NEWS
Mourning Day in Monaco - Monaco has held a national day of mourning as Minister of State Didier Guillaume, who passed away on the 17th of January, was laid to rest in the Cathedral of Monaco. The ceremony gathered 500 attendees, including Prince Albert II, French President Emmanuel Macron, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and other dignitaries, honouring Guillaume’s legacy in Monaco and French politics. The event was broadcast on Monaco Info and TV Monaco.
Debate Over Banning Large Cruise Ships - The debate over banning large cruise ships reignited after Nice’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, proposed restricting vessels over 190 metres and 900 passengers, citing environmental concerns and overtourism. While some support the move to reduce maritime pollution, critics argue it threatens the economy, local jobs, and contradicts prior sustainable tourism agreements. Legal authority to implement such restrictions remains with maritime prefects, though some advocate expanding mayoral powers to regulate maritime zones.
Immersive Shipyard Visit - La Seyne-sur-Mer, in the Var, is reviving its shipyard heritage through immersive exhibitions, augmented reality apps, and educational projects. Once the pride of the city and thousands of workers, the shipyards are now commemorated with archive photos, interactive experiences, and memory paths to educate young residents and honour its industrial past. A dedicated museum remains a future ambition.
Group Electricty Contracts - The town of La Gaude, in the Alpes-Maritimes, is offering residents and businesses group electricity contracts through the company Ecodigo to reduce energy bills by 15-20%. The initiative, similar to one in Valbonne, includes personalised consultations and aims to lower costs without obligation. This follows a trend of municipalities facilitating collective savings on energy and health insurance.
Internal Trafficking - Five employees at Pontet prison, including a senior officer, have been dismissed for corruption, suspected of involvement in a drug trafficking network supplying inmates in the Vaucluse. A brigadier-chef was caught with cannabis and phones in his locker during a police raid. This marks the fifth corruption-related dismissal at the prison in three years as authorities combat internal trafficking.
Mimosa Against Cancer - The "Mimosa Against Cancer" campaign on the 4th of February 2025 invites people to purchase mimosa bouquets, with proceeds funding cutting-edge cancer research at the Antoine Lacassagne Centre in Nice. The initiative supports AI-driven personalised treatments and early detection technologies. Donations can also be made online to help save lives.
Heavy Snow in Ski Resorts - Snowfall has returned to ski resorts, including Auron, Isola 2000, and Valberg, bringing much-needed fresh snow before the winter holidays in the Alpes-Maritimes. As more snow is expected from Sunday to Tuesday, ensuring great skiing conditions, cars accessing the resorts must be equipped with snow tyres.
Nuits du Sud Festival Auditions - The Nuits du Sud festival, happening from the 10th-19th of July, is calling for entries for its Concours Talents Nuits du Sud, offering emerging artists the chance to perform on stage in Vence. Open to all musical styles, this initiative has launched careers like Grégory Rossi’s. Candidates must submit their projects by the 3rd of February for a chance to participate in this renowned summer event.
NEWS UPDATE
Beaulieu-sur-Mer's Major Projects - Beaulieu-sur-Mer’s mayor, Roger Roux, has announced three major projects for 2025: transforming the train station area with wider pavements and greenery, continuing the redevelopment of the port with upgrades for luxury cruises and Monaco-Marine’s shipyard, and launching an educational and cultural hub with an underground car park, set to open between 2026 and 2027.
French MP Claims X Enables Hate Speech - French MP Christelle d’Intorni has won a court ruling requiring X (formerly Twitter) to reveal the identities of anonymous accounts that harassed her during her 2021 campaign. Despite her party’s usual support for Elon Musk, she criticises the platform for enabling hate speech under his leadership. D’Intorni advocates stricter regulation of social media to protect users and promote healthy democratic debate.
BUSINESS
OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and the UAE's MGX are collaborating on a $500bn AI infrastructure project in the US, called The Stargate Project, announced by Donald Trump. The venture aims to build data centres, create 100,000 jobs, and strengthen US AI dominance, though Elon Musk questions its funding claims. Concerns about energy use, environmental impact, and foreign involvement in AI-related infrastructure persist.
Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, and other major supermarkets are backing British farmers in opposing a proposed 20% inheritance tax on farms worth over £1m from 2026. They argue it threatens food security and investment in agriculture, calling for a pause and full consultation. Farmers, supported by the NFU, have protested the policy, while the government claims most farms will remain unaffected.
And - A US lawsuit accuses LinkedIn of secretly sharing users’ private messages with third parties to train AI models, allegedly altering privacy policies and settings to hide the practice. The Microsoft-owned platform denies the claims, while the lawsuit seeks damages for privacy violations, breach of contract, and unfair competition. LinkedIn asserts data sharing for AI is not enabled in Europe, the UK, or Switzerland.
SPORTS
Football - Manchester City have signed Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for 70m euros (£59m). The 25-year-old has agreed a contract until June 2029, with add-ons rising to £4m.
Tennis - Aryna Sabalenka will have the chance to become the first woman in 26 years to win three successive Australian Open titles after reaching the Melbourne final with a commanding win over Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2.
Cricket - Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew, scored a century for England Lions against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy with sunny spells this afternoon with moderate winds. Highs of 15 degrees in the Alpes-Maritimes, 16 in the Bouches-du-Rhône, and 17 degrees in the Var.
Tonight, partly cloudy with lows of 10 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, mostly cloudy with highs of 14 degrees and a gentle breeze.
Monaco has held a national day of mourning as Minister of State Didier Guillaume, who passed away on the 17th of January, was laid to rest in the Cath...
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French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will “collectively sort out the issue”, where a motorist was fined after paying a motorway toll with his ...
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Heads of State Prince Albert II of Monaco and Emmanuel Macron will attend the funeral of Didier Guillaume, Minister of State and former Minister of Ag...
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In 2024, Monaco's Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG) welcomed 23,000 new patients, achieving an 84% satisfaction rate, with 92% of patients recommending t...
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Following a deadly plane crash in South Korea linked to a bird strike, concerns have arisen over bird safety at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, which is loc...
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