Christian Estrosi has confirmed a ban on cruise ships carrying over 900 passengers. In a social media post he said "starting July 1st, locals wouldn't have to put up with what he called "these sea monsters: nearly 4,000 passengers, 35 buses and 2 chartered sea patrol boats, zero economic benefits for hotels, and consumption 2 to 3 times lower than that of traditional tourists." He added that 48 tons of nitrogen is produced each year in Villefranche where large cruise ships often drop anchor, which he said is 71% of total emissions in the municipality.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has thanked RAID officers who arrested what he called "a threatening, potentially armed, schizophrenic individual" around midday today. The individual was in an apartment on Avenue Henri Dunant. The mayor praised the calm manner and professionalism of the law enforcement officers present from the National and Municipal police as well as the BAC officers which he said allowed for an arrest without incident.
Firefighters tackled a major blaze in Avignon this morning. No injuries were reported but several residents were evacuated from the apartment building in the Monclar area in the south of the city.
The Palace in Monaco has announced that a reconstruction program will be undertaken at the palace. It will focus on the western part of the building, known as the New Wing. Built in the late 1960s, that part of the palace will benefit from a one-story extension. The works will optimize heritage preservation and infrastructure and aims to meet contemporary standards in terms of security, accessibility, and environmental performance. The work will be carefully planned to minimize the impact on Palace operations and daily life in the Principality.
Authorities are still trying to locate a 28 year old jogger who went missing in the Vienne department in central France last week. Agathe Hilairet hasn't been heard from since last Thursday and hasn't been located despite extensive searches over the past few days. The local prosecutor's office has launched a call for witnesses and information and also has today opened a judicial investigation into kidnapping and sequestration against an unknown person.
The Algerian government has expelled several French diplomatic staff from the country. The twelve embassy staff were given 48 hours to leave by the government of the north African country last night. According to the French foreign ministry, the expulsions appear to be retaliation for the arrest of three Algerian nationals who are suspected of serious crimes on French territory.
BUSINESS
The US government has threatened new tariffs on smartphones and some other electronics days after exempting them. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that these products would be re-examined as part of an investigation into semiconductors which are facing their own tariffs. He confirmed that tariffs on smartphones may be reinstated, saying "We need our medicines and we need semiconductors and our electronics to be built in America". Donald Trump has suggested tariff exemptions for smartphones and other tech products from China could be short-lived. In a social media post he said "Nobody is getting off the hook for unfair trade balances".
The Chinese government has accused the UK of what it called "politicizing trade cooperation". The statement comes after the UK government passed an emergency law to take over the running of British Steel's site in Lincolnshire. The Chinese foreign ministry said the move to seize control from a Chinese company, could discourage Chinese investment in the UK. The UK government has said that efforts are currently underway to secure raw materials needed to fuel the plant's central blast furnaces so that they can keep operating. If they are closed down they can't be restarted. Earlier today the government appointed two long-standing British Steel employees to run the plant on an interim basis.
SPORT
Golf... Fellow golfers have been congratulating Rory McIlroy on winning the Masters. In a social media post Tiger Woods said "completing the Grand Slam at Augusta is something special...and now you're a part of history." After yesterday's win, the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland is now only the sixth man and the first European to win the career Grand Slam of Masters, Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.
Football... It's been announced that Luka Modric is set to take a minority ownership stake in Swansea City. The Croatia international is continuing as a player with Real Madrid, although his contract with that club expires at the end of this season.
Meteo France have placed the Var on a top-level red alert for forest fires today. Two other nearby departments, the Bouches-du-Rhone and the Vaucluse ...
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The Var department will be placed under red alert for wildfires on Wednesday the 16th of July, due to a "very high" risk, worsened by strong Mistral a...
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Commemorations took place yesterday in Nice to mark the anniversary of the attack in July 2016 in which 86 people lost their lives...
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French TV host and producer Thierry Ardisson has died in Paris at the age of 76 from liver cancer, his family announced. ...
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An administrative judge has suspended an order against large cruise ships in Villefranche-sur-mer and Nice. Nice Mayor and President of the Nice Cote ...
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