Plan to cut A8 speed limit in parts of Var - A local authority in the Var is calling for the speed limit on part of the A8 motorway to be cut from 130 to 110 kilometres per hour for environmental reasons. The measure, if it goes ahead, would apply to the stretch of the A8 passing through the towns of Les Arcs, Le Muy and Vidauban. It's one of several recommendations included in a recently approved climate and energy plan by the Dracénie Provence Verdon agglomeration. While 110 kilometres per hour is the norm along most of the Alpes-Maritimes stretch of the motorway, after the Fréjus tolls it's mostly 130 in the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône. Authorities say the aim of cutting the speed limit would be to improve air quality.
Le Pen to appeal against embezzlement verdict - Marine Le Pen has criticised a court ruling that bans her from running for public office as a "political decision" and says she will appeal. The French far-right politician was found guilty on Monday of embezzling EU funds and she was barred from standing in an election for five years, with immediate effect. The decision means that, unless she can get her sentence overturned before the 2027 presidential election, Le Pen will likely not be able to stand. She told TF1: "I'm not going to let myself be eliminated like this". She said she will appeal against the verdict "as soon as possible", with "whatever legal avenues I can."
Trial delayed over animal abuse video - The trial of a 14-year-old boy from Nice accused of publishing a video of a dog being thrown out of the window of a high-rise apartment has been postponed. The teenager was due to appear in Nice juvenile court yesterday - but that's now been delayed on a legal technicality. The video, which wasn't filmed in France but in Tunisia last summer, shows the dog crashing to the ground with howls of pain, followed by laughter in the background and it caused widespread shock on social media. The boy who's suspected of filming and sharing the video was arrested in Nice last December and charged with "complicity in an act of cruelty or abuse to an animal". A local animal welfare charity has registered as a civil claimant in the case. But the teenager's defence lawyers have now argued that because the incident took place in Tunisia, the court in Nice has no legal power to do anything, and asked for the case to be thrown out. The hearing has been adjourned until July.
Protest against centre for unaccompanied minors - Residents in Châteauneuf-Grasse have started an online petition against a migrant centre for unaccompanied foreign minors. The centre has been open for two years already and houses about 60 young people from North and Sub-Saharan Africa who came to France without an adult. The petition has already attracted 3,000 signatures. Locals say they face daily disturbance from the centre, including loud noise and rubbish. Police reinforcements were brought in last week after smoke bombs were set off and some cars were reportedly vandalised.
Paris-Milan TGV back on track - In other French news, the first TGV from Paris to Milan set off from the Gare de Lyon yesterday morning, 19 months after the service ground to a halt. The busiest rail link between the French capital and Italy was cut off in August 2023 after heavy rain caused a massive landslide in a railway tunnel in the Maurienne valley. The repair works were lengthy and complex - and were further delayed by several months when further structural problems were discovered in the area. The reopening of the route means the SNCF will be able to run three daily round trips between Paris and Milan. Trenitalia will offer two return journeys per day.
Caribbean theme for Monaco's Rose Ball - 800 guests turned out to celebrate Monaco's 69th edition of the Rose Ball at the weekend, attended by their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. And in a departure from the traditional black-tie dress code, guests were invited to dress up colourfully for a Caribbean-themed party. The first Rose Ball was held in the spring of 1954 to launch the new season in the principality. Ten years later it became a charitable initiative, raising money each year for the Princess Grace Foundation, which helps sick children. This year's edition came with an €1,800 ticket price.
Items from Stars'N'Bars back on display - Memorabilia from Monaco's iconic Stars'N'Bars has found a new home, going on display at a new entertainment complex in Fontvieille which opens today. Box 98, spread over 4,700 square metres, includes an indoor karting track, arcade games and bowling. But head up to the VIP area on the top floor and you'll find display cases full of items that once adorned the walls of Stars'N'Bars before it closed in 2023 after 30 years on the port in Monaco. While most of the memorabilia was auctioned off last summer, the items remaining include Formula One drivers' suits, car bodywork and plenty of photos.
Knights Templar weekend in Biot - The village of Biot is getting ready to welcome 100,000 visitors this coming weekend for its big annual medieval event, the Knights Templar. The 9th edition will include re-enactments, jousting, acrobatics and equestrian shows featuring 30 European groups and more than 500 extras. There'll also be a medieval ball, medieval market and farm, torchlit parades, food and the re-enactment of a typical 14th-century wedding.
BUSINESS
World stock markets and the US dollar have suffered some of their worst monthly losses since 2022 ahead of Donald Trump's new tariffs coming into effect this week. Market falls in Europe followed on from steep falls in some Asian markets, where Japan's Nikkei index closed down more than 4%. It comes after Trump suggested that new tariffs he is set to announce this week will hit all countries, not just those that have the biggest trade imbalances with the US The US president made the comments as he prepares to unveil a massive slate of import taxes on Wednesday, in what he has called America's "Liberation Day" The measures will come on top of tariffs already imposed by Washington on aluminium, steel and vehicles, along with increased levies on all goods from China.
Goldman Sachs says it believes there’s more danger that the US economy falls into recession this year. Goldman’s economists now estimate a 35% probability that the US economy enters a recession during the next 12 months, up from 20% previously. It warned that earnings growth is likely to be weaker than expected this year and next.
Meanwhile, a majority of Britons now expect that the UK economy will be in a depression or recession this time next year. That’s according to a new poll from YouGov, just released. The 53% figure is the highest level since February 2023 and double the 26% who held a negative outlook last July, just after the Labour Party’s landslide election win.
And Virgin Atlantic has warned that it is starting to see some signals that demand is slowing in the United States after a strong start to 2025. However, the airline said it had returned to profitability last year for the first time since the pandemic. For 2024, Virgin Atlantic posted pretax profit before exceptional items of £20m, up from a pre-tax loss of £139m last year.
SPORT
Football - Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is fit again after missing three months with injury, according to manager Mikel Arteta. The England international had surgery on a hamstring problem suffered in Arsenal's Premier League win over Crystal Palace on 21 December. Saka, who has scored nine goals and contributed 10 assists in 24 games in all competitions for Arsenal this season, could feature in tonight's league meeting with Fulham at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are second in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with nine games remaining.
Golf - Rory McIlroy has revealed he is battling an elbow injury as the Masters rapidly approaches. The Northern Irishman tied for fifth at the Houston Open, where Min Woo Lee claimed victory. McIlroy featured in Houston for the first time since 2014 in his final PGA Tour event ahead of The Masters, where he looks to claim his fifth major title and the victory required to complete the career Grand Slam. He's set to work with long-time coach Michael Bannon and consider treatment on his right elbow before The Masters. McIlroy will play the opening major of the year, in Augusta from April 10-13.
Formula One - Mercedes have been buoyed by their promising start to the new Formula 1 season with what they have described as a "much more predictable" car. But the team say they do not expect the real ranking at the front to become clear until after the forthcoming triple header of races. Mercedes have opened the campaign with back-to-back podium finishes - a feat they last managed at the start of 2021 - with George Russell claiming third in both Australia and China. They head into this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix holding second place in the Constructors' Championship - 21 points behind title favourites McLaren. Despite winning four races last season with Russell and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship - their lowest placing since 2012 - with their campaign undone by a car which experienced wild fluctuations in form depending on track characteristics and weather conditions.
WEATHER
Sunny spells today, some light cloud here and there, occasional strong winds on the coast gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour and temperatures reaching 18 degrees celsius on the Alpes-Maritimes coast and 16 inland in the Var. Mostly clear skies overnight, with temperatures going down to 14 on the Alpes-Maritimes coast, 10 on the Var coast and 6 inland. Tomorrow: more of the same, sunshine and light cloud, staying windy with temperatures up to 18 degrees Celsius.
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A local authority in the Var is calling for the speed limit on part of the A8 motorway to be cut from 130 to 110 kilometres per hour for environmental...
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