NEWS
Airports on Strike - Air traffic controllers in France are on strike, disrupting flights at several airports, including Lyon, Montpellier, Nîmes, and Perpignan. No flights will operate between Nice and Lyon on the 17th of December, with all Air France flights cancelled. The strike, driven by a dispute over work organization, could expand if negotiations do not resume.
Earthquake - A magnitude 4 earthquake struck off the coast of Monaco on Monday night, with tremors felt from Toulon to Italy. No damage was reported, but residents shared their experiences to aid the creation of an intensity map. This follows a similar magnitude 4.2 quake in the Ubaye Valley a week earlier.
Man Tries to Set Himself on Fire - A 60-year-old man attempted to set himself on fire but was stopped in time by municipal police outside Nice City Hall. Described as making incoherent statements, he was intercepted before dousing himself with gasoline. The deputy mayor praised the officers for their calm and courageous intervention.
Monaco Tightens Safety Measures - Following two serious alcohol- and speed-related crashes, Monaco is tightening road safety measures. New actions include increased holiday traffic checks, stricter penalties for dangerous driving, and plans to introduce "endangering others" as a legal offense. Speed cameras will be installed in tunnels by 2025 to catch speeding drivers.
French Navy - The French Navy will begin using kite sails to help propel its ships starting in 2025. Developed by the company Beyond the Sea, this lightweight, automated system can reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. The innovation, already tested on rescue ships like Le Jason and Abeille Méditerranée, offers a more eco-friendly and efficient maritime propulsion method.
Eco-Friendy Heating Network in Cannes - The Cannes Lérins Agglomeration, led by Mayor David Lisnard, is launching a third eco-friendly heating network using heat from treated wastewater to supply 4,230 homes and cool Thales Alenia Space facilities. Operated by Dalkia under a 25-year public service contract, it aims to cut CO2 emissions by 5,202 tons annually and reduce household energy bills by 15%.
15 Companies Accused of Social Fraud - Fifteen companies, including Forum Intérim, are accused of social fraud totalling €65 million, with a trial set for June 2025 in Draguignan. The scheme allegedly involved misclassifying workers' pay as travel allowances to avoid social security contributions. Authorities have seized €2 million in assets, and four people, along with 15 companies, are facing charges.
Monaco Promotes Peace - Monaco promotes peace globally through diplomacy, development aid, ethical microfinance, and sports. As a neutral state, it supports UN-led multilateralism, climate action, and humanitarian aid, investing €74M in 2024 for global development. Initiatives like "Peace and Sport" showcase Monaco’s commitment to fostering unity and peace through sports.
BUSINESS
Housing prices have fallen across France except in Paris and Nice, where prices have slightly increased. Property sales dropped 17% in 2023, but buyers can now afford 3m² more space on average compared to last year. Nice remains the second most expensive city in France after Paris, with notable price drops seen in cities like Nantes and Lyon.
A Senate investigation led by Bernie Sanders found that Amazon prioritizes speed over worker safety, resulting in injury rates 30% higher than industry averages. Despite internal studies linking pace to injuries, the company allegedly rejected changes to protect profits. Amazon denies the claims, calling the report inaccurate and misleading.
Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son has pledged to invest $100bn in the US and create 100,000 jobs, aligning with Donald Trump’s push for foreign investment. However, doubts persist due to Son's vague funding details and his history of risky ventures like WeWork. This echoes similar grandiose announcements during Trump’s first term, some of which fell short of their lofty promises.
And - UK pay growth rose 5.2% annually from August to October 2024, driven by private sector wages, marking the first increase in over a year. Despite this, job vacancies and payroll employment fell, signaling a weakening job market. The Bank of England is now less likely to cut interest rates due to strong wage growth
SPORTS
Football - Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk says he is in "complete shock" after testing positive for a banned substance.
Cricket - India battled hard to successfully avoid the follow-on against Australia and leave the third Test in Brisbane looking destined to be drawn. The tourists were reduced to 213-9 on a rain-affected fourth day, needing 33 more to make Australia bat again.
Rugby Union - England prop Fin Baxter has signed a contract extension with Harlequins. The 22-year-old loose-head joined Quins' academy as a 13-year-old and since his first-team debut in December 2020 has gone on to make 58 appearances.
WEATHER
Cloudy in the Bouches-du-Rhône and mostly sunny in the rest of the region with a gentle breeze. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice, 15 in Toulon, and 16 degrees in Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Marseille.
Tonight, mostly cloudy with lows of 6 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, partly cloudy with sunny spells and highs of 15 degrees with a gentle breeze.
Speed restrictions are in place on all major roads in the Alpes-Maritimes today because of a smog alert....
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A Marseille magistrate has been sentenced on the 17th of June in Nîmes for repeatedly avoiding motorway tolls using fake license plates. ...
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A major police stop-and-search operation along France's borders is being carried out today, involving 4,000 police officers, gendarmes and customs off...
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SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers following a major network outage on the 16th of June....
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French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ...
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