The gendarmerie in Grimaud in the Var has been closed because of a coronavirus outbreak. Over 20 officers have gone into quarantine after several officers tested positive earlier this week. Local duties are being carried out by gendarmes from surrounding areas including Gassin, Sainte-Maxime, Saint Tropez and La Croix-Valmer, until the station can return to normal operations.
Meanwhile, a large coronavirus testing facility has been set up in a sports complex in Grimaud as a result of a sharp rise in cases of the virus in the Gulf of St Tropez. The Regional Health Agency says that the rate of people testing positive for the coronavirus in the area is 6.2% compared to a rate of 1.4% in the Var generally. Locals and visitors can receive a free test at the centre at the Blaquières sports complex, 834 Route des Blaquieres, 83310 Grimaud until 7pm this evening and tomorrow from 9am to 7pm. You should take identity documents with you and your carte vitale if you're part of the French health system.
Traffic in Antibes has been disrupted this afternoon because of a leak from two large water pipes. Water from the pipes flooded le chemin Saint-Claude d'Antibes and affected several shops near Carrefour. The flow of water has now been stopped but inspections are underway to establish the safety of the road.
The woman who fired three shots from a gun and threatened police officers in the centre of Nice yesterday afternoon is being held in a psychiatric facility. The 41 year old has been examined by a psychiatrist who decided that she should be treated in a mental health facility instead of being detained in police custody.
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after he was rescued from the sea in Antibes this morning. The man in his seventies began to drown at La Fontonne beach at about 10.30 and was initially helped by two nearby swimmers and then by liefguards before firefighters arrived. He was taken to La Fontonne hospital.
A 65 year old French woman was airlifted to hospital after falling whilst hiking in the mountains in Italy yesterday evening. The woman had fallen into a ravine very close to the French border in the Haute Alpes and both French and Italian forces were involved in the rescue. She suffered multiple fractures in the fall but her life isn't believed to be in danger.
The French national roads monitor, Bison Futé, has warned of a busy weekend for motorists. Starting today, heavy traffic is expected in both directions on the A8 motorway. Bison Fute has classified Friday and Saturday as red in the direction of returning traffic. In the direction of departures, the organization has said that red traffic conditions will exist on Saturday in the south of the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region.
BUSINESS
Travel company Tui has announced a loss of 1.1 billion euros for the three months to June. Last month it said it would close 166 stores in the UK and Ireland. Bookings were down 81% for this summer but today the company said that bookings for next summer are up by 145%, a figure it described as "very promising".
The International Energy Agency has reduced its forecast for oil demand this year owing to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. The agency says that demand will be 8% lower than last year and has reduced its estimate slightly from the one it made a month ago. It said that the reduction reflects weakness in the aviation sector and what it called "the stalling of mobility as the number of Covid-19 cases remains high".
The United States has announced a change in the tarrifs on some goods from the EU as part of a long-running trade dispute concerning state subsidies received by Airbus. As part of retaliatory measures, the US now says that there will be new tariffs on French and German jam but tariffs on Greek cheese and UK sweet biscuits will be removed.
SPORT
Motorsports... Sergio Perez will be taking part in this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix after testing negative for the coronavirus. His team, Racing Point, said today that the FIA had confirmed he could race after receiving a negative test. Perez contracted the virus after travelling to Mexico.
Football... Several changes have been announced to the English football calendar next season. There will be no FA cup replays in the 2020-21 season. The Carabao Cup semi-finals will consist of just one leg. The changes have been made to ease pressure on the match schedules.
US Major League Soccer team Inter Miami have signed Juventus player Blaise Matuidi. The midfielder was in the French World Cup winning team in 2018 -and previously played alongside Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham at Paris St-Germain.
Cricket... It's day one of the England against Pakistan second test in Southampton. Pakistan won the toss this morning and decided to bat. England lead the three-Test series 1-0.
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