The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture has announced temporary prohibition measures in order to guarantee public order during Halloween. The possession and use of fireworks are prohibited until November 2 on public roads and in the direction of public roads, as well as in their vicinity and in residential buildings or in the direction of residential buildings. The transfer and sale of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles are prohibited until November 2. The distribution, sale and purchase of fuels, corrosive combustibles and flammable gas at retail outlets is prohibited in any transportable container on 30 and 31 October. More details are available on the prefecture’s website www.alpes-maritimes.gouv.fr
The Var prefecture has published information to help residents and businesses in the department who were affected by last weekend’s floods. It includes a list of organizations to contact for assistance. Details can be found on the Prefecture’s website www.var.gouv.fr
Meanwhile, some of the residents of a holiday village in Le Muy cut off by last weekend’s floods have been evacuated from the site. About thirty people who wished to leave the site were evacuated yesterday by army vehicles which were able to travel down forest tracks. Over five hundred people are still in the holiday village. The remaining residents are able to obtain food from the village’s supermarket which reportedly has recently been restocked. The Prefecture said that construction of a pedestrian bridge is taking place to allow residents to depart, a drinking water pipeline is being installed and overhead electricity lines are also being installed.
A delegation from the European Parliament‘s Committee on Transport and Tourism, is visiting Marseille and Nice at the moment, to take stock of major EU funded transport projects. The ten MEPs were in Marseille yesterday and are in Nice today. they will meet local transport and airport authorities and will see first-hand the reconstruction of the Tende tunnel, which has been subject to delays in construction. They will also discuss the development of airport electrification projects.
All new-born infants in France will be screened for sickle cell disease from 1 November. According to government health authorities, the disease is the most common genetic disease at birth and is the leading cause of stroke in children. Testing will be run as part of the national neonatal screening programme.
In politics news, former French Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne, has withdrawn her candidacy for the post of secretary general of Renaissance, which is President Macron’s party. She has reached agreement with another former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, whereby he will run for the post of secretary general and she will aim to be appointed president of the party’s national council. the party congress is being held next month.
The route for next year’s Tour de France has been announced and it won’t be passing through our region. Some of the nearest towns and areas to us that it will be passing through are Montpellier, Mont Ventoux, Valance and Courchevel. The 2025 Tour will be staged exclusively in France for the first time in five years. The 112th edition will feature 21 stages, starting in Lille on 5 July next year and ending in Paris on 27 July.
BUSINESS
Energy company BP has reported a fall in quarterly profits to their lowest level in almost four years. Underlying profits for the July to September quarter were down by almost 30% from the same period last year to 2.3 billion dollars.
The EU Commission has adopted a regulation imposing a surcharge on battery powered vehicles imported into the EU from China. The surcharge will reportedly be up to 35%, in addition to a 10% levy already imposed on such imports. The new surcharge is expected to come into force tomorrow.
The number of mortgage approvals in the UK rose last month to the highest level since August 2022. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases rose to 65,600 in September and approvals for remortgaging increased by 3,100 to 30,800, according to new figures published by the Bank of England. It’s the fourth monthly increase in a row. However, it also said that the amount of net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals fell by £0.3 billion, to £2.5 billion in September.
Two UK agricultural trade bodies have called for an urgent meeting with the government to address post-Brexit border issues. The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) and the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) have issued a joint letter to the government, the bodies claim that issues such as rising logistics costs, damaged goods, delays, increased waste, and complex paperwork are severely impacting business growth and investment.
SPORT
Football… Manchester United are interested in appointing Sporting boss Ruben Amorim as their new manager, according to the Portuguese club. Sporting said in a statement to Portugal's financial regulator, the CMVM, "Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and have said they are ready to pay the 10 million euro release clause." United have not commented on the statement. Amorim has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting since joining the club in 2020. United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday following the club's poor start to the season.
Rugby Union…. Henry Slade has been included in England's side which takes on New Zealand on Saturday. He had shoulder surgery in the summer. Ben Spencer covers for the injured Alex Mitchell at scrum-half, with Bristol's Harry Randall on the bench. Tom Curry is included in the back row alongside Chandler Cunningham-South and Ben Earl.
Motorsports… Formula 1 governing body the FIA has imposed financial penalties on Honda and Alpine for breaches relating to the cost-cap rules for engine manufacturers in 2023. The FIA fined Honda, which supplies Red Bull, $600,000 and Alpine $400,000. Honda failed to file accurate reporting documentation and Alpine submitted inaccurate reporting documents that omitted relevant information, according to the FIA. However, it added that neither company had "sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach". Both companies entered into so-called accepted breach agreements with the FIA over their penalties.
France is considering a "taxe lapin” or “rabbit tax" to fine people who cancel medical appointments without warning. The proposal aims to hold patient...
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Due to high murkiness caused by recent storms, several municipalities in the Pays de Fayence continue to face tap water restrictions. ...
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A recent report published by the Court of Auditors has highlighted the underestimated risk of flooding on the Cote d’Azur, particularly criticizing th...
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Nice’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, has said he is open to compensating Villefranche-sur-Mer’s businesses if they suffer losses due to the cruise ship ba...
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On Monday, two skiing accidents occurred in our regions ski resorts.
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