A demonstration was held in Nice this morning to protest against the weekend confinement measures announced by the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes yesterday. An estimated sixty demonstrators gathered in front of the Prefecture.
Meanwhile, a list of municipalities affected by the weekend confinement has been published on the website of the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture along with details of the measures announced by the Prefect yesterday. It can be found at https://www.alpes-maritimes.gouv.fr/Actualites/COVID-19-Point-sur-la-situation-dans-les-Alpes-Maritimes/COVID-19-Adoptions-de-mesures-complementaires
An intensive care patient suffering from Covid-19 has been transferred from Cannes to Gap in the Hautes-Alpes. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi said that a transfer has also taken place from Antibes to the Arnault Tzanck Institute in Saint-Laurent-du-Var and the Saint-Jean polyclinic because of the lack of beds, saying that "we can't wait any longer".
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has called for "additional breaking measures" to be applied against the spread of the coronavirus in the northern town of Dunkerque. The incidence rate in the town is over 900 per 100,000 people, which is over four times the average for France. The local mayor has asked for "a last chance" before confinement measures are applied and has announced a new plan to attempt to contain the virus. Olivier Veran is expected to visit the area tomorrow.
Monaco has a new ambassador to Australia. HE Madame Marie-Pascale Boisson presented her Letters of Credence to His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, in a ceremony via video link between Monaco and Canberra. It's the first time in Monaco's history that such a ceremony has taken place via video link. The Ambassador stressed to the Governor General the excellent relations between Australia and the Principality of Monaco and recalled in particular the concerns common to both countries, particularly in regard to the environment and the protection of the oceans.
An appeal has been launched for information about a missing person in the Var. Gilles Podda, who is 60 years old, 1.76 metres tall and has short brown hair, was last seen on Sunday leaving his house in the centre of Cuers and was believed to be heading for the surrounding hills where he usually walked. He was wearing a black or grey tracksuit and was carrying a small blue Decathlon shoulder bag. If you have any information you're asked to call 04 94 28 60 27.
The Palm Bus network in Cannes has acquired its first large-format new-generation 100% electric bus. The network is already equipped with 6 electric shuttles. Cannes is aiming for a 100% carbon free public transport network made up of 98 buses by 2035.
BUSINESS
Unemployment in the UK rose to 5.1% in the three months to December, with 1.74 million people being unemployed. The number of payroll employees in the UK has fallen by 726,000 since February last year according to newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics, which show that the 18 to 24 year old age group has seen the greatest decrease in payrolled employees since last February. As regards pay levels, annual growth in median pay for employees last month was highest in Wales with an increase of 5.2%, and lowest in the South East, which saw an increase of 3.4%.
Spotify has announced that it plans to launch in 85 new markets, mostly in Asia, Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean. Spotify is currently available in 93 countries and has 345 million monthly active users.
An airline industry body has said that it expects to have a digital Covid Travel Pass ready "within weeks". IATA, The International Air Transport Association sees the pass as essential for reopening air travel. The pass is in the form of an app that verifies a passenger has had Covid-19 tests or vaccines required to enter a country.
SPORT
Rugby Union... A decision is expected tomorrow on Scotland's Six Nations match against France. The game is in doubt because ten France players are isolating and will be unavailable for Sunday's game. However, no more coronavirus cases were found in the latest round of testing.
Football...Everton's plans for a new stadium have been unanimously approved by Liverpool city councillors. The club hopes that the 52,000 seat venue will be operational by 2024 but the UK government will have the final say on whether the project goes ahead. Everton have been at their current Goodison Park home since 1892.
There’s one game in the English Premier League tonight. Leeds play Southampton. There are two round of 16 Champions League first leg ties tonight. Athletico Madrid play Chelsea and Lazio play Bayern Munich.
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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