France has been announced as the sole candidate to host the 2030 Winter Olympics. The announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee at a press conference this evening. The IOC will now enter into what it called a "targeted dialogue" with France. The two other candidates were Sweden and Switzerland, who are now out of the running. Today's announcement doesn't amount to an official selection but the entering into discussions which are expected to lead to an official announcement in favour of France next year. The event would be held in the French Alps with the Olympic village being located in Nice.
French justice minister Eric Dupond Moretti has been acquitted by a court in Paris for illegal taking of interest. He had been accused of using his position as minister to settle scores with several magistrates he had criticized when he was practising as a lawyer.
A man in his forties has been charged with the murder of his three daughters. The man, from the Val-de-Marne department, was initially taken into police custody on Sunday on suspicion of having killed the three girls who were aged from 4 to 11 years old. The prosecution said that he had told police there was a dispute with his partner over custody. Reports say that he has confessed to being responsible for their deaths.
It looks like there'll be no strike action on the railways over Christmas and the New Year. One of the main rail unions, Sud Rail, had been considering industrial action but has now confirmed that it is now considering taking action early in 2024 instead. The other unions had already stated that they wouldn't be striking over Christmas and the New Year.
Three metro stations in Marseille were closed this morning after smoke was spotted coming from under a train at Estrangin station. The station was evacuated. Several dozen firefighters attended the scene. Transport operator RTM said that metro traffic returned to normal at around midday.
The Prefect of the Var has said that public security has been "stabilized" in the department since the start of the year, with 7 large scale operations being carried out in neighbourhoods. These resulted in 128 arrests, 110 kg of cannabis being seized and 60 squats evacuated. He said that these operations will continue. Speaking at a press conference this morning he added that the signing of 27 "social diversity contracts" will make it possible to begin the construction of nearly 9,000 housing units within 3 years.
BUSINESS
Saudia Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has acquired a stake in Heathrow airport. Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial has sold 10% of it’s investment in the airport’s parent company to the Saudi Public Investment Fund. It also sold it’s remaining 15% stake to French private equity company Ardian.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has said that rising interest rates risk creating recessions in developed countries in 2024. In its Economic Outlook published today the organisation forecast that UK output would increase by 0.3% in 2023 and 1% in 2024.
SPORT
Golf... It's been announced that Luke Donald will remain Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 edition of the tournament in New York. He'll be the first Europe captain to serve consecutive terms since Bernard Gallacher in the 1990's.
Cricket... Rahul Dravid will remain India's head coach in all formats after accepting a contract extension from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. His contract expired at the end of the 50-over World Cup.
A powerful Mistral storm has swept through Provence, with wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h in some areas. ...
Read More
France’s recently appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou has promised a new government "before Christmas" and reserves the possibility of using 49....
Read More
A four-day strike at DHL has caused delays in package processing, raising concerns about on-time deliveries for Christmas....
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
