French Health Minister Olivier Veran has said that there is a "threat of resumption of the epedemic from this summer". Speaking during a visit to a vaccination centre in a suburb of Paris this afternoon, he said that the threat of the delta coronavirus variant "is real" and that it is currently one third of positive cases and it "risks spoiling" the summer holidays. The minister said that if you have one vaccine dose "you are not sufficiently protected" and called on people to get vaccinated. However, he said that it was not planned to make vaccination generally mandatory, but reiterated that it may be necessary to do this for caregivers. He added that new measure were possible in the event of the resumption of the epedemic.
A vaccination centre in Nice was vandalised last night. The facility in the Las Planas area in the north of the city was daubed with anti-vaccine graffiti. Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi denounced the attack saying that "we cannot accept that anti-vaccine conspirators put the people of Nice at risk when a 4th wave is looming".
Renauld Muselier was re-elected as President of the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Regional Council at a meeting this morning. He'll serve a six year term.
Firefighters have been engaged in fighting a fire in the municipality of Isola in the Alpes-Maritimes today. Canadair water bombing aircraft have been tackling the blaze and firefighters have been airlifted by helicopter into a difficult to access area known as Cuzon. No homes are reported to have been threatened by the fire.
The spectator accused of causing a crash in the Tour de France by holding up a sign will appear in court in October. The local prosecutor in Brest in Brittany said that the woman in her thirties will appear before a criminal court in the town on 14 October. A complaint was withdrawn by the Tour de France organization yesterday but the prosecutor said that a new complaint had been lodged by the Professional Cyclists Association.
Protests by workers have been taking place again today at Paris CDG and Paris Orly airports. The Paris Airports said that there were possible disruptions to road access and some baggage check-in procedures.
A state of natural disaster has been recognised for many municipalities in the Marne department in northern France. The department experienced severe floods and mudslides last month. The Prefecture said that those covered by the inter-ministerial decree now have a period of 10 days from the publication of the decree, in other words until July 11 inclusive, to file an estimate of their damage with their insurance company.
BUSINESS
Industrial producer prices in May have risen by 9.6% in both the euro area and the EU compared with May 2020 according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. The organization said that industrial producer prices in May rose by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU compared with April.
UK supermarket group Asda has confirmed it will introduce a permanent hybrid working model for head office employees. The company said that the new approach will encourage staff to select the best location to do their job in a day – this could be from home, head office or an alternative location such as a store or depot. There will be no set targets on the number of days they will work from a specific location.
SPORT
Euro 2020.... The scene is set for the quarter-finals of the competition with two games tonight and two on Saturday. This evening, Switzerland play Spain at 6 pm. At 9 pm Belgium play Italy who are unbeaten in 31 games. On Saturday night the Czech Republic play Denmark at 6 pm and then it’s Ukraine against England in Rome at 9 pm. England are bidding to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in 25 years.
Tour de France... Matej Mohoric won today's seventh stage. Mathieu van der Poel extended his lead and still wears the yellow jersey.
Motorsports...Max Verstappen was fastest in first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix this morning, followed by Charles Leclerc in second and Carlos Sainz in third. Lewis Hamilton was seventh fastest this morning but finished first in second practice this afternoon, followed by Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas and then by Max Verstappen.
Tennis... At Wimbledon today Iga Swiatek progressed to the fourth round after defeating Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1 6-0 in just 55 minutes. Karolina Pliskova defeated Tereza Martin-cova 6-3 6-3. Number 17 seed Christian Garin beat Pedro Martinez. Number 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0 6-3.
Football... Scotland international Billy Gilmour has joined Norwich City on a season-long loan from Chelsea. Gilmour made 11 appearances for Chelsea last season and started only three league games.
Train traffic is completely halted after 5:30pm today, Thursday 17th of October.
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A 26-year-old biker has died following a road accident behind the Eze-Village tunnel.
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Thirteen departments in southern France are under orange weather alert for rain, flooding, thunderstorms, and/or river surges. ...
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All schools in the Alpes-Maritimes will be closed today Thursday 17th October, due to the orange weather alert which is to be reinstated from 9am this...
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The Alpes-Maritimes and Var regions were placed under an orange weather alert for storms and rain-induced flooding on Wednesday, the 16th of October,...
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