NEWS
Mayor of Nice Plans to Ban Cruise Ships - Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, announced plans to ban large, polluting cruise ships from docking in the city by July 2025, allowing only smaller vessels with a maximum capacity of 900 passengers. This decision aims to address environmental concerns and align with a sustainable tourism model. Similar measures have been considered in Cannes and internationally, as cities push back against the impact of large cruise ships.
Serious Accident in Cap d'Ail - A 50-year-old Monaco resident has suffered a serious accident on the Sentier des Douaniers in Cap-d’Ail. Despite multiple injuries, he survived thanks to a passerby who called for help, and his wife expresses deep gratitude to the rescuers. She hopes to find answers about whether the fall was accidental or caused by an external factor.
Free Carnaval Petition - A citizens' group, "ViVA! – Democracy/Ecology/Solidarity," has launched a petition urging Nice's mayor to make the city's carnival free and remove black barriers that – in their words - "bunkerise" the event. They argue the current setup contradicts the carnival's traditional, open, and festive spirit. On the other hand the barriers were introduced in 2017 for security reasons following the 2016 attack.
Oldest Stone House Dating Back 5,400 Years - Archaeologists have uncovered France's oldest stone house, dating back 5,400 years, during preventive excavations for an underground car park in Vaucluse. The house, built with an innovative stone and mortar technique, sheds light on early Neolithic settlers who replaced hunter-gatherers along the Mediterranean. Alongside the structure, ceramics and plant remains offer new insights into their way of life.
France's Best Apprentice Chef - Awen Franceschi, a 17-year-old student at Avignon’s hospitality school, has been named France's best apprentice chef after winning a prestigious competition in Lyon. Her menu featured frog legs, honey-glazed pigeon, and a chocolate soufflé, prepared after 160 hours of practice. Motivated by her love of cooking and bringing joy through food, she now aims to pass her baccalaureate and pursue Michelin-starred success.
Lemon Harvest in Menton - The lemon harvest is in full swing in Menton, with a 30% increase in production compared to last year, thanks to ideal weather conditions. Celebrated for its fragrance, flavour, and unique year-round growth cycle, the Menton lemon is a local star. The upcoming 91st Lemon Festival, themed "Journey Through the Stars," will run from the 15th of February to the 2nd of March 2025.
SPA Animal Adoption in Slight Decline - In 2024, the French animal welfare organization SPA facilitated the adoption of nearly 40,000 animals, a slight decline from 2023, with dog adoptions dropping by 6.4% due to economic challenges and the needs of certain breeds. Meanwhile, cat adoptions increased by 2%, and over 43,700 animals were rescued from abuse or abandonment. The SPA also intensified efforts against animal mistreatment, handling over 21,000 reports and rescuing 3,114 animals.
NEWS UPDATE
Macron Will Attend Didier Guillaume's Funeral - French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the funeral of his "friend" and Monaco's Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, on Thursday, the 23rd of January, postponing a planned regional trip. Guillaume, who previously served as France's Agriculture Minister, passed away last Friday at 65 due to a sudden illness. Prince Albert II has declared a national day of mourning in Monaco, with the funeral taking place at Monaco's cathedral.
SMB's Recruitment Fair - Monaco's Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) is hosting a recruitment fair this Wednesday at One Monte-Carlo to fill 1,200 seasonal positions for spring and summer 2025 in hospitality, catering, security, wellness, and leisure. The event features job interviews, immersive workshops, and live demonstrations, aimed at attracting young talent and showcasing SBM's career opportunities. SBM highlights its benefits, including competitive salaries, housing for seasonal workers, and future opportunities like the upcoming Monte-Carlo One Courchevel luxury project.
Nice Named France's Most Generous City - Nice has been named France's most generous city in RTL's Pièces Jaunes challenge, collecting nearly 492.45 kg of small coins to fund projects for improving the lives of hospitalized children and adolescents. This effort significantly outpaced other cities, with over a ton of coins gathered in total. To celebrate, RTL plans to broadcast from Nice, and Brigitte Macron and Didier Deschamps will visit on the 7th of February.
Biking for Raising Awareness for Sick Children - Philippe Choquet, a 54-year-old cyclist, plans to bike 662 kilometers from Monaco to Andorra on the 30th of May 2025, within 36 hours to raise awareness for organ donation and rare liver diseases in children. The challenging journey, involving 7,270 meters of elevation gain, is supported by sponsors and a small assistance team. Choquet, inspired by hospitalized children, sees this as a way to push his limits for a noble cause.
BUSINESS
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that public ownership of UK railways is not a "silver bullet" for improving services, citing persistent issues like Northern's 10% cancellation rate. Her priorities include fare reform, better ticketing, and publishing station performance data. The government plans to expand public control under Great British Railways, aiming for unified management and passenger-focused operations.
And - UK wages have risen 3.4% above inflation, the fastest rate in over three years, driven by private sector pay growth, according to the ONS. Despite concerns over wage inflation, the Bank of England is still expected to cut interest rates in February. Unemployment edged up to 4.4%, while vacancies declined, indicating a gradually loosening labour market amidst rising business costs and tax pressures.
SPORTS
Tennis - Aryna Sabalenka survived a scare against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach the Australian Open semi-finals and continue her bid for a third straight Melbourne title with a 6-2 2-6 6-3 win.
Rugby Union - Hooker Jamie George will miss England's Six Nations opener against Ireland after dropping out of the squad's pre-tournament training camp with a hamstring problem.
Formula 1 - Haas have restructured their race operations team with a series of changes that include appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1. German Muller will work with new signing Esteban Ocon as one of two new race engineers at the US-based team.
WEATHER
Partly cloudy in the Alpes-Maritimes and mostly cloudy towards the Bouches-du-Rhône with gentle to moderate winds. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice and Toulon and 15 degrees in Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Marseille.
Tonight, mostly cloudy with light rain and lows of 7 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, light rain throughout the day with strong winds and highs of 12 degrees.
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