NEWS
Massive wildfire severely impacts local wildlife - The massive wildfire in the Aude department, which has destroyed 17,000 hectares of vegetation, is also severely impacting local wildlife. The region hosts rich biodiversity, including 4,300 plant species, 360 bird species, 80 mammals, and numerous reptiles and amphibians. Experts warn the fire could have serious consequences for many of these animals, particularly the area’s over 200 nesting bird species.
Heatwave and risks of wildfire - The Alpes-Maritimes and Var will be under a yellow heatwave alert on Staurday the 9th of August, with nighttime temperatures around 20°C on the coast. Daytime highs are expected to reach 30–32°C in the Alpes-Maritimes and 32–36°C in the Var, with the heat intensifying over the weekend. Météo France says the hot spell could last at least until Thursday, possibly with isolated storms in the southern Alps. Additionally, Météo-France has placed the Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Gard, and Haute-Garonne departments under orange alert on Friday for a high risk of forest fires. On Saturday, only the first three remain in orange, while Haute-Garonne drops to yellow alert. Local prefectures in the Landes and Gironde have also issued orange alerts and restricted access to forests over the weekend.
Duplomb Law - France’s Constitutional Council has blocked the reintroduction of the banned pesticide acetamiprid in the Duplomb law on the 7th of August, citing violations of environmental and health protections. The left and environmentalists hailed the decision as a victory, while the right and major farming unions called it undemocratic and harmful to agriculture. President Macron will still enact the law without the censored measure, and a revised proposal may return to Parliament as an EU-level review of the pesticide continues.
Man sentenced for drug trafficking - A man has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined €700,000 after customs found nearly 215 kg of cannabis hidden in his truck in June in the Alpes-Maritimes. The drugs were discovered inside the truck’s cabin, concealed in the ceiling’s air conditioning system. The Serbian driver admitted to being hired by a drug trafficking group and was previously involved in similar offenses.
Motorcycle accident - Two women in their twenties have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in the morning of the 8th of August in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Alpes-Maritimes. The crash occurred around 1am on Avenue Général de Gaulle, with no other vehicles involved. Firefighters transported both victims to Cannes Hospital, and police attended the scene.
Sun tattoos - A dermatologist in Nice warns about the dangers of sun exposure, including a risky social media trend called “sun tattoos,” where people deliberately burn skin to create patterns. She stresses that 80% of skin cancers are linked to excessive sun exposure, urging year-round protection regardless of temperature, using sunscreen, hats, and UV-protective clothing. Warning signs include brown or white spots, rough patches, and changing moles, which should be checked by a dermatologist.
NEWS UPDATE
Tragic accident on the A8 - A 63-year-old man has tragically died after apparently jumping from a moving campervan on the A8 motorway near Menton, heading toward Italy. Emergency services found him in cardiac arrest and declared him dead at the scene. Investigators are examining the circumstances, with an autopsy ordered. Early reports suggest a breakup announced by the driver, his partner, may have triggered the incident.
Scam - Air France has informed Flying Blue members of a data breach affecting its system. Customers are advised to log into their accounts, change their passwords, and enable two-factor authentication for security.
Pasta brand recalled - Lazzaretti brand organic pasta is being recalled nationwide after routine checks found undeclared allergenic traces of mollusks. The affected products include certain batches of “Coquillettes Petit Épeautre,” “Rubans Petit Épeautre IGP,” and “Tagliatelles au Petit Épeautre,” sold in major retailers. Consumers are advised not to eat them and can request a refund.
robot dog draws crowds - A robot dog designed by two Parisian friends drew crowds in Saint-Tropez, amazing locals and tourists with tricks like sitting, standing, and even making heart shapes. Built from custom-programmed parts ordered from China, it can move autonomously using cameras and lasers and even speak via a recorder and megaphone. Its creators rent it out for events and marketing to attract attention.
BUSINESS
New 15% U.S. tariffs on European goods, including perfumes, have taken effect on the 7th of August, affecting Grasse’s perfume industry. Local producers say the extra cost will mainly impact American customers, as many are willing to pay more for the prestige of “parfums de Grasse,” though attracting new clients may become harder. Historic houses like Galimard remain confident, citing Americans’ love for French craftsmanship and history, and their commitment to staying in Grasse. Industry group PRODAROM describes the sector as resilient, despite expecting tougher years ahead.
Beijing has opened “Robot Mall,” one of China’s first stores selling humanoid and consumer robots, from mechanical butlers to Einstein replicas. The shop offers over 100 robot models, spare parts, and maintenance, with prices ranging from $278 to several million yuan. It sits beside a robot-run restaurant and showcases more than 200 Chinese and overseas brands. The launch coincides with Beijing’s World Robot Conference and preparations for the first World Humanoid Robot Games later this month.
And - France’s mineral water industry, including Perrier, faces scrutiny over illegal water treatments allegedly used to address contamination linked to climate change and drought. Investigations accuse both companies and the government of covering up the issue to protect the sector, risking the loss of Perrier’s “natural mineral water” status. Experts warn that climate change is contaminating deep aquifers once thought safe, threatening the long-term viability of the business model. Perrier has altered its filtration methods and awaits a decision on whether some of its sources can retain the prestigious label.
SPORTS
Football - Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nice striker Evann Guessand for £26m plus £4.3m in add-ons. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France's Ligue 1.
Tennis - Wildcard Victoria Mboko won her first WTA title by coming from behind to beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the Canadian Open final winning 2-6 6-4 6-1.
Cricket - Zak Crawley hit a superb unbeaten 67 from 38 balls as Northern Superchargers raced to an eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny with a few clouds above our heads accompanied by a gentle breeze. A yellow heatwave alert has been issued by Météo-France, bringing temperatures of 30 degrees in Nice and Marseille, 31 in Cannes and Toulon and 34 degrees in Saint-Tropez while inland temperatures reach 36 degrees.
Tonight, hazy skies with lows of 23 degrees.
Outlook for this weekend:
Sat: mostly clear with highs of 31 degrees.
Sun: clear coasts while risks of thunderstorms threaten the inland skies of the Alpes-Maritimes with highs of 32 degrees.
Mon: clear skies on the riviera with thunderstorms persistinginland across the PACA region accompanied by a moderate winds and highs of 33 degrees.
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