News
France’s Interior Minister sparks anger amongst police force - France’s interior minister Gérald Darmanin has faced criticism after saying that "in the police, people who have not had a high level of education are often recruited". The minister provoked anger amongst certain officers after making the comments following a hearing in parliament’s upper house, on the violence which followed the death of teenager Nahel, killed by police fire in Nanterre. The comments initially went unnoticed, before being massively relayed on the account of an Internet user posing as a police officer on Twitter, where it was seen more than 2 million times. The controversy grew as it was shared, in particular by members of the police force but also, via the hashtags #TousCrétinsdeDarmanin or #Balancetonbac.
Agreement between India and France - India has given its agreement in principle to France for the purchase of 26 Rafale planes and three Scorpene submarines. The announcement was made as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting France as Emmanuel Macron guest of honour at the July 14th ceremonies. The Indian Defense Acquisition Board approved the purchase proposals, stating that the price and other terms were yet to be negotiated with the French government. France is the first Western country with which India has established such a partnership.
France asks Brussels to review the appointment of an American to a key post in the EU - France has asked Brussels to review its choice following the appointment of an American to a key post in the EU. The appointment of Fiona Scott Morton, a former executive in the Obama administration, to a key post in the European Commission linked to the regulation of American tech giants has caused an outcry in France. The EU announced earlier this week that the American, had been chosen as the new chief economist at the Directorate General for Competition a service which is responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of competition in the European Union and for investigating the abuse of a dominant position by some digital giants, which has given rise to record fines in recent years.
Paris Olympics - With just one year to go before the Paris Olympics French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the parade on July 14th 2024 will not take place on the Champs-Elysées, but instead will be held between Vincennes and the Place de la Nation. The parade has not always been organized on the Champs-Elysées. It was first held on the Longchamp racecourse before coming for the first time to the most famous avenue in the world in 1919, echoing the Great War. After the Second World War and until 1980, the location of the celebration changed regularly. It was not until 1980 that the ceremony was definitively fixed on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Parental controls - Parental controls will be installed by default on French devices from July 2024. The objective of the law is to protect minors against pornographic content and to make it easier to use the control tools. Manufacturers will be required to install a parental control device on devices sold on the French market and the activation of must be offered free of charge to the user when the equipment is first put into service.
Pollution alert lifted - The prefecture of the Alpes Maritimes has announced the lifting of the level 1 pollution alert in the region. According to the measurements, the air quality is improving and the concentration in the air of fine PM10 particles is falling sharply.
Security measures during French national holiday - Measures have been introduced aimed at limiting the reoccurrence of recent violence around the French national holiday. Buses and trams will stop running in Nice at 10pm this evening. In the Var a prefectoral decree prohibits certain activities until Monday morning at 9am, including the sale and possession of fuel in a portable container, the sale and use of fireworks and the possession of weapons or objects which may constitute a weapon. Similar measures are in force in the Alpes-Maritimes. Police officers have been carrying out road checks in Menton.
Police deployed in the Var for the summer season – Meanwhile, nearly 180 additional police officers are to be deployed in the Var region for the summer season. The reinforcement is in order to meet summer security issues. Two CRS brigades will be deployed from this Sunday.
Congratulations to Monaco No Finish Line -Thanks to Monaco's No Finish Line, more than €250,000 have been distributed to charities. During the eight days of continuous running held in Fontvieille last November, the sports and charity competition No Finish Line mobilized some 10,000 participants completing 251,770 kilometres. 25 associative projects, selected by Children & Future, and which work in Monaco, France, Asia, as well as in Africa, often for children and people with disabilities will benefit from the money raised. Behind the scenes, the teams now have their sights on the 24th edition of the race, which will be held from November 11 to 19 hoping to break the record and reach 400,000 km covered.
Business
Australia has named the first woman to run its central Bank. Michele Bullock is set to succeed Philip Lowe who has been in the position for the last seven years. For the first time the bank will be led by a woman, her appointment comes as the country has been battling rising prices and the RBA is facing a major shakeup. The Australian financial services industry is male-dominated and has one of the nation's widest gender pay gaps. Ms Bullock is due to start her seven-year term as governor on 18 September.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is the US competition watchdog has lost its latest bid to temporarily block Microsoft from completing its deal to buy the maker of Call of Duty. The technology giant's proposed $69bn (£52.6bn) purchase of Activision Blizzard would be the biggest of its kind in gaming industry history. The planned deal has faced a series of legal challenges in the US and split regulators around the world. It is due to completed by 18 July.
Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating artificial intelligence company OpenAI over the risks to consumers from ChatGPT generating false information. The US regulator has sent a letter to the Microsoft-backed business requesting information on how it addresses risks to people's reputations. The inquiry is a sign of the rising regulatory scrutiny of the technology. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says the company will work with the FTC.
Anchor Brewing Company, a beer-maker founded in San Francisco in 1896, that promotes itself as America's "first" craft brewer is closing its doors. The company said it would cease operations and liquidate the business, due to years of falling sales. According to the Brewers Association craft beers accounted for just over 13% of the beers sold in the US last year and roughly a quarter of sales by value. But the beer industry has been under pressure, as pre-packaged cocktails gain popularity. The number of beers sold in the US last year sank 3% and at small, independent brewers, sales volume was roughly flat.
And - Hollywood actors have announced they will join an ongoing strike by screenwriters in the industry's biggest shutdown for more than 60 years. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) wants streaming giants to agree to a fairer split of profits and better working conditions. Some 160,000 performers will stop work at midnight. The stoppage means the vast majority of US film and TV productions will grind to a halt.
Sport
Football - Everton midfielder Dele Alli says he was sexually abused when he was six years old. In an emotional interview with former England footballer Gary Neville, Dele revealed the abuse he suffered as a child before he was adopted aged 12. He said he was "molested" aged six, started smoking aged seven and was dealing drugs at eight years old. Dele, 27, recently spent six weeks in rehab because of a sleeping pill addiction and mental health issues. One of football's brightest young talents, Dele was part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and helped Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019.
Rugby Union - Champions Cup winners La Rochelle will host Leinster in their opening 2023-24 pool fixture on 10 December. Last season the French side won the final 27-26 while the year before a last-gasp try gave them a 24-21 win. Premiership champions Saracens are away to Bulls in South Africa on 9 December. Glasgow Warriors will host Northampton on 8 December with Ulster travelling to Bath a day later. Bristol Bears open their campaign against Lyon on 9 December, while Cardiff will start their Champions Cup campaign with a trip to French champions Toulouse.
Golf - Rory McIlroy says he would retire "if LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth". The world number three was responding to revelations that he and Tiger Woods could have been offered LIV team ownership as part of the PGA Tour's proposed merger with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Both players have been vocal critics of the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV tour.
Weather
Clear skies inland and mainly fine along the coast with some cloudy patches. Highs of 30 degrees in Monaco, Nice, Tende and Théoule sur mer. 31 degrees in Cannes. 32 degrees in Saint-Tropez and Marseille. An orange heatwave alert is still in place for the Alpes Maritimes. Moderate winds across the region. This evening going down to 15 degrees in parts of the Var and 24 degrees in the Alpes Maritimes with clear skies.
The outlook for the weekend remaining hot with temperatures of between 30-32 degrees.
Sunrise 06.01am
Sunset 09.10pm
Beach weather forecast
Nice – Sea temperature is 27 degrees. Air temperature 28 degrees and UV level is 10.
Cavalaire sur mer – Sea temperature is 26 degrees. Air temperature 31 degrees and UV level is 10.
The Var department is under a fine particle pollution alert (level 1) for Tuesday, the 31st of December. ...
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New Year celebrations along the Riviera will include fireworks, dancing and live music. In the Alpes-Maritimes, several cities are organizing shows an...
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The 1st of January will see several changes introduced in France, as with the first of every month. From Wednesday 1st January those who benefit from ...
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Recently appointed French Prime Minister François Bayrou will make his first visit as Prime Minister to Mayotte today, Monday 30th December. ...
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A powerful Mistral storm has swept through Provence, with wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h in some areas. ...
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