The French parliament has adopted a law extending the government's ability to manate the use of the health pass until 31 July next year. The bill had previously encountered opposition from those who wished to see an earlier date. If the legislation had not been passed, the governments ability's to require the use of the health pass would have expired on 15 November. The new law permits the Prime Minister to introduce a decree extending the health pass and also to put in place various other measures such as limits on the number of people in gatherings and restrictions on travel, should they be required by the health situation.
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has said that it's new oral Covid-19 treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in the first results of clinical trials. The interim analysis showed an 89% reduction in risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause compared to a placebo in patients treated within three days of symptom onset. Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer said that the news "is a real game-changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic". He said that the data suggest that the antiviral treatment, if approved or authorized by regulatory authorities, "has the potential to save patients’ lives, reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, and eliminate up to nine out of ten hospitalizations".
The French Agriculture Ministry has announced new measures for poultry farms because of the spread of avian influenza. The Ministry has designated the whole of France as "high" risk because of the rapid spread of the avian influenza virus in Europe. Reinforced prevention measures will now be applied in order to protect poultry farms. The ministry said that since the beginning of August, 130 cases or outbreaks of avian influenza have been detected in wildlife or in farms in Europe, particularly on the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including three outbreaks in farms in Germany.
An individual has been arrested after making threats against healthcare workers at the CHU in Nice yesterday afternoon. Nice Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre said that the person had also stolen items from a nurse's bag and was intoxicated.
The French National Gendarmerie and the National Police will be equipped with new models of motorcycles next year. BMW and Yamaha won a call for tenders for the supply of screen-printed and equipped motorcycles for the next three years. An order of more than 1,300 motorcylces has been placed.
BUSINESS
Airline owner IAG has reported an operating loss before exceptional items 485 million euros for the third quarter, down from just over 1.3 billion euros in 2020. The company's airlines include British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. Passenger capacity in the quarter was 43.4 per cent of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, up from 21.9 per cent in quarter two this year. Luis Gallego, IAG's CEO, said that “there’s a significant recovery underway" and "the full reopening of the transatlantic travel corridor from Monday is a pivotal moment for our industry".
Data released today by the US Labor Department shows that the US economy added 531,000 jobs in October, which was more than expected. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.6%.
Global food prices have hit their highest level in over a decade, according to an agency of the United Nations. The organization said that world food prices have risen by more than 30% in the last year. It said that cereal prices alone were up by more than 22% compared to a year earlier.
SPORT
Rugby Union... England Captain Owen Farrell has tested positive for Covid-19. However, the RFU has said that he may still be able to play in the match against Tonga tomorrow. He's currently isolating and will take further tests today.
Cricket... New Zealand have beaten Namibia by 52 runs in their T20 World Cup match in Sharjah in the UAE. After 20 overs each, New Zealand were 163-4 and Namibia were 111-7.
Football... In the Premier League tonight Southampton play Aston Villa. In tomorrow's matches Manchester United play Manchester City, Brentford are at home to Norwich, Chelsea play Burnley, Crystal Palace play Wolverhampton and Brighton play Newcastle. On Sunday Arsenal are at home to Watford, Everton play Tottenham, Leeds face Leicester and West Ham play Liverpool.
A new optional regional transport tax for businesses, introduced in France’s 2025 budget, aims to fund eco-friendly mobility projects. ...
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A judge has authorised a dive to inspect the wreckage of a plane in the sea off Antibes. The plane crashed into the Mediterranean on September 11 1968...
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In France, drinking water is heavily contaminated with "forever pollutants," particularly trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), as revealed by two studies from ...
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The trial of the Tunisian man accused of the murder of three people in the Nice Basilica attack is continuing in Paris. Yesterday the families of the ...
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Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." ...
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