An 80 year old man missing since yesterday morning has been found. Roger Verrilli was last seen at the pay toll of Aix en Provence in his car but was located near Avignon where his car had apparently run out of fuel. He was taken to hospital and was reported to be in good health but disorientated. Meanwhile, police have confirmed that a 25-year-old woman with “personality disorders” who was reported missing at the Nice Carnival has been found. She disappeared on the 15th February while attending the festival with her parents. She was found on Thursday night in Antibes and was taken care of by the emergency services.
A project for a new four-star hotel has been unveiled in Grasse. The establishment is to be built on Boulevard Charabot. The project has been met with mixed opinion from locals who fear the nuisance caused by the building project. The hotel plans to include 70 rooms, a restaurant, fitness room, spa, sauna, swimming pool and seminar rooms.
A motorcyclist has been arrested after evading a police roadblock in Saint-Laurent-du-Var yesterday. The man refused to stop at a police checkpoint and was chased by two police motorcyclists through the town. He eventually lost control of his bike and fled on foot but was eventually apprehended.
A 32 year old man has been seriously injured after his car left the road in the Hautes-Alpes. His car rolled over several times and ended up on its roof near the village of Forest Saint-Julien, to the north of Gap. He was initially taken to hospital in Gap and then transferred to Marseille.
Many big names from the world of cycling are in our region this weekend to compete in the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. The event got underway in Le Cannet this morning and has been in Grasse this afternoon. It finishes on Sunday at Mont Faron in Toulon.
Twenty six Greenpeace activists were arrested this morning after a protest at a nuclear power plant in the Drôme department. The group were dressed as industrial contractors and displayed signs saying “Permit to Dismantle” and “Cracked, Outdated and To Be Dismantled”. A spokesman for the Drôme department said that the protestors had only taken over what were termed as “non-strategic” parts of the site.
BUSINESS
Car sales in China fell 92% in the first half of February as the coronavirus outbreak took its toll on sales figures, according to an industry trade body. Car dealerships have remained closed while buyers have stayed away to prevent the spread of the virus. The fall in sales means that a daily average of just 811 vehicles were sold in the whole of China during the period.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that airlines stand to lose $29.3bn of revenue this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airline industry body predicted that demand for air travel will fall for the first time in more than a decade. It’s expected that airlines in China and other parts of the Asia Pacific region will suffer the most impact.
SPORT
Formula 1… The innovative steering system introduced by Mercedes for this season will be banned from 2021, according to reports. Mercedes have been cleared to use the system for 2020 but the rules are changing for 2021 in such a manner that the system would not be legal under the new regulations. Michael Masi, race director of governing body the FIA, confirmed the rule change earlier today.
Rugby Union… Wales face France in the Six Nations tomorrow. Kick off is at 5.45pm French time. In other matches this weekend on Saturday Italy play Scotland - kick off is at 3.15pm French time and on Sunday England face Ireland kick off 4pm French time.
Football…Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will miss about three weeks with a hamstring injury. Henderson suffered the injury during the match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
In the Premier League this weekend on Saturday Chelsea play Tottenham kick off is at 1.30pm French time. 4pm kicks offs include Burnley against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v’s Newcastle United, Sheffield United play Brighton and Southampton face Aston Villa. The last match on Saturday will see Leicester City play Manchester City at 6.30pm French time. On Sunday Manchester United play Watford and Wolverhampton play Norwich kick off at 3pm French time. Arsenal face Everton kick off 5.30pm. Monday will see leaders Liverpool face West Ham with a 9pm kick off.
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