News
French President to visit flood hit northern France - French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron will today Tuesday 14th November, travel to the Pas-de-Calais following the exceptionally bad weather which has recently hit the region. The Head of State will express his support and that of the entire Nation, to the inhabitants and relief forces affected by the successive episodes of flooding. Meanwhile, Matignon announced on Monday the meeting of an “interministerial crisis unit” on the floods to coordinate all state services. The Pas-de-Calais was hit by storm Ciaran on November 2nd followed by record floods on November 7th and intense rainfall on Thursday and Friday of last week. Météo-France forecasts that the next few days should be calm with more bad weather expected on Friday. Météo France has announced that the country has experienced a record amount of rain over the last 26 days. Between October 18 and November 12, France recorded an average rainfall of more than 215 millimetres. It’s the first time that such an accumulation of rain has been recorded over 26 consecutive days.
Increase in use of antibiotics - According to Public Health France the French continue to consume more and more antibiotics with a 16% increase in just one year. Consumption of antibiotics only saw a decline in 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic. In one year, the consumption of antibiotics has increased by more than 16%. Public Health warns that taking antibiotics too often or for the wrong reasons can change bacteria to the extent that they no longer work.
The study revealed that the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region is the second region in France to consume the most antibiotics in 2022 after Corsica. In our region, 1,002 prescriptions were made by doctors in 2022 per 1,000 inhabitants per year. Whereas in France, the national average is much lower, at 821 prescriptions per 1,000 inhabitants per year. Antibiotics are consumed more among women, rather than men, for those aged 15-64. However, men over 65 consume more antibiotics than women of the same age.
World Diabetes Day - The palace in Monaco will be illuminated in blue this evening on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, which is commemorated every November 14th. The day aims to raise awareness of the impact of diabetes on people's health and to highlight the possibilities of strengthening the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
European Waste Reduction Week - The Environment Department in Monaco is launching a collection of spectacles and sunglasses. The initiative is part of European Waste Reduction Week. The department is installing boxes to collect old glasses and sunglasses at the entrance to the Fontvieille shopping centre until November 26th. They will be then handed over to the Monegasque Association Semeurs d’Espoir or “Sowers of Hope” to offer them a new life and provide a service to people who need it.
Petition against train services - What do you think of the TER train services from Grasse to Ventimiglia? Well, an association of people who consider themselves to be “Rail Castaways” have launched a petition to denounce the services on this line on the Côte d’Azur. The online petition has gathered 80 signatures in nearly three weeks. Speaking to local media one commuter said the “Monaco-Monte Carlo station, during rush hour, is hell”. Some who have been using the line for 15 years say, “there has been no improvement despite previous actions against the recurring problems, such as a demonstration in 2015”. While there was a lull during Covid as many worked from home, things have now returned to normal and the situation is getting worse, with not enough trains and often many passengers unable to board due to overcrowding of carriages. The association calls for at least longer trains during rush hour. For more information contact online « Les Naufragés de TER ».
Champagne thieves - French police are looking for a gang of champagne thieves after a high-speed motorway chase in which two heavy goods vehicles carrying a total of €600,000 worth of stolen prestige bottles sped through northern France. According to reports two trailers containing high-end champagne by Moët & Chandon disappeared in the early hours of Saturday morning in Reims, the capital of the Champagne region. Police eventually found the two abandoned lorries along with the champagne confirming that the gang had fled empty handed.
Café de Paris reopens today - Today, Tuesday 14th November, will see the much-awaited reopening of the famous Café de Paris Monte-Carlo on the Place du Casino following a major 19-month renovation project. The new look of the Principality’s iconic brasserie sees it extended across two levels, including a new upstairs terrace offering exceptional views of the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hotel de Paris de Monte-Carlo. The famous brasserie has become a veritable institute since its opening in 1868 as “Le Café Divan”, embodying the classic brasserie spirit and always managing to reinvent itself, capturing the hearts of every generation.
Adopt a Flamingo - You can now “adopt a Flamingo”. In an attempt to protect the species these emblematic birds of the Camargue region in France are being put up for adoption. The Tour du Valat initiative raises awareness about the protection of the species, while financing equipment for specialists who observe pink flamingos around the Mediterranean. The month of November is a favourable mating period and is an ideal time to observe pink flamingos with many visitors heading to the Pont-de-Gau ornithological park in the Bouches-du-Rhône. The Camargue is one of the most popular breeding sites in the Mediterranean, so much so that some of the birds have decided to never leave the region. Adopting a pink flamingo is sold as an eco-responsible gift idea, with prices ranging from 25 to 100 euros. It was in 1954 that Luc Hoffmann, co-founder of the WWF, created the Tour du Valat, a research institute for the conservation of wetlands in the Camargue. Since the start of this program the years ago, more than 3,500 pink flamingos have been adopted, guaranteeing the preservation of the species and the wetlands which is threatened by climate change.
The Monegasque language - Finally, as part of the regional language week it’s been revealed that for 2023 2,750 young people are learning “munegascu” at school. Learning the Monegasque language was a wish of Prince Rainier III dating back to 1976 and the language is now at option at baccalaureate level. In Monaco, the official language is French. But the traditional language is munegascu. Around 75% of Monegasques speak French as their mother tongue, 20% Italian and 5% English. The names of central buildings such as the town hall or La Poste are written in French. It is only around the National Council that we begin to see numerous street signs written in Monegasque.
Business
Official date has shown that foreign businesses have been pulling money out of China at a faster rate than they have been putting it in. The country's slowing economy, low interest rates and a geopolitical tussle with the US have sparked doubt about its economic potential. This week all eyes will be on a meeting between the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. China recorded a deficit of $11.8bn (£9.6bn) in foreign investment in the three months to the end of September - the first time since records began in 1998. This suggests that foreign companies are not reinvesting their profits in China, rather they are moving the money out of the country.
Nepal has banned China's TikTok because its content "was detrimental to social harmony." The decision comes days after the country introduced a new rule requiring social media firms to set up liaison offices in the country. TikTok, which has around a billion monthly users, has been banned by several counties including India.
And – Thousands of employees at hundreds of Starbuck sites in the US are planning strike action on Thursday November 16th. The strike will coincide with Starbuck’s Red Cup Day which is a popular promotional event when the chain’s familiar holiday -themed reusable cups make their first appearance. In response to the strike threat Starbucks has aid that it is the union that has failed to negotiate in a fair manner.
Sport
Football - A final farewell has been bid to Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton. Family, fans and footballers paid their respects to one of the game's all-time greats at his funeral on Monday. Crowds lined the streets at Old Trafford. The Red Devils icon, who made 758 appearances for the club, died at the age of 86 on 21 October. The Charlton family and friends were joined by leading figures from across football for the funeral service.
And - Cole Palmer, Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis have been called up to the England squad for the first time. England play Malta on 17 November and North Macedonia on 20 November.
Tennis - Carlos Alcaraz suffered defeat on his ATP Finals debut as Alexander Zverev fought back to win in Turin, Italy. Wimbledon champion Alcaraz lost 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 to Germany's Zverev, who won the event in 2018 and 2021.
Weather
Partly cloudy with some sunny spells and a moderate to strong wind in places. Highs of 23 degrees in Nice, Monaco and Antibes. 21 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 15 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday. Windy in the Var with highs of 23 degrees. Sunny intervals, remaining dry.
Sunrise 07.22am
Sunset 05.06pm
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