Storm Ciaran is continuing to affect much of France. At least two people are now known to have died and over a dozen people to have been injured as a result of the storm. Energy company Enedis said that 980,000 homes were still without electricity at midday today, the vast majority being in Brittany and Normandy. Earlier today gusts of over 200 km per hour were recorded in parts of the north-west.
Locally, large sea swells and coastal flooding are affecting our area for the rest of today and overnight. The Alpes-Maritimes and the Var are under an orange warning for high waves and coastal flooding until midnight tonight after which there's a yellow warning until 6am tomorrow, Friday. There's also a yellow warning for storms in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes until 8pm this evening. There's a yellow warning for heavy rain and flooding in the Alpes-Maritimes until 8pm this evening. A yellow flood warning is in operation for the Var Amont and Var Moyen parts of the Var river. More details of the warnings can be found on www.meteofrance.com Waves of four metres in height are expected with winds of 70 km per hour on the coast. Beaches in Nice were closed from 2pm this afternoon and the coastal path is also closed. The communal vigilance unit has been activated to monitor developments in the situation and coordinate actions. Authorities have advised people to avoid travelling next to the sea whether on foot or in a vehicle, to avoid going to sea, to close doors, windows and shutters on the seafront and not to travel on roads which are exposed to the sea swell or are already flooded, to stay away from trees and waterways and not take photos near the sea. Dozens of roads have been cut because of the storm, including the RM2205 between Saint Saveur sur Tinee and Isola, leading to the cancellation of this Sunday's chestnut festival in Isola. In Cannes, the boulevard du Midi is closed since mid-afternoon because of high waves. Trains between Nice and Ventimiglia are disrupted early this evening because of an object on the line at Eze. Details of delays and cancellations of specific trains can be found on https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur
The test of the French emergency telephone alert and information system scheduled for tomorrow morning has been cancelled. The test would have involved the sending of a tsunami alert message to the mobile phones of people in coastal areas of the nine French departments bordering the Mediterranean. The exercise has now been cancelled because of the possibility of confusion between the test and any alert regarding the current weather conditions. Authorities said that the cancellation will also allow personnel to concentrate on their duties relating to the current weather.
A state of natural disaster has been recognised for two communes in the Alpes-Maritimes. Pégomas is recognised for the flooding/mudslide phenomenon that occurred on June 15 this year and Menton for the drought/soil rehydration phenomenon for the year 2022. Two inter-ministerial decrees were published on October 20 in the Official Journal of the French Republic. The Prefecture issued a reminder today that victims have 30 days from the publication of the decree to submit an estimated statement of the losses they have suffered with their insurance companies in order to benefit from the compensation system. Further details can be found on the prefecture's website www.alpes-maritimes.gouv.fr
Fake parking tickets have been placed on windscreens in Toulon over the past few days. A QR code is on the ticket to supposedly enable payment of the fine. The Prefect reminded motorists to never pay a fine from a QR code.
The official twinning ceremony between the municipalities of Monaco and Dolceacqua is set to take place tomorrow. The two mayors Georges Marsan and Fulvio Gazzola will sign the twinning oath during a ceremony tomorrow morning in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and local dignitaries. It will take place at Monaco Town Hall. In the afternoon, a second twinning signing ceremony will take place in Dolceacqua, on the Church Square. The festivities will continue in the Ligurian city in the presence of the Monegasque and Italian delegations, as well as the local population. The history shared between the two communities dates back to 1491.
BUSINESS
Energy company Shell has reported a profit of $6.2bn for the July to September quarter, up sharply on the previous quarter. However, profits were down from $9.4bn in the same period last year when oil and gas prices rose strongly after Russia' invasion of Ukraine.
The Bank of England has left rates unchanged for a second consecutive month at 5.25%. The Bank said that it expects a sharp slowdown in the pace of price rises in the coming months but Governor Andrew Bailey said that it's "much too early to be thinking about" reductions in interest rates.
SPORT
Cricket... Australia's Mitchell Marsh has flown home from the World Cup for personal reasons and will miss Saturday's match against England. No further details have been given.
India have beaten Sri Lanka by 302 runs today. India batted first and were 357 for 8. Sri Lanka were all out for just 55.
Rugby Union.... It's been announced that Lloyd Fairbrother will make his first Wales appearance in the match against Barbarians on Saturday. Leigh Halfpenny will be playing in his final game for Wales. Jac Morgan captains the side. Harri O'Connor is on the replacements bench.
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