Traffic congests the centre of Cannes as traffic lights no longer function after a power outage Photo: VALERY HACHEAFP
French police were investigating a possible arson attack as being the main cause for a power outage which hit the Alpes-Maritimes region in southern France on Saturday, including Cannes which is hosting its world-famous annual film festival.
"We are looking into the likelihood of a fire being started deliberately," said a spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie, adding that no arrests had been made at this stage.
The local authority for the Alpes-Maritimes region had said earlier on Saturday that the western part of the area, which includes Cannes, was suffering from a major electricity outage and that RTE France was working on restoring power.
The Cannes Film Festival said the closing ceremony would take place as planned on Saturday evening.
"The Palais des Festivals has switched to an independent power supply, allowing all scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, to proceed as planned and under normal conditions," it said in a statement.
Azerbaijan accused Iran on Thursday of firing two drones at its territory, injuring two people, and said it had summoned the Iranian ambassador in order to issue a strong protest.
Israel has warned residents to immediately leave a swathe of south Lebanon on Wednesday, ordering them to move north of Litani River on the third day of full-blown hostilities with Hezbollah, with the death toll rising to 72 people.
More than 200 people have died on Tuesday in a landslide triggered by heavy rains at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's mines ministry said on Wednesday.
The US–Iran war widened sharply on Wednesday after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 people, and NATO air defences destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile fired towards Turkey.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi have announced the resumption of limited passenger flights from Zayed International Airport after a period of disruption due to the ongoing regional developments.
Global Village and Dubai Parks and Resorts have announced that they will remain closed until Friday, March 6, as a precaution in line with official guidance and procedures.