News
Two women found guilty over false claims towards France’s first lady - Two women have been found guilty of slander after false claims that France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, was transgender. In December 2021, Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy broadcast unsupported rumours online that Brigitte had never existed, and that her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux had changed gender and started using that name. The defendants were ordered to pay €8,000 (£6,750; $8,859) in damages to Mrs Macron, and €5,000 to her brother. Mrs Macron had filed a complaint against the women after their claim went viral, sparking conspiracy theories among the far-right.
The bells of Notre Dame are back - The bells of Notre Dame in Paris have been returned and blessed as the cathedral prepares to reopen in early December, more than five years after it narrowly escaped complete destruction in a devastating fire the bells, which are the voice of the cathedral, are back to their former glory. The 12th-century gothic cathedral was being renovated when the fire broke out in April 2019, toppling its spire and prompting a desperate fight to save one of the world’s great architectural treasures.
Local News
Attempted raid on jewellery store on the port of Nice - An attempted raid on a jewellery store in the port of Nice had to be abandoned on Thursday, after the robbers seemingly got cold feet. The incident occurred on rue Antoine-Gautier at around 3:30pm when two armed individuals entered the shop. However, surprised by the presence of three other individuals they soon fled on a scooter, without any loot. The store had already been the victim of a robbery in 2012, when the owner was pinned to the ground at gunpoint and the robbers at the time left with watches and jewellery worth 300,000 euros. An investigation has since been opened into the robbery on Thursday.
Missing person - Police have launched a missing person appeal following the worrying disappearance of a sixty-year-old man in the Var. Last seen in Bandol, Eric Homburger is described as having short brown hair, of normal build, wears glasses and at the time was wearing green Bermuda shorts and a navy-blue hooded vest. Any witnesses are invited to contact Sanary police station at 04.94.88.53.39 or 04.94.88.53.30.
Bad weather causes airports to close in Corsica - Corsica's four airports have been closed due to bad weather on Thursday evening. All flights from and to Corsica were cancelled due to a yellow storm alert with saw gusts of up to 140km/h hit the island. Flights are expected to resume this Friday morning.
HSH Prince Albert visits Roumoules - HSH Prince Albert II has visited Roumoules, in the Alpes de Haute Provence, the town where Radio Monte-Carlo transmitters were put into operation 50 years ago and which is part of the Grimaldi Historic Sites. The Prince was welcomed this week by Marc Chappuis, Prefect of the Department, Gilles Megis, Mayor of Roumoules, and Claude Cottalorda and Jean-Charles Allavena, President and Vice-President of Monaco Media Diffusion (MMD), the company responsible for managing and broadcasting the radio waves from the site. Prince Albert was there to attend the anniversary ceremony and unveil a plaque commemorating his visit.
Friday the 13th will be sexy-spooky this year and there’s an astrological reason for that – Today Friday the 13th for many brings bad luck, but in astrology, Friday belongs to Venus, the planet of love, beauty, attraction, assets and ambient light. And it just so happens that this year, Venus will be in her home turf of Libra today Friday the 13th meaning this transit amplifies the energy of love, attraction and beauty.
Business
He may have dropped out of high school, but American entrepreneur and billionaire Jared Isaacman has gained a place in history becoming the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space on Thursday. The 41-year-old bankrolled the mission that launched him and three others into space aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship. Worth an estimated $1.9bn (£1.46bn), Mr Isaacman made his fortune from payment processing company Shift4 Payments, which he founded in 1999 aged 16. The businessman had long been passionate about flying, first taking pilot lessons in 2004 and later setting a world record for going around the world in a light jet.
Microsoft is to cut about 650 staff from its gaming division in a new round of job losses after its $69bn merger deal. The software giant said staff working in "mostly corporate and supporting functions" worldwide would be affected. In a memo to workers shared online Xbox boss Phil Spencer said "no games, devices or experiences are being cancelled and no studios are being closed" due to the latest layoffs.
The UK government has confirmed a ban on junk food adverts being shown on TV before 9pm. The measure will come into force on 1st October of next year. Labour said the watershed on junk food advertising would be enforced alongside a total ban on paid-for online adverts, both aimed at tackling childhood obesity. The Conservatives had previously committed to the ban in 2021 when Boris Johnson was prime minister, but it was pushed back to give the industry more time to prepare.
Sport
Football - Premier League club Manchester City are about to begin what has been dubbed as the sport’s trial of the century as they face the Premier League on 115 charges. City face charges for allegedly breaking the financial rules of the competition which they have won for a record-breaking four consecutive seasons. Those charges will be heard at an independent hearing, which is set to start on Monday at an unknown location, subject to any late legal delays. It is expected to run for 10 weeks, with a verdict expected in early 2025.
Meanwhile, on the pitch this weekend in the Premier League, Southampton play Manchester United in tomorrow's lunchtime game with a 1.30pm kick off French time. Afternoon matches will see Brighton face Ipswich, Crystal Palace face Leicester, Fulham are at home to West Ham, Liverpool play Nottingham Forest, Manchester City play Brentford, Aston Villa play Everton and Bournemouth are at home to Chelsea. On Sunday Tottenham play Arsenal with a 3pm kick off French time and Wolves face Newcastle and
Tennis - Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this month's Laver Cup, saying he believes there are "other players who can help the team deliver the win" for Team Europe. The 38-year-old has not played since his defeat alongside compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the men's doubles at the Paris Olympics in August.
Athletics – In the Diamond League final which takes place today and tomorrow in Brussels, Olympic 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith will be leading the British charge. The line-up for each race has been decided by qualifying points gathered across 14 events staged over the season, with the winners of each Diamond League final taking home a trophy and £24,000 in prize money.
Weather
A cloudy start in Nice and Monaco with highs of 22 degrees. Clearing by this afternoon. Strong winds in the Var. Highs of 23 degrees in Toulon and Cannes, 24 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 14 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for the weekend mainly fine and sunny, feeling cooler with highs of 22-23 degrees. Strong winds persisting in Marseille.
Sunrise 07.07am
Sunset 07.43pm
Beach weather
Sea temperature 23° in Marseille
Air temperature 19°
Fine and sunny with strong winds.
UV level 5
Weather elsewhere
London 17° sunny with light winds.
Paris 17° sunny intervals.
Cardiff 15° sunny intervals.
Researchers in Nice, led by Prof. Véronique Paquis, have identified an antibiotic, nifuroxazide, that shows promise in treating ALS (Charcot’s disease...
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A union representing French airline pilots has called a strike for this Thursday which could affect flights....
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A cold air mass will bring rain and a drop in temperatures on Tuesday in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, with highs falling to around 17-18°C. ...
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Police in Marseille have arrested 15 people and seized €1.2 million in cash in a series of raids linked to an investigation into drug-trafficking and ...
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The Cap Azur metropolitan area is installing 30 additional electric vehicle charging stations by year-end 2024, with a goal to increase stations by 30...
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