Evening Update Tuesday 22 October

Stormy weather is expected across the Riviera, especially in the Var. Meteo France have issued several Yellow weather alerts for the Var. The Yellow alert is the second level out of the four Meteo France alert levels. The warnings are for strong winds from about 9 pm this evening, flooding from 9am on Wednesday, storms from 5am on Wednesday and for high waves and coastal flooding from 2am. One yellow alert for the Alpes Maritimes is also in place – for high waves and coastal flooding from 2am on Wednesday. As of early Tuesday evening, all the alerts are scheduled to end at 3.00pm on Wednesday afternoon, but may well be extended. You can find further details at www.meteofrance.com

Farmers in the Var have been demonstrating today as part of a national day of action. Reports say that about 70 tractors plus 4x4s and other vehicles blocked traffic in front of the Prefecture in Toulon this morning, many having travelled down the A50 motorway where traffic was disrupted. The farmers dumped a bucket of manure and grape must and set fire to pallets, vines and straw. A delegation from the farmers met with the Prefect for about half an hour.

A child has died in a tragic accident in a building in Antibes. The 6 year old boy, who suffered from autism, died from asphyxiation in an elevator of the building on Boulevard Wilson on Sunday. Reports say that a rope attached to the child’s backpack apparently became trapped in the elevator doors. An autopsy is to be held.

Traffic wardens in Nice have been on strike today.  They are protesting at their low wages and working conditions, including insults and aggression from members of the public.

The road to Breil-sur-Roya will be partially closed from next Monday to allow works to secure a rock face. Works on the RD6204 will take about one month and the road will be closed from 8.30 am to 4pm on weekdays but will be open each evening and all the time at weekends.

The CEO of Lubrizol has been appearing before a committee of the National Assembly today regarding the fire at the company’s factory in Rouen on the 26th of September. Eric Schnur said that he believed that the fire broke out outside the company’s facilities but that the company was waiting to find out the source and cause of the blaze. He said that the substances released by the fire pose no risk to health apart from temporary irritation on the day of the incident.

For the first time in France, a floating solar panel power plant has started operation. The plant, near Orange, involves solar panels floating on a lake. The water cools the panels and increases the yield of electricity produced by the panels. It’s the largest plant of its type in Europe, according to its designer, and is able to produce 17 megawatts of power.

 

BUSINESS

A climate change lawsuit against Exxon Mobil is getting underway in New York. New York State has accused the company of misleading investors about the potential costs of climate regulation to its business. Exxon says it shared the necessary information and that the claims are politically motivated.

Proctor & Gamble has reported increased sales for the three months to 30 September. Sales grew by 7% while profit rose by 13%. Meanwhile, rival Reckitt Benckiser cut its full-year revenue growth forecast to between 0% and 2% and warned that profit margins will decline following slower demand in the US and China for its health products. The company said like-for-like sales in the third quarter grew by 1.6%, below estimates for a 3.2% increase.

British public sector borrowing rose more than a fifth in the first half of the tax year, according to figures from the ONS. In the six months from the start of the tax year in April, borrowing was 21.6% higher than the same period in 2018.

De Beers, the diamond company owned by mining giant Anglo American, has reported a 14% drop in third quarter production to 7.4 million carats. It said the fall was due to planned mine closures and weaker market demand.

 

SPORT

Cricket… India have won the third Test against South Africa by an innings and 202 runs to secure a 3-0 series whitewash. South Africa added only one run to their overnight total and survived just two overs on day four to be all out for 133. The win means that India have extended their lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship, having won all five of their matches across two series to claim the maximum 240 points. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are next on 60 points.

In other cricket news, The Bangladesh Cricket Board have held an emergency directors meeting after players went on strike. Players are calling for better pay, improved facilities and changes to domestic one-day tournaments. After the meeting the Board accused players of a "conspiracy" to destabilise cricket in Bangladesh.

Football…Mohamed Salah has returned to the Liverpool squad for tomorrow's Champions League game at Genk after recovering from an ankle problem. The 27 year old suffered the injury before the international break and missed Sunday's match against Manchester United.

Three Chelsea fans are facing bans for allegedly racially abusing a fellow supporter at a Europa League game in April. A 20 year old fan said that he was subjected to abuse during a tie at Slavia Prague. Chelsea have suspended the fans and have written to the supporter apologising for the amount of time it took the club to respond to his complaint.

MA NOLAN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP REPORT

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has said that he is "100% confident" that captain Kieran Read will be fit for Saturday's World Cup semi-final against England. Read missed training on Tuesday and has a tight calf. The 33-year-old is aiming to win his third World Cup for New Zealand. Meanwhile, England coach Eddie Jones was in an ebullient mood during a press conference today, saying that all the pressure will be on New Zealand.

In other Rugby World Cup news, referee Jaco Peyper will not referee a World Cup semi-final after mocking France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina. In a photo taken with celebrating Wales fans, Peyper's elbow is raised into a fan's chin hours after he sent off Vahaamahina for elbowing Aaron Wainwright. World Rugby says the South African recognises that posing for the picture "was inappropriate and he has apologised".

 

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