National News
Good news for your wallets: 2025 Tax changes – With this year’s tax season fast approaching several updates as part of a new finance law have been announced, which could benefit many people in France. The income tax scale has been adjusted with a 1.8% increase, which reflects the average inflation rate. This means higher tax brackets, reducing the tax burden for some individuals. There’s also good news for those who donate to associations. Donations to organizations supporting victims of domestic violence are now eligible for tax reductions. Donations up to €1,000 made to these groups can be deducted from your taxes, starting from January 1st, 2024.
For those who enjoy tipping waiters and waitresses, tips are now exempt from both social security contributions and taxes. This rule, which started in 2022, will be extended through 2025. If you’re renovating your home, you can benefit from reduced VAT rates on certain services like renewable energy heating systems, at rates as low as 5.5% or 10%. However, fossil fuel boilers are excluded, though maintenance and repairs on existing systems still qualify for the reduced rate. There are also changes to tax-free donations. If you want to help a family member acquire or renovate a home, certain donations can now be exempt from duties, within specific limits.
Finally, the agricultural sector is getting support through new measures, including better deductions for savings, as well as property tax exemptions for young farmers. Additionally, the planned diesel tax increases for agricultural and forestry work have been cancelled. These changes, part of the 2025 Finance Act, offer relief and opportunities for savings, making the upcoming tax season a little more manageable.
Increase in Sexual Violence on Public Transport: 86% Rise in 10 Years – In other news, according to a study published by the National Observatory on Violence Against Women on March 10, 2025, over the last decade, the number of sexual violence victims on public transport in France has nearly doubled, with women representing 91% of those affected. Last year 3,374 cases of sexual violence were recorded on public transport, marking an 86% increase since 2016. Of these incidents, 44% occurred in the Île-de-France region, and two-thirds of the victims (75%) were under 30 years old, with 36% being minors.
A survey in Paris found that seven out of ten women in the Île-de-France region have experienced sexual violence on public transport at some point in their lives. While some improvements have been made, including the introduction of “safe places” and assistance numbers (3117 and 31177), they are still underused, with only 12% of users reporting they’ve used these services. The report calls for more action to ensure the safety and freedom of all passengers, particularly women, to access public transport without fear.
French lawmakers approve bill to open more bars in rural villages - In a bid to revive social life in small rural communities, French lawmakers have voted in favour of making it easier to open bars in small rural villages. The bill, which loosens restrictions on an alcohol license, still requires approval from the upper parliament before becoming law. Supporters argue it will help reduce isolation and strengthen social ties, while critics caution about the potential health risks. The number of bars in France has drastically dropped from 200,000 in the 1960s to just 36,000 in 2015, with many closures in rural areas.
British WWII veteran awarded France’s highest honour - 98-year-old veteran Dennis Smith from Middlesbrough, has been awarded France’s highest distinction, the Chevalier in the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, for his service during World War II. Smith, who joined the Home Guard at just 16, was recognized for his dedication, with the French embassy noting that the country "owes its freedom and security" to his efforts. Reflecting on the award, Smith said he was "very proud" to receive it, honouring his past service.
Local News
RAID arrests troubled man in Cagnes-sur-Mer after standoff – Locally, a tense situation has unfolded in Cagnes-sur-Mer after a man barricaded himself in his flat, reportedly seeking confrontation with police. The incident occurred at around 6pm on Monday evening when the man, believed to be in his 50s, was threatening to harm himself, even pointing a gas cylinder at officers, raising fears of a potential disaster. Despite his agitation, the police worked to de-escalate the situation. The man was arrested an hour later and was fortunately taken into custody with only minor injuries. Authorities have yet to confirm his motivations.
Monaco strengthens commitment to protecting personal data - Monaco has taken a significant step in protecting personal data by officially ratifying an updated international agreement called the Convention 108+. The Principality has been part of this global agreement since 2009, which focuses on the protection of personal data. The updated version, known as Convention 108+, was signed by Monaco in October 2018. It modernizes the agreement to address the challenges posed by new technology. Monaco is now the 33rd country to approve this agreement, and five more countries need to do the same before it fully comes into effect. The Convention 108+ is the only international legal framework that binds countries worldwide to protect personal data.
Security Exercise at Stade Louis II on March 11th - A security exercise will take place around the Stade Louis II today Tuesday, March 11th, starting at 6:30 pm. The exercise will involve field simulations and coordination between police and emergency services, particularly in the Fontvieille area. As part of the exercise, Avenue des Castelans will be closed to traffic from 6 pm until around midnight, when the exercise is expected to finish. Residents and the public are asked not to use emergency numbers unless absolutely necessary, and to avoid taking photos or videos to prevent spreading false information on social media.
Snowfall – It’s good news for ski lovers! The ski resorts of the Alpes-Maritimes have witnessed a fresh layer of snow overnight looking like a real winter wonderland. Isola 2000 saw 50 cm of fresh snow on Monday. Auron saw over a metre of snowfall at the top of the slopes and more snow is expected this week.
Dolphin sighted near Nice beach – Finally, a lucky walker in Nice got a front-row seat to a dolphin show on Monday morning. Just after sunrise at around 8am the dolphin swam within meters of the Promenade des Anglais, near the famous Negresco hotel. While dolphins are common on the Côte d'Azur, seeing one that close to shore is a rare treat. Jean-Paul, the lucky walker who filmed the sighting, was amazed.
Business
Stock markets in the US and Asia have dropped, with fears growing over the negative financial impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. The decline came after Trump said in a Television interview that the US economy is in a "period of transition" when asked about concerns of a potential recession. Since the interview aired on Sunday, top officials and advisers have been working to reassure investors.
Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has experienced major outages on Monday, affecting thousands of users in the US and UK. According to Down detector, tens of thousands of users in the US reported technical issues, while the UK saw over 8,000 outage reports shortly before 2pm. Many users trying to refresh their feeds were met with a loading icon, and connection problems continued into the afternoon. Musk claims the outages were caused by a "massive cyber-attack" originating in the Ukraine area.
And – According to new data released today Tuesday 11th March, only seven countries met the World Health Organization’s air quality standards last year. Researchers have warned that fighting air pollution will get harder after the United States shut down its global monitoring efforts. Chad and Bangladesh were found to have the worst air quality in 2024, with average smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines.
Sport
Rugby Union - French rugby captain Antoine Dupont, injured during the victory against Ireland, faces a long recovery due to a ruptured ligament. Dupont, who suffered a similar injury in 2018, will go through a three-phase rehabilitation process, including surgery and muscle strengthening. While the injury is unfortunate, doctors don’t see the recurrence as a major concern. If all goes as planned, Dupont will be ready for the 2025-2026 rugby season and France's autumn tour.
Football – In the Premier League last night Newcastle beat West Ham 1-0. In the Chamions League this evening Liverpool are at home to PSG.
In other football news Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said some players are "not good enough" and "overpaid." Ratcliffe, a lifelong Manchester United fan, which now controls the club’s football operations, spent £1.3 billion last year to acquire a 28.94% stake in the club. In an interview, Ratcliffe also addressed the team’s struggles, with the club currently sitting 14th in the Premier League. Despite this, he reiterated his commitment to bringing silverware to the club by 2028.
Meanwhile former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will join Wayne Rooney as two of England's co-managers for Soccer Aid 2025. This year's fundraiser on June 15th for Unicef returns to Old Trafford, home of Rooney's former team Manchester United. Last year's game took place at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge and raised more than 15 million pounds for charity.
Weather
The Alpes Maritimes and the Var have both been placed on a yellow weather warning. The warning is due to heavy rain causing possible flooding in some areas, along with an avalanche risk in the regions ski resorts. The warning is in place until midnight tonight Tuesday 11th March. Highs of 14 degrees in Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Vence, 15 degrees in Nice and Toulon, 16 degrees in Cannes. This evening going down to 9 degrees and cloudy.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday, cloudy tomorrow morning with rain forecast in the afternoon. Thursday sunny intervals to start and rain by the afternoon. Highs of 15 degrees.
Sunrise 06.49am
Sunset 06.31pm
Weather elsewhere
London Light cloud 9°. Oslo 4° light snow.
Palma 18° Light rain. Athens 20° sunny.
Amsterdam 9° think cloud. Liverpool 8° sunny intervals.
Temperatures in France are set to drop by 10°C in just 48 hours due to an Arctic air mass.
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With this year’s tax season fast approaching several updates as part of a new finance law have been announced, which could benefit many people in Fran...
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X (formerly Twitter) experienced a global outage affecting thousands of users, who reported issues accessing the platform via both mobile devices and ...
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The addiction treatment and prevention centre in Monaco, led by Dr. Jean-François Goldbroch, has been active since September 2024 and already supports...
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Heavy rain and storms are expected in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var from the 10th to the 16th of March, causing road closures and avalanche risks....
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