French and Riviera News Monday 25th November 2024

News

International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women – Today, November the 25th, has been designated by the world community as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a day for governments, international groups, and membership organizations to come together to organize activities and events to spread awareness of this issue. To coincide with the day and as part of the fight to eliminate violence against women the French government has announced several measures including a plan to extend the possibility of filing a complaint in all French hospitals. The measure will be introduced to all A&E departments across the country and hopes to be up and running by the end of 2025. The system aims to "guarantee support for each victim in a secure place",

French Prime minister Michel Barnier is to announce several other measures to combat violence, against woman, including an increase in universal emergency aid, which will go from 13 to 20 million euros in order to help women who leave their homes due to violence. A training plan will also be provided for police officers throughout their careers and lawyers and doctors will also be trained in collecting evidence and dealing with cases.

Recall on advent calendar sold in French supermarkets – In other news supermarket chains Auchan, Super U, Intermarché and Carrefour have recalled a chocolate advent calendar throughout France. RappelConso announced that the advent calendar in the shape of a Christmas tree, from the Celebrations brand, has had to be pulled from supermarket shelves due to the labelling information not being in French and therefore possibly exposing customers to an allergy risk, with ingredients such as eggs, milk or peanuts being present. Several batches are being recalled and they all share the same barcode, namely 5000159500173:

Recall details - Lots 426A11FZ40, 426A21FZ40, 426A31FZ40, 426B11FZ40 and 426B21FZ40. All of these lots have a minimum durability date (i.e. the words “best before…” followed by a date) set at 06/22/2025; Lot 424E31FZ40 (minimum durability date: 06/08/2025); Lots 425A11FZ40, 425A21FZ40, 425E11FZ40, 425E21FZ40, 425E31FZ40 (best before date: 06/15/2025); Lots 433C31FZ40, 433E11FZ40 and 429E31FZ40 (best before date: 07/13/2025); Lots 430A11FZ40, 430A21FZ40, 430A31FZ40, 430B11FZ40, 430B21FZ40 and 430C31FZ40 (best before date: 07/20/2025); Lots 432A11FZ40, 432A21FZ40, 432A31FZ40, 432B11FZ40, 432B21FZ40, 432B31FZ40, 432C11FZ40, 432C21FZ40, 432C31FZ40 and 432D11FZ40 (best before date: 08/03/2025); Batch 433C21FZ40 (best before date: 08/10/2025); Batches 438C11FZ40 and 438C31FZ40 (best before date: 09/14/2025).

If you have purchased the product concerned by the recall, then you can return it to the point of sale for a refund. For any additional information, you can also contact consumer service at the following telephone number: 09.69.32.06.80.

Road accident - One person has been slightly injured following a road accident on the A8 motorway near Les Adrets-de-l'Estérel. The collision involving four vehicles occurred on Sunday evening shortly after 9pm westbound. The cause of the incident remains unknown. Traffic in the area was heavily impacted while emergency services intervened.

Real estate market in France and the popularity of Marseille - According to an annual report the real estate market in France is tending to stabilize and the city of Marseille is recording the highest increase compared to other cities in France.  Real estate prices have been rising steadily in Marseille since 2022 and have even increased again this year, with a 4.3% rise recorded since January 1st, higher than Nice (+3.9%) or Toulouse (+2%).  

Raising awareness about drowning prevention - 310 first year primary school students here in the Principality have taken part in interactive workshops and educational activities at the Grimaldi Forum to raise awareness about drowning prevention. The event was led by HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco and organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Participants were taught about water safety, emergency equipment, and lifesaving first aid techniques designed to reduce drowning incidents, which claim over 230,000 lives annually worldwide.

It costs 500,000 euros and 90 of them have been made and it can now be seen here in Monaco - The PAL-V Liberty flying car. The futuristic vehicle will be on show tomorrow and Wednesday at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo. The Dutch manufacturer intends to seduce the Monegasque market with its futuristic vehicle - with three wheels, two seats, a long propeller, a neat leather interior and a dynamic look. Riviera Radio will also have the pleasure of attending tomorrow evening the Air League of Monaco’s ‘Flying Car’ experience hosted by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation at their conference hall here on the port of Monaco.

Is it the end of the Chocolate finger in France? – Finally, if you’ve had trouble finding Chocolate Finger biscuits in France then we may have the answer, as according to French media the famous chocolate fingers have disappeared from the shelves of supermarkets since the spring. News which has been confirmed by the group Mondelez which owns the brand has led to an online petition being launched to try to bring them back. The Change.org platform was launched on November 7th and has collected 1,500 signatures.

Business

France has toned down its reaction to a decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials saying it took note of the decision, which was not a ruling, just a formalisation of an accusation. France’s foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine declined to say whether Paris would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to France, saying it was legally complicated.

Bitcoin has touched a record high with its sights set firmly on the $100,000 barrier. The cryptocurrency has more than doubled in value this year and is up about 45% since Trump's sweeping election victory on November 5th.  Trump embraced digital assets during his campaign, promising to make the United States the "crypto capital of the planet" and to accumulate a national stockpile of bitcoin.

And – According to a recent report British workplaces rank among the worst in Europe for long hours, tight deadlines and limited autonomy, without being any more productive. The report has been published as the new Labour government plans tougher rules for employers. It was produced for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, a body set up by Britain's Health Foundation think tank with trade union representation, to improve working conditions required in new employment legislation. The report said that conditions varied between sectors and were generally worse in construction, transport, warehouses, retail and hospitality. Among professional roles, nurses and teachers reported particular strain.

Sport

Football – In the Premier League Liverpool’s 3-2 victory against Southampton confirmed that the reds can’t let Mohamed Salah’s dubbed 'The Egyptian King' leave Anfield. The 32-year-old delivered another match-winning display on Sunday. Liverpool was struggling at 2-1 down until Salah struck twice to give them the victory that puts them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Formula One - George Russell says his victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the weekend was "a dream of a weekend". Russell took a dominant win from pole position ahead of Mercedes team-mate and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton, who fought back from 10th on the grid. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship with fifth place in Las Vegas.

Rugby Union - Scotland scored three second half tries to earn a 27-13 victory against Australia. Meanwhile, England ended their five-match losing run beating Japan 59-14 at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

In other rugby news Frenchman Antoine Dupont has been voted best player of the year in rugby 7s. Dupont who was crowned Olympic champion this summer, became the first player in the world to be crowned best player in 7s and XVs on Sunday.

Weather

Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze. Highs of 18 degrees in Nice, 16 degrees in Monaco and Vence. Light rain in Saint-Tropez, light cloud and highs of 17 in Marseille. This evening going down to 12 degrees along the coast and 11 degrees inland.

The outlook for tomorrow, light cloud. Wednesday sunny intervals. Highs of 17 degrees.

Sunrise 07.36am

Sunset 04.56pm

Weather elsewhere

London 12° sunny intervals.

Bordeaux 18° sunny intervals.

Belfast 8° gusty winds.  

And Finally

The most popular dog name trends in the UK for 2025 have been revealed - According to new research one in five dog owners will turn to popular music tours and artists when naming their furry companions next year. 

Unsurprisingly, Billie (Eilish) is set to claim the top spot as the most popular dog name of the year, followed closely behind, with the name Taylor - inspired by Taylor Swift. Coming in at number thirteen on the list is Noel, no doubt fuelled by the Gallagher brothers' announcement of their highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour in August.  Chelsea's star player Cole Palmer and England football sensation Jude Bellingham are both expected to feature in the top 10, taking fifth and eighth spots, respectively. 

And - With Christmas around the corner, seasonal trends are also making their way into the world of dog names. Festive names such as Sprout and Tinsel are expected to become increasingly popular, with 16 per cent of dog owners citing the holiday season as a source of inspiration.  Additionally, food-inspired names are continuing to rise in popularity, with Truffle securing the second spot on the list. 

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