Evening Update Monday 23 October 2023

Meteo France have issued an Orange warning for heavy rain and flooding in the Alpes-Maritimes. The warning is in force from 4am to 11am tomorrow, Tuesday. There's also a yellow warning for storms in the department from 5am to 2pm and a yellow warning for flooding of the Var Moyen river. Yellow warnings are also in force for the Var department tomorrow morning. Full details are available on www.meteofrance.com

French Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Bechu is visiting the Alpes-Maritimes today. He's been in the village of Saint Martin Vesubie which was badly affected by the storm last week. He announced this afternoon that a new "reconstruction council" will be set up by the end of next month to assess the damage caused and to decide on measures to be taken to avoid a repeat. The Minister has been meeting elected officials including president of the Nice Cote d’Azur Metropolis Christian Estrosi and Alpes-Maritimes deputy Eric Ciotti. He also met local residents and firefighters.

VTC tourist vehicle drivers have been demonstrating today outside the offices of car ride companies Uber and Volt in Nice. A union representing the drivers claimed that the companies are lowering prices to the detriment of VTC drivers.

Over sixty judicial investigations have been opened so far in connection with the recent outbreak of hoax bomb threats, according to French Minister of Transport Clement Beaune. The bomb threats made since the attack on a teacher in Arras on 13 October have included threats against schools, airports and train stations.

President Macron will be visiting Israel tomorrow and Wednesday. He'll meet elected officials. Seven French citizens are still unaccounted for after the attack by Hamas on October 7. French foreign minister Catherine Colonna has already visited the country.

The Department of Social Affairs and Health in Monaco has announced the opening of the autumn vaccination campaign against Covid-19. The government said that it is strongly recommending that people aged 65 and over and people at risk of serious illness get the vaccination in order to protect themselves. Any Monegasque, Monegasque resident, social security holder of the Principality or child attending school in Monaco aged 12 or over can now be vaccinated. More details are available on the website www.covid19.mc

A driver has had his car impounded and licence suspended after being caught doing 235 km per hour in a 110 km per hour zone. The man in his thirties was pulled over on the A57 motorway going towards Toulon. He's expected to appear in court shortly.

 

BUSINESS

 

Energy company Chevron has announced that it is acquiring oil business Hess in a deal valued at 53 billion dollars. As a result of the acquisition Chevron will gain access to oil fields off the coast of Guyana which it described as "an extraordinary asset". Hess CEO John Hess said that the "strategic combination brings together two strong companies to create a premier integrated energy company”.

The UK government's long-term cost of borrowing has risen to its highest level for 25 years. Earlier today the yield on the 30 year gilt reached just over 5.2%, it's highest level since 1998.

 

SPORT

Cricket.. Pakistan have been playing Afghanistan in the World Cup. Pakistan finished their innings on 282 for 7.

Durham player Brydon Carse has joined England's World Cup squad. He replaces Reece Topley who has been ruled out of the tournament after breaking a finger in Saturday's match against South Africa.

Legendary Indian cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi has died at the age of 77. He played in 67 Tests and took 266 wickets in his career.

Cycling... Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers. The 37 year old had been approaching the end of a two-year extension he signed back in 2021.

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