Automatic receipts from shops and supermarkets are to be banned from January next year in France. The move is being opposed by consumer associations who say it will make it difficult for families to track the price of purchases or keep a proof of purchase essential to take advantage of warranties. They also say replacing receipts with e-mail versions could facilitate the creation of marketing databases by traders. They are calling for printed receipts to be systematically offered to those who want them.
There are just over 24 hours left before this year’s key presidential debate between Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. Although a poll yesterday put the president 12 points ahead of Le Pen, the debate could change positions significantly, as things are much different now from the last time the pair clashed five years ago. This time more people are aware of Macron and his track record, while Marine Le Pen insists she is better prepared. The debate will go live on TF1 television at 9pm tomorrow.
Two former bosses of Deliveroo France were each given a suspended one-year prison sentence and fined €30,000 by a French court today, for abusing the freelance status of riders working for the takeaway delivery platform. The company itself was also fined the maximum penalty of €375,000 euros and will have to publish the court decision on its home page for one month. Shares in Deliveroo, which have lost more than 70% of their value since they were listed in March last year, were trading down 6.5% today.
AS Monaco and OGC Nice have announced an off-pitch collaboration, to help displaced Ukrainians who have fled the war. Both teams are to donate towards the Secours Populaire des Alpes-Maritimes a French non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating poverty. In addition, a portion of the ticketing revenue from tomorrow's key derby match will go towards the Secours Populaire as will an auction of match shirts. The funds raised will be used for food, clothing, hygiene products, school kits for children, and French lessons to help their integration into society.
Airline passengers are warned that Volotea airlines, who fly from Nice to Italy, Spain, Luxembourg and several French cities, may be subject to further strike action this coming weekend. Over Easter, the airline was hit with strike action from employees who claim they are the lowest paid in Europe. This led to some trips being several hours late, postponed, or even having their destination changed as was the case for the Lanzarote-Strasbourg flight which landed in Nantes.
The 34-year-old Monegasque who is accused of attacking his partner on Sunday will be detained in France before being extradited back to Monaco to be tried for attempted homicide. A 24-year-old woman is being treated at Princesse Grace Hospital having been violently punched at least 10 times. She is said to have made a miraculous recovery.
And finally, the Isola & Auron ski resorts closed yesterday. Both resorts had invested heavily in artificial snow machines, so enjoyed a reasonably successful season despite a lack of snow. The Maire of St Etienne de Tinée-Auron estimates that turnover would be equivalent to 80% of the best years when there were more intensive snowfalls.
BUSINESS
IMSEE Monaco is reporting a gradual recovery in trade between the Principality and the rest of the world excluding France. Trade of goods last year is up 23% on 2020, and for the first time, Monegasque turnover excluding financial and insurance activities exceeded €16 billion. That’s thanks in particular to the results of the wholesale and retail sectors which were up by €1.9 billion compared to 2020.
Johnson & Johnson has cut its full-year profit expectation, and suspended sales forecasts for its COVID-19 vaccine, after earlier predicting as much as $3.5 billion in sales from the shot. J&J said it now expects full-year adjusted profit forecast to be between $10.15 and $10.35 per share, lower than the forecast $10.40 to $10.60.
SPORT
Football - Excitement is building for tomorrow's derby match between AS Monaco and OGC Nice. Monaco is looking to break into the top five, while Nice is hoping to go third on the Ligue 1 table. However, the home side is favourite to win as they have won their last four Ligue 1 games, and the desire to win is palpable among the team and the home crowd. Also helping is Nice’s recent away performances, or lack of, as they were win-less in the last five away games with two draws and three losses. The Monaco Nice match kicks off at Stade Louis II tomorrow at 7pm.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will miss tonight’s crunch Manchester United game at Liverpool following the death of one of his newborn twins. A statement from the club said family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time. The game kicks off tonight at 9pm.
Tennis - Former world number one Ashleigh Barty has fuelled speculation she may attempt a top-level career in a third sport by signing up to for a golf exhibition.
The 25-year-old, who announced her shock retirement from tennis in March, will play in the Icons Series in July. Barty is a keen amateur golfer with a reported handicap of four.
Snooker - Ronnie O'Sullivan could be sanctioned after appearing to make a lewd gesture at the World Snooker Championship. It happened when O'Sullivan missed a black off the spot in the 13th frame of his first-round victory over David Gilbert and appeared to make the gesture while walking back to his seat.
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French judges in Avignon will today Thursday 19th December, deliver their verdicts in a mass rape case against 51 men that has appalled France and the...
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Monaco Info and TV Monaco are set to make way for a new television channel on September 1st of 2025. During the debates on the 2025 preliminary budget...
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