The Regional Health Agency has said that one person has tested positive for Dengue fever in Nice. The case of the fever, which is spread by tiger mosquitos, had been suspected earlier in the week but has now been confirmed. The area in the vicinity of the person's home at the bottom of the avenue de Pessicart in the Mantega-Righi district was sprayed for the mosquitos earlier this week. Residents in that area are encouraged to be especially vigilant for tiger mosquitos and any signs of developing Dengue fever. The agency said that it's the only case of indiginous Dengue fever, in other words contracted in France, which has occured in the PACA region since surveillance began this year. The person was treated by her doctor and is now cured.
The Regional Health Agency has also given an update on the latest coronavirus numbers in our region this afternoon. It said that fifty people are in hospital in the Alpes Maritimes, with eight people in intensive care in the department, which is up from five on Tuesday. The number of people testing positive per 100,000 is 111.5, which is up from 106.6 on Tuesday. The agency said that at this stage it is too early to assess the impact of the return to school and workplaces after the summer holidays.
An eight storey building in the centre of Cannes was evacuated because of a fire this morning. Twenty five firefighters attended the blaze on the boulevard Alexandre-III. The fire was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported.
A regional football derby has been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak. Sporting Toulon were due to play the Olympique Marseille reserves in National League 2 this weekend. However, the match has now been postponed to a later date after cases of the virus in the OM reserve team.
The Cannes Town Hall is launching a business creation competition for people interested in setting up new local shops in La Bocca. It's being held on September 25 and 26, at the Théâtre de la Licorne. It's open to all entrepreneurs who want to set up shop in the centre of La Bocca and is also aimed at Cannes traders and artisans weakened by the health crisis. 15 teams will present their business plans. Cannes residents will be able to vote for their favorite project from Friday September 25 at 3 p.m. on the municipal website and also attend the final selection process on Saturday September 26 at 11 a.m. at the Théâtre de la Licorne. You can find more details at www.cannes.com
The Antibes Juan-les-Pins conference centre has re-opened. Strict health protocols have been put in place for a meeting involving the Confederation of French Doctors Unions this weekend and a conference next week featuring virtual reality in the automotive sector.
President Macron has given a speech in Paris this morning to mark the 150th anniverary of the Third Republic. He said that the Republic was "always to be protected" and is "fragile and precarious" and "indivisible". He said that a bill to fight agaist separatism would be presented this autumn. President Macron also paid tribute to eleven historical figures who he said represented the values of the Republic including physicist and chemist Marie Curie and 19th century statesman Leon Gambetta. The Third Republic was proclaimed by Leon Gambetta in Paris on 4 September 1870 after the defeat of Emperor Napoleon III.
BUSINESS
Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to cut 1,150 more jobs. The airline had already cut more than 3,500 jobs earlier this year. The latest job losses come after the airline completed a £1.2bn rescue plan that it says will secure its future for at least 18 months.
Ryanair has raised 400 million euros from shareholders. The low-cost airline said that the new funds would allow it more financial flexibility to capture opportunities created by the pandemic as well as helping it to retain its credit rating and help make payments on its bonds.
The Road Haulage Association in the UK has said that the country is "sleepwalking into a disaster" because of its border plans for the end of the Brexit transition period. Speaking to the BBC, a representative of the association, said the government should "act now before it's too late". He said that the supply chain could be disrupted whether theres a Brexit deal or not, and "there is a lack of government focus and action". Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said that the UK government is working to ensure the "best systems are in place" at the border.
Construction work on the UK's highly controversial HS2 railway line officially begins today. HS2 is set to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. A recent government report said that the project could cost more than £100bn. The UK government has said that HS2 will increase economic growth and "help to rebalance opportunity". However, critics say that HS2 will also cost jobs and damage the environment and that and the money would be better spent on improving regional railway services.
UK Grocery chain the Co-op has announced plans to open 50 new stores and create 1,000 new posts. The new jobs will be created partly at the new stores but also at 15 existing shops which are being enlarged.
SPORT
Tour de France... Belgian rider Wout van Aert has won stage seven of the Tour today. Britain's Adam Yates has retained the yellow jersey.
Motorsports.. It's the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. Valtteri Bottas was fastest in first practice this morning, with Lewis Hamilton in second. In this afternoon's practice that order was reversed with Hamilton ahead of his Mercedes team-mate.
Cricket... Australia's Women's Big Bash season will be played entirely in Sydney. The decision has been taken because borders between some Australian states have been closed. The tournament is still scheduled to get underway on 25 October.
The first T20 between England and Australia is being played in Southampton today. Play starts at 7pm our time this evening.
Football... There are lots of Nations League fixtures over the weekend with Northern Ireland away in Romania and Scotland at home to Israel tonight. England are away at Iceland tomorrow.
Rugby Union..There are two games in the Gallagher Premiership in England tonight. Worcester play Bristol and Northampton play Bath. It’s also the Guinness Pro 14 playoff semi-final between Leinster and Munster.
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