French pilots' strike this Thursday - A union representing French airline pilots has called a strike for this Thursday which could affect flights. The strike by the SNPL union has the support of six other trade unions representing aviation workers. They're protesting against plans to triple the taxation on plane tickets from next year - a move that the aviation industry fears could cost it an extra €1 billion a year and lead to job losses. The tax increase won't apply to flights between France and its overseas territories or Corsica. The strike notice concerns pilots for Air France as well as other carriers with pilots on French labour contracts. It's not immediately clear at this stage what disruption the strike will have on flights. If you're due to fly on Thursday it's worth checking with your airline in advance.
Animal welfare concerns over Marseille circus - An animal welfare association has expressed concern after the Zavatta travelling circus set up in Marseille this week. One Voice says it has seen videos, photos and other evidence from whistleblowers showing animals being kept in poor conditions - including tigers that are obese and a hippopotamus that doesn't appear to have access to water. Last year, Marseille city hall intervened several times to stop travelling circuses settling in the city. Zavatta's director insists the circus is compliant with the rules - and has the necessary permission from the prefecture. From 2028, a new law will ban animal performances in circuses and at water parks.
Two fatal road accidents in Var - Two people have died in separate road accidents in the Var over the weekend. One driver died when they lost control of their car and left the road in La Londe les Maures on Saturday night. Another, a 21-year-old man, lost his life on Sunday morning in Flassans. Four other people in the car were injured. Investigations are under way to determine the circumstances of each crash.
Business couple sentenced for social security fraud - A couple in the Var have been jailed for a year each and ordered to pay almost €1.7 million in undeclared social security contributions. The couple ran three companies in construction, renovation and property management in the Saint-Raphaël area. They were found by a court in Draguignan to have evaded contributions to Urssaf over five years, after inspectors received an anonymous tip-off that 43 employees were not properly registered and declared to the authorities. The pair were sentenced to 18 months in prison - of which six months are suspended. They're currently living in the US and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. They'll also have to pay the €1.7 million owed to the social security system and have been banned from managing a company for 10 years.
Preparations for Monaco's national day - Municipal workers in Monaco have been busy hanging more than 1,000 flags and banners around the principality ahead of the Monegasque national day next Tuesday. Residents, businesses and shops have been urged to do their bit and put up flags on facades, in windows and on balconies for November 19th. Monaco city hall has issued some guidance on best practice - notably the importance of hanging the flag the right way. The red should always be above the white.
Tickets on sale for 20th edition of Top Marques - Tickets have just gone on sale for next year's edition of Top Marques in Monaco. The 20th edition of the sports car and luxury goods show will run from 7-11 May 2025 at the Grimaldi Forum. Organisers are promising world premieres of super-cars, as well as the display of rare classic vehicles, luxury motorbikes and prestigious watches and jewellery.
BUSINESS
The price of bitcoin has risen above $80,000 (£62,000) for the first time ever, after Donald Trump's decisive victory in the US election last week. It comes as the Republicans are edging closer to overall control of Congress after having already secured the presidency and a majority in the Senate. On the campaign trail the president-elect pledged to make the US "the crypto capital of the planet". The value of the world's biggest cryptocurrency has now risen by more than 80% this year. In the run-up to the election Trump said he would create a strategic bitcoin stockpile and appoint digital asset-friendly financial regulators - spurring expectations that he would strip back regulations on the crypto industry.
Extreme weather has cost the world $2tn over the past decade, a new report has found, as diplomats descend on the Cop29 climate summit for a tense fight over finance. The analysis of 4,000 climate-related extreme weather events, from flash floods that wash away homes in an instant to slow-burning droughts that ruin farms over years, found economic damages hit $451bn across the past two years alone. The figures reflect the full cost of extreme weather. They come as world leaders argue over how much rich countries should pay to help poor countries clean up their economies, adapt to a hotter world and deal with the damage done by increasingly violent weather.
And expectations that UK interest rates may stay higher for longer have prompted a leading British estate agent to cut its forecast for house price growth over the longer term. The revised forecast from Hamptons came days after Halifax and Nationwide banks said the annual rate of property price growth had slowed. The new analysis of the market is one of the first to emerge after the Bank of England’s quarter-point cut in interest rates to 4.75% last Thursday. The central bank’s warning that last month’s budget would push up inflation has fuelled expectations that interest rates will now take longer to come down. Hamptons said “higher interest rates for longer will weigh on long-term growth”. It is forecasting that the typical value of a home in Great Britain will end this year up 3.5% on where it was at the end of 2023, and is predicting a 3% rise in prices for 2025.
SPORT
Cricket - Jos Buttler smashed a blistering 83 from 45 balls as England cruised to a seven-wicket win over West Indies in the second T20. The England captain came in after Phil Salt was dismissed from the first ball of the tourists' chase and proceeded to hit eight fours and six sixes. Buttler dominated a 129-run stand with opener Will Jacks. However, the damage had been done and the visitors went on to overhaul West Indies' 158-8 with 31 balls to spare. England are 2-0 up in the five-match series after victory in both matches in Barbados and now head to St Lucia for the last three games of the tour.
Tennis - World number one Jannik Sinner brushed past Alex de Minaur after Taylor Fritz defeated an irate Daniil Medvedev on the opening day of the ATP Finals. Sinner, playing on home soil in Turin, Italy, won 6-3 6-4 to extend his perfect record against the Australian seventh seed. Earlier, American Fritz recorded his 50th win of the year by beating Medvedev 6-4 6-3 as the group stage of the season-ending tournament got under way.
Football - Spanish leaders Barcelona fell to only their second La Liga defeat of the season at Real Sociedad with their teenage star Lamine Yamal absent through injury. The 1-0 loss leaves Barcelona six points clear at the top of the table with reigning champions Real Madrid in second with a game in hand.
WEATHER
Wet and windy today with thunderstorms in the Var, winds gusting up to 75 kilometres per hour on the coast and noticeably cooler than recent days, with temperatures around 16 degrees Celsius on the coast this afternoon and 12 inland. Any rain should clear this evening to leave a cloudy night, staying windy in the Var with overnight temperatures going down to 13 on the coast and 10 inland. The outlook for Wednesday: sunny spells and strong winds, up to 18 degrees celsius.
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