News
Figures released on the MPOX epidemic in France – Latest figures from Santé Publique France have shown that since January 1st 170 cases of MPOX have been recorded in France, including 10 in the PACA region. In August, the health system had been placed in a "state of maximum vigilance" in the face of the MPOX epidemic. The reported cases concern adults, namely 164 men and 6 women. Geographically, the cases are mainly concentrated in the Paris region with 71 cases, followed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region with 33 cases and ten cases in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and ten cases in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Mushroom picking season - With mushroom picking season in full swing in France, poison control centres across the country have recorded 400 cases since July the 1st. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) warns of the risks of poisoning linked to the consumption of mushrooms, as the months of October and November are a traditional picking period. The Anses calls for the public to "remain vigilant and follow consumer safety measures as some poisonings can lead to severe complications”. If ever in doubt, you are advised to have them checked by a specialist.
Weather warning for Corsica - Meteo Frnace has place South Corsica on an orange weather alert today Thursday 3rd October, due to risk of rain and flooding. Heavy rain and possible flooding is expected. The warning was issued from 6am this Thursday morning.
Gas leak - A gas leak has caused the closure of the Boulevard des Moulins in Monaco. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and the road was closed for more than an hour while emergency services intervened. At first difficult to identify the cause, the leak was finally detected thanks Monaco’s electricity board. Although the leak was minor, the necessary safety measures were carried out and the gas was cut off and the road closed to users during the intervention.
Water supply in Nice - Meanwhile, the water authority in Nice, Eau Azur, had to cut off supplies of tap water to several districts, due to a leak within the system on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred shortly after 6.30pm and the areas concerned are - boulevard Pasteur (du n°4 au n°34), avenue Brancolar (du n°52 bis au 119), avenues Cessole / Jean-Sébastien Barès (du n°21 au n°34), avenues Saint-Lambert / Gilly (du n°128 au n°166, avenue Audiffret). Other cuts were also carried out on avenue Edith-Cavell (at n°27) and avenues du Ray / Marconi (from n°56 to n°60). A crisis unit was opened by the City of Nice and employees were mobilized to intervene simultaneously on the most significant leaks. Bottled water was distributed in the areas most affected.
Monaco city council meeting - Following the recent Monaco city council meeting it’s been announced that next year the town hall plans to remove 75% of billboards that it manages. The elected officials' project aims to drastically reduce the large advertising displays in Monaco. The large panels should start to disappear on January 1st. However, in order not to lose the financial benefits from the management of advertising the town council with create alternatives which are environmentally friendly and digital, serving local initiatives in 2025. There will also be the creation of a new media library named "Caroline" after the Princess of Hanover, who works tirelessly to promote cultural activities in the Principality. Finally, to guarantee safety and security, the city council has approved the use of a video surveillance system within the new Testimonio II nursery. The system had been installed by government services when the premises were finished but had not yet been activated.
New law for first aid within the workplace in Monaco - A new decree has been adopted by the Monaco Government to outline the conditions for managing emergency first aid for employees. The aim is to promote first aid in the workplace and ensure a speedy and effective care in the case of an accident at work. The measure hopes to reduce the risk, providing a rapid intervention. Obligatory first aid training for employees depends on the activity sector and the number of employees. For any businesses requiring any further information or assistance the Labor Inspectorate is available on +377 98 98 87 26 or 17 rue Princesse Florestine, Monaco.
Anyone for tennis? – Finally, tickets for next year’s edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will soon be available. Already available to a lucky few who have a loyalty pass since Tuesday 1st October. Access to tickets for the general public will be from 9am on Tuesday 15th October via the tournament website. From the 5th to 13th of April 2025, the Monte-Carlo Country Club’s courts will play host to the world’s best tennis players for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Business
A US bomb buried at a Japanese airport exploded, causing a crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights. The minor blast on Wednesday left a hole of about seven meters (23 feet) wide, but no casualties were reported, and no aircraft were nearby at the time. The bomb is thought to have been dropped during World War Two.
The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI has raised $6.6bn, as investors including its early backer Microsoft continue to bet big on artificial intelligence (AI). The deal gave the tech company a value of $157bn (£118bn) making it one of the most valuable start-ups in the world. OpenAI said the money would allow it to stay at the cutting edge of AI research.
Japanese motor industry giant Toyota is pushing back the start date for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in the US. The move comes as global demand for battery-powered cars continues to soften. The company was aiming to start production in late 2025 or early 2026. Toyota now expects to launch its US EV operation at an unspecified time in 2026. Several other major car makers, including Volvo and Ford, have recently scaled back their EV plans.
Sport
Football – It was a monumental night for Aston Villa, Liverpool and French team Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Villa achieved a magnificent victory over Bayern Munich winning 1-0, Liverpool beat Bologna 2-0 at home and Lille beat reigning European champions Real Madrid. The 1-0 win for Lille marked an end to Real’s last fourteen games without defeat. Lille has achieved a historic feat by beating Real Madrid and the man of the match for Lille had to be goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
Formula One – The French group LVMH has become a global partner of Formula 1. The world's number one luxury company has committed to the partnership from next year and for the next ten years. The amounts of the contract have not been revealed but they are expected to be high. This is the second time that LVMH (Louis-Vuitton, Tag Heuer, Moët Hennessy, etc.) has signed a sports partnership in its own name. The group will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the deal, after being one of the main partners of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The group of French billionaire Bernard Arnault thus joins sponsors such as DHL, Heineken, MSC Cruises, Pirelli and Qatar Airways in Formula 1.
Basketball – It’s good luck to Monaco’s basket ball team as the Europa season gets underway this evening. Monaco will be playing Milan. The match starts at 7pm this evening.
Weather
Showers to start in Nice and Monaco and across the Alpes Maritimes. Remaining dry in the Var with moderate to strong winds. Clearing in Nice by this afternoon. Highs of 21 degrees in Nice and Monaco. 20 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 13 degrees with cloudy skies.
Tomorrow and heading into the weekend. Friday, showers to start clearing by the afternoon and highs of 20 degrees in both the Var and the Alpes Maritimes. Saturday, fine and sunny with 20 degrees. Sunday, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze in Nice. Drizzle with light winds and highs of 19 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Sunrise 07.30am
Sunset 07.07pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux 19° sunny intervals.
Cardiff 16° sunny.
Brussels 13° sunny.
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