News
France is still waiting for a new Prime Minister - French President Emmanuel Macron is to announce his choice for France's next prime minister, today Friday 13th December, in a bid to end months of political turmoil. French politics has been in a deadlock ever since Macron called snap parliamentary elections during the summer. The appointment of a new Prime Minister will be Macron’s fourth this year. A recent survey carried out for BFMTV on Thursday suggested 61% of French voters were worried by the political situation.
Road worker injured after being hit by a motorcyclist - In local news, an employee and road worker for Vinci Autoroutes, has been injured after being hit by a motorcyclist. The accident occurred on the A8 motorway at the Nice Airport exit on Thursday morning. According to Vinci, the worker was at the time clearing debris from an earlier accident. Since the beginning of the year, 42 emergency vehicles have been hit on the motorway.
Road Fatalities Fell – Meanwhile, fatal road accidents in mainland France fell by 6% in November 2024 compared to November 2023, with 270 deaths recorded. Serious injuries also dropped slightly (-1%), but deaths among motorcyclists, cyclists, and 18-24-year-olds increased.
French Road Code Affects Bicycles - A new French road code decree bans flashing rear lights on bicycles, requiring fixed lights instead, while allowing extra lighting on helmets, bags, and clothing, plus brake lights and turn signals. Cyclists face an €11 fine for non-compliance, but some worry about unclear product standards and the shift of safety responsibility to cyclists.
Radical measure for a neighbourhood in Nice - The deputy mayor of Nice Antony Borré has announced a radical measure following complaints from shopkeepers and resident on the Place Garibaldi in Nice, with a ban on the sale of alcohol at night. According to reports shopkeepers and residents are at their wit's end after several months noise and fights breaking out on the city center square. It is not the first neigbourhood in Nice to introduce such a mearuse notably in La Madeleine since the end of November. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., grocery stores and supermarkets are no longer authorized to sell alcoholic beverages. Offenders face a fine.
New destinations from Nice airport - Low-cost airline Easyjet has announced two new destinations in Greece and Italy from June of next year. Both Santorini and Lamezia will be added to their list of destinations from Nice International airport with prices starting at 38 to 40 euros one way. The new additions will mean that the company will have a total of 51 destinations from Nice.
Movember Barber - Laurent Briard, a barber from Cannes, and his team raised over €22,000 for Movember 2024, placing 2nd in France after winning 1st place in 2023. Movember raises awareness for men's health issues like prostate and testicular cancer. Briard engages donors with fun events like beard trimming, concerts, and sports challenges, driven by a personal mission inspired by his grandfather's cancer battle.
Monaco Red Cross - To mark the upcoming Christmas holidays, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene distributed gourmet packages to seniors supported by the social service of the Monaco Red Cross. This year, the traditional parcel delivery took place at the Monaco Yacht Club. The seniors were able to enjoy a recreational snack accompanied by Christmas carols.
Annual Christmas Tree Auction - The annual Christmas Tree Auction has been held at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo in the presence of Princess Charlene. The event raised an incredible €122,000 for Action Innocence Monaco. This year at the event Christmas carols were sung by children from the International School of Monaco. Action Innocence Monaco mission is to protect children online.
Tourrettes sur Loup - The people and the mayor of Tourrettes-sur-Loup in the Alpes Maritimes have thanked and praised the generosity of millionaire and local resident Marcelin Arthur Chaix. 95-year Chaix passed away investing all his wealth back into the area where he grew up. However, there was one condition in terms of what the residents could spend the money on. In his will, he declared that his entire fortune could only be used to serve the elderly who still reside in the area which has a population of just over 4,000 people. As a result, a daycare centre for elderly people will be built and plans to open before 2026. The millionaire's will was read aloud at the local town hall, and the Tourrette's community was able to hear that he was donating a staggering £2.6million to the facilities. The structure as per Chaix’s wishes will reportedly be « a place to live and meet for senior citizens, who are often faced with loneliness »
Business
Meta has donated $1m (£786,000) to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump. The company is not believed to have made similar donations to President Joe Biden's inaugural fund in 2020 or to Trump's previous inaugural fund in 2016. The company confirmed its million-dollar donation to the inaugural fund to several outlets. The funds are used to pay for events and activities when a new president takes office. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president on 20 January.
Recent forecasts are predicting that the European economy is going to have a tough few years. If the forecasts are indeed correct, then despite, the European Central Bank (ECB) cutting interest rates for the third time in a row on Thursday, the outlook for growth is less rosy. President of the ECB Christine LaGarde said, "the element which has changed is the downside risks, particularly the downside risk to growth," her comments came as she announced a further cut in interest rates in the bloc, down to 3%.
And - In what is the heaviest penalty ever given out in Denmark for a fraud case, a British hedge fund trader has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Founder of the London based Hedge fund Solo Capital Partners was found guilty of orchestrating a tax fraud that cost the Danish government more than £1bn. In addition to the prison term, Sanjay Shah, received a permanent entry ban to Denmark and will have assets worth $1bn seized, as well as a string of properties. He immediately appealed the decision on the spot. But will remain in custody.
Sport
Formula One - Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan says he was diagnosed with a "quite aggressive" form of cancer earlier this year. 76-year-old Jordan has revealed he suffered with bladder and prostate cancer which spread to his spine and pelvis. Speaking on his Formula For Success podcast alongside co-host David Coulthard, Jordan urged listeners to "go and get tested, because in life, you've got chances".
Rugby Union - A body has been found in the search for former England rugby international Tom Voyce, who went missing in a flooded area in Northumberland in the UK during severe storms. A search had been ongoing since Sunday, but Northumbria Police's Marine Unit discovered a body on Thursday. Formal identification is yet to take place, but Mr Voyce's next of kin have been notified.
Golf - Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will not be allowed to compete in women's golf tournaments organised by the R&A from the start of 2025. The R&A, golf's St Andrews-based governing body, has updated its rules on gender policy following an "extensive consultation" with medical and scientific experts.
Football - Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur both moved a step closer to the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday evening after they played out a captivating 1-1 draw.
In tomorrow’s Premier League action Arsenal are at home to Everton, Liverpool play Fulham, Newcastle face Leicester, Wolves are at home to Ipswich and Nottingham Forest are at home to Aston Villa.
Weather
Cloudy with light rain forecast. Moderate to strong winds. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice, 13 degrees in Monaco and Cannes. This evening going down to 6 degrees.
The outlook for Saturday and Sunday, sunny intervals. Light rain forecast for Saint-Tropez tomorrow with highs of 13 degrees in the Var.
Sunrise 07.55am
Sunset 04.53pm
Weather elsewhere
London 7° cloudy.
Paris 4° sunny intervals.
Dublin 6° light cloud.
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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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