving Real Madrid according to manager Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane said over the weekend that “he hopes” that Bale leaves “soon” and that it would be “best for everyone”.

The 30 year old Welshman  has three years left on his contract but has been linked with a number of clubs including Manchester United.

 

Netball-New Zealand have stunned the holders Australia by winning the World Cup Final in Liverpool.

The Silver Ferns won by a single goal 52-51.It’s their 5th world title but their first since 2003.

England won the bronze medal with a 58-42 victory over South Africa.

 

Weather.

 

Clear skies with light to moderate south westerly or variable winds.

Top temperatures  28-34 degrees.

Overnight lows of 25 degrees on the coast and 22 degrees inland with clear skies.

Tuesday and Wednesday-Clear skies with highs of 30-36 degrees.

 

Last local news

Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024

Seven people have been questioned by police in a fraud investigation relating to the loss of almost half a million euros by Nice university hospital.... Evening Update Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024

France's prime minister Gabriel Attal has announced that a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of striking her in a heated exchange over... French and Riviera News Thursday 28th March 2024 Read More

28/03/2024

Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has asked for national police reinforcements to help bring the Les Moulins housing estate under control.... Evening Update Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024

French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024

The headmaster of a high school in Paris has resigned after receiving death threats on social media following an altercation with a student, which dat... French and Riviera News Wednesday 27th March 2024 Read More

27/03/2024

Evening Update Tuesday 26th March 2024

More than 20 secondary schools on the Riviera have been targeted by bomb alerts today, forcing some of them to stay closed all day.... Evening Update Tuesday 26th March 2024 Read More

26/03/2024