News - Monday, November 14th

News

France and Britain set to agree on Channel migrant deal - France and Britain are set to agree on a Channel migrant deal this week where the French will put more police on the beaches, pledge to stop more small boats leaving and establish a joint control centre.

As part of the agreement, the UK will pay France at least £60 million in return for a significant increase in the 200 gendarmes and volunteer officers deployed on beaches in northern France. France has also agreed that it will aim for a “much higher” proportion of migrants to be prevented from leaving. This year, it has stopped 29,000 migrants – around 42 per cent of the total. The French have maintained that if they could stop between 70 per cent and 80 per cent, it would likely make the route uneconomic for people smugglers.

Migrant ship docked in Toulon - Meanwhile, a Mediterranean migrant ship at the centre of a row with Italy has now docked in Toulon. The Ocean Viking had been stuck at sea for 19 days intensifying a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Rome, after Italy refused to accept the ship. Its 234 passengers have been placed in a ‘waiting zone’.

The home secretary, Gérard Darmanin has condemned Italy’s “unacceptable attitude”, which he says goes against “international law”, but his Italian counterpart said his reaction was aggressive and incomprehensible as Italy has already welcomed 90,000 migrants this year alone.

End to France’s operation in the Sahel - President Emmanuel Macron has formally ended France's decade-long operation to fight Islamist insurgents in the Sahel. In a major speech at a naval base in Toulon, he said some French troops would remain in the region. However, they would be there under new arrangements to be worked out with host countries. At its high point, Operation Barkhane saw some 5,500 French soldiers deployed in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The announcement also represents a major shift in French strategic priorities, brought on by the war in Ukraine and changing perceptions of the most important threats facing the country.

Body found after building collapse - A body has been found in the rubble of the two buildings that collapsed in Lille on Saturday morning. The victim is believed to be a doctor who had been lent an apartment in the building just for the weekend. However, many lives were saved after the buildings were evacuated before dawn after a man warned of cracks in the structure and reported the issue to emergency services. 

Man living in airport dies - An Iranian man who lived in a Paris airport for 18 years and inspired a Hollywood movie has died. Caught in diplomatic limbo, Mehran Karimi Nasseri made a small area of Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport his home in 1988. Mr Nasseri was eventually given the right to live in France, but he ended up returning to the airport, where he died of natural causes age 77 on Saturday. His experience inspired the 2004 film, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks. 

Drone taxies - Paris has launched a new generation of drone taxis, as a test aircraft took off with a passenger on board from the Pontoise-Cormeilles airfield outside Paris. The Volocopter is an electric helicopter with multiple rotors. It’s being prepared for commercial flights from 2024.

Local News

Monegasque drug dealer in court - A drug dealer of Monegasque nationality has appeared in court having been apprehended in Antibes by French police last year. Police found multiple pouches of cannabis, 590 euros in cash, and cocaine. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison with a further 5 year ban from the region.

FCEM World Summit Morocco - Monaco-based businesswoman Daniela Boutsen has been awarded first prize at the 69th FCEM World Summit in Morocco for her innovative international interior design business. The founder and director of the Daniela Boutsen brand was named as winner of the prestigious Export Prize at the annual networking event for leading businesswomen on Saturday 5th November.

The Export Prize recognises businesses set up and run by women, which have successfully been exported to international markets. Daniela Boutsen is specialised in interior decoration of VIP business jets, yachts, and residences with clients spanning the globe. Daniela was one of around 400 businesswomen from more than 35 countries to attend the FCEM World Summit in Marrakesh.

No Finish Line 2022 - This weekend in Monaco, HSH Prince Albert launched the 23rd edition of the No Finish Line challenge. The aim is to surpass the 400,000 kilometres mark by the end of the event on November 20, with one euro for each kilometre going towards children’s charities. More than 8000 runners and walkers are expected to take part.

Illegal immigrant jailed - An illegal immigrant from Tunisia who was stopped by police in Cannes last month has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. The 30 year old had no legal papers and was caught eating couscous at the wheel while driving. In a last ditch gesture to escape punishment, he offered to share his couscous with the police. 

Business

Twitter - The drama at Twitter continues with confusion around the blue tick subscription. In the latest head spinning reversal at the social media platform since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company, Twitter abandoned the $8 monthly fee on Friday, although Mr Musk claims it will be reinstated shortly. The move came as a number of accounts impersonating big brands received the blue tick, previously a signal that the firm had verified the user as real. In one instance, a user claiming to be drugs firm Eli Lilly said "insulin was free". The firm's shares fell 4% on Friday amid concerns about how Mr Musk's leadership was affecting the spread of misinformation on the platform.

Heathrow Airport - Heathrow Airport has stated it will not re-introduce a cap on passenger numbers around Christmas. The UK's biggest airport said it was preparing for the biggest festive travel season in three years. In its latest update, it said firms had recruited around 16,000 workers over the last 12 months, and pre-pandemic levels of employment would be reached before next year's summer peak if the trend continued.

Following the lifting of Covid travel restrictions earlier this year, some aviation businesses struggled with staff shortages as demand for travel bounced back strongly. In July, Heathrow introduced a daily limit of 100,000 passengers to try to tackle the disruption customers were facing. Some airlines had to cancel flights to ensure they complied. The cap was extended until 29 October, but has now ended.

Share Prices - Share prices have risen as investors welcomed official figures that show the cost of living in the US increased at a slower-than-expected pace last month. Shares soared in the US and in Asia as traders reacted to the data, and UK and European stock markets also rose before the weekend. The US consumer price index rose by 7.7% in October from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department, which is the smallest annual increase since the start of the year.

Foreign Exchanges

€1 = £0,87 $1,035 SF 0,97

£1 = €1,14 $1,18 SF1,11

$1 = €96 cents, £84 pence, 94 Swiss centimes

BITCOIN $16548 €15984,19 EUR

ETHEREUM  $1226

Commodities

An ounce of gold is $1769

Barrel of Brent Crude oil is $95,99

Sport

Football - Arsenal moved 5 points clear at the top of the Premier League after Manchester City suffered a shock home defeat by Brentford in the final round of matches before the World Cup break.

In the Premier League yesterday, the Emery revolution at Aston Villa continues with a 2-1 away win at high flying Brighton and an injury time goal from Alejandro Garnacho helped Manchester United win at Fulham 2-1. Talking of United, Christiano Ronaldo has spoken out saying he feels betrayed and that he is being forced out of the club.

In France, PSG also move 5 points top of Ligue 1 after a dominant display to beat Auxerre 5-0. Last night at the Stade Louis II, Monaco were beaten 3-2 by Marseille. The winning goal was scored by Payet in the 98th minute. Monaco drop to 4th place.

In Italy, Napoli claimed their 11th straight win to beat Udinese 3-2 and go 11 points clear at the top of Serie A. Bayern beat Shalke 2-0 to stay top of the Bundesliga and Real Madrid closed the gap on Barcelona after a 2-1 win against Cadiz.

Formula 1 - In the Sao Paolo Grand Prix, British Mercedes driver George Russell won his first ever Grand Prix ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz was third and Monaco driver Charles Leclerc 4th. World Champion Max Verstappen was penalized after an early collision with Lewis Hamilton and finished 6th. The Formula 1 season concludes next week in Abu Dhabi.

Cricket - The Cricket T20 World Cup reached it’s climax yesterday with England being crowned world champions after a pulsating 5 wicket victory against Pakistan with 6 balls to spare. Ben Stokes wrote himself further into the folklore of English cricket by hitting the winning runs and finishing on 52 not out. England become the first team ever to hold both the men's 20 and 50-over world titles.

Rugby Union - The women’s Rugby Union World Cup final was won by the hosts New Zealand who came from behind to upset the tournament favourites England 34-31 in a nail-biting final. Cricket England started strongly but were hampered by an 18th-minute red card for wing Lydia Thompson. The World Cup Final defeat ended a run of 30 successive victories.

In men’s Rugby Union, Italy made history with a first win against Australia, England scored 7 tries to beat Japan with ease, and France continued their impressive winning streak with a 30-26 win against the world champions South Africa.

Meanwhile in the Rugby League World Cup, Australia will play Samoa in the final next weekend. Australia beat New Zealand 16-14, while Samoa earnt a shock victory by a single point against England with the match being decided by a golden-point thriller when the two teams tied at 26 points each at full time. England, the host nation, had thrashed Samoa 60-6 in the tournament opener less than a month ago.

NFL - The Minnesota Vikings came from 17 points down and to claim a thrilling 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills after a wild finish to the best game of the season so far. The Vikings, who have a habit of comebacks and tight wins this season, did it again as they intercepted Josh Allen in the end zone in overtime to move to 8-1 for the season.

Weather

Extended sunny spells this morning, but increasingly cloudy today with light winds and no rain expected. Temperatures are rising up to 15° around Monaco and 16° inland in the Var around Draguignan. Tonight will be cloudy with some light rain from this evening. Temperatures dropping to 9°.

Tomorrow will be cloudy with rainy spells, but the sun is back from Wednesday.

Sunset/Sunrise 07:23/17:05

Last local news

Evening Update Friday 20th December 2024

A powerful Mistral storm has swept through Provence, with wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h in some areas. ... Evening Update Friday 20th December 2024 Read More

20/12/2024

French and Riviera News Friday 20th December 2024

France’s recently appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou has promised a new government "before Christmas" and reserves the possibility of using 49.... French and Riviera News Friday 20th December 2024 Read More

20/12/2024

Evening Update Thursday 19th December 2024

A four-day strike at DHL has caused delays in package processing, raising concerns about on-time deliveries for Christmas.... Evening Update Thursday 19th December 2024 Read More

19/12/2024

French and Riviera News Thursday 19th December 2024

French judges in Avignon will today Thursday 19th December, deliver their verdicts in a mass rape case against 51 men that has appalled France and the... French and Riviera News Thursday 19th December 2024 Read More

19/12/2024

Monaco Info and TV Monaco to make way for new television channel

Monaco Info and TV Monaco are set to make way for a new television channel on September 1st of 2025. During the debates on the 2025 preliminary budget... Monaco Info and TV Monaco to make way for new television channel Read More

19/12/2024