The Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Regional Health Agency has issued its weekly summary of Covid-19 numbers. As at yesterday, 508 people were hospitalized which is down 69 on the previous week but 42 people were in intensive care, which is up by 7. 23 people died from the virus during the week, which means that 13,123 people have died since the start of the epidemic.
Despite the cooler weather, there is still an elevated risk of forest fires in the Var. Today three forest massifs are at the "severe" level of risk and the Prefecture said that access in not recommended. Six other massifs are at "moderate" risk. Further information is available on the Prefecture's website www.var.gouv.fr
Investigations are continuing after a woman was attacked in Hyeres in the Var in broad daylight. The atttacker reportedly stabbed the victim three times. The woman has been hospitalised but her life is not in danger.
Three people have been slightly injured after a car crashed into a shop in Nice this morning. The driver apparently lost control of the car on rue Barla near the port.
A hiker has gone missing in the Mercantour National Park. His vehicle has been found in a car park. He was last heard from on Saturday after spending the night in a refuge 2,200 metres above sea level.
Food company Candia has issued a recall of certain bottles of baby milk. The product concerned is Candia Baby Junior 4 20 – 36 months in 250 ml bottles sold in packs of 24 since 22 July this year. The Ministry of Agriculture said that there is a sealing defect or packaging anomalies and the products have been manufactured and/or stored under conditions that do not allow satisfactory health guarantees to be provided. The products are therefore likely to present a danger to the health of consumers. They should not be consumed and should be returned to the point of sale. More information can be found on the government's Rappel Conso website https://rappel.conso.gouv.fr/fiche-rappel/8202/Interne
BUSINESS
Energy bills for UK businesses will be cut by around half their predicted level this winter under a government support package announced this afternoon. The scheme will fix wholesale gas and electricity prices for businesses for six months from 1 October. Hospitals, schools and charities will also get help.
Interest costs on UK government debt have hit a new record for August. Interest due reached £8.2bn during the month, which is £1.5bn more than last year and the highest August figure since records began in 1997.
Australia's central bank has revealed that it has lost 44.9bn Australian dollars on the bonds it bought as part of its efforts to support the country's economy during the pandemic. The Reserve Bank of Australia's deputy governor said that it wiped out the bank's profit for the year, leaving a net loss. The bonds were accumulated under a 300bn Autralian dollar emergency stimulus programme. However, the bank says the loss will not affect its normal operations.
SPORT
Football... Germany captain Manuel Neuer and midfielder Leon Goretzka have been ruled out of their Nations League games with Hungary and England after testing positive for coronavirus. They have now left Germany's training camp in Frankfurt and are isolating.
Rugby Union....Wales and Cardiff player Josh Navidi says he is aiming to overcome a neck injury and be back in action in the coming weeks. The 31 year old has missed the start of the season and is undergoing medical treatment. Wales begin their autumn programme against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday 5 November and go on to play Argentina, Georgia and Australia.
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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