More protests are expected throughout France this weekend against the extension of the health pass. The government estimates that 250,000 demonstrators may take to the streets. It's the fifth consecutive weekend of demonstrations, with many more people taking part than when the protests began on July 17th.
The Palace in Monaco has said that HSH Princess Charlene is undergoing a four-hour operation today under general anesthesia. HSH Prince Albert II and their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will join Princess Charlene during her period of convalescence.
The Regional Health Agency has said that a case of dengue has been detected in Solliès-Pont in the Var. It's the second indigenous case of dengue identified this year in the region since the start of seasonal surveillance, after a first case detected in Toulon at the end of July. At the moment no link between the two cases has been established. Investigations are underway. Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitos.
The Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are still under a Meteo France orange alert for high temperatures until at least 4pm tomorrow, Saturday. The orange alert level is the third highest of Meteo France's four alert levels. Temperatures are expected to reach 39 degrees in the interior of the Var tomorrow. Three other departments are also under an orange alert for high temperatures - the Drome, Ardeche and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
Cannes Town Hall has put a range of preventive measures in place to protect people during the heatwave. It's offering seven air-conditioned spaces throughout the municipality, which are open from 9am to 5pm:
- la salle de restauration du CCAS, 19 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny ;
- le Club Bel Âge Bocca, 25 avenue Michel Jourdan ;
- le Club Bel Âge Noyer, 73 cours Félix Faure ;
- le Club Bel Âge Carnot, 28 avenue du Petit Juas ;
- le Club Bel Âge Notre-Dame des Pins, 30 boulevard Alexandre III ;
- le Cannes Bel Âge – Service Prévention, 2 rue Sergent Bobillot ;
- la Médiathèque Ranguin, rue Alfred de Musset.
The Cannes town hall has already contacted the 892 people who are registered on the Prevention Isolation File which identifies the most vulnerable and isolated people. Other measures include the distribution to homeless people of a prevention leaflet on the precautions to be taken in a heatwave. The Lycklama reception center in Cannes remains open 24 hours a day and has an air-conditioned room. Municipal showers are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and bottles of water are being made available at the CCAS for people in precarious situations. Registrations to the Prevention Isolation File in Cannes are free on the toll-free number 0800 06 20 20 and can be requested by a third party. A national "Heat wave" information telephone platform is also available to everyone in France on 0800 06 66 66.
BUSINESS
Amazon has announced that it is moving production of its new Lord of the Rings show to the UK from New Zealand. The move is a major boost for the UK television production industry. Amazon has already spent $465m on the first season of the show filmed in New Zealand. It's expected that four further seasons may now be made in the UK. UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden said it was exciting news and thousands of high quality jobs all across the UK will be created and supported by the series.
Gatwick Airport has said that passenger numbers were "very low" at just 569,000 in the six months to the end of June due to the impact of COVID-19 and associated international travel bans. It called on the UK government to simplify travel requirements to improve passenger confidence in international travel and not squander the benefits of its vaccination programme.
A survey by the Institute of Directors in the UK has shown that 44% of UK businesses are currently experiencing staff shortages. Of those affected, 65% attribute worker shortages to the UK’s long-term skills gap, whilst 4 in 10 are struggling with a lack of potential workers from the EU. Some 21% state that these shortages are due to staff having to isolate. A similar proportion report that furloughed or inactive staff are reluctant to return to the workforce at the current time. The organization said that the shortage "risks undermining the recovery and stoking emerging inflationary pressures".
SPORT
Football... Virgil van Dijk has extended his contract with Liverpool until the summer of 2025. The Netherlands international has made 130 appearances for the club since joining from Southampton in 2018.
In this weekend’s Premier League action. Brentford play Arsenal this evening. On Saturday Manchester United play Leeds, Burnley face Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea are against Crystal Palace. Everton play Southampton, Leicester play Wolverhampton, Watford are against Aston Villa and Norwich host Liverpool. On Sunday Newcastle face West Ham and Tottenham play Manchester City.
Cricket... England men's and women's limited-overs matches in Pakistan have been moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi. They have also been brought forward a day, with Twenty20 double-headers now scheduled for 13 and 14 October.
Rugby Union... Exeter have signed Australian player Ryan McCauley on a short term deal. The club have also signed Sam Nixon who spent last season with French side Bayonne.
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