Local
Jacques Chirac dies aged 86- Tributes have been pouring in following news of the death of former French President Jacques Chirac at the age of 86 on Thursday. France's lower house of parliament held a minute's silence to honour Mr Chirac , the former centre-right president who has been hailed a “statesman” and a “humanist” from all sides of politics.
Former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy said: "A part of my life has disappeared", "Paris is in mourning," tweeted Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo of her predecessor, who served for nearly two decades at the Hotel de Ville.
The lights of the Eiffel Tower were switched of on Thursday evening to pay respect and French president Emmanuel Macron gave a speech on French television declaring “I am deeply moved and saddened...an extraordinary statesman, a great humanist figure.”
Tributes from regional mayors and politicians multiplied on Thursday declaring a "man who is part of" the history of France "," a great statesman ", a" lion " ", who said no to the war in Iraq in 2003. The Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, described “a man full of vitality and energy a loyal friend with a genuine passion for France”.
Four more cases of dengue reported in Vallauris - Four cases of dengue have been reported in Vallauris in the Alpes Maritimes. The news comes following a first case which was reported in the area on the 18th September following which the area was treated with an anti-mosquito control. Regional health authorities say it is a "localised outbreak of the virus,"
The disease is not transmitted directly from person to person but through a tiger mosquito bite.
Missing person - Police is Marseille have launched an appeal following the worrying disappearance of 21-year-old Luca Colonna. Colonna was last seen leaving his home in the tenth district of Marseille on Tuesday. At the time he was wearing dark t-shirt and trousers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police for contact details go to rivieraradio.mc. can contact as soon as possible the police station of the 10th arrondissement at the following numbers: 04 84 35 33 00 or 06 72 96 22 26.
Yellow vest movement - The "yellow vests" movement has called on Nice “to stand up and be counted” following an announcement of national protests marking the first anniversary of the movement on Saturday 28th September. The movement, which hopes to revive its following plans to meet at Place Masséna at 10am.
National
Chemical factory fire - Schools have been closed and residents have been warned to stay indoors in the northern French city of Rouen after a major fire broke out at a chemical factory on Thursday. Thick smoke was seen coming from the plant which manufactures additives for lubricants and is considered “high risk” – with more than 200 firefighters sent in to tame the blaze. Pierre-André Duran, the government's top official in Normandy, said the fire risked polluting the nearby Seine – one of France's main rivers, which passes through Paris before flowing through Rouen and into the Channel at Le Havre.
More than 3,000 bottles of wine stolen - Four people have been arrested suspected of stealing more than 3,000 bottles from a winery in Burgundy. After months of investigation four people were arrested on Tuesday and only 225 bottles were found. On December 31st last year 582 bottles were stolen in the village of the Côte-d'Or where the most famous wines of Burgundy are produced. Two and a half months later, on March 17th, a new burglary took place in the same area. This time, the thieves grabbed 2,478 bottles. The total damage is estimated at 179,000 euros.
Business
China’s top diplomat has said that Beijing is willing to buy more American products adding that trade talks next month could yield results if both sides take “more enthusiastic measures” to show goodwill and reduce “pessimistic language” in their dispute.
In an interview with Reuters ,Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the Trump administration had shown goodwill by waiving tariffs on many Chinese products.
He added that the Chinese side would be willing to buy more American products that are needed by the domestic market.
Washington and Beijing are preparing for another round of high level trade talks early next month in a bid to find a way out of their 15 month old dispute.
The two sides have heaped hundreds of billion dollars in tariffs on each other’s goods since the trade war started which has jolted financial markets and disrputed global supply chains.
The owner of British Airways has said that the pilots strike earlier this month cost it 121 million pounds.
IAG Group warned of lower profits this year ,partly due to the strike which saws the airline cancel nearly all of its flights over two days earlier in September.
IAG said that it expects operating profit for the year to be more than 190 million pounds lower than previous guidance.
The dispute with pilots over pay and conditions is still not resolved and IAG said that any further strikes would hit profits.
The company also said that it had taken a 29.2 million dollar hit as a result of threatened strikes by employees at Heathrow Airport.
And-The fast food giant McDonald’s has announced that it’s to introduce a new plant based burger to its menus.
The PLT burger-or Plant ,Lettuce and Tomato will be trialed for 12 weeks at 28 McDonald’s restaurants in South Western Ontario and could be rolled out across the whole chain if successful.
Rival Burger King has already introduced a plant based product and has now introduced it to restaurants across the United States because of strong demand from customers.
Shares in the supplier Beyond Meat jumped by 11 percent on the news that McDonald’s is entering the plant based burger market.
Sport
MA NOLANS RUGBY WORLD CUP REPORT.
There were two games at the World Cup on Thursday.
Italy trounced Canada 48-7 in pool B getting a bonus point which puts them top of the Pool but with their two most difficult matches to come.
England also got a bonus point as they demolished the USA 45-8 with Argentina and France to come in Pool C.
Owen Farrell suffered a nasty injury to his nose following a challenge by John Quill who received a red card for his troubles.The England skipper is expected to be fit for the final two Pool games.
England’s Piers Francis could also be cited for a high challenge on Will Hooley.No action was taken by the referee at the time.
There are no games today but tomorrow the hosts Japan play Ireland in Pool A.South Africa meet African neighbours Namibia in Pool B and Argentina play Tonga in Pool C.
On Sunday Georgia play Uruguay in Pool D and it’s the match of the weekend with Australia playing Wales.The winner of that one will almost certainly finish top of the Pool.
Football-In the English Premier League this weekend.
On Saturday Sheffield United host Liverpool.Aston Villa play Burnley.Bournemouth play West Ham.Chelsea host Brighton.Crystal Palace play Norwich.Spurs face Southampton.Wolves play Watford and Everton host Manchester City.
On Sunday Leicester play Newcastle and Manchester United play Arsenal on Monday.
Formula 1-First practice for Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix at Sochi takes place at 10am this morning with Mercedes needing to turn the wick up to settle any nerves about the late challenge being presented by Ferrari.
Ferrari have won the last three Grand Prix and although Lewis Hamilton still has a more than healthy lead in the drivers’ championship ,he’ll need to have a good weekend to maintain his advantage.
Second practice is at 2pm with qualifying at 2pm tomorrow and the race at ten past one on Sunday.
Athletics-The World Athletics Championships start in Doha this evening with the best athletes in the world gathering.
Conditions are hot and humid in the city and the big event tonight is the women’s marathon.
There are also heats in the men’s 100 meters ,women’s 800 meters ,women’s pole vault qualification and women’s high jump.
Tennis-Andy Murray is out of the Zhuhai Championships in China after losing his second round match to Alex de Minaur of Australia in 3 sets.
Afterwards ,Murray said that his body was “just tired”
Cricket-Essex have won the English County Championship as their title decided against Somerset in Taunton ended in a draw.
Somerset had to win the match if they were to secure the title and despite 5-32 from Jack Leach and their decision to forfeit their second innings Essex held on to win their 8th County Championship.
Weather.
Mainly fine with light to moderate westerly winds.
Top temperatures 25-28 degrees.
Overnight lows of 19 degrees on the coast and 17 degrees inland with clear skies.
The weekend-Clear skies with highs of 25-27 degrees.
Finally
Study finds teens are likelier to do homework and tidy their room if asked in a soft and supportive way.
Researchers say pushy mums who bark orders get their child’s back up, provoke negative emotions and drive a wedge between them.
Teens are more likely to do their homework and tidy their room if asked in a soft and supportive way, a study
They are more likely to cooperate when addressed with a sense of encouragement – even if the words used are exactly the same.
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