The French government has announced that it will pay exceptional aid of €100 to beneficiaries of the "Energy Voucher" to help with the impact of rises in the price of gas for some households from 1 October. The additional amount will be paid in December to those eligible. The energy voucher is a winter social assistance payment which varies in amount from 48 to 277 euros and is sent to 5.8 million people.
President Macron has announced that consultations with psychologists on medical prescription will be reimbursed by l'Assurance Maladie as from 2022. Speaking at the end of a two day mental health conference in Lyon, he said that the pandemic has revealed the importance of mental health. He added that the amount of the first consultation will be set at 40 euros and then at 30 euros for subsequent consultations.
The French government has said that 400 million euros will be allocated to the cultural sector. The funds will be deployed from this year until 2025 and will cover a wide range of cultural areas including cinema, music, museums, architecture, fashion and books.
The Monaco government's statistics body IMSEE has said that in August there were 17 hospitalizations of residents linked to Covid-19. 13 of those were unvaccinated people. The remaining 4 had received two doses of a vaccine. Four people were in intensive care during the month.
Plans have been announced to drastically reduce the number of visas issued to people arriving in France from Algeria, Libya, and Morocco. Speaking to French media, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said that the decision had been made necessary by the refusal of those countries to take back their own nationals who have been expelled from France.
Authorities in Calais have dismantled a large migrant camp this morning. Reports say that about 400 people were taken to reception centres. The local prefecture said that 17 busses were used to transport the migrants and the operation had become necessary because of serious problems of safety, sanitation and disturbances to the local community, in particular to a nearby hospital.
Luxury packaging manufacturers from around the world are here in Monaco at the moment for Luxe Pack Monaco. There are more than 450 exhibitors and a conference programme featuring 70 speakers. The event, which is in it's 33rd edition this year is being held at the Grimaldi Forum over three days and ends tomorrow.
BUSINESS
The UK government is taking over the running of another rail service after it stripped rail operator Southeastern of its franchise because of what it called "a serious breach of good faith". UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that more than £25m of historical payments due to the Department for Transport were not declared. The department said that the funds had now been repaid. Southeastern said passengers would not see any changes in day-to-day operations.
The British army is standing by to help ease fuel supply problems after another day of long queues and petrol stations running out of fuel because of insufficinet tanker drivers. According to reports, up to 150 army tanker drivers are preparing to make deliveries to garages which have run out of supplies. UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the move was a "sensible, precautionary step" and if troops were deployed it would be a temporary measure.
SPORT
Football.. Gareth Bale has been left out of the Wales squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against the Czech Republic and Estonia. Wales coach Robert Page said that the Real Madrid player has a "significant" hamstring tear. Aaron Ramsey and Sorba Thomas are both included in the squad.
Uefa has ended its legal action against Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid over their involvement in the proposed European Super League. The three clubs were among the twelve which had proposed a breakaway league, which didn't come to fruition. In a statement Uefa said that it's appeals body had declared the proceedings "null and void" and said the situation now is "as if the proceedings had never been opened".
Rugby Union... Rugby Championship players are isolating after a Covid-19 outbreak in Brisbane. Organisers have told players and staff to stay in their hotels.
