NEWS
Early Spring-Like Weather - Meteorological spring has begun on the 1st of March, three weeks before the official calendar spring, to better align with seasonal weather patterns. This year, France is experiencing early spring-like conditions with rising temperatures and plenty of sunshine. A warm spell is expected mid-week, especially in the PACA region, with highs reaching 18°C.
Cyberharassment - Seven people, aged 22 to 79, are on trial in Paris for cyberharassing Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the Paris 2024 Olympics ceremonies, with threats and hate speech. The backlash stemmed from a performance featuring drag queens, which some conservatives saw as mocking religion. Jolly, who received support from French leaders, denied any intent to offend and called the attacks deeply destabilizing.
Cancer Screening Program 'Impulsion' - The Nice University Hospital (CHU) is leading a lung cancer screening program, having tested 350 people in two years. Starting in September, the initiative will expand to include postal workers, municipal employees, private companies, and firefighters. A mobile screening bus will also travel the region by year’s end to reach more at-risk individuals.
Shooting Linked to Drug Trafficking - After a shooting linked to drug trafficking on the 1st of March, Mayor Véronique Arnaud-Deloy says local officials feel powerless and urgently need more gendarmerie reinforcements in Apt, Vaucluse. She expresses deep concern over rising violence in small towns and calls for a national crackdown on drug-related crime. She also argues for stricter penalties on drug consumers, as demand fuels the problem.
Shooting Near a Tramway - After a shooting on the 2nd of March, which caused panic near a tramway, public transport drivers exercised their right to withdraw from work for safety reasons in Avignon, Vaucluse. No one was injured, but a driver was in shock, leading to the suspension of all bus services in Grand Avignon on the 3rd of March. It remains unclear when normal transport operations will resume.
Monaco Students Travel to Madrid - Students from Lycée Albert-Ier in Monaco are traveling to Madrid for an art acquisition project to enrich the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco’s collection. With a €20,000 budget, they will select artworks at the ArcoMadrid art fair and defend their choice before a jury. The program, launched in 2017, aims to educate students about contemporary art and museum collections.
Riviera Readers - At 16, Tanuj Sondhi, a Monaco high school student from Lycée Albert-Ier, launched the "Riviera Readers" book club to revive the love of reading in a social media-driven world. Hosted at the Princess Grace Irish Library, the club welcomes multilingual readers of all ages for discussions in French and English. With growing interest, Tanuj hopes to modernize reading’s image and create a space for connection beyond screens.
Anora wins Palme D'Or and Oscar - Only three films have ever won both the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Picture: The Lost Weekend (1946), Marty (1955), and Parasite (2020). In 2025, Anora by Sean Baker joined this exclusive club, winning five Oscars on the night of Sunday the 2nd to Monday the 3rd of March for best picture, best direction, best original screenplay, best editing and best actress for young Mikey Madison. The film had already received the Palme d'Or at the previous Cannes Film Festival.
BUSINESS
A judge ruled that the Trump administration likely acted unlawfully by ordering mass firings of probationary federal employees without proper authority. The court issued a temporary restraining order, halting the terminations while the case continues. Labor unions praised the decision as a victory for wrongfully dismissed workers.
And - Donald Trump announced a plan to create a US Crypto Strategic Reserve, naming Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano as key assets, causing their prices to surge. Details are unclear, but more will be revealed at a White House Crypto Summit on Friday. Critics note Trump's past scepticism and recent personal crypto ventures.
SPORTS
Football - Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos scored the first goal of his Monterrey career as the Mexican side beat Santos Laguna 4-2 at the Estadio BBVA. The 38-year-old joined the Liga MX side in February after leaving boyhood club Sevilla at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Rugby Union - Millie David, Charlotte Fray, Jade Shekells and Sarah Parry have all been called into the England training squad for the first time before the Women's Six Nations. Forty-two players have been named, however only 24 women will be available to attend all training camps before the tournament starts with England facing Italy at home in York on the 23rd of March.
Golf - A stunning comeback from Joe Highsmith helped the American go from the bottom of the leaderboard after two rounds to victory by two shots at the Cognizant Classic in Florida.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny this early week with gentle to moderate winds. Highs of 16 degrees in Nice, Saint-Tropez and Toulon, 17 in Cannes and 18 degrees in Marseille.
Tonight, partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to 8 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, much the same, mostly sunny with occasional clouds with highs of 16 degrees and gentle to moderate winds.
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