News
Macron: peace deal with Russia must not mean surrender of Ukraine - French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that any peace deal with Russia "must not mean a surrender of Ukraine," following comments from Donald Trump claiming that Russia "wants to end this war." During a meeting at the White House on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on Monday, Macron emphasized that Russia is the aggressor and violated peace. Both presidents discussed a potential peace agreement, with Macron stressing it must preserve Ukraine's sovereignty.
The talks come amid fragile relations between America and Europe, and a week after Trump had a 90-minute call with Putin. Macron also expressed hope for a path forward in negotiations, despite the differing views on territory and peace terms.
Stellantis recalls 68,000 cars over fire risk due to faulty pistons - Stellantis is recalling 68,000 vehicles, including Citroën, Peugeot, and Opel models, due to a fire risk linked to faulty pistons. Affected cars include the Citroën C3, Peugeot 208, and Opel Corsa, built between 2022 and 2024, with a risk of oil leaks. Drivers may notice a "knocking noise" or "loss of propulsion." The fix involves replacing engine oil and the oil filter. Owners will be notified to visit their nearest dealer for quick repairs.
Train traffic resumes - Train traffic has gradually resumed on the Toulon - Les Arcs and Toulon - Hyères lines following an accident at Toulon station on Monday morning. The incident, which involved a person being hit by a train, caused significant delays. SNCF reported that while traffic is recovering, disruptions were expected to last until midday. An investigation is underway.
Motorway closed following accident - Meanwhile, a road accident on the A8 near Nice has caused a partial closure of the motorway. The incident, involving a single vehicle, occurred in the direction of Cagnes-sur-Mer on Monday lunchtime. Emergency services attended the scene, with a young woman, slightly injured, being taken to hospital. The right lanes were temporarily closed. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Cannes to lower local taxes by 3.6% in 2025 to boost purchasing power – It’s good news for residents of Cannes! In a rare move, the city will lower its local taxes by 3.6% in 2025 to boost residents' purchasing power. The reduction will return 3.6 million euros to locals, with no additional taxes on second homes or households. Mayor David Lisnard's plan also includes reducing municipal debt and a budget of 80 million euros for city improvements. This makes Cannes one of the few municipalities lowering taxes, especially in the context of rising inflation.
Monaco’s third hottest year on record - According to IMSEE’s weather report 2024 was Monaco's third hottest year on record. Despite cooler spring and early summer temperatures, two intense heatwaves in July and August pushed the temperatures up with a high of 35.3°C. The year also saw 22.6% drop-in sunshine hours and over 1,000mm of rainfall, making it one of the wettest years since 1966.
George Clooney shares insights on life in the var and his family in new interview - American actor George Clooney has opened up to the New York Times about his life in the Var, where he enjoys a more rural lifestyle in Brignoles. Despite his busy Broadway schedule, he stays connected to his home, driving a tractor and embracing a simple life with his family. Clooney, who owns a property in the area with his wife Amal, enjoys blending into local life, from outings in Saint-Tropez to supporting the Brignoles cinema. He also shared a humorous anecdote about his son, a Batman fan, who doesn't quite believe his dad played the superhero.
Jam Sessions at Condamine Market: March 5th – Save the date and join in the fun at Monaco’s Condamine Market for the first of many Jam Sessions! Open to all musicians, singers, and music lovers, this free event invites you to improvise and enjoy a lively, informal musical experience. Don’t miss out—March 5, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. For more information go to the town hall website.
Superhero Carnival at Condamine Market: February 28 – And don’t forget for all those superhero’s out there get ready for a fun-filled afternoon at the Superhero Carnival! Join Monaco City Hall for a lively celebration at the Condamine Market this Friday, February 28th, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy free activities such as face painting, and more. Come dressed as your favourite superhero and join in the colorful fun—just leave the confetti at home! Free entry | Info: +377 93 15 06 0
Kids ski for just 1 euro at Puy-Saint-Vincent ski resort this March - Finally, It’s great news for families! From March 29th to April 13th, children can ski for just 1 euro at the Puy-Saint-Vincent ski resort in the Hautes-Alpes. Located at 1,400 meters, the resort offers excellent skiing conditions with up to 40 cm of snow this February. A perfect opportunity for a budget-friendly ski trip in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region!
Business
Singapore's largest bank, DBS, expects to cut 4,000 jobs over the next three years as Artificial Intelligence takes over tasks currently done by humans. The reductions will mainly come as temporary and contract roles end, with permanent staff unaffected. The outgoing CEO also noted that around 1,000 new AI-related jobs will be created. DBS is one of the first major banks to outline how AI will impact its operations.
Apple plans to invest over $500bn (£396bn) in the US over the next four years, beginning with a new advanced manufacturing factory in Texas. The tech giant expects to create 20,000 new jobs, mostly in research and development, software, and AI. It’s unclear if this spending represents an acceleration of current activities. The announcement follows a meeting between Apple CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump, who has prioritized boosting corporate investment in the US.
Spain is ending its "golden visa" scheme on April 3rd, which has allowed British and other non-EU nationals to relocate with minimal paperwork by buying property worth over €500,000 (£412,000) or making significant investments. The decision comes amid concerns over housing, security, and fairness for local residents. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Greece and Portugal are now looking to attract wealthy expats by streamlining their own golden visa schemes and expecting a financial boost.
Just Eat Takeaway.com has agreed to a €4.1bn (£3.4bn) takeover offer from Dutch tech investor, which aims to create a "European champion" for food delivery. The company which holds a 28% stake in Delivery Hero, made an all-cash offer with Just Eat's management and board unanimously supporting it.
And – In the UK the government has announced the first schools in England to offer free daily breakfast clubs as part of a pilot scheme. Around 180,000 children will receive breakfast before class, with plans to expand the scheme nationwide later. More than a third of the pilot schools are located in deprived areas.
Sport
Football – Leeds United have made a stunning late comeback for the second week in a row, beating second-placed Sheffield United 2-1 to extend their lead at the top of the Championship. Sheffield United took the lead in the first half after an own goal by Leeds goalkeeper. However, Leeds equalised in the second half, securing the win.
In the Premier League action this evening Brighton are at home to Bournemouth, Crystal Palace play Aston Villa, Wolverhampton face Fulham and Chelsea play Southampton.
And in other football news, Manchester United will cut up to 200 jobs as part of efforts to "return the club to profitability." Last year, 250 staff members were made redundant in the first round of cost cuts by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. In a meeting with employees, the club’s CEO announced a new wave of layoffs under a "transformation plan" aimed at reversing five years of financial losses since 2019.
Rugby Union - According to recent stats Finn Russell's poor kicking form has cost Scotland more points than any other front-line kicker in this year's Six Nations. Russell, who only missed one kick last season, has made just three out of eight attempts in Scotland's three matches so far. Against England on Saturday, his three missed conversions, including a potential match-winner, contributed to Scotland's 16-15 loss at Twickenham.
Cycling - Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has broken his collarbone in a crash at the UAE Tour. The 39-year-old Briton was injured in a mass pile-up during the opening 10km of Sunday's final stage. The injury raises doubts about his ability to compete in what may be his final season in cycling.
Tennis - Britain's Dan Evans has lost to Russia's Karen Khachanov in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Evans, who had won all five of their previous encounters, including a marathon at last year's US Open, was beaten 6-1, 6-3 in just 1 hour 20 minutes.
Cricket - Batter Joe Root has praised "brilliant leader" Jos Buttler, saying he's doing a better job as England's captain than Root did during his time as Test skipper. England likely need wins against Afghanistan on Wednesday and South Africa on Saturday to avoid a group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy. Root believes Buttler is making great decisions on the field and creating a positive environment for the team.
Formula One - George Russell believes Mercedes has made a "considerable step" with the new W16 E car, unveiled on Monday. He says the car will bring a "significant change" from last year. Mercedes won four races in 2024, with two each for Russell and former teammate Lewis Hamilton, marking the team's first victories since 2022. However, performance was inconsistent, and Mercedes finished fourth in the constructors' championship behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
Weather
Cloudy with rain expected by this afternoon. Winds picking up in the Var region by this evening. Highs of 14 degrees in Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Vence, 15 degrees in Nice and Marseille. This evening going down to 8 degrees along the coast and 6 degrees inland.
The outlook for Wednesday, sunny intervals with strong winds in the Var. Thursday mainly fine with highs of 15 degrees.
Sunrise 07.13am
Sunset 06.13pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux 14° sunny intervals.
Cardiff 10° sunny.
Belfast 9° sunny intervals.
And Finally
A new poll commissioned by BUPA reveals that one in three men has never opened up to another male about health concerns, including mental health issues, relationship troubles, and physical ailments.
The study found that men, especially those over 55, are reluctant to discuss their wellbeing with close friends or family. Many cited their parents' own avoidance of such conversations as a key factor in their own silence.
UFC Que Choisir’s latest survey has compared supermarket prices across the Côte d’Azur. Here’s a breakdown of the cheapest options in key cities:...
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Train traffic is disrupted between Nice and Ventimiglia due to a breakdown on a train at Monaco station. ...
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French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that any peace deal with Russia "must not mean a surrender of Ukraine," following comments from Donald Tru...
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American actor George Clooney has opened up to the New York Times about his life in the Var, where he enjoys a more rural lifestyle in Brignoles. ...
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It’s good news for residents in Cannes! In a rare move, the city will lower its local taxes by 3.6% in 2025 to boost residents' purchasing power. ...
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