News
US Officially Notifies UN of Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement - The United Nations has confirmed that it received official notice from Washington on Tuesday January 28th, 2025, of its withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, a key campaign promise of US President Donald Trump. Trump had announced the US would leave the accord on his first day back in the White House. The withdrawal, effective January 27, 2026, comes as global temperatures surpassed the critical 1.5°C rise for the first time in two years, highlighting the urgency for climate action. Despite the US withdrawal, the Paris agreement, adopted by 195 nations in 2015, seems set to endure. The US typically contributes 22% of the UN Climate Change body's budget, with operating costs for 2024-2025 projected at $96.5 million. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg's foundation has announced that it will cover the UN climate funding gap. Meanwhile, Trump has declared a "national energy emergency," pushing for more drilling, scrapping vehicle emissions standards, and halting offshore wind farms.
Macron Unveils 'New Renaissance' Plans for Louvre, Mona Lisa to Get New Home - In other news, President Macron has announced plans for a major overhaul of the Louvre, including a new dedicated space for the Mona Lisa and a grand new entrance by 2031. The project, called the New Renaissance, aims to transform the museum into a global art hub while improving access for Parisians and visitors alike.
Macron's Social Media Stunt Backfires - Meanwhile, Macron's attempt to engage with younger voters backfired after he chatted with an influencer who had previously mocked him with insults like calling him a "dwarf married to his French teacher." Critics has slammed the move, with some accusing Macron of prioritizing social media stunts over real issues, further damaging his credibility. Despite major successes like the Paris Olympics and Notre Dame's reopening, Macron’s approval ratings have plummeted to a record low of just 21%, making him one of France's least popular presidents.
Nice Implements Nighttime Alcohol Ban to Curb Public Disorder - In local news, Nice has implemented a ban on the sale of alcohol for takeaway in several neighbourhoods from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. The measure, aimed at reducing insecurity, noise, and public alcohol consumption, affects five new districts, including La Madeleine, Garibaldi, Saint Roch, and the Jean Médecin and Victor Hugo areas. Shops that violate the ban face fines of up to 500 euros. Mayor Christian Estrosi emphasized the importance of maintaining public order and quality of life in the city.
David Lisnard Aims to 'Conquer the Élysée' in 2027 Presidential Bid - The mayor of Cannes David Lisnard is ramping up his presidential bid for 2027, declaring his readiness to "conquer the Élysée" during a New Year's event for his party, Nouvelle Énergie, in Paris on Tuesday evening. At the gathering, Lisnard outlined his vision to end technocratic rule, restore public performance, and boost France’s quality of life. The movement, which has grown to 10,000 members with a presence in 40 countries, is preparing to challenge for power. Lisnard, still aligned with the right, proposes an open competition for 2027 and aims to lead it to victory.
Power Outage Disrupts Train Service at Nice SNCF Station - Train traffic at Nice SNCF station was severely disrupted on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, due to a power failure. The outage, which began around 7:15 a.m., caused widespread delays and cancellations, including trains to Draguignan and Menton. Traffic resumed at approximately 9:40 a.m., after several delays in the expected recovery time.
Monaco Unveils Roadmap for 2025 Anti-Corruption Reforms - Monaco's High-Level Steering Committee met on January 24, 2025, to plan anti-corruption reforms for 2025. Led by Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadei, the committee adopted a roadmap to address GRECO’s recommendations on improving transparency and accountability, especially in leadership and law enforcement. The plan includes a detailed timeline, and specific measures tailored to Monaco’s needs.
Padel Best Village to take place at the Grimaldi Forum - Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum will host the third edition of Padel Best Village on April 26-27, 2025. Formerly known as Padel Best Expo, the event will focus on sport, business, and community-building. Highlights include the Givova Five Padel Cup with Italy-France Padel Cup matches. Padel is booming in France, with over 719 courts and 700,000 players. Event organizers are excited to continue growing the sport’s international presence.
Korean Street Food Sensation Takes Nice by Storm - A new Korean street food restaurant, ChungChun, has become a hit in Nice since its December 7th opening. Offering "rice dogs" starting at 4 euros, the concept, which is a take on the American corn dog with a Korean twist, has attracted large crowds. The restaurant serves up to 300 customers a day, with its most popular items being mozzarella and chicken mozzarella rice dogs. The menu is now entirely halal, and delivery options are coming soon.
Unclaimed EuroMillions Win: €1 Million Ticket in Alpes-Maritimes Still Unclaimed – Finally, is it you? a €1 million EuroMillions My Million ticket, validated in Alpes-Maritimes on December 3rd, 2024, has yet to be claimed. The Française des Jeux has launched an appeal to find the winner, with a deadline of January 31 at midnight. The winning code is AE 196 0600. Check your tickets—time is running out!
Business
US tech stocks steadied on Tuesday after a sharp dip on Monday, triggered by the rise of Chinese AI app DeepSeek. Nvidia shares surged 8.8% after the previous day's slump, with experts suggesting the AI selloff may have been overblown. The market shake-up followed DeepSeek’s claim that its AI model was built at a fraction of the cost of its competitors, sparking concerns about the future of US dominance in AI and the scale of investments US firms are planning.
In the aim of shrinking the US government President Donald Trump has offered buyout packages to nearly all federal workers who don’t want to return to the office. In an email sent to millions on Tuesday, the administration told workers they must decide by February 6th if they want to join a "deferred resignation program." Those who accept will receive roughly eight months of salary as severance. The administration expects about 10% of the two million federal workers, or around 200,000, to take the offer.
And – It was announced on Wednesday that Heathrow Airport's expansion is set to receive backing from UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, following years of debate. Along with plans to expand Gatwick and Luton, the move is expected to face strong opposition. Critics argue that boosting air travel will hinder the UK’s ability to meet climate change goals.
Sport
Football - Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly's three-match ban for a red card against Wolves has been overturned after an appeal. The FA confirmed the 18-year-old’s dismissal was a wrongful one.
Meanwhile, the inaugural Champions League phase heads into a thrilling final day with 25 teams still fighting for their future. All 18 games kick off at 9pm French time this evening, with 16 matches crucial for progression.
Manchester City are at risk of elimination after a 4-2 loss to PSG, while Liverpool are through, Arsenal nearly there, and Aston Villa and Celtic still have work to do as they meet.
Cricket - In cricket, England fought back in the T20 series with a 26-run win over India. Ben Duckett’s 51 and Liam Livingstone’s 43 kept their hopes alive, despite posting a modest 171-9.
Formula One - Lewis Hamilton is ramping up preparations for the new F1 season, testing with Ferrari in Spain this week after his initial run in Italy.
Rugby - And in rugby, England's Tom and Ben Curry will make history, starting together as flankers for the first time in their Six Nations clash against Ireland on Saturday.
Weather
Sunny with a gentle breeze and highs of 15 degrees in Nice, Toulon and Aix-En-Provence. 13 degrees in Monaco, 16 degrees in Cannes and reaching 17 degrees in Saint Tropez. This evening going down to 8 degrees along the coast and 2 degrees inland with cloudy skies.
The outlook for tomorrow, rain across the region, winds picking up in the afternoon. Highs of 11 degrees. Friday should be mainly fine and dry with highs of 15 degrees.
Sunrise 07.50am
Sunset 05.37pm
Weather elsewhere
London sunny intervals and highs of 8 degrees.
Paris heavy rain and highs of 9 degrees.
Palma sunny with highs of 16 degrees.
Local snow report
Isola 2000 – Sunny, 2°. 16/19 lifts operating. 31/46 slopes are open. 65cm snow.
Valberg – Sunny, highs of 7°. 6/15 lifts running. 17/42 runs open. 40cm snow.
Auron – Sunny, highs of 5°. 17/19 lifts running. 28/43 runs open. 70cm snow.
And Finally
Breakup Blues: Study Reveals Men Suffer More Than Women After Splits - A new study suggests that breakups may be more painful for men than women.
Researchers from Humboldt University in Berlin analysed over 50 studies on gender differences in heterosexual relationships. They found that men are less likely to initiate breakups, more likely to experience loneliness afterward, and less likely to see the positives of a split.
The lead researcher, Iris Wahring, explains that heterosexual men often rely more on their partners to meet emotional needs, making steady relationships psychologically more important for men than women.
This challenges the common belief that romantic relationships matter more to women, showing that men may feel the emotional toll of breakups more deeply.
Météo France has issued a yellow rain and flood alert for the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var departments today Thursday, January 30th. The warning was is...
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An American Airlines flight has collided mid-air with a helicopter over Washington, D.C., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ...
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Vinci Autoroutes has announced a limited increase in toll rates starting on February the 1st. The average increase will be just 0.77%, which is lower ...
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A large-scale police operation in the Ranguin district of Cannes has dismantled an entire network of drugs traffickers operating on a departmental sca...
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A 55-year-old British man has tragically died after being swept away by a large avalanche in the French Alps. ...
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