News
The UK and northern France set to be hit by Storm Eowyn - The UK and parts of France are set to be hit by Storm Eowyn. Millions of people in the north and west of the UK have been urged to stay at home today with potentially life-threatening winds forecast. Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland are set to experience the worst disruption, where the Met Office has issued red weather warnings which means there is a danger to life from winds gusting at up to 100mph. Schools will be closed in Northern Ireland and much of central Scotland on Friday, while travel is also expected to be disrupted. Away from the areas expected to be worst-hit a less severe amber and yellow warnings for both wind and rain have been issued, with 11 warnings in place for the UK on Friday and Saturday. The storm is expected to reach the coasts of northwestern France affecting Normandy and Birttany later in the day and heading into Saturday morning. The rest of France is expected to be spared the heavy rain and high winds.
French President responds to man fined at motorway toll for paying with his phone – In other news, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will “collectively sort out the issue”, where a motorist was fined after paying a motorway toll with his phone. After seeing the victim’s post on TikTok Macron said he “is in favour of paying tolls by phone”, he went on to thank the individual for alerting him on the matter, before concluding that “collectively the issue would be sorted out” by contacting the Minister of the Interior and making changes to the highway code in France. To see the post click here https://www.tiktok.com/@emmanuelmacron/video/7462817364279643414
The director of the Louvre sounds the alarm over the state of the museum - The director of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris has sounded the alarm about the state of the world’s most visited museum. Laurence des Cars the first woman to head the gallery, in a memo to France’s culture minister, Rachida Dati has said that “visiting the Louvre has become a physical ordeal due to the sheer number of tourists, leaks and substandard catering”. In her memo Des Cars acknowledged the French government’s budgetary limitations but argued that the museum was in need of an overhaul that would probably be costly and technically complicated. Designed to welcome about 4 million annual visitors, the Louvre last year received more than double that number, with 8.7 million people, 70% of them from outside France.
Mourning Day in Monaco – Locally, Monaco has held a National Day of Mourning as Minister of State Didier Guillaume, who passed away on the 17th of January, was laid to rest in the Cathedral of Monaco on Thursday. The ceremony gathered 500 attendees, including Prince Albert II, French President Emmanuel Macron, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and other dignitaries, honouring Guillaume’s legacy in Monaco and French politics.
Family from the UK awarded damages for poor conditions whilst staying in a four-star setting on the Riviera - A family from the UK have been awarded nearly £4,000 in damages after a dream holiday here on the French Riviera left them returning “home miserable”. The couple said they had been looking forward to a “gourmet” experience with their children, in a four-star setting at Club Med Opio however they say they were welcome with “stale croissants” and a “mouldy room”. In deciding to award damages, the judge considered photographic evidence of the hotel’s rooms and said they seemed “dirty and showed signs of considerable wear”. Club Med had also provided photos, which showed the rooms in a far superior state, but the court decided that since they were undated, they proved little. A Club Med spokesperson said: “We recognise the recent court ruling in the case concerning a guest complaint about one of our resorts. While we always strive to provide the best possible experience for our guests, we do accept that on this occasion, there were issues that affected the guests’ enjoyment of their stay. That is why we offered a 20% reduction to them”.
European court of human rights condemns France - The European court of human rights has condemned France and sided with a 69-year-old French woman whose husband had obtained a divorce on the grounds that she was the only person at fault, because she had stopped having sexual relations with him. Europe’s highest human rights court said that the woman should not be considered “at fault” by French courts in the event of divorce, for refusing to have sex with her husband, adding that there had been “a violation of the woman’s right to respect for private and family life as part of the European convention on human rights”. It ruled against France, saying a woman who refuses to have sex with her husband should not be considered “at fault” by courts in the event of divorce. The woman did not contest the divorce, which she had also sought, but rather complained about the grounds on which it had been granted by a French court.
Her case has been supported by two women’s rights groups in France: the Fondation des Femmes (Women’s Foundation) and Collectif féministe contre le viol (Feminist Collective against Rape). In a joint statement when the case was brought in 2021, the two groups said: “Marriage is not and must not be sexual servitude.” They said that French judges continued to impose their own “archaic vision of marriage” even though there was no longer an obligation of “marital duty” under French law, and no law obliged spouses to have sexual relations.
Cirque FC triumphant of this year Fight AIDS CUP – Finally, It’s congratulations to Cirque FC who beat the Barbagiuans (5-4) in the fifth edition of the Fight AIDS Cup at the Stade Louis II this week. HSH Prince Albert II, the honorary president of the Barbagiuans speaking at the event, said that “the Fight AIDS Cup is more than just a sporting event. It’s a celebration of solidarity and generosity in the service of an essential cause: the fight against HIV/AIDS and support for those affected”.
Sport
Tennis - Novak Djokovic has been booed off court by some Australian Open fans after retiring injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Djokovic, who was bidding for a record-extending 11th title, quit after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5). German second seed Zverev is still bidding for his first Grand Slam title after twice losing in major finals. In his first Australian Open final, he will face either Italian top seed Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton.
Monte Carlo Rally - The Automobile Club de Monaco and the WRC organised an iconic start in Casino Square for the WRC Monte –Carlo Rally on Thursday afternoon. With temperatures dropping, the cars drove to Dignes-Les-Bains to select their tyres for the first three stages. It was the first stage for official tyre supplier Hankook. Frenchman, eight times World Champion Sebastien Ogier (born in Gap) began well for Toyota but it was reigning World Champion Belgium Thierry Neuville who mastered the tricky conditions to end the first day in first place for Hyundai, with Britain Elfyn Evans second and Ogier third for Toyota.
Formula One – Under new rules introduced this year Formula 1 drivers face race bans if they repeatedly swear or criticise the sport's governing body. Changes to the FIA's sporting code for the 2025 season codify the steps to a potential race ban for drivers deemed guilty of such offences. They mean that if a driver commits three such offences they are at risk of a "one-month suspension plus deduction of championship points".
Football – Manchester United have written to fans to warn them that the club are at risk of breaching spending rules and ticket prices could rise as a result.
Meanwhile, in the Premier League action this weekend. Tomorrow, Bournemouth face Nottingham Forest, Brighton are at home to Everton, Liverpool play Ipswich, Southampton face Newcastle, Wolves are at home to Arsenal and Manchester City play Chelsea.
Business
After consumer price rises accelerated last year Japan's central bank has increased the cost of borrowing to its highest level in 17 years. The move by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to raise its short-term policy rate to 0.5% comes just hours after the latest economic data showed prices rose last month at the fastest pace in 16 months. The BOJ's last interest rate hike in July, along with a weak jobs report from the US, caught investors around the world by surprise, which triggered a stock market selloff.
President Donald Trump has said the US does not need Canadian energy, vehicles or lumber as he spoke to global business leaders at the World Economic Forum. Trump also reiterated his threat to impose tariffs on the country, saying it can be avoided if the neighbouring nation chose to "become a state" of the US. Trump has threatened to impose up to 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, possibly by 1 February.
Weather
Mainly fine, gentle breeze. Highs of 14° in Nice, 13 degrees in Monaco, 16 degrees in Cannes. This evening going down to 7° along the coast with cloudy skies.
The outlook for the weekend, unsettled on Saturday with scattered showers and sunny intervals. Sunday mainly fine. Highs of 16°.
Sunrise 07.54am
Sunset 05.30pm
Weather elsewhere
London 11° gusty winds and rain.
Paris 11° light rain.
Palma 19° sunny.
Local snow report
Isola 2000 – Sunny intervals, highs of 4°. 13/19 lifts open. 27/46 runs open. 55cm snow.
Valberg – Sunny intervals, highs of 7°. 8/15 lifts running. 15/42 runs open. 40cm snow.
Auron – Mainly fine, highs of 4°. 16/19 lifts running. 21/43 runs open. 55cm snow.
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