News
French government halts planned property tax rise until spring - The French government has suspended a planned rise in property tax until next spring, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told the Senate on Wednesday. The pause will allow time to develop a revised, more locally based calculation method, potentially tailored at departmental or even municipal level. The proposed update to the tax base, set by the Ministry of the Economy, would have affected 7.4 million homes and prompted strong political backlash. Average bills for the affected households were expected to rise by around €63. Cities and Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun signalled on Tuesday that the increase was likely to be shelved, saying it was “not the time” to introduce the measure during budget discussions. He added that any deeper reform of the system would require “new logic” and was not currently feasible. Property tax in France has risen 37.3% over the past decade, driven partly by linking rental values to inflation. The now-delayed 2026 update would have increased valuations based on “comfort” features such as running water, electricity and indoor sanitation, which inflate the assessable floor area and therefore the tax owed.
Jogger shot in knee by hunter during wild boar hunt in South-Eastern France - A man in his 20s has been injured after being shot in the knee by a hunter while jogging in a wooded area near Vaison-la-Romaine, in the Vaucluse. The hunter was part of a 16-person wild boar hunting party, and local authorities said firearms and hunting safety rules had been followed. The Vaucluse hunting federation described the incident as “regrettable,” noting that most local hunters undergo safety training. The accident comes days before France’s Office for Biodiversity launches a national hunting safety campaign. Officials advise joggers and walkers to wear bright clothing and heed hunting signs, particularly during big game hunts, to avoid accidents.
Fnac staff in Nice and Cannes to strike on Black Friday - Employees at Fnac, a major French multimedia and electronics retailer, in Nice and Cannes will stage a strike tomorrow, Friday 28 November, following a national call by the unions. The action deliberately targets Black Friday, one of the most lucrative trading days of the year for the company. The unions say the protest responds to management’s plan to stop automatically applying sector-wide minimum wage increases to staff pay from 1 January 2026. They are demanding an immediate across-the-board pay rise and permanent hires to relieve workload pressures. The walkouts will start at 10 a.m. at the Nice store on Avenue Jean-Médecin and at 2 p.m. at the Cannes branch on Rue d’Antibes. Both stores will remain open, but around a third of employees are expected to join pickets outside, which could slow in-store service. Unions warn that further action could follow if their demands are not met.
Fire breaks out at an automative garage in Nice - A large fire broke out late on Wednesday night at an automotive garage on Boulevard du Mercantour in Nice, with several explosions heard across Nice-West and Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Firefighters were alerted at around 10:30pm. By midnight, the blaze was brought under control, but two 20m² units were completely destroyed and several vehicles severely damaged. Emergency services reported no casualties, while the cause of the fire remains unknown. A thick, dark plume of smoke and a strong smell of burning were noticeable across the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Nice Côte d’Azur airport announces new routes for 2026 - Airlines operating at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport have unveiled a series of new routes for the 2026 season, adjusting their networks in line with growing traveller demand. The airport, the second busiest in France after Paris, will see several new destinations added throughout the year. Airlines regularly revise their schedules, and 2026 will bring a fresh wave of connections from the Côte d’Azur to cities not previously served or returning after gaps. The full list of new routes will be rolled out by carriers as they finalise their summer and winter timetables.
Europeans warned: UK to refuse entry without ETA From February 2026 - Meanwhile, the UK government has warned that from 25 February 2026, travellers entering the country without the required Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be refused boarding or denied entry. The ETA, introduced in stages since 2023, is now mandatory for all visitors except those travelling on UK or Irish passports, effectively ending paperwork-free entry for EU nationals and other visa-exempt countries. Costing £16 and valid for two years, the ETA must be obtained online before travel. The rules have caused particular confusion for British dual nationals, with mixed government guidance on whether they must hold a valid UK passport to avoid problems at the border. Officials say that those without a current British passport may face additional checks or be unable to board from next year, prompting warnings for dual citizens abroad to update their documents in advance.
Monaco’s SBM posts strong half-year earnings - Monaco’s state-linked hospitality and gaming group, Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), has reported a 10% rise in revenue for the first half of 2025/26, reaching €542.5 million. Net profit climbed to €127 million, up from €119.7 million a year earlier. Growth was driven by hospitality and real estate, with hotel revenue up 13% to €326.8 million and real estate income hitting a record €77.8 million. Gaming revenue rose 6%, led by strong table game performance. SBM credited recent investments, including renovations at Hôtel Hermitage and Monte-Carlo Bay, new private clubs, and the addition of chef Cédric Grolet. The group also advanced its international expansion with the One Monte-Carlo Courchevel project. Net cash stood at €244.2 million, reflecting a solid balance sheet despite the volatility of gaming revenues.
Isola 2000 to open early this weekend - Isola 2000 will partially open its ski area this weekend, 29–30 November, after fresh snowfall provided at least 50 cm of natural snow. Access remains restricted due to ongoing safety works on the Tinée road (RM 2205), which will operate on extended Sunday hours this Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Skiers are advised to leave Nice early and depart the resort before 3 p.m. to make the final opening slot; otherwise they must take a longer diversion via the D26. Lifts are expected to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a special €20 day pass available ahead of the full season opening on 6 December. A small number of Airbnb rentals remain available, while the resort’s shopping gallery, recently reopened after safety issues, continues to operate under a provisional arrangement pending full compliance and a planned municipal takeover in January.
France bans smoking on slopes as ski season kicks off – If you are heading for the slopes, for the first time, skiers in France are banned from smoking on ski lifts, in lift queues, and on the slopes, under a nationwide law extending the country’s outdoor smoking ban. Introduced in May 2025, the measure covers ski resorts alongside beaches, parks, and school grounds, with fines of €135 for offenders. Smoking is still permitted off-piste or in resort streets, while indoor smoking has been prohibited since 2007. France Montagnes, representing the country’s ski areas, has launched a humorous awareness campaign to inform visitors of the rules, which also aim to reduce littering – last year, 57,000 cigarette butts were collected from one resort alone.
SPORT:
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says they beat "the best team in Europe" as they maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League. A 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich means they top the standings. Tottenham lost 5-3 to PSG, who ended the match with 10 players.
AS Monaco drew 2-all to Pafos in THEIR Champions League game last night. The French team scored twice in the first half - making for an action-packed game versus the Cypriots. Monaco's basketball team thrashed Anadolu Efes last night - scoring 102 baskets.
Adrian Newey will take over as the new team principal of Aston Martin from the start of the 2026 Formula One season. The designer only joined the team in March this year after a successful 20-year spell at Red Bull, where he won various championships with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
BUSINESS:
Asian stocks have risen and the dollar is soft - on growing expectations of an interest rate from the Federal Reserve next month. The yen remains on intervention watch with traders weighing the prospect of a rate hike before year-end.
Top Chinese firms are training their AI models abroad to access Nvidia's chips. Its reported they're aiming to avoid US measures aimed at curbing their progress in advanced tech. Alibaba and Bytedance are also said to be training their latest models in data centres across Asia.
Toyota's reported its global production rose for a fifth consecutive month in October. Its been lifted by strong US demand for hybrid vehicles that offset weaker sales in Japan and China. Global output climbed 4 percent from a year earlier.
WEATHER:
It’s a bright, sunny day across the Cote d'Azur. Staying clear and dry throughout the afternoon, with a chilly night ahead. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice.
The French government has suspended a planned rise in property tax until next spring, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told the Senate on Wednesday. T...
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A homeless man accused of firing a shot which seriously injured another homeless person in Nice has appeared in court. The man in his fifties claimed ...
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A man has died after being struck by a train in the Var. Witnesses described seeing the man use his mobile phone whilst crossing the tracks at Puget-V...
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Several people have been taken into custody after a shooting in the centre of Nice yesterday. The victim was shot in the head on rue de la Buffa ...
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The French government has announced a prohibition on mobile phone use in six prisons
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