Severe weather warning -The Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur is expected to be hit with what’s called a “Mediterranean Episode” of stormy and extremely wet weather between Wednesday and Friday.
Meteo France says that as much as two months worth of normal rainfall could fall in places as the bad weather moves into our region after first hitting the Languedoc Roussillon area.
A “Mediterranean Episode “ is a not infrequent weather system that occurs at the end of the summer when the sea is at its warmest causing more evaporation which then mixes with an unstable atmosphere resulting in often violent and stationary storms.
Both the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var are expected to be hit with the worst weather forecast to be overnight on Wednesday into Thursday.
Parts of the south of France have had more than a month’s rain in the last 24 hours according to Meteo France with flood warnings still in place in 4 departments.
Heavy downpours have resulted in localised flooding in many areas and the Var River is very high in some inland areas and could burst its banks if there’s any more substantial rainfall.
SNCF-Passengers who were unable to use train tickets between Friday and Sunday are entitled to a refund.
The SNCF has confirmed that anyone who had a valid ticket for the affected period can go to their local railway station to complete the procedure.
Refunds are also available by calling SNCF customer services on 36 35 and quoting the ticket reference number.
A compensation fund of 1 billion euros is also being set up to reimburse people who lost hotel nights and to cover other unforeseen circumstances as a result of the strike.
Traffic in the south east is expected to be mainly normal today although a few cancellations are possible.
Reports say that there is the potential for more strike action in the not too distant future.
Junction 56-The Monaco tunnel exit on the A8 motorway will be closed for the next 4 nights for essential maintenance.
Diversions will be in force with motorists having to use exit 57 on the eastbound side between 9pm and 5am.
Hit and run-A ten year old boy is still in a critical condition today after being knocked down by a car while using a pedestrian crossing in the 1st arrondissement of Marseilles.
Police are seeking the driver of the vehicle who didn’t stop.
The boy suffered multiple fractures and head injuries in the incident and is receiving treatment at the city’s Timone Hospital.
Drugs bust-Police in Nice say they’re determined to end drug trafficking in a notorious area in the east of the city.
A number of raids have taken place at the impasse des Liserons which saw a man arrested over the weekend as he was carrying out a transaction to buy 100 Grammes of cannabis resin.A search of his property later turned up a kilo of cocaine.
Last week 15 people were arrested in connection with various drugs offences in the area which media reports say has been a “no go zone” for police in recent times.
Burglaries-4 Albanian nationals have been jailed for between 3 and 4 years for committing a series of burglaries in the west Toulon area in 2017.
The gang was tracked down using CCTV footage.Residents in the area had become desperate following a string of break-ins at properties in the area before the gang was apprehended last year.
Cap 3000-The redeveloped Cap 3000 shopping centre in Saint-Laurent-du-Var is due to open on November 6th with 150 new retail outlets in a total of 300 shops.
There will be 50 different restaurants and snack bars as well as a vast area dedicated to sport with a gym and spa.
The sea facing terrace has been completely redeveloped and there will be new stores catering for every taste from interior design to clothing and luxury items.
All of the new stores will be opening from now through to the middle of next year.
In National News.
Bataclan-French investigators say that they’ve concluded their enquiry into the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks that cost the lives of 130 people.
The news paves the way for the case to go to trial with 14 people charged in connection with the atrocities which took place at the Stade de France during the football match between Germany and France and later at street-side cafes and at the Bataclan nightclub.
The attacks rocked France to the core and as well as those who died ,more than 350 were wounded with many sustaining life-altering injuries.
Prosecutors now have a month to present their evidence to judges who will then set a trial date.
The sole surviving presumed perpetrator of the attacks, Salah Abdelslam has been held in a top security French jail since being extradited from Belgium.10 others are also being held in custody while 3 others are on judicial license but will be expected to be sent for trial.
Flu-The government has launched its flu vaccination campaign with a message to those at risk to protect themselves and get the jab.
For the first time this year the vaccine can be administered directly at your local pharmacy on presentation of the prescription sent to high risk groups.
Every year between 2 and 6 million people in France are affected by flu with tens of thousands visiting overstretched hospital accident and emergency departments.
The government wants to get the message across that prevention is the best way to protect against the illness.
Flu kills around 10,000 people annually in France.
Scooter fatality-Police in Bordeaux are still seeking a motorist who ran down two people on an electric scooter on Sunday.
A 25 year old man was killed in the incident and his female companion was seriously injured.
The motorist responsible fled the incident near the River Garonne in the city centre.
6 people have been killed in electric scooter accidents in France since the start of the year
Business.
The Chairman of Barclays’ UK operations has said that the government’s Brexit deal is “acceptable” and that the country should push ahead with it.
Sir Ian Cheshire said that businesses wanted to see certainty and that it was extremely unlikely that further negotiations with the EU would produce a different outcome.
Some UK business groups are more skeptical with some saying the deal on the table is a step backwards for frictionless trade.
Whether the UK government will require an extension to get a deal through is still questionable with Parliament still deadlocked and a series of amendments set to be tabled when the Withdrawal Deal is presented to the House of Commons today.
Meanwhile the government has modified its “Get ready for Brexit” advertising campaign suggesting that its less confident of honouring its pledge to leave the EU by the 31st of October.
Trading in sterling has continued to be volatile as Parliament haggles over the Brexit deal.
The pound rose to as high as 1 US dollar 30 on Monday on hopes that the government will get its Withdrawal Bill through by the end of the week and it touched 1 euro 16.4 cents before falling back.
Markets are expected to remain choppy until the Brexit deal is resolved one way or another but overall ,currency traders say that they expect Prime Minister Boris Johnson to get his desired outcome eventually.
Nevertheless ,the pound could experience some wild swings over the coming days especially if it seems likely that a lengthy extension to Article 50 will be the end result if the government can’t get the Withdrawal Bill through Parliament in time.
And-Oil prices have slipped back on falling demand and continued concerns about the health of the global economy.
Market jitters offset bullish signals coming from Europe with fears of a damaging no-deal Brexit easing.
Meanwhile ,US and Chinese negotiators are continuing to work on nailing down a preliminary trade deal for their respective Presidents to sign as the dispute continues to damage the global economy and Beijing adding to tensions by seeking 2.4 billion dollars in retaliatory sanctions against the US for non complIance with a WTO ruling in a tariffs case dating back to the Obama era.
Brent Crude futures were trading down 57 cents earlier this morning at 58 dollars 85 with West Texas Intermediate down 39 cents at 53 dollars 39.
Sport.
MA NOLANS RUGBY WORLD CUP REPORT.
The Wales back-row forward Josh Navidi has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a hamstring injury.
Navidi has to come off during the quarter final victory over France and coach Warren Gatland is to draft on another back to take the place of the Cardiff Blues star who’s been one of the most influential players at the tournament.
Centre Jonathan Davies missed the quarter final and Gatland is concerned that he’s a bit short of cover in the backs division while he has plenty to choose from to make up the back row.
England should have a full squad to choose from for their semi final against New Zealand.
Assistant coach Neil Hately said that it was fantastic to have 31 players to choose from with wingers Jack Nowell and Jonny May both recovering from hamstring problems.
May scored two tries in the quarter final win over Australia but suffered a tweak to his hamstring while Nowell was unfit for the game.
And-World Rugby has started an investigation after the South African referee Jaco Peyper appeared to mock the sent-off France lock Sebastian Vahaamahina in a picture with Wales fans.
Peyper sent the player off for an elbow to the face of Aaron Wainwright early in the second and was photographed with his elbow raised into a fan’s chin hours after the match.
World Rugby says that it’s trying to establish the facts surrounding the picture.
Football-There was one game in the English Premier League last night.Sheffield United beat Arsenal 1-0.
There are 8 more ties in the group phase of the European Champions League tonight.Paris St Germain visit Bruges in Group A.Spurs host Red Star Belgrade in Group B and Manchester City are at home to Atalanta in Group C.
Tennis-Andy Murray will represent Great Britain for the first time since 2016 in the inaugural Davis Cup finals next month.
Britain will play the Netherlands and Kazakhstan in the group stage on November the 20th and 21st.
Murrray won his first singles title since 2017 on Sunday when he beat Stan Wawrinka in the final of the European Open in Antwerp.
Cricket-Dean Elgar of South Africa has withdrawn from the 3rd Test against India after being hit on the helmet by a short-pitched delivery.
The 32 year old was struck by a ball from Indian paceman Umesh Yadav during the tourists’ second innings as his side headed towards an innings defeat and a series whitewash.
Golf-Tiger Woods says his return to full fitness is ahead of schedule as he recovers from a knee operation.
The world number 10 had arthroscopic surgery in August to repair damage to his cartilage and says that its’ “nice to be able to squat down and read putts”.
Woods is in Japan for the US PGA tour’s inaugural ZOZO Championship.
Weather.
Partially cloudy in the Alpes-Maritimes, some showers possible in the Var with a moderate to strong easterly wind developing.
Top temperatures 21-23 degrees.
Overnight lows of 20 degrees with clear skies.
Wednesday and Thursday-Clouding over tomorrow with some SEVERE WEATHER on the way for Wednesday night and Thursday.Highs of 19-24 degrees.
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