NEWS
Odd weather ahead - It’s an odd stretch of summer weather across southern France. Météo France has issued a red alert, due to a very high wildfire risk on Saturday, the 26th of July for the Bouches-du-Rhône. At the same time, the Alpes-Maritimes will face thunderstorms and unsettled conditions as a yellow thunderstorm alert is in place there from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning and again Saturday afternoon, mostly impacting inland and eastern areas. Meanwhile, the Vaucluse department is under orange wildfire alerts on Friday and Saturday. Authorities are urging caution in all affected areas. Sunday in the Alpes-Maritimes is expected to be calmer, with sunshine returning and temperatures rising to 33°C inland and 30°C along the coast, before a potentially rainy start to the new week on Monday.
France recognises Palestine as a State - France has announced on the 24th of July it will officially recognise the State of Palestine at the UN, breaking 35 years of diplomatic caution to boost the two-state solution. This bold move strengthens Palestinian legitimacy, increases pressure on Israel, and may encourage other European countries to follow. The decision responds to the stalled peace process, ongoing violence, and recent Palestinian commitments toward demilitarisation and elections. While it risks straining France-Israel relations and depends on Palestinian follow-through, President Macron sees it as a historic shift to revive peace efforts before opportunities vanish.
Officers awarded - Eight police officers from the Intervention Company and Istres anti-crime unit have been awarded medals for courage and dedication when facing a dangerous situation after arresting three men armed with war weapons in Martigues, Bouches-du-Rhône. The arrests took place on the 18th of July following reports of gunfire in the Notre-Dame des Marins neighbourhood. More medal ceremonies are planned for similar operations.
Waterfall contaminated by E.Coli - The Sauveclare waterfall in the Var department, recently restored and flowing again, is suspected of being polluted by E. coli bacteria, possibly from nearby wastewater. The association “Les Amis de la Cascade” blames a neighbouring vineyard, the Château de Berne, though the estate denies responsibility and claims to conduct regular water tests. Local authorities have not issued a bathing ban due to lack of official evidence. State-led analyses are underway, with results expected soon.
Seagulls affected by intense heat - On the French Riviera, rising urban temperatures and human activity have driven seagulls into city centres, where many young birds are dying on hot pavements. Odile Heller, a 74-year-old animal rescuer in Cannes, has been saving injured gulls despite laws that prohibit interfering with protected species. She calls for an official care centre for aquatic birds, as current facilities often refuse them. Heller highlights the intelligence and family nature of gulls, lamenting their negative public image.
French jam competition winner is from the Alpes-Maritimes department - Sarah de Caqueray, from Saint-Martin-Vésubie in the Alpes-Maritimes, has won the gold medal at the 2025 French Jam Championships. Coming from a long line of jam-makers, she creates high-quality, locally inspired recipes using fruits and herbs from her family orchard. Passionate and creative, she blends tradition with innovation in her lab to produce both classic and unique jams. Her award highlights the craft of artisanal jam-making and raises expectations for her future creations.
NEWS UPDATE
Scorpions concert cancelled - The Scorpions have cancelled their concert scheduled for Saturday, the 26th of July, at the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival due to lead singer Klaus Meine’s health issues and mandatory vocal rest. The band expressed deep regret and apologized to fans. All ticket holders will be fully refunded or offered the option to reschedule for another festival date. The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer will contact affected customers directly. The rest of the festival lineup, including shows by Will Smith and Kool & the Gang, remains unchanged.
New firefighter services in Cannes - Firefighters have unveiled new rescue equipment to improve sea operations, including a 12-meter boat named "Brutus II" in Cannes, and an electric emergency vehicle for the Lérins Islands. The boat honours Captain Paul Brutus, who died in service in 1989, and is specially designed for safe sea rescues. Built by and for firefighters, it enables fast response even in tough conditions. Authorities praised the innovation as vital for protecting citizens.
Scooter accident - A scooter rider has been lightly injured on Friday around midday in a collision with a car exiting a parking lot in Nice The accident occurred on boulevard René-Cassin near the Crowne Plaza hotel. The car may have made an illegal turn, crossing a solid line, and blocked the scooter’s path. The rider possibly suffered a leg fracture but no life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Pasteur 2 hospital by emergency services.
Massive airline delays - According to Eurocontrol, France has been responsible for 31% of all air traffic control delays in Europe between the 14th to the 20th of July 2025. Persistent capacity issues, especially in the Marseille control centre, and bad weather were key factors. With over 30% of European flights passing through French airspace, even small disruptions have widespread effects. Meanwhile, other countries like Hungary and Romania significantly reduced delays despite higher traffic. Eurocontrol urges France to take swift corrective action.
BUSINESS
Christina Chapman, a 50-year-old American woman, has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for helping North Koreans steal the identities of 68 U.S. citizens to fraudulently gain jobs at over 300 companies. The scheme generated $17 million, which was funnelled to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Chapman operated "laptop farms" from her homes, enabling the North Koreans to appear as U.S.-based workers. Though she claimed ignorance of their identity, officials say she knowingly aided a serious threat to national security.
And - U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly clashed with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over a costly $2.7 billion renovation project during a rare presidential visit to the Fed. Trump criticized Powell for delays in cutting interest rates and implied the renovation was mismanaged, suggesting it might justify firing him, though legal experts disagree. Powell defended the project, citing inflation and unforeseen issues like asbestos. Trump, who originally appointed Powell, has repeatedly attacked him while pushing for lower interest rates to ease borrowing. Democrats accuse Trump of using Powell as a scapegoat amid political pressure and economic uncertainty.
SPORTS
Football - Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in case Alexander Isak departs this summer. Isak has not travelled with the Magpies for their pre-season tour of Asia as he considers his future at the club amid interest from Liverpool.
Rugby Union - British and Irish Lions great Martin Johnson has urged Andy Farrell's side to nail the basics in order to seal the series win as he addressed the side for Saturday's second Test against Australia in Melbourne. Johnson became the first man to captain the Lions on consecutive tours when he skippered the side in Australia in 2001, four years after leading the legendary 1997 tour of South Africa.
Cycling - Onley produced a superb ride on Thursday's stage 18, battling with Pogacar and Vinegegaard until the last few hundred metres of the final climb where he lost his lead and ended 10th, leaving first place to Italy’s Jonathan Milan. Today, organisers have changed the route of stage 19 of the Tour de France because of a herd of diseased cattle on the Col des Saisies. The stage distance has been cut from 130km to 95km, with two of the five planned categorised climbs dropped.
WEATHER
Sunny with cloudy intervals on the coast while thunderstorms stick to the inland skies accompanied by moderate winds. in consequence temperatures are a bit cooler today with highs of 26 degrees in Nice, 27 in Cannes, 29 in Marseille and 20 degrees in Saint-Tropez and Toulon.
Tonight, mostly clear with lows of 21 degrees.
Outlook for this weekend:
Sat: thundery start of the weekend until early evening in the Alpes-Maritimes with highs of 28 degrees.
Sun: cloudy patches with highs of 28 degrees accompanied by strong winds.
Mon: thundery start of the week in the Alpes-Maritimes department with gusts of up to 85 km/h and highs of 28 degrees.
It’s an odd stretch of summer weather across southern France. Météo France has issued a red alert, due to a very high wildfire risk on Saturday, the 2...
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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognise the State of Palestine in September, making it the first G7 natio...
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A mix of sunshine and scattered thunderstorms across the region today, with temperatures ranging between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius. There is a yellow ...
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The Alpes-Maritimes department are under a yellow thunderstorm alert this Friday, the 25th of July from 1pm to 10pm. ...
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The town of Levens, in the Alpes-Maritimes, could once again avoid penalties for not meeting France’s legal quota for social housing. On July 11, the ...
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