News
Support and solidarity following terrible destruction in Mayotte – H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco has expressed his sincere solidarity to French President Emmanuel Macron following the terrible destruction caused by the Cyclone in Mayotte. In an official press release the Prince, along with his family and the people of Monaco, offered their unwavering support in these difficult times with thoughts for the victims, the missing, as well as their loved ones.
The Cyclone was the worst storm in 90 years to hit the French Indian Ocean territory with wind speeds of more than 225km/h (140mph), flattening areas where the poorest lived in sheet-metal roof shacks. French President Emmanuel Macron said he will be travelling to Mayotte "in the coming days", as he pledged to support fellow citizens, civil servants and emergency services involved in rescue efforts.
Magnitude 3.7 quake in Italy – In other news, A magnitude 3.7 quake has been reported in Italy near San Remo and just 47km from Nice. The earthquake hit on Monday, December 16th, 2024, at 10:22 pm local time at a very shallow depth of 5 km. The exact magnitude, epicentre, and depth of the quake may still be revised. Towns and cities near the epicentre where the quake may have been felt as very weak include Bordighera (pop. 9,000) located 31 km from the epicentre, San Remo (pop. 47,000) 33 km away, Ventimiglia (pop. 18,400) 33 km away, Menton (pop. 29,600) 37 km away, Monaco (pop. 33,000) 38 km away, Imperia (pop. 38,700) 46 km away, and Nice (pop. 338,600) 47 km away. No material damage was reported.
Air traffic controllers strike to paralyse flights in part of the south of France today - Air traffic in some parts of the south of France will be paralyzed today, Tuesday 17th December, due to a strike movement from the main air traffic controllers union. There will be almost no flights in Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan from 7:30am. This is a last-minute cancellation of flights which regular passengers at Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan airports could have done without. According to the AFP, the strike is in protest at the state of negotiations on the organization of the work of air traffic controllers. The call for mobilization was launched on December 8th. Passengers who can postpone their trip are advised to do so. Other airports will be impacted by the movement, including Lyon-Saint-Éxupéry, the 5th largest airport in France, which should see a drop of 60% on incoming flights. Delays are also expected in Ajaccio and in Béziers-Cap d'Agde airport.
Monaco’s minister speaks out against reckless driving - During a press conference held on Monday 16th December, Monaco’s Minister of State Didier Guillaume has expressed his frustration at the recent problem of reckless and drunk driving in the Principality. Monday’s conference was held following the news of two road accidents at the weekend, as reported on Riviera Radio this morning. “We are angry. That’s enough. Stop. It can’t go on like this,” he said, surrounded by senior officials, including Director of Judicial Services Samuel Vuelta Simon. “After a horrible year in 2023 with major accidents and many deaths, we find ourselves, this past weekend, a week before Christmas and before New Year’s Eve, with two serious accidents that could have been much more serious.”
The Minister said that Monaco would no longer tolerate such behaviour, declaring, “Monaco will not be a playground for drunk drivers in search of a thrill, to impress girls in their car. It is just not possible. “The minister of state announced several immediate and long-term measures in the fight against dangerous driving. From January, the government plans to pass a legislation allowing for random alcohol and speed checks. There will also be Increased police controls, starting immediately, and radars will be set up in all tunnels in Monaco to monitor speeding. In addition, an advertising campaign will be rolled out this week, designed to “shock” and raise awareness about the dangers of drink driving.
Tunnel of Tende opening postponed - The tunnel of Tende will not be reopening at the end of the year as officials have announced further delays. When it started in 2013, the work was supposed to be completed in 2017, but a series of mishaps - which began with the scandal of the theft of materials has delayed the work. The only good news is that the snow train which runs six daily return trips, between Tende and Limone, will be running until March 31st.
Historic decision ordering French state to clear up former industrial sites in Marseille - In what has been hailed as "a historic decision", the French State has been ordered to clean up the former industrial sites in the heart of the Calanques of Marseille. The administrative court of Marseille ordered the State on Monday to clean up the disused wasteland located on the southern coast of Marseille, before 2028. The court orders the State to decontaminate all former industrial sites located along the calanques of Marseille. At the beginning of the 19th century, several industrial factories were established along the southern coastline of Marseille in the 8th arrondissement.
AI to offer a glimmer of hope in saving the biodiversity in the Mediterranean - Scientists have been sounding the alarm about the increasingly worrying imbalances in the Mediterranean waters with the massive arrival of so-called "non-native" species which is profoundly disrupting marine biodiversity. However, the latest news is that Artificial intelligence could be offering a glimmer of hope. Tropical species called "lionfish" or "rabbitfish which hunt local species and modify ecosystems are very present, with now nearly 1,000 of them, introduced mainly via the Suez Canal and human activities. To counter these upheavals, researchers are exploring innovative solutions, including the use of artificial intelligence to anticipate and prevent certain future changes. Faced with the threat, researchers are banking on technological advances to preserve biodiversity. An artificial intelligence algorithm which would be capable of predicting the arrival of non-native species. The system works like a facial recognition tool, analysing environmental parameters to identify the areas most exposed to these invasions. Artificial intelligence could become a popular tool for scientists to limit the damage and protect marine biodiversity. These solutions will not be enough to reverse the underlying trend, but at least offer hope of containing the degradation of marine ecosystems.
Childcare facilities - A recent report on childcare facilities has shown that the Bouches-du-Rhône region ranks amongst one of the lowest in France, with insufficient facilities and a serious lack in relation to the demand. With 38,200 places, the Bouches-du-Rhône department has the lowest coverage rate in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. At the same time, the report also highlights that individual care provided by childminders is in decline. As a result, an ambitious departmental plan for 2023-2026 aims to create 10,000 new places.
Screening cancelled of Last Tango in Paris – Finally, A French cinema in Paris has cancelled a screening of Last Tango in Paris after women’s rights groups protested at its infamous rape scene filmed without the consent of the leading actor, Maria Schneider. The French Cinémathèque in Paris said it had dropped the film after receiving threats. Last Tango in Paris, completed in 1972 by the director Bernardo Bertolucci, was supposed to have been shown on Sunday evening as part of a Marlon Brando retrospective. The film explores the relationship between a widowed American in Paris – played by Brando – and a much younger woman, played by Schneider.
Business
The central bank forecast published its quarterly outlook on Monday December 16th, claiming that France's economy will grow more slowly than expected in the next two years. The Bank of France has estimated that after growth of 1.1% this year, the euro zone's second biggest economy will expand 0.9% in 2025, trimming its forecast from 1.2% in September. The central bank said government belt-tightening and political uncertainty would weigh on consumer spending and private sector investment. If the new government proposes less belt-tightening in a new budget bill, any boost to growth would still be offset by prolonged political uncertainty over the state of public finances.
And - US President-elect Donald Trump is meeting the CEO of TikTok as the social media giant fights plans to have it banned in the US. A law passed earlier this year means TikTok will be banned unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, before 19 January. The company has made an emergency application to the US Supreme Court to have the ban delayed. The US wants TikTok sold or banned because of alleged links between ByteDance and the Chinese state, links that both TikTok and ByteDance have always denied. Trump opposes the ban - despite supporting one during his first term - partly on the grounds that it could help Facebook, which he has accused of aiding his 2020 election loss. Trump's second term, however, won't begin until he is inaugurated on 20 January, the day after the deadline set out in the law.
Sport
Football - Bournemouth drew 1-1 against West Ham in a dramatic Premier League meeting on Monday evening. In other football news according to reports Manchester United have put England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, up for sale and would approve a cut-price move in January and Liverpool's forward Mohamed Salah, 32, is close to signing a new contract with the club.
Golf - Players on next year's United States Ryder Cup team will be paid to compete after a package was agreed by the PGA of America. It will be the first time in the 98-year history of the matches that either side has been paid to play.
Athletics - Great Britain's Olympic and world triathlon champion Alex Yee will race in the 2025 London Marathon. Yee, 26, has won four Olympic triathlon medals - including individual gold and mixed relay bronze at Paris 2024. The London-born athlete - who previously ran for Great Britain on the track and in cross country - will compete over the marathon distance for the first time on Sunday, 27 April.
Cricket - England's year ended with a thumping defeat by New Zealand. New Zealand won by 423 runs; England won the series 2-1.
Weather
Sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 16 degrees in Nice and Saint-Tropez, 14 degrees in Monaco, 17 degrees in Cannes, 15 degrees in Vence. This evening going down to 11 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow sunny intervals, Thursday, cloudy in the Alpes Maritimes, with light rain forecast for the Var and highs of 15 degrees.
Sunrise 07.58am
Sunset 04.54pm
Weather elsewhere
Palma 17° sunny intervals.
Oslo 1° sunny.
Liverpool 11° sunny intervals.
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On Monday, two skiing accidents occurred in our regions ski resorts.
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