News
French President gives speech on Russian threat - French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the growing "Russian threat" facing Europe, including Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, cyberattacks, election interference, and manipulation of public opinion. During his speech on Wednesday Macron stressed the importance of France preparing for potential dangers, declaring that remaining passive would be foolish. He committed to strengthening France's military through additional investments without raising taxes, seeking both private and public funding.
Macron also highlighted the evolving European defence cooperation, citing progress with countries like Germany and Poland. As part of this shift, European nations will be able to increase military spending without it affecting their deficit. On nuclear deterrence, he reaffirmed that decisions regarding France’s nuclear weapons will remain with the President.
School uniform programme comes to an abrupt end in France - In other news, the experiment with school uniforms, launched in September 2024 in select schools in France, has come to an abrupt halt due to budgetary concerns. Initially designed to address inequalities, reduce bullying, and foster a sense of belonging, the program had aimed to extend to all schools by 2026. However, the state has now stopped funding the initiative, and the regional governments are reluctant to bear the high cost of €44 million for expansion.
Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, confirmed that the uniform program is over, explaining that while the region supported the initiative in two high schools, it was irresponsible to commit further funds without clarity on state backing. As of March 5, 2025, some schools, like Les Palmiers in Nice, had already distributed uniforms, but students had not yet received instructions on whether to continue wearing them.
Meanwhile, in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Department is still waiting for guidance on the continuation of the program. Local officials, including Eric Ciotti, had previously supported the introduction of uniforms in middle schools, but have no updates on the end of state funding. In Nice, Mayor Christian Estrosi plans to meet with Education Minister Elisabeth Borne to discuss the future of uniforms and has decided to cover the cost for schools already participating in the experiment.
Changes to Place d’Armes due to work - As part of the restructuring of the Condamine market hall in Monaco, the Jardin d’enfant on the Place d'Armes will be temporarily relocated to make space for market operators during the 13-month renovation, starting in January 2026. To maintain commercial activity, operators will be moved outdoors, coexisting with market gardeners on the Place d'Armes. The new temporary setup will include a shared structure for traders who don't require cooking facilities, while those needing kitchens will be placed in individual chalets.
Though the details are still being finalized, it’s confirmed that the Jardin d’enfant will be temporarily removed to create space for customer seating and communal areas. Mayor Georges Marsan hopes to increase seating capacity to 150 or even 200. While acknowledging the potential challenges, he reassured that he would personally meet with each trader before the end of June to address concerns.
Primo Cup returns in Monaco - The Primo Cup is back in Monaco for its 41st edition, marking a major sailing event in Europe. From Thursday, over 450 sailors from 10 different countries will compete in a variety of classes, including Smeralda 888, ClubSwan 28, Longtze Premier, Cape 31, and J/70. Nearly 90 crews will participate, with 45 competing in the flagship ClubSwan 28 series.
This year's edition also sees the official launch of the ClubSwan 28, a new addition from the Finnish shipyard Nautor’s Swan. The 8.50m monotype features a carbon mast, reinforced fiberglass construction, and a lifting keel, making it easily transportable. It is expected to be a significant addition to the Primo Cup, which has long served as a testing ground for new racing yachts. Additionally, the weekend will feature the fourth and final leg of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, with Stefano Roberti of the Yacht Club de Monaco currently leading the J/70 fleet.
Don’t forget Monacollecte - Monacollecte, the event dedicated to recycling and sustainability, returns this Friday and Saturday at Quai Antoine-Ier for its 4th edition. Focused on raising awareness about reusing objects and recycling waste, this year’s event highlights textiles. There will be free fun workshops – Enjoy a variety of free activities, including a clothing customization workshop, a stand for learning crochet embroidery, and a space to turn old T-shirts into bags or create wax-based packaging to replace cling film. As always, Monacollecte offers a chance to dispose of various waste and items (excluding bulky ones) that can't go in regular containers. And a free escape game – Test your skills in a free escape game focused on waste management and reduction, available every hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (registration required on sma.mc). Please note that on Friday, activities are reserved for Monaco schoolchildren from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Top Marques Monaco celebrates with great giveaway - To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Top Marques Monaco Show, a competition is being held with the chance to win a 2024 Porsche 911 Carrera S, valued at €150,000. The competition will be part of the festivities surrounding the event, which takes place from May 7 to 11 at the Grimaldi Forum.
In partnership with zondacrypto, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, the organizers are offering this incredible prize to mark this significant milestone. “We’re thrilled to offer this dream prize to our community,” said Emeric Garcia, director of Top Marques. “It’s the perfect way to celebrate our 20th anniversary.” To enter, participants must like the dedicated post on Top Marques’ Instagram, tag two friends, share the post in their story, and create a free account on the zondacrypto app. Attendees at the event will have the added advantage of multiplying their chances of winning by 10.
Sea Festival postponed – Finally, The Sea Festival in Toulon, originally scheduled for this coming Sunday, March 9th, has been postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions. The event, which celebrates seafood products, was set to take place at Fort Saint-Louis and is a spring counterpart to the famous Fishermen's Night held every August. To ensure safety, the City of Toulon decided to reschedule the event. Seafood enthusiasts need not worry, as the festival will now be held on Sunday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The second edition of the Fête de la mer promises to be a family-friendly, festive, and gourmet celebration, with the previous year attracting around 4,000 visitors.
Business
US President Donald Trump has announced that carmakers would be temporarily spared from a new 25% import tax imposed on Canada and Mexico, just a day after the tariffs took effect. This decision came amid ongoing criticism of Canada for not doing enough to prevent drug trafficking into the US. Trump shared on social media that he remained unconvinced by Canada's efforts, following a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussing the financial impact of the new trade measures. The announcement provided a boost to US stock markets, which closed higher after two days of declines had erased the gains the S&P 500 had made since the November presidential election.
Meanwhile, Trump has imposed a second tariff on China in as many months, meaning that imports from China now face a levy of at least 20%. This new round of tariffs adds to the existing ones, which range from 100% on Chinese-made electric vehicles to 15% on clothes and shoes. Trump’s tariffs directly target China’s massive manufacturing sector, which includes factories, assembly lines, and supply chains responsible for producing a wide range of goods, from fast fashion to solar panels and electric cars. For decades, China has been the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, benefiting from cheap labour and substantial state investment in infrastructure since opening its economy in the late 1970s. The key question now is: how much damage could Trump’s trade war inflict on China’s manufacturing dominance?
And - The UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has concluded its investigation into the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. The CMA had been examining whether the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI changed after the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, who was fired and then rehired. Despite Microsoft’s significant investment in OpenAI and exclusive access to some of its AI products, the CMA determined that the partnership remains unchanged and is not subject to review under the UK's merger regulations. Digital rights group Foxglove criticized the decision, claiming it showed the CMA had been "weakened"
Sport
Football – In the Champions League it was the ultimate smash and grab. In a dramatic twist, Harvey Elliott scored just 46 seconds after coming on as a substitute to secure a 1-0 first-leg lead in their last-16 tie. PSG could, and perhaps should, have been out of sight, dominating the game with 27 attempts on goal compared to Liverpool's two. However, Brazil goalkeeper Alisson was in extraordinary form, denying everything PSG threw at him to frustrate the French champions.
"It was probably the performance of my life," Alisson told TNT Sports. "Elliott praised his teammate, saying, "He is unbelievable, the best in the world. In every game, he shows it and keeps us in so many games. Without him, I don’t know where we’d be."
Rugby Union - Elliot Daly will start ahead of Marcus Smith at full-back for England’s match against Italy on Sunday, with Smith dropped to the bench. Fraser Dingwall, who last played for England over a year ago, returns to the centres alongside Ollie Lawrence, while Henry Slade is excluded from the matchday 23. Jamie George will start at hooker, becoming the seventh player to reach a century of caps for the England men's team.
Formula One - David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, has threatened the world governing body, the FIA, with legal action unless it addresses his concerns regarding governance. Richards' move follows his exclusion, along with other FIA members, from a meeting of its world council last week after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. In a letter to members of Motorsport UK, Richards, 72, stated that the FIA's actions under President Mohammed Ben Sulayem violate its own statutes and fail to meet "gold-standard levels of transparency, accountability, and integrity in sports governance."
Cricket - New Zealand have powered into the Champions Trophy final with a dominant 50-run victory over South Africa.
Weather
Strong gusts of wind are expected to hit Nice today, with Météo France forecasting gusts of up to 45 km/h. These winds will continue into Friday, March 7, and intensify on Sunday, March 9th, when gusts could reach 55 km/h. The weather will be unsettled, with rain expected to increase over the weekend, especially on Sunday, as heavy showers are forecast.
Temperatures will remain mild, with highs reaching around 17°C. While the gusts won't be as intense as those in some other regions, like Toulouse, they will bring cloudy skies and occasional showers.
Sunrise 06.58am
Sunset 06.25pm
Weather elsewhere
Paris 17° sunny Dublin 14° sunny
London 15° sunny Madrid 13° thundery showers
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