Evening Update Monday 17 May 2021

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal has said that "the signals are green" for a partial reopening of many businesses on Wednesday. He said that people will "know how to be responsible" and added that President Macron has been right about the schedule of reopening. Speaking to French media this morning he said that Health Minister Olivier Veran will address "in the coming weeks" whether some people may need a third dose of a vaccine.

Despite appeals from those involved in the sector, the government has not yet stated a date on which nightclubs may reopen. Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire is set to hold discussions with representatives of affected businesses in the middle of next month.

Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi visited a coronavirus vaccination centre in the Ariane district of Nice today. The mayor expressed his thanks to the nurses, doctors and volunteers involved in today's operation to increase the number of people being vaccinated in the Ariane district.

Train services are expected to be disrupted on the Les Arcs to Ventimiglia and Nice to Breil lines tomorrow, Tuesday, because of industrial action. Information on the trains running is available on the SNCF Assistant app and on the TER website www.ter.sncf.com

The landlord of the man suspected of killing a police officer in Avignon has been placed in pre-trial detention. The local prosecutor said today that the man had been charged with criminal concealment.

Nursing anethetists have been staging a demonstration in Nice this afternoon. Demonstrations have been held in many cities across France as part of a nationwide day of industrial action to protest at their pay levels and the lack of recognition for their skills.

The Monaco government has said that the completely renovated Larvotto beach will be open again to residents and tourists at the beginning of July. All the businesses which were located at Larvotto before the renovation work began will once again be open. Starting this winter, residents and visitors will also be able to take advantage of a new shopping area, as seven additional businesses will complete the offer after the summer. A call for applications for those interested in operating the seven new premises is being made.

Meanwhile, the Monaco town hall has said that the indoor St Charles swimming pool will remain closed until at least 6 September. It said that the government is promoting outdoor acquatic activites and the Stade Nautique Rainier III on the port will remain open.

The municipal police arrested 14 people at drug dealing locations in Nice yesterday. In a Tweet this morning, first deputy mayor Anthony Borre congratulated the officers involved.

A new Fire and Rescue Center has been inaugurated in Tourette-Levens. The new centre replaces the old barracks which were no longer suitable to meet the needs of the local population.


BUSINESS

Ryanair has reported a loss of €815m and a fall in traffic of  81% in the year to the end of March compared to the previous 12 months. However, chief executive Michael O'Leary said there were signs the "recovery has already begun" with bookings up from 500,000 a week in early April to 1.5 million a week now. Meanwhile, speaking to the BBC, British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said that the latest relaxation of UK travel restrictions from today was "a small step in the right direction".

China's national statistics bureau has said that retail sales grew by 17.7% in April compared to the same month last year. Factory output was up by 9.8% in April which was down from the 14.1% increase recorded in March.


SPORT

Football... A group of former players have launched a parliamentary petition calling for an independent regulator for football in England to be established by December. The petition says that an independent regulator would safeguard the game impartially and "could protect the game against another attempt at a super league or other efforts to put money ahead of fans". The petition needs 100,000 signatures to be considered for a parliamentary debate and had received over 60,000 by early this afternoon.

The semi-final first leg ties of the Championship play-offs are being played tonight. Bournemouth host Brentford and Barnsley play Swansea City.

Cricket... Marnus Labuschagne will miss Australia's limited-overs tour of the West Indies in July because of logistical travel problems. Australia national selector Trevor Hohns said that numerous options had been discussed to find a workable solution but the conclusion had been reached that it was more practical for the player to remain in the UK where he plays for Glamorgan.

Rugby Union....There are two games in the Gallagher English Premiership tonight. Newcastle play Northampton and Bristol play Gloucester.

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