National News France
Deadly knife attack in Mulhouse linked to terrorism - A stabbing attack in Mulhouse on Saturday, February 22nd, has left one person dead and several local police officers injured. The suspect, a 37-year-old man listed for terrorism prevention, was arrested and placed in police custody. The attack occurred near a busy market targeting police officers and a passer-by, a 69-year-old Portuguese national who was killed. Two officers were critically injured. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office is handling the investigation, with French President Macron calling it an "Islamist terrorist act." Three others have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Macron vows to strengthen European security ahead of Trump meeting – In other national news in France, ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump today Monday 24th February, French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to ensure that the security of Europe is "strengthened" during ongoing Ukraine peace talks. Macron emphasized his commitment to achieving a fair and lasting peace for Ukraine while protecting European security. Speaking after talks with European leaders, he warned that Europe cannot afford to show weakness in the face of Russian President Putin, asserting the need for strong leadership to remain credible in the global arena.
Local News
700 rally in Nice to support Ukraine on war anniversary – Meanwhile, locally around 700 people have gathered on the Promenade in Nice on Sunday to show solidarity with Ukraine, marking three years since Russia’s invasion. The march, organized by the Franco-Ukrainian Association Côte d'Azur, highlighted the ongoing need for support for Ukraine. Participants included refugees. The president of the association emphasized that the war concerns all of Europe and called for continued support.
Two boat fires break out in Port of Agay, Saint-Raphaël – In other news locally, firefighters are responding to two separate boat fires at the quayside in the Port of Agay in Saint-Raphaël in the Var on Sunday evening. The fires, located 50 meters apart, involve a 7-meter professional fishing vessel and a 7-meter pleasure boat. Emergency services have been on the scene since 9.30pm on Sunday evening and fortunately, no casualties have been reported. The port authority has deployed a floating boom to prevent water pollution, with national and local police also present.
Vallauris Mayor bans alcohol sales in trouble zones to curb disturbances - The mayor of Vallauris Kevin Luciano has imposed a municipal decree banning takeaway alcohol sales between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. in key areas of the city. The move aims to reduce noise and disturbances caused by late-night gatherings outside shops. The mayor cited recurring issues with public order, including alcohol and substance abuse. While some residents welcomed the change, others expressed doubt about enforcement.
Gad Elmaleh crowned King of Nice Carnival Parade – French Comedian Gad Elmaleh has stolen the spotlight at Nice's Carnival parade on Sunday, serving as the guest of honour. Seated with the mayor and his wife in the grandstand, Gad Elmaleh, dressed casually in glasses and a cap, was warmly welcomed by the crowd. It was his first time at the iconic event, and he humbly admitted, "I don’t understand everything." The actor promised the audience a lot of laughs, ahead of his upcoming international comedy festival in October at the Palais Nikaïa in Nice.
Get ready for "Monaco for Employment" Forum this Monday - The "Monaco for Employment" forum is back this Monday, February 24th, for its third edition at the Grimaldi Forum. With nearly 100 Monegasque companies participating, the event will offer opportunities across various sectors, including finance, real estate, hospitality, and luxury brands. This year, the event has expanded offering more space for job seekers. Attendees can apply for permanent, temporary, and fixed-term roles, with the luxury industry being a key new addition. The event has already seen 3,800 pre-registrations, with a record-breaking turnout expected.
Charity dinner in Courchevel supports the Princess Charlene Foundation - Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene have attended a charity dinner in Courchevel, aimed at benefiting the Princess Charlene Foundation and the children of the Courchevel Sports Club. Over 200 guests were present for the event last week, which was organized in connection with the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2030 Winter Olympics, where Courchevel will host several events.
Monaco Red Cross Welcomes More Young Volunteers in 2024 – Meanwhile, the Monaco Red Cross has seen a significant increase in volunteers in 2024, surpassing the 700 with 714 volunteers from 48 different nationalities, 69% of whom were women. One of the most encouraging trends was the influx of younger volunteers, with nearly 40% of them being under 35.
Frédéric Platini, the Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross, attributes this growth to the organization’s positive image and its ability to adapt to the needs of younger generations. Over the past few years, the association has actively worked on diversifying its activities to engage younger volunteers by offering a variety of roles, from helping the elderly to tutoring and assisting with homework.
Additionally, the Red Cross has made efforts to create a welcoming and engaging environment, such as providing a journal that highlights a volunteer's typical week and showcasing the variety of work done, including assisting at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre.
Top Marques Monaco launches drawing competition for kids - In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Monaco Top Marques show is hosting a drawing competition for schoolchildren in CE2 to CM2 and 6th to 3rd grade. The challenge: to design the lunar vehicle of the future. The lucky winner will get a chance to visit the Venturi Space showroom and explore cutting-edge space technologies. The competition is open to students from Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes. Entries are due in by April 18th. For more details, visit the Top Marques Monaco website.
Monaco named best European destination for 2025 - Monaco has been crowned the best destination in Europe for 2025, according to a ranking by European Best Destinations. The Principality attracts over 6 million visitors annually. Known for its luxury and sustainable tourism, Monaco secured second place in 2024 but has now risen to the top spot. The award highlights the efforts of tourism professionals, recent renovations, and innovative initiatives that continue to draw tourists, particularly from the United States. The principality's charm and exceptional quality of service are clearly paying off.
Saorge competes to become the French people's favourite village of 2025 – Meanwhile, Saorge, a charming village in the Alpes-Maritimes, is in the running to become the "Favourite Village of the French" in 2025, a title awarded through a competition broadcast on France 3. Located in the scenic Roya Valley, Saorge is renowned for its picturesque streets and colourful houses, with the 12th-century Monastery of Saorge offering a peaceful atmosphere attracting many artists. The village is among 14 candidates hoping for the top spot, with voting open until March 7th, 2025. The winner will be revealed in a special program presented by Stéphane Bern. To vote, visit the France TV website or call 3245.
Nice tops the 2025 quality of life ranking in France – And Nice continues to shine as one of the best cities to live in France, securing a top position in the annual study by the association of Cities and Villages of France. For the 2025 edition, Nice is ranked first among the cities with more than 300,000 inhabitants and 6th among cities with over 100,000 residents. Overall, it holds 13th place nationwide. The city also remains at the forefront in the Alpes-Maritimes, topping the list for the region. Mayor Christian Estrosi celebrated the city's continued success in maintaining its place as a prime location for quality of life.
Homeless thieves who won €500,000 jackpot offered share of winnings – Finally, two homeless men in Toulouse are in a legal quandary over a €500,000 lottery scratchcard they bought with a stolen credit card. The pair stole a backpack containing the card from a car, then used it to purchase the winning scratchcard. Although they scratched off the jackpot, they have yet to claim the prize. The victim, whose card was stolen, has offered them a share of the winnings if they come forward. However, legal experts are unsure who rightfully owns the prize—whether it's the thief who bought it or the cardholder who paid for it. The lottery company has frozen the ticket until the investigation is resolved.
Business
A recent email from Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative, requesting U.S. government employees to detail their weekly accomplishments, has sparked confusion across multiple government departments. Key agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Pentagon, have instructed staff not to comply with the message, while other department heads have advised employees to respond or wait for further direction.
Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) task force, set a deadline of midnight Monday for responses, stating that failure to reply would be interpreted as resignation. This directive, part of Musk's broader initiative to reduce government spending, has led to conflicting guidance within federal agencies, leaving hundreds of thousands of bureaucrats uncertain about how to proceed. President Donald Trump has yet to comment on the situation, adding to the ambiguity surrounding the email’s demands.
BMW has confirmed that it is delaying the reintroduction of electric vehicle production at its Oxford Mini plant, citing "multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry." As a result, the company has paused work on a £600m upgrade to its UK plant, which was originally part of the plan to transition to EV production.
In addition, BMW decided not to accept a £60m government grant intended to support the project but emphasized that it remains in "close dialogue" with the government. The delay highlights ongoing tensions between the UK automotive industry and the government over the targets for electric vehicle production, further complicating the sector's future plans.
And - Hackers have stolen an estimated $1.5bn (£1.19bn) worth of cryptocurrency in what may be the largest digital raid to date. The Dubai-based Bybit exchange confirmed that an attacker gained control of an Ethereum wallet and transferred its contents to an unidentified address. Despite the breach, Bybit assured its users that no other wallets were affected, and withdrawals continued as normal. Forensic investigators are working to trace the stolen assets and determine how the security breach occurred. The incident highlights ongoing security concerns within the cryptocurrency industry. In 2024 alone, there were 303 hacking events, with assets worth $2.2 billion stolen.
Sport
Rugby Union - France put on a dominant performance, defeating Italy 73-24 in a thrilling Six Nations clash, breaking the record for most tries in a match with 14 in total. The win puts them just three points behind Ireland, whom they’ll face next, in what could be a decider for the championship. Italy, on the other hand, now face a tough test against England.
Meanwhile, England narrowly defeated Scotland 16-15 in a tense Six Nations encounter to claim the Calcutta Cup for the first time in five years.
Football - Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City, coupled with Arsenal’s loss to West Ham, has all but sealed the Premier League title for the Reds. With an 11-point lead at the top, and only 11 matches remaining Liverpool seem to be in control. Arsenal’s slim hopes are dwindling, and the remaining matches will likely not be enough to overturn Liverpool’s commanding lead.
Locally, Nice secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Montpellier at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday, restoring their place in third in Ligue 1. The team, which dominated the match without exerting too much pressure, took the lead in the first half. Although Montpellier had a brief moment of danger with a shot hitting the crossbar, Nice controlled the game and remained undefeated at home this season. This victory puts them just 3 points behind Olympique Marseille, keeping their hopes for direct Champions League qualification alive.
Formula One - Fernando Alonso is optimistic about Aston Martin's prospects for the 2025 season, claiming that the team is starting off in a much better position than they ended the challenging 2024 campaign. The team’s new car features an almost entirely new aerodynamic package, which is expected to enhance performance. Alonso believes the team is in a much stronger place to close the gap to their rivals, having learned valuable lessons from the past two years.
Cycling - Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) has claimed victory in the second stage of the 2025 Tour des Alpes-Maritimes on Sunday sprinting to victory in Vence. Meanwhile, Italian Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) emerged as the overall winner of the general classification.
Weather
Cloudy with some sunny spells. A gentle breeze and highs of 14 degrees in Monaco, 15 degrees in Nice, 16 degrees in Cannes and Toulon. Reaching 17 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going town to 11 degrees along the coast and 7 degrees inland with cloudy skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Wednesday, showers are forecast for Tuesday with highs of 15 degrees. Wednesday sunny intervals remaining dry in the Alpes Maritimes some scattered showers expected in Saint-Tropez and the Var region. Highs of 17 degrees.
Sunrise 07.15am
Sunset 06.12pm
Weather elsewhere
London heavy rain 13°
Dublin light rain 11°
Paris light rain 13°
And Finally
Fabrice Didier from northwestern France has completed an extraordinary 24-hour blindfolded race. The mountaineer surpassed the previous record of 117.4 km, setting a new Guinness World Record while raising funds for a guide dog charity. Despite feeling sore afterwards, Didier was thrilled with the accomplishment, combining both a personal and charitable challenge.
The Nice University Hospital (CHU) has introduced a comprehensive care pathway for women facing repeated IVF failures (Repeated Implantation Failure, ...
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A stabbing attack in Mulhouse on Saturday, February 22nd, has left one person dead and several local police officers injured...
Read More
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Monaco Top Marques show is hosting a drawing competition for schoolchildren in CE2 to CM2 and 6th to 3rd g...
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The "Monaco for Employment" forum is back this Monday, February 24th, for its third edition at the Grimaldi Forum. ...
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In other news locally, firefighters are responding to two separate boat fires at the quayside in the Port of Agay in Saint-Raphaël in the Var on Sunda...
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