The Alpes Maritimes Departmental Operational Center has been activated because of the storms forecast for the Riviera this evening and tonight. The prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Bernard Gonzalez, who chairs the Centre’s operations has called for everyone to act "with the utmost vigilance". He also recommended avoiding movement in coast areas as much as possible. The Operations Centre is activated during times of major events, such as severe weather, and co-ordinates activity by civil authorities and local communities. As of early Wednesday evening, Meteo France have issued an Orange warning for high waves and coastal flooding for the Alpes Maritimes – that’s in operation until 8pm this evening, when it becomes a yellow warning until 5am. Yellow warnings are in place for storms and rain and flooding from 8pm this evening until 5am tomorrow. As far as the Var is concerned, there are Orange warnings for storms and rain and flooding – those warnings are currently in force and end at midnight when they go down to a Yellow warning until 1am. There’s also a Yellow warning for high winds in the Var until midnight tonight and for high waves and coastal flooding until 5am tomorrow. You can find full details of the warnings at www.meteofrance.com The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regional prefecture has recommended that motorists be extremely cautious and to postpone trips. Amongst other advice they recommend keeping away from waterways and avoiding basements of buildings and to check on vulnerable people. All public parks in Nice and in Cannes are closed, as is the Nice coastal path. Access is forbidden to the beach on the Promenade des Anglais.
A man has been arrested after barricading himself in the archaeological museum in Saint-Raphael earlier today. The man has apparently caused a great deal of damage in the museum and had scrawled messages in Arabic on the museum walls. At a media conference, the sub-prefect of the district of Draguignan said that the identity of the man, and his motivation, are currently being established.
A massive haul of cannabis has been seized at the La Turbie toll booths. 383kg of the drug was seized by authorities from a truck on its way from Spain to Italy. It represents the biggest drugs seizure in the Alpes Maritimes so far this year.
Alpes Maritimes deputy Eric Ciotti has been appointed to chair a commission of inquiry into the attack at the Paris police headquarters. The attack, by a member of the Paris police on his own colleagues at police headquarters on the 3rd of October, left four people dead.
An 18 year old woman is being treated in La Fontonne Hospital after apparently falling from a bridge over the A8 motorway in the early hours of this morning. The woman landed on the roof of a truck travelling westbound on the motorway in the Biot area. She was treated by pompiers at the scene before being taken to hospital.
A man in his thirties has been arrested in Saint-Laurent-du-Var after threatening behavior. The man’s mother had left his apartment after feeling threatened by his drunken behavior. The man also reportedly had a handgun. Mayor Joseph Segura attended the scene along with pompiers and police but the man gave himself up and there were no injuries.
The body of a missing woman has been found in the Var. 92 year old Germaine Fresia disappeared yesterday afternoon and her body was found close to her home in Callas. Reports say that criminal activity is not suspected.
BUSINESS
Boeing has announced a fall in third quarter sales of 21%. Pre-tax profit for the three months to the end of September fell to $1.1bn from $2.1bn in the third quarter last year. Revenues for the division fell by 41%. Boeing has said that it expects the grounded 737 Max plane to return to service in the fourth quarter, assuming it gains regulatory approval.
US construction equipment maker Caterpillar has cut its profit outlook for the full year. Caterpillar is often viewed as a bellwether stock both for the US and global markets as demand for construction equipment is seen as an indicator of the strength or weakness of the economy. During the third quarter, Caterpillar said sales fell by 6% compared to the same period last year while profit dropped by 8%.
SPORT
Cricket… Australia seamer Michael Neser is joining Surrey for the first half of the 2020 County Championship campaign. The 29-year-old was part of the Ashes squad in the summer but didn’t feature and is yet to make his Test debut. He’ll be with the team until early July 2020.
Football… Mauricio Pochettino says he will "give 200%" to deliver the results Tottenham fans expect after his side beat Red Star Belgrade 5-0 in the Champions League. Spurs have won just 4 out of a total of 13 matches this season.
In Spain, La Liga is reportedly considering legal action after the postponed El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid was rescheduled by the Spanish Football Federation. The match should have taken place on Saturday but was postponed due to fears of civil unrest after the Catalan separatist protests. La Liga had wanted the match re-scheduled to the 4th of December, but the Federation moved it to the 18th of December at the clubs’ request.
MA NOLAN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP REPORT
Wales are confident that centres Jonathan Davies and Hadleigh Parkes will both be fit for Sunday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa. Davies missed the quarter-final win over France, while Parkes has been playing with a broken bone in his hand and a shoulder problem. But skills coach Neil Jenkins says that he expects both to start against South Africa in Yokohama. South Africa are waiting for fitness reports on wing Cheslin Kolbe who’s suffering from an ankle injury. The Springboks are due to name their side tomorrow.
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