News
Macron: EU Will Defend Its Interests Against Trump's Tariff Threats - French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the EU will defend its interests against any threats, including Donald Trump's potential tariffs, and will respond robustly if necessary. Speaking ahead of a meeting with other EU leaders in Brussels, Macron emphasized Europe's need to act as a united power. Other leaders, including Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen agreed, urging cooperation, but asserting a firm stance against any US trade tariffs.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi Calls for More Police Resources to Combat Drug Trafficking - In other news, the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has met with France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to discuss increasing police resources in response to rising drug trafficking and violence in certain neighbourhoods of the French Riviera capital. Estrosi highlighted the recent shooting and arrests, urging additional National Police reinforcements to enhance safety. He also raised the issue of municipal police roles and confirmed plans for new speed cameras on the Promenade des Anglais to address traffic offenses. The minister is set to visit Nice in the coming days to review the future police headquarters construction.
Crime figures for Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes last year show significant increases in drug trafficking and homicides. Homicides rose by 21% (23 cases) and drug trafficking charges jumped by 28.9% (1,169 individuals). While these figures may reflect a true rise in crime, the region is still behind the Bouches-du-Rhône but ahead of other departments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. On a positive note, there was a drop in armed robberies and vehicle thefts.
New Bill In France Could Require Annual MOTs for Older Vehicles - A new bill in France could require certain vehicles to undergo annual MOTs starting in 2025. The change aims to enhance road safety and limit pollution and would change from the current two-year period for MOTs. Following recommendations from Germany's TÜV, which reported 15,000 vehicles with "dangerous defects," vehicles over 10 years old may be affected, regardless of mileage. With the average age of French vehicles exceeding 10 years, this change would impact many drivers, with costs ranging from €80 to €120.
Macron Revives Debate on Length of School Holidays in France - While many of you may have made plans, ahead of the upcoming half term break, French President Emmanuel Macron has recently revived the debate on the length of school holidays in France, particularly the summer break. Macron questioned whether France, which grants about eight weeks of summer holidays, offers too much time off compared to other countries, suggesting that adjusting holidays could help improve learning by allowing for more focused school weeks.
While some argue France has lengthy breaks, European data shows countries like Italy, Ireland, and Greece have up to 13 weeks off, while others, like Sweden and Spain, enjoy 10-11 weeks. Meanwhile, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands have shorter summer breaks but compensate with more frequent holidays throughout the year.
Monaco Students Participate in 14th Cinema for Change Festival to Support Sustainable Development Goals - On January 30th, nearly 500 students from Monaco gathered at the Théâtre des Variétés to vote for their favourite short film in the Children's Prize category at the 14th Cinema for Change Festival. Students from the Menton campus of Sciences Po Paris also voted for the Students' Prize. The festival highlights short films that illustrate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. The award ceremony will take place on April 12 at the Good Planet Foundation in Paris.
Juliette Binoche president of this year’s Cannes Film Festival - Meanwhile, Juliette Binoche has been named the president of the jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, nearly 40 years after her debut at the festival in André Téchiné’s Rendez-vous. The French actress, who won the Best Actress prize at Cannes in 2010 for Certified Copy, has been a regular on the red carpet, starring in films like Code Unknown, Hidden, and The Taste of Things. Binoche, who will oversee the jury at this year’s festival, expressed excitement about the role, reflecting on her journey from a young actress to a jury president. This marks the second consecutive year a female president will lead the jury. The 78th edition of Cannes takes place from May 13th-24th.
Women of Monaco Club to host first luncheon of the year - The Women of Monaco Club will host its first luncheon of 2025 on March 11th, coinciding with its annual awards ceremony at the Yacht Club de Monaco. The event will honour women from various fields like philanthropy, business, and art, recognizing their contributions to the Principality. It will also mark the club's second anniversary. Founded by Sandrine Knoell of Five Stars Events, the club connects women with strong ties to Monaco. Proceeds from the event will support the Princess Grace Foundation.
EasyHotel Opens in Nice with Budget-Friendly Rooms Starting at 55 Euros - If you’ve flown with easyJet, you can now experience the airline’s services in the hotel industry! Located in Nice’s Riquier district, just a stone’s throw from the city centre, the newly revamped easyHotel Nice Old Town, offering budget-friendly rooms starting at just 50 euros per night. Originally an Ibis hotel, the property was acquired by easyJet in 2019 and underwent a full renovation completed in May 2024. The hotel features 92 rooms, from standard doubles to family-sized units. Staying true to easyJet’s low-cost philosophy, guests pay a basic rate, with additional charges for optional services like early check-ins or luggage storage.
Nice PMU Bar Ditches Alcohol for a Family-Friendly Vibe - A PMU bar in Nice, has changed the way the traditional PMU bars work in France by banning alcohol, a decision made by its owner Ahmed Touil. Unlike typical PMU bars, which are known for their vibrant mix of scratch cards, horse racing, and the familiar smell of coffee, alcohol and in the past gitanes cigarettes, Le Pégase offers only coffee, soft drinks, and juices. The owner of the PMU, who has been in the business for 25 years, believes his choice ensures a more relaxed and family-friendly environment for his "cosmopolitan" clientele. While he acknowledges occasional tension with customers over the lack of alcohol, he is proud of the decision. He closes the bar at 7:30 p.m. each night to encourage patrons to return home to their families.
What Are the Little Blue Boxes Around Nice? – If you’ve walked through Nice recently, you’ve probably noticed the blue terminals scattered around the city. These little boxes, found near schools, places of worship, and tram stations, are much more than just a part of the landscape—they’re emergency call terminals connected to the municipal police. Installed since 2019, over 250 of these blue boxes will soon number more than 260 by 2025. They allow residents and visitors to contact the municipal police directly in case of an emergency, using a built-in intercom and camera to report crimes. The blue boxes are a key part of Nice’s commitment to public safety, providing a quick link to emergency services when every second counts.
Ever wondered why Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais is called the Promenade des Anglais? - It’s all thanks to British aristocrats who decided to swap the chilly British weather for the sunny Côte d'Azur in the 18th century, which many of you no doubt already knew. However, the wealthy visitors from across the channel loved it so much, they even turned some areas into a little slice of what was dubbed “Little London.” In 1822, Anglican pastor Lewis Way started a fundraiser to create a path along the coastline for locals. At first, it was known as the “English Way,” and by 1844, it officially became the Promenade des Anglais. Fast forward to today, and it’s still the go-to spot for a stroll, soaking up the views, and a nod to the history of those wealthy Brits who made it happen.
Business
French Prime Minister François Bayrou has announced that he is using special constitutional powers to pass the 2025 budget bill, a move that could lead to a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, which would determine whether his minority government survives. On Monday the Prime Minister invoked Article 49.3, which enables the government to bypass a parliamentary vote and pass legislation directly. The French centre-left Socialist Party has said that it will not support no-confidence motions against François Bayrou's government.
US President Donald Trump's tariff plans caused a global financial market sell-off on Monday, though a last-minute reprieve on Mexico goods provided some relief. After steep losses, the Dow Jones ended the day down just 0.3%. The market slide followed Trump's weekend orders for tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, with further threats against the EU. However, the latest is that Trump's planned 10% tariffs on China are set to take effect after midnight in Washington DC. While there will be a one-month delay on proposed 25% tariffs for Canada and Mexico. While the 10% rate on China is lower, it could still harm America's third-largest trading partner, which is already facing slow economic growth and is heavily reliant on exports. Beijing has called for talks, with Trump and President Xi Jinping expected to speak this week.
And - Trump has taken the first step toward establishing a sovereign wealth fund for the United States, suggesting it could potentially buy TikTok. The American President on Monday, signed an executive order to begin the process, calling the fund "one of the biggest." Trump promised the fund would generate significant wealth but did not specify where the money would come from.
Sport
Football - In the Premier League on Monday evening Chelsea beat West Ham 2-1. In other football news, figures have shown that Premier League clubs spent around £370m in the winter transfer window, a sharp increase from £100m last year, though still far below the 2023 record of £815m. Manchester City led the way, spending nearly £180m. This makes City’s winter spending the second-highest ever, behind Chelsea’s £275m in 2023.
Rugby Union - England forward Ollie Chessum has said that his team can find positives despite a 27-22 loss to Ireland in their Six Nations opener. The defeat, England's seventh in their last nine matches, came after they led by five points at halftime. He highlighted positive stats, including 11-line breaks, and noted, "You don’t learn when you’re winning, so we’ve taken big lessons from the game."
Tennis - Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has announced her return to tennis after a 15-month break following the birth of her son. The 34-year-old former world number two, who last competed at the 2023 China Open, gave birth to her son, in July of last year. Kvitova plans to return at the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, starting on February 24th. She has won 31 WTA singles titles, including recent victories in Miami and Berlin in 2023.
Weather
Fine and sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 13 degrees in Monaco, Tende and Saint-Tropez. 14 degrees in Puget Théniers, 15 degrees in Draguignan and Nice, 16 degrees in Cannes and Toulon. This evening going down to 8 degrees along the coast and 2 degrees inland.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday. Fine and sunny with highs of 14-15 degrees.
Sunrise 07.44am
Sunset 05.44pm
Weather elsewhere
Oslo 5° showers.
Rome 15° sunny intervals.
Cardiff 10° light rain.
Paris 10° sunny intervals.
Local snow report – Yellow avalanche risk is in place.
Isola 2000 – Sunny. Highs of 7°. 15/19 lifts operating. 41/46 slopes are open. 90cm snow.
Valberg – Sunny, highs of 10°. 11/15 lifts running. 25/42 runs open. 60cm snow.
Auron – Sunny, highs of 9°. 17/19 lifts running. 43/43 runs open. 100cm snow.
And Finally
A Nottingham pub's promotion offering a free pint for every Nottingham Forest goal backfired in the most spectacular way possible—Forest won 7-0! The Gedling Inn had to give away nearly 300 pints after the Premier League club's goal spree against Brighton. Landlady Beccy Webster, who came up with the idea just hours before the match, never expected to be giving away over £1,000 worth of drinks. "I just said 'phew' when the final whistle went!" Beccy laughed. Despite the hangover-inducing tab, Beccy called it "a good day"—the pub was packed, people stayed for food, and Forest’s win put the city on the map. As for future offers? She’s not sure she’ll ever top this one.
On Monday, two skiing accidents occurred in our regions ski resorts.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the EU will defend its interests against any threats, including Donald Trump's potential tariffs, and...
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A new bill in France could require certain vehicles to undergo annual MOTs starting in 2025. The change aims to enhance road safety and limit pollutio...
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The Alpes-Maritimes will enjoy sunny and cool weather from the 3rd-6th of February, with clear skies and mild afternoons. ...
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Ever wondered which surnames are most common in the Alpes-Maritimes? Geneanet, a digital platform with over 3 million surnames, has published the rank...
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