News
10-year anniversary of France’s Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack - Exactly 10 years after the terrorist gun-attack that killed most of its editorial staff, France's Charlie Hebdo has put out a special issue to show its cause is still kicking. Things changed for France on the 7th of January 2015. Overall, 12 people were killed in the attack.
A decade on, Charlie Hebdo continues to publish a weekly edition and has a circulation (print and online combined) of around 50,000. It does so from an office whose whereabouts are kept secret, and with staff who are protected by bodyguards. But in an editorial in today’s memorial edition, the paper's main shareholder said its spirit of ribald anti-religious irreverence was still very much alive.
France increases security for large gatherings - Meanwhile, while France remembers the victims of Charlie Hebdo today Tuesday 7th January, France’s Interior Minister has announced that following the recent attacks in Germany and the United States security at large gatherings is to be increased. Prefects across France were instructed to maintain maximum vigilance and to increase security measures throughout the country for all major festive, cultural and sporting gatherings. The minister also called for "optimising the security" of gatherings by "drawing up traffic and evacuation plans in advance" and ensuring the "implementation of solid protection measures against ramming vehicles". On December 20th, an attack on a Christmas market in Germany, left six people dead and 299 injured. On January 1st, in New Orleans, in the United States, 14 people were killed and about thirty wounded in a vehicular attack.
New report reveals genuine risk of damage from coastal erosion in the PACA region – In other news, a new report has revealed the serious and genuine threat of coastal erosion to residences and homes along the coastline of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region. The report carried out by France’s Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility, and Development (CEREMA) has identified more than 860 primary residences and holiday homes that could be at risk of damage or destruction due to coastal erosion by 2050 with the situation only getting worse by the end of the century. With a coastline spanning 1,035km the PACA attracts 5 million residents living close to the sea, with the majority in cities such as Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, and Nice. By 2050, CEREMA forecasts that coastal erosion will affect 224 homes in Bouches-du-Rhône, 433 in Var, and 211 in Alpes-Maritimes. The threat also applies to business premises, with 464 business premises and around 10 campsites expected to be at risk by 2050. The report shows that in the last five decades, France’s coastline has contracted by around 30 km² which represents around 4,200 football pitches.
Let it snow! - The rainfall along the coast on Monday has meant that the ski resorts in the Alpes-Maritimes region have now been covered in a beautiful white coat of snow. Nearly 30 centimetres of snow fell, which is "good news" for snow sports lovers. While the start of the new school year has begun for schoolchildren and for some adults too, Monday, saw snow return to the region’s resorts. There is not expected to be any snowfall today but forecast predict more snow on Wednesday.
Motorists in Nice spent an average of 32 hours in traffic jams in 2024 - Recent data has shown that while Nice remains one of the worst cities for traffic jams in the world, things did improve last year. Motorists in Nice spent on average 32 hours in traffic jams in 2024 and the city ranks 234th in the worldwide study which includes 1,000 cities.
On a National level the Alpes Maritimes ranks 18th and not surprisingly Paris comes 1st in France with on average 97 hours lost in traffic jams followed by Marseille and Bordeaux. The city with the most traffic jams on a worldwide level is Istanbul where motorists spent an average of 105 hours stuck behind the wheel last year.
Study shows brain power of racing drivers - A Monegasque study has revealed the mental superpowers of former Formula 1 drivers. In collaboration with the Automobile Club of Monaco and the blessing of the FIA, Dr Benoît Paulmier and his colleagues at the CHPG here in Monaco have studied the brains of 12 former racing drivers. The first conclusions to the study have revealed extraordinary mental abilities that persist over time. The first phase of this unprecedented study conducted from 2021 to 2023 at the CHPG on the brains of former drivers, has shown remarkable results. The study must now be published in a medical journal to expand its research.
International cat show to crown a Top Cat – Finally, if you’re a cat lover, then this weekend you may want to visit Monaco’s Espace Léo Ferré which will be welcoming some 165 cats to the International Cat Show. More than 20 different breeds are expected to be on display with some of the world’s most beautiful cats and their owners taking part with the goal to crowning a Top Cat. The event is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are priced at €10 for visitors aged 13 and over, €5 for children aged six to 13 and free for children under six.
Business
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday is to step down after nine years in power, bowing to pressure from lawmakers alarmed by his Liberal Party's miserable showing in pre-election polls. Trudeau, among the most prominent progressive leaders in the world, told a press conference that he would stay on both as prime minister and Liberal leader until the party chooses a new head within months.
A list set up by US authorities to warn American companies and organisations about the risks of doing business with Chinese entities has added several Chinese technology companies saying they work with China’s military. While inclusion does not mean an immediate ban, it can add pressure on the US Treasury Department to sanction the firms.
It’s been a year since a boss of fast-food chain of McDonald's in the UK had promised to clean up behaviour amongst workers and yet staff say they are still facing sexual abuse and harassment. One 19-year-old worker, recently claimed to reporters that some of his colleagues feared going into work. The UK equality watchdog has heard 300 reported incidents of harassment and now plans to intervene again. A McDonald's spokesperson said the company had undertaken "extensive work" over the past year to ensure it has industry-leading practices in place to keep its workers safe.
Sport
Football – In the Premier League following their 3-0 win on Monday evening against Wolves, Nottingham Forest will be facing Liverpool at the City Ground next week in a top-of-the-table match that barely anyone could have predicted back in August. Forest are just six points behind the leaders after last night’s win. Nottingham Forest have certainly been transformed since last season when they finished 17th amid off-field chaos and a four-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
Cricket - The England and Wales Cricket Board has called for a unified response to action against Afghanistan amid calls for the England men's team to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match between the two sides. England are set to play Afghanistan on 26 February, but UK politicians want the team to refuse to play and take a stand against the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights.
Tennis – Three years after he was deported from Australia due to Covid 19 regulations Novak Djokovic has admitted that he still experiences "trauma" when he visits Melbourne. Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against the virus, had his visa cancelled by the Australian government on "health and good order" grounds. He was forced to stay at an immigration hotel for five days while he unsuccessfully appealed against the decision and was eventually forced to leave the country, meaning he missed the 2022 Australian Open.
Rugby Union – 26-year-old Ulster prop Tom O'Toole is to miss Ireland's first two Six Nations games after receiving a six-game ban following his red card against Munster. O’Toole was sent off for a dangerous tackle during Ulster’s 22-19 defeat last month.
Weather
Mainly fine with a fresh breeze. Highs of 16 degrees in Nice, Monaco and Cannes. 15 degrees in Toulon, 14 degrees in Vence and Saint Tropez with strong winds forecast in the Var region. 13 degrees in Marseille. This evening going down to 7 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for Wednesday and Thursday, sunny with light to moderate winds and highs of 17 degrees.
Sunrise 08.03
Sunset 05.09
Weather elsewhere
London 6° light cloud.
Rome 18° light rain.
New York 2° sunny
And Finally
Following a defeat at local council elections a former elected official in Brazil left office taking everything with her including the loo. The former elected official in the city of Sao Paulo, had decided to leave with the equipment she had installed after her defeat taking with her the toilets she had installed eight years earlier. Video surveillance images, relayed on social networks, actually filmed employees dismantling the equipment. Faced with numerous reactions on the Internet, the toilets were finally returned.
Marc Mourou, Chairman of the Social Interests and Miscellaneous Affairs Committee, has launched a new political movement, Génération Monaco, alongside...
Read More
The Archbishop of Monaco, Dominique-Marie Jean Michel David, has expressed his concerns and thoughts on the ongoing debate regarding the potential leg...
Read More
- A 15-year-old high school student in Menton has been tricked into a dangerous situation after being contacted by someone on Snapchat, pretending to ...
Read More
After 35 years of serving delicious, thin-crust pizzas in Juan-les-Pins, Philippe Petit, the founder of Pizza Fifi, is retiring. ...
Read More
As of this month, food distributions for the most vulnerable will no longer take place on Place Garibaldi in Nice. ...
Read More
