The QR code from President Macron's health pass has been leaked on social networks. Reports say that the President's personal details including date of birth and vaccination details can be viewed on Snapchat and Twitter. The Elysees told French media that they believe the leak came about through the deliberate or negligent actions of health professionals.
A minute's silence was observed this morning in Toulouse on the 20th anniversary of a major industrial accident. Several hundred people gathered at the site of a fertilizer factory where hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate exploded on the morning of 21 September 2001. 31 people lost their lives and more than 4,500 were injured. Lionel Jospin, who was Prime Minister at the time of the incident, is visiting Toulouse today to mark the anniversary. Nice mayor Christian Estrosi has expressed his solidarity with Toulouse residents and the city's mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc.
French blood collection organization the ESF has launched an urgent appeal for blood donors because of low reserves. No health pass is required but barrier gestures including the wearing of a mask are mandatory. Details of collection points both locally and across France can be found at https://dondesang.efs.sante.fr/trouver-une-collecte
French sea rescue organization, the SNSM, has chosen Cannes to host its first departmental education centre. The training centre is housed in part of the premises of the Faculty of Trades school. The space is made available free of charge by the municipality to train lifeguards. Upon completion of their training the volunteers will be deployed throughout the Alpes-Maritimes.
The Maritimes Prefecture is reminding those at sea to report any accidental use of distress flares to CrossMed by calling 196 or using VHF channel 16. The reminder comes after the lifeboat at Bandol was deployed last night after reports of flares being seen but no boats in distress were found.
The Cannes town hall is reminding residents about the Cannes Civique smartphone app which can be used to alert the municipality to a wide range of issues. These include holes in the roadway, litter, fly tipping, lack of cleanliness, defective lighting, and improper parking. The app can be used to take a photo of the problem which can then be sent to the municipality's service department.
BUSINESS
UK government borrowing rose last month to its second-highest August borrowing level since monthly records began in 1993, driven by higher interest payments on the national debt. UK Public sector net borrowing was estimated to have been £20.5 billion in August this year. However, it was £5.5 billion less than in August 2020.
UK manufacturing order books in September improved to their highest since comparable records began in 1977 according to the latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. The survey of 273 manufacturing firms saw total order books improve further on August’s already strong results. However, output growth slowed sharply. The organization said that manufacturers are facing skill and labour shortages, increasing material costs, shortages of key components and increasing energy prices.
SPORT
Rugby Union... Several players have been left out of England's forthcoming training camp, including Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and George Ford. Eight uncapped players have been named in the 45 man squad. The training camp starts on Sunday and is part of England's preparations for the November tests.
Motorsports.. Former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has joined the Aston Martin Formula 1 organization. He'll become CEO of a newly established company, Aston Martin Performance Technologies. Team owner Lawrence Stroll said that Whitmarsh is the ideal person to lead Aston Martin to success.
Football.. Steve Cooper has been named as head coach at Nottingham Forrest. He succeeds Chris Hughton. The club are currently bottom of the Championship.
Cricket... Australia's womens team have beaten India by nine wickets in the one-day international. It's the team's 25th consecutive one-day international win.
The Regional Health Agency (ARS) reports 124 chikungunya cases in southern France as of Monday, with major clusters in the Var. ...
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France is set for one of its biggest strike days in years as around 800,000 people are expected to protest nationwide today, Thursday 18th September, ...
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A 19-year-old woman has been jailed for complicity in attempted murder after last week’s knife attack at a horticultural high school in Antibes, Alpes...
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A suspected arsonist has been arrested after six fires broke out within an hour in the village of Châteauneuf-Villevieille, near Nice, on Tuesday even...
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A water leak has led police to discover a squat filled with drugs, weapons, and cash in Nice.
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