-
Updated June 28: 1,000 extra deaths in three days of heatwave in France
74 drownings have also been recorded since start of period of extreme heat
-
Heatwave to end for most of France from Sunday
Even so, highs will remain above seasonal averages, reaching around 30C in Paris, 33C in Toulouse and about 27C in Lille
-
French rugby players come to the rescue after retirement home lift breaks down
'Before we started warming up I told the players that we were going on a little mission,' said the coach
Motorway toll rises 'for years to come'
Broadcaster claims secret deal means motorists will be paying an additional €500million by 2023 to use autoroutes
Motorists are set to face increasing motorway tariffs for years to come, it has been claimed.
Broadcaster France 2 has said that a secret agreement between the government and the motorway companies means that drivers using the country's toll roads will face annual price increases until 2023.
The agreement was reached in April 2015, France 2 said, after motorway companies had threatened to take the government to court over its 2014 decision to put a freeze tolls in 2015.
In it, companies pledged to finance €3.2billion in maintenance and improvement works over 10 years, in return for the right to increase tariffs between 2019 and 2023. France 2 estimates the additional cost to motorists will be €500million - an amount that would guarantee the financial stability of autoroute operators.
Ségolène Royal, who was environment minister at the time has denied her reported involvement in the deal.
Meanwhile, France 2 said that independent supervisory authority Arafer has voiced concern over the cost of the works, saying that it has been overvalued, and includes works that had already been budgeted for.
