News
Figures from Public Health France show a fall in the number of covid patients in French hospitals - According to figures from Public Health France the number of hospitalised covid patients continues to decline, along with the number of those in intensive care. There are currently 32,878 patients hospitalised with covid in France of which 2,614 were admitted in the last 24 hours. The number of intensive care patients also fell to 3,503 on Wednesday.
42 new cases of covid identified in Monaco on Wednesday - In Monaco 42 new cases of covid were declared on Wednesday February 9th, bringing the total number of residents affected to 8,922 since the beginning of the pandemic and a 92-year-old resident who had tested positive for covid died on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths to 49. The government has expressed its sincerely condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased. 58 people are currently in hospital being treated for covid and 182 are being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.
Vaccination pass - On Wednesday French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said that there are "reasons to hope" that the requirement for a vaccination pass may be lifted at the end of March or beginning of April. Meanwhile wearing a mask is no longer mandatory on chairlifts and ski lifts in France's ski resorts.
"Freedom convoy" continues its journey to Paris – The "freedom convoy" continues is journey to Paris today as it plans to arrive in the French capital this weekend to protest against government policy and the vaccine pass. On Wednesday February 9th, the first southern convoy left Nice passing through the Var stopping at Brignoles and Aix-en-Provence. Other convoys set off on Wednesday from Bayonne, Perpignan and other French cities.
Authorities in France are closely following the development of the "freedom convoy" movement in France which is inspired by the action of Canadian truck drivers and also echoes that of the yellow vest movement. If all goes according to plan, the French "freedom convoy" is due to arrive in Paris this Friday. Motorists then plan to travel to Brussels next Monday 14th February.
Thalès plan blockaded today in Antibes and Cannes - Employees of Thalès which specialises in the development of submarines and satellites based in Antibes and Cannes, have planned blockades today Thursday 10th February, against the company's wage policy. Unions have denounced the 3.5% limit for 2022 applicable from July 1st despite the groups good results. Today's action is the third Thursday of mobilisation by the employees of Thalès.
Gas leak - Emergency services have intervened following a second gas leak in just two days, in Antibes. Firefighters intervened on the Boulevard de la Garoupe on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday it was residents in the Garoupe district of Cap d'Antibes which were evacuated due to a similar incident.
Blood donations urgently needed - The French Blood Establishment the EFS has launched an appeal for donations claiming that blood stocks are at their lowest and that there is a vital emergency to donate blood. To find out where you can donate blood go to dondesang.efs.sante.fr website or on the blood donation app.
Dry weather - All burning of plants has been prohibited in the Alpes Maritimes until February 20th inclusive due to the current dry weather conditions. The Prefecture added that the ban may be extended beyond this date if the weather conditions so require. Meanwhile, the Var Prefecture has called for efficient water management in the department. Meteo France have said that the start of 2022 is very dry, especially in the Southeast where some regions have not had a single day of rain since the beginning of the year.
Use of drones in Monaco - The Monaco government has introduced new regulations regarding the use of drones. The new regulatory framework, which has been in effect since February 6, has reinforced an initial low altitude airspace management system which was introduced in 2019 . The new regulations aim to ensure better management of Monegasque airspace while adjusting national regulations to the technological developments in the aeronautics sector.
Nice beat Marseille and are through to the semi-finals - OGC Nice are through to the semi-finals of the French Cup after beating Marseille last night 4-1 at the Allianz stadium in Nice. The semi-finals will take place on the 2 and 3rd March. The final is scheduled for May 8th at the Stade de France.
Business
US Federal Reserve officials are hopeful that inflation may be near to peaking as markets watch for all important consumer price data which is out later today.
Although inflation is still expected to be at multi-decade highs when the data is published ,the Fed says that there is some evidence that it will start to ease by the middle of the year.
Several Fed officials have said that they expect inflation to ease as the central bank steadily tightens credit with a 50 basis point rate hike on the cards for March and a further four increases before the end of the year.
The headline Consumer Price Index is expected to have risen to above 7 percent in January ,a level last seen during the inflation shocks of the 1970s and 1980s.
However ,data suggests that the month-to-month pace of change has been easing in a sign that the economy may now be coming through supply chain difficulties and other problems created by the pandemic.
Disney has reported a big rise in visits to its US theme parks and an increase in subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service that beat market expectations.
The entertainment giant said that sales at its US domestic attractions climbed above pre-pandemic levels but warned that its theme parks overseas are still being affected by Covid.
Disney+ added 11.8 million subscribers in the final quarter of 2021 taking the total to nearly 130 million worldwide.
The streaming service helped to keep the firm buoyant during the pandemic as its other services from theme parks to cruise operations took a hit.
Overall ,the firm's revenues rose by 34 percent to 21.8 billion dollars while profits surged to 1.1 billion.
And-Reuters is reporting that global supplies of diesel are dwindling as refiners struggle to keep pace with rapid post-pandemic demand adding to an acute global energy shortage which has already sent the prices of gas ,coal and crude soaring.
The report says that the shortage of diesel is likely to push up fuel and transport costs further and add more pressure on retail prices.
Europe ,which relies on US and Asian diesel imports is suffering shortfall due to higher domestic consumption for manufacturing and road fuel uses.
Regional stocks in Europe are at their lowest level since 2008 as demand increases but refining capacity falls.
Sport
Winter Olympics-It's day 6 of the Winter Games in Beijing with Germany now leading the medals table.
Germany has 5 gold medals in a total of 8 with Norway in second place with 4 golds in a total of 10 and Sweden in third with 4 golds in a total of 7.
There are 8 medal events today in men's combined alpine skiing ,women's classic cross country skiing, mixed team aerial skiing ,men's figure skating, men's team relay luge,women's half-pipe and men's snowboard cross and women's 5,000 meters speed skating.
Football- There were 4 games in the English Premier League last night with leader's Manchester City extending their lead at the top of the table to 12 points following a 2-0 win over Brentford.Norwich and Crystal Palace drew 1-1.Spurs lost 3-2 at home to Southampton and Aston Villa and Leeds drew 3-3.
There are two games tonight. Liverpool host Leicester and Wolves play Arsenal.
In the English Championship last night Blackburn lost 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest.Bournemouth beat Birmingham 3-1.Bristol City beat Reading 2-1.Cardiff beat Peterborough 4-0.Preston and Huddersfield drew 0-0 . QPR and Middlesbrough drew 2-2 and Sheffield United beat West Brom 2-0.
In the Scottish Premiership Aberdeen lost 3-2 at home to the leaders Celtic.Dundee United beat Motherwell 2-0.Hearts lost 2-1 at home to Dundee.Rangers beat Hibs 2-0.Ross County and Livingston drew 1-1 and St Mirren beat St Johnstone 2-1.
Chelsea will play Palmeiras of Brazil in the Club World Final after beating Al-Hilal 1-0 in the semi-final in Dubai on Wednesday.
Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game in the first half as Chelsea moved a step closer to winning the only trophy to evade them since Roman Abramovich took ownership of the club 19 years ago.
Formula 1-The FIA says that it is aware of radio messages from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that have raised questions about the title-decider.
The messages appear to be further evidence of race director Michael Masi reacting to Red Bull suggestions as to how to end the safety car period.
The FIA said that it would be taking the messages into account during its investigation into the race.
Meanwhile ,Red Bull has launched its 2022 car without revealing all of its technical details.
Team principal Christian Horner says that with new regulations this season the challenge is going to be "difficult" but that motivation is "sky high".
The launch of the car was done via a video presentation and the media were mot allowed to ask questions.
And-Lando Norris has signed a new contract at McLaren which will keep him at the team until 2025.
The 22 year old who recently moved to Monaco is seen as one of the rising stars of Formula 1 and caught the eye last season.
He says that the move sends a "very strong message" about his faith in McLaren's potential and that he's confident that the team will improve to fight for race wins and championships.
Weather
Clear skies with moderate westerly winds.
Top temperature 15- 17 degrees.
Overnight lows of 5-7 degrees with partially cloudy skies.
Friday and the start of the weekend-Partially cloudy with highs of 13-15 degrees.
And Finally
A 'bored' security guard at a Russian gallery has destroyed a painting worth £740,000 after drawing eyes on faceless figures depicted in the artwork. The painting, which was on loan from a Gallery in Moscow, was damaged by the security guard after he is said to have become bored on his first day. He has since been fired.
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first U.S.-born pope and signalling continuity with Pope Francis’...
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A Polish man in his forties has been hospitalized in Valence after enduring a harrowing journey between two TGV carriages from Paris. ...
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Cloudy with sunny intervals. Light rain is forecast for the Var region with moderate to strong winds. Highs of 17 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez, ...
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White smoe Is billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel meaning A new pope has just been chosen! 133 cardinals have gathered in the Sistine cha...
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No new pope has been elected yet, as black smoke signalled another inconclusive vote during the conclave in the morning of Thursday the 8th of May. ...
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