Sniffer dogs have been called in to help inspect French trains and the Paris metro for bedbugs after dozens of reports of infestations caused alarm in the French capital. Public transport users have taken to standing on the metro instead of sitting on the fabric seats as panic spreads over the reported infestations, while others have posted on social media about the creatures swarming over their Airbnb rentals. Transport minister Clement Beaune said there had been about 10 traveller reports about bedbugs at Paris public transport operator RATP and 37 at rail operator SNCF in recent weeks – but he denied there was an outbreak. "When there is a problem, we deal with it, we won’t deny it. There is no outbreak of bedbugs in public transport," Mr Beaune said after meeting transport and travel chiefs. French social and traditional media have reported extensively on bedbugs on trains and in cinemas, and the government has concerns about its impact on tourism and the Paris Olympics, which start in less than a year. Deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire called the infestation “widespread”, and Eurostar this week stepped up cleaning on its trains because of the threat. Bedbug bites leave red marks on the body that may cause itchy welts. Infestations in the home often need treating by pest controllers, and bedding has to be washed in water of 60C or more. Mr Beaune said all French public transport operators would boost health procedures in general and the fight against bedbugs in particular, notably with canine sniffer teams, which he said were the most effective means of detection. He added that every three months, data will be published about all bedbug reports and any confirmed infestations. “Total transparency will bring total confidence,” he said, adding that there was “no need for psychosis or fear”. He also plans to meet pest-control companies and to organise a conference on any problem by the end of this month. With a typical lifespan of four to six months, bedbugs can be carried in luggage and boxes, and on clothing and bedding. Experts say the UK already has bedbugs but the Paris epidemic could boost their numbers. David Cain, founder of Bed Bugs Ltd and a qualified microbiologist, said: “I have known people go on day trips to Paris, not even staying in hotels or other high-risk activities, and come back with them. Paris has been a popular link for the last six years. “Business is already booming. I started doing this in 2005, when bedbugs were rare and obscure, but [they are] not any more.” A Eurostar spokesperson told The Independent: “The textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis, and this involves hot-water injection and extraction cleaning, which has proven highly effective in eliminating bugs.” Read More Eurostar orders deep clean to stop bedbugs from Paris crossing Channel to London Transport for London gives latest on feared bedbug invasion from Paris How to check for bedbugs in your hotel room – and what to do if you spot one Is London prepared for the bedbug invasion that has swarmed Paris?

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Fernando Alonso is not a man often indifferent in his persona. The two-time world champion has made a career, sometimes to his detriment, out of doggedly striving for more, with an insatiable greed that has motivated him to keep racing into his 40s. But for the first time this season – a season which started with so much potential and excitement – the Formula 1 veteran is apathetic. A mood indicative of Aston Martin’s monumental drop-off in performance. “Honestly we are not fighting for anything,” Alonso said, off the back of a weekend to forget in Mexico City and a second retirement in a row. “In the constructors’ championship, we are locked in the position we are. In the drivers championship, we will lose a couple of places.” While Max Verstappen has continued to sail off into the sunset, Alonso’s 2023 optimism has slowly waned away. After six podiums in eight races, the 42-year-old has recorded just one in the last 11 grands prix. Milliseconds from what could have been a win-clinching pole position in Monaco, Alonso’s goal of a first race win in 10 years has inched further and further out of reach. Spanish fans had been dreaming of “Como 33” – a nod to a forthcoming 33rd victory – but with three races to go Aston Martin, in what seems no time at all, have gone from second-strongest to distinctly the fifth best team on the grid. Mexico on Sunday was perhaps a new low. Starting in 13th place, Alonso dropped back rapidly after sustaining suspected floor damage in the aftermath of Sergio Perez’s collision with Charles Leclerc. By the time the mid-race red flag was issued, he was dead-last and even suffered the indignity of being asked to let team-mate Lance Stroll pass. Eventually, over 20 laps from the end, his race was brought to an end by his team. It left Martin Brundle, on commentary for Sky, to describe the Spaniard’s weekend as a “thoroughly miserable event.” It marks quite the turnaround for the sport’s early-season surprise package. Buoyed by an rapid aerodynamic package that was quickly nicknamed “the green Red Bull” and a muti-million pound investment including a new state-of-the-art factory at Silverstone, Lawrence Stroll’s gamble in buying Force India in 2018 looked finally to have paid off following testing and the first race of the season in Bahrain. Technical director Dan Fallows, poached from Red Bull, had designed a car capable of beating Mercedes and Ferrari, while still some way off Adrian Newey’s rocketship. Alonso, like a kid in a candy shop, was beaming in just about every interview he did. That critical qualifying in Monaco is as close as he has come to a victory. With overtaking on-track a near-impossibility in the principality, Alonso looked to have claimed pole until Verstappen – with a final sector for the ages – snatched top spot. And while a second-place in Canada soon followed, Austria at the start of July represented a sea-change in the pecking order. Mercedes were making slow inroads; Ferrari had found pace on Saturdays. But the biggest shock of all was McLaren’s revolutionary upgrades. Suddenly, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were challenging for podiums. And in a matter of months, the papaya have replaced the racing green as a leading contender mixing with the big boys. Put simply, while upgrades have quickened most of the field, Aston’s changes throughout the season have not had the desired effect. Since Zandvoort in August, Alonso has claimed just 15 points and has gone from being settled in third place in the championship behind the leading Red Bull duo to now languishing in fifth. Stroll’s antics – most notably in Qatar, pushing his personal trainer and sulking in the media pen – have not helped the general morale surrounding the team, too. Alonso finishing as low as eighth in the world championship, with George Russell just 32 points behind now, is now very plausible. The demise has been substantial. But in the wider scheme of the F1 arms race, Aston’s significant rise up the rankings was perhaps bound to conclude this season with a decrease in performance. Was it all too much too soon? Perhaps. But while Alonso is keeping his chin just about up for now, the Spaniard is not the sort to accept mediocrity. Rumours on social media on Monday speculated that Alonso could replace Perez at Red Bull next season in what would be an incomprehensible straight swap. Not afraid to ruffle feathers, don’t be surprised if the Spaniard asks the question over the coming weeks. Most of all, Aston Martin need to prove again to their most valuable asset that a reverse of their current slide is on the horizon, heading into 2024. Read More Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Christian Horner drops Daniel Ricciardo hint as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez Kevin Magnussen’s car catches fire after high-speed crash in Mexico F1 fan banned for life after attacking Ferrari supporters in Mexico Sergio Perez lasts just 14 seconds in home race as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico ‘A lot of booing!’ Charles Leclerc reacts after jeers from Mexican fans

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Rangers suffered a shock defeat away to Kilmarnock on the opening weekend of the cinch Premiership season, while Hibernian and Aberdeen also started the campaign with frustrating results. Brendan Rodgers kicked off his second spell in charge of Celtic with a victory, while there were winning starts for Hearts and St Mirren. Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the weekend’s fixtures. David Turnbull stakes his Celtic claim The former Motherwell midfielder was handed his first league start in almost nine months when Rodgers picked his first team for a competitive Celtic match since returning as manager. Turnbull seized his opportunity with two goals and would have had another if it had not been for a double stop from Ross Laidlaw. Rodgers challenged the 24-year-old to continue working hard off the ball and make the most of his chance. It never rains but it pours The Scottish football season closed in farcical fashion last term as torrential rain led to a major delay in Scotland’s win over Georgia. And the wet weather also delayed the start of the Premiership campaign in Perth as water got into the electrics and led to the VAR technology failing initially before Hearts’ win against St Johnstone. Dens Park was also affected as Dundee’s draw with Motherwell was briefly held up to clear a massive puddle from near the corner flag. Rangers still looking to find their groove Michael Beale deployed an all-new front trio of Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima and Cyriel Dessers at Rugby Park and Brazilian striker Danilo would come on later for his debut. But Rangers only managed four shots on target in their 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock. Rangers only failed to score on two occasions in the Premiership last season and already find themselves chasing Celtic. Killie signal their intent One of Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes’ pre-season ambitions was to take something off the Old Firm and that was achieved on the opening day against Rangers. Midfielder Brad Lyons scored only his second goal for Killie after 65 minutes and the hard-working home side held out at Rugby Park with a degree of comfort. It was an early confidence-booster for the revamped Ayrshire outfit who battled at the wrong end of the table for most of last season. Hearts steal an early march on Dons and Hibs Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen have all enjoyed third-placed finishes over the past three seasons and the trio of big city clubs are widely expected to battle it out for the ‘best of the rest’ tag behind Celtic and Rangers this time round. All three kicked off the campaign with fixtures against teams that finished beneath them last term, but Hearts were the only side to emerge victorious after a 2-0 triumph at St Johnstone. Aberdeen and their huge away support were left frustrated by a 0-0 draw at Livingston, while Hibs suffered a demoralising 3-2 home defeat by St Mirren. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Harry Kane puts speculation to one side with four goals in Tottenham friendly Leicestershire-born Ashleigh Plumptre out to beat England at Women’s World Cup Dozens of triathletes stuck down with diarrhoea and vomiting after ‘swimming in s**t’

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