Defended to Paris for National Day, despite the variant

After a year without, Covid obliges, the France returns Wednesday with the tradition of the military parade on the occasion of its national holiday, but caution will remain as the country tries to avoid a fourth epidemic wave of the highly contagious variant Delta. In 2020, in the midst of the explosion of the pandemic, the Parade of July 14 was canceled - not seen since the Second World War - replaced by a ceremony at Place de la Concorde. This year marks the return of troops, flags and armored vehicles on the famous Parisian avenue of the Champs-Elysées, but access to the show will be limited, spectators will have to be equipped with the health pass and wear a mask. The gauge in the stands will also be set at 10,000 people against 25,000 in normal times.

Forte rise in deaths of migrants reaching Europe by sea (IOM)

The number of migrants who have died at sea trying to reach Europe has more than doubled this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday, calling on states to take urgent action. According to statistics released by IOM in a new report, at least 1,146 people died at sea trying to reach Europe in the first half of 2021. In 2020, 513 perished during the same period, and 674 in 2019. "Civilian search and rescue organisations continued to face significant obstacles, with the majority of their boats stranded in European ports due to administrative seizures and ongoing criminal and administrative proceedings against crew members," notes the report.

IN BRIEF

Quarante-five people have already died in the violence unleashed in South Africa after the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma, many of them in stampedes, and looting has resumed.

Football fans will have to subscribe to Amazon's Prime service from August (5.99 euros per month or 49 euros per year) and pay an additional 12.99 euros per month to be able to follow Ligue 1.