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French Prime Minister confirms use of Article 49.3 to pass budget
Usage opens government up to motion of no confidence but opposition MPs unlikely to find enough support
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Floor collapses in Paris building leaving 20 injured
Water leaking into the building from balcony is thought to be cause of collapse
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Homes evacuated and cars submerged as flash floods hit south of France
Alerts continue as schools and roads are closed. Several rivers have burst their banks
Hydrant vandals spark complaints
Mayors and fire services have complained about the rise in the number of fire hydrants being illegally opened in the heatwave, putting lives in danger and wasting millions of litres of water.
Pompiers in Paris say vandals could cause flooding and even electrocution if water reaches power supplies. In 2015 a child was badly hurt when hit in the face by high-pressure water.
Figures from Le Monde claim 450,000m3 of water has been wasted across France – about half that of Lake Annecy.
