One person has died and three have been injured after a light aircraft crashed in the Alpes de Haute Provence this morning. The plane came down near Saint-Pons, which is located between Allos and Les Orres. Local reports say that the aircraft caught fire after crashing.
The Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Region is one of the regions of the country worst affected by the influenza epidemic, according to Sante Publique France. It said that nationally there has been a continued increase in influenza indicators in all age groups in the past week with very high levels of activity in community medicine and hospitals, particularly among 15-64 year olds. The organization said that to limit the impact of what it called "this very active epidemic", people at risk should get vaccinated urgently and barrier gestures should be respected by everyone, especially during the end of year celebrations.
There's been another significant fall in the Covid-19 incidence rate in Monaco. In the week to Christmas Day the incidence rate per 100,000 people was 171, down from 258 the previous week. 67 new positive cases of Covid-19 were detected in the week. As of Sunday December 25, 25 people, including 13 residents, were hospitalized at the Princess Grace Hospital. There were no patients in intensive care. As at Sunday evening, 33 people were being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.
A teenager is in hospital in Nice after a skiing accident. The 18 year old fell at Isola2000 this morning and was taken to the Pasteur hospital in Nice by helicopter. He's described as being in a serious condition.
Several people were affected by carbon monoxide at industrial premises in Menton earlier today. Firefighters attended a bakery where they evacuated about twenty people, several of whom were treated for the effects of carbon monoxide, with two people reportedly requiring treatment in hospital.
The statue of Jacques Chirac in Nice old town has been vandalized. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi condemned the attack and praised the work of the municipal police who arrested two people in connection with the incident by using CCTV cameras.
French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu is visiting Ukraine today. He is meeting the Ukranian army minister and President Volodymyr Zelenski as well as visiting a war memorial.
The Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Region has said that it will support the Academy of the Sea. The academy is an initiative of the Monaco government and is intended to enable the teaching of areas such as the law of the sea, the geopolitics of the seas and oceans, as well as environmental issues. A meeting has been held between His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, in which they discussed matters relating to relations between France, Monaco and the South Region. At the meeting, Renaud Muselier undertook to bring the assistance of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region to the Academy of the Sea project. He added that he intends to be in Monaco next March, during Oceans Week, in order to present the outline of this commitment.
Vinci Autoroutes have said that traffic is expected to be heavy from today until 2 January in most regions served by its network. The motorway operator said that on the A8, traffic is expected to become dense around large cities on Friday and then on New Year's Day in the late afternoon and early evening. It also said that in winter weather conditions can change quickly and advised motorists to be well informed before setting off.
BUSINESS
The US is reportedly considering imposing new Covid restrictions on arrivals from China, after Beijing announced it would reopen its borders next month. Reports say that the move is due to an alleged lack of transparency surrounding the virus in China as cases surge. Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan have already outlined tighter measures for Chinese travellers, including negative tests.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has announced that it is dropping almost all its Covid restrictions this week. From Thursday, arrivals will no longer have to do mandatory PCR tests. The vaccine pass system will also be scrapped but compulsory masks in public places will continue.
SPORT
Cricket... It's been day three of the Australia against South Africa Second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia were 575-8 in their first-innings reply to South Africa's 189 before declaring. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored a maiden century. South Africa were 15-1 in their second innings at the end of the day, meaning they trail Australia by 371 runs with 9 wickets remaining.
Rugby Union...Scotland's Cameron Redpath has signed a contract extension with Bath. The club have not revealed the length of his contract. He joined Bath from Sale in 2020.
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