News
Estrosi reacts to Trump's plan to turn Gaza into 'Riviera of the Middle East’ - The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has responded to Donald Trump's controversial proposal to transform the Gaza Strip into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Trump suggested on Wednesday that the United States should take control of the area, dismantle dangerous explosives, and develop the region. Estrosi responded ironically on X, saying that although the idea is quintessentially Trump, it's notable that he used the Riviera and the Côte d'Azur as a model, a symbol of French luxury and success. Estrosi added a light-hearted comment about also loving Florida.
The proposal has sparked widespread international criticism. French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas called the idea "dangerous" for stability and peace. Germany’s Foreign Minister emphasized that Gaza should remain part of a future Palestinian state and criticized any attempts to expel its population or permanently occupy it.
Powerful explosion and fire destroy two boats in Saint-Laurent-du-Var Port - A powerful explosion has rocked Saint-Laurent-du-Var as the blast was heard from Nice to Villeneuve-Loubet, on Wednesday evening. The explosion occurred at around 8.30pm on a 10-meter sailboat moored at Quai de la Pérouse and was followed by a fierce fire. The black smoke from the fire was visible from miles away. Emergency services were quick to respond with 42 firefighters and eight rescue vehicles deployed to contain the flames. Despite a strong security perimeter and fire-fighting efforts, another nearby boat caught fire from the explosion. No victims have been reported. Two boats were severely damaged. An investigation is underway. This incident follows a similar fire at the same port in May 2024.
Train traffic disrupted in Var due to abandoned luggage and obstacle on tracks - Train services in the Var department have been heavily disrupted due to two separate incidents. The first at 2.50pm on Wednesday was due to abandoned luggage at Hyères SNCF station which halted all departures and arrivals until 4:30pm. Meanwhile, later in the afternoon an obstacle on the track in Cuers caused further delays.
Handball Players Evacuated in Nice After Chemical Incident at Gym - Handball players have had to be evacuated from the Pasteur gym in Nice on Wednesday evening after a strong chemical smell was detected. It’s believed an individual poured the chemical in front of the gym's doors. Firefighters and police were on site and the 22 players underwent medical examinations. Fortunately, they were cleared and allowed to return home.
Beware of scam calls from fake Monaco tax agents - A new scam has emerged in Monaco, where fraudsters impersonate tax officials, threatening victims with a tax audit unless they make immediate payments. These phone calls urge people to pay quickly or face consequences. Authorities remind citizens that legitimate tax procedures are always written, and payments are only made through the official public treasury website. If in doubt, residents should contact the Tax Services Department.
Memphis Depay sentenced for drunk driving in Monaco - Footballer Memphis Depay has been given a 4-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,000 fine, along with a 2-year driving ban in Monaco after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol last August. The Dutch international, who was driving a Rolls-Royce at the time was arrested after officers noticed his risky behaviour. Depay, who was not present at the trial, has 15 days to appeal the ruling.
Road fatalities rise slightly in the Var in 2024 – According to latest figures the number of fatal road accidents in the Var has risen. In 2024, 62 fatal accidents were recorded compared to 59 in 2023. Motorcyclists were the hardest hit with a 38% rise in deaths. The number of pedestrian deaths dropped, along with cyclists. Overall road accidents rose by 7%, with speed being the leading cause. The prefecture highlighted the rise in driving offenses, including 3,270 licenses being suspended, mainly due to alcohol and drug driving, and increased refusals to comply with law enforcement.
Biggest mobile sale in France comes to Nice with clothes starting at €2 - The "Piou Piou Market," billed as the largest mobile market in France, will take over Nice on February 8th-9th, 2025, offering clothes at unbeatable prices ranging from €2 to €10. The market will be set up in a 150 m² space in the city centre at 6 rue Dr Jacques Guidoni, with a VIP presale on February 7th. Shoppers will find everything from second-hand items to designer pieces at affordable prices, including brands like Lacoste and Max Mara. The sale, aimed at promoting responsible consumption, will run from 10am to 7pm.
Valberg Ski Resort Slashes Prices: Buy One Day Pass, Get One Free! - Finally, Valberg ski resort is offering a special deal to attract more skiers in February 2025. For every day pass purchased for €37, skiers get a second day pass free. This promotion is available online, Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and school holidays. The offer is valid until February 9th and will return after the school holidays in March.
Business
Global leaders, tech giants and experts are preparing for the AI Action Summit in Paris. The summit at Grand Palais on the 10th and 11th of February will see 80 countries gather to discuss AI's future. However, ahead of the summit DeepSeek's emergence has raised concerns about shifting dominance within the AI industry. The summit will include debates over AI's safety, the risks, and ethical development, as experts warn of the potential dangers if Artificial Intelligence should overtake that of a human.
Google has become the latest major US company to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recruitment targets. The move follows an annual review of its corporate policies and comes amid ongoing criticism of DEI initiatives, especially from US President Donald Trump and his allies. The tech giant is also re-evaluating other DEI programs in light of recent court rulings and executive orders. Google had previously committed to increasing diversity in leadership roles, but its latest investor report no longer includes such pledges. Google joins other firms like Meta, Amazon, and McDonald's in scaling back their DEI efforts, while Apple continues to support diversity policies.
And - Thousands of employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are set to be placed on leave starting Friday night. The leave order will impact all "direct-hire personnel" except those in mission-critical roles, core leadership, and specially designated programs. The exact jobs affected remain unclear, but employees are expected to be notified by Thursday afternoon. The move follows criticism from the Trump administration. Agency staff and Democratic lawmakers have protested, warning that the cuts could endanger lives and harm national security.
Sport
Football – In the English League Cup Semi-finals Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 giving them a 4-0 win over the two legs against Arsenal. They will now face either Liverpool lor Tottenham in the final on March 16th, depending on who wins tonight as Liverpool are at home against Tottenham. Kick off is at 9pm French time.
Rugby Union - Marcus Smith is set to start at full-back, with Fin Smith making his first Test start as fly-half for England in Saturday's Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham. 22-year-old Fin Smith has earned seven caps as a substitute. Meanwhile, Marcus Smith will shift from his usual fly-half role, where he’s started the last eight matches, to the less familiar full-back position. England will confirm their starting positions and replacements today.
American Football - Travis Kelce has called it an "honour" to play in front of US President Donald Trump at the Super Bowl 59 on Sunday. Trump will be the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. Kelce, aiming for his fourth Super Bowl ring, said it’ll be "pretty cool" to have the president there. His girlfriend, music icon Taylor Swift, who has publicly criticized Trump, will also attend the game. The Superdome is on high alert after the New Year’s terror attack in New Orleans.
Cricket - Joe Root will make his first one-day international appearance since the 2023 World Cup in England's opening match against India today Thursday 6th February. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith is sidelined with a calf injury. The three-match series, acts as England's preparation for the Champions Trophy next month.
Formula One - Nearly 50 years after Lella Lombardi's historic F1 race, women in motorsport still face significant barriers. But the More Than Equal initiative, co-founded by ex-F1 driver David Coulthard, is changing the game. In partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, they’ve launched a driver development programme for young female racers, tackling physical testing, mental assessments, and even menstrual cycle research to optimize performance. With support, young talents like 13-year-old Lana Flack and 14-year-old Skye Parker are breaking through, aiming to inspire a new generation of female F1 drivers.
Golf - The US Open will be the first major to grant players from the LIV Golf tour an exemption based on rankings. The USGA announced that the top-ranked LIV player, who isn’t already exempt, will earn a direct spot in the tournament. The 2025 US Open will take place in Pennsylvania from June 12-15.
Weather
Fine and sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 14 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez, 15 degrees in Nice and Vence. This evening going down to 6 degrees along the coast
The outlook for tomorrow and heading into the weekend. Becoming increasingly cloudy tomorrow, with winds picking up in the afternoon. Showers are forecast for the Var region by Saturday morning reaching Nice by the afternoon. Showers expected on Sunday highs of 14 degrees.
Sunrise 07.41am
Sunset 05.48pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux 11° sunny.
Liverpool 7° foggy.
Venice 11° sunny.
Local snow report – Yellow avalanche risk is in place.
Isola 2000 – Sunny. Highs of 5°. 15/19 lifts operating. 41/46 slopes are open. 90cm snow.
Valberg – Sunny, highs of 9°. 11/15 lifts running. 25/42 runs open. 60cm snow.
Auron – Sunny, highs of 8°. 17/19 lifts running. 43/43 runs open. 100cm snow.
And Finally
A study by the University of Birmingham found that phone bans in schools have no positive effects on students' grades, mental health, or physical health. Analyzing 1,227 students across 30 schools, the research revealed that bans only reduced phone use by a small amount, with students compensating at home. Despite this, experts stress the importance of addressing overall phone use to improve well-being. The study challenges the assumption that school restrictions alone can improve outcomes, suggesting that a broader approach to managing screen time is needed.
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