NEWS
Ban Telemarketing Calls Without Prior Consent - A new law passed by the French Parliament on the 21st of May, will ban telemarketing calls without prior consumer consent, aiming to protect people from unwanted and often fraudulent sales pitches. Companies will need clear, explicit, and revocable consent to make such calls, and must prove they obtained it. The only exception is contact related to an ongoing contract. Additionally, commercial outreach via email, SMS, or social media is now banned in sectors like home renovation and housing adaptations due to rampant scams. These changes will take effect in August 2026, giving businesses over a year to adapt. The law is part of a broader crackdown on fraud involving public aid, estimated at €1.6 billion per year.
Cleanup in the Var - Cleanup continues after devastating floods killed three elderly people and caused major damage in the Var. While electricity and most roads have been restored, over 1,000 residents in Le Lavandou are still without drinking water until the weekend. Tourist sites, homes, and businesses remain heavily affected, with the Saint-Tropez airport closed until Friday.
Social Media Influencer Arrested - A social media influencer has been arrested for posting videos of illegal urban rodeos on powerful motorcycles in Vaucluse. Authorities discovered he was also running an undeclared business selling bikes and gear, making nearly €1 million since 2020 while receiving social benefits. During raids, four large motorcycles and goods worth over €70,000 were seized.
International Drug Trafficking Network Dismantled - Five people have been arrested in Carpentras, Vaucluse, after police dismantled an international drug trafficking network linked to Spain. Authorities have seized cocaine, cannabis, gold bars, luxury watches, over €12,000 in cash, and a Porsche. The suspected ringleader, who used a tightly organized operation involving relatives and high-powered vehicles, is now in pre-trial detention.
Monaco Authorities Conduct More Drug Search Operations - Monaco authorities have conducted a drug and cash search operation at the heliport, on the 19th of May, using new legal powers and a sniffer dog. Passengers from nine flights and their luggage were checked, resulting in one case for possession of a gram of cocaine. These checks will be carried out regularly across the Principality.
Plastic Yogurt Pots Replaced - All plastic yogurt pots in school and nursery canteens have been replaced with recyclable cardboard ones, eliminating 8.5 tonnes of plastic waste annually in Nice. This is part of the city’s broader goal to eliminate single-use plastics without additional cost. The move comes ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, as France struggles with low plastic recycling rates.
Mégothon 2025 - The Mégothon 2025 is a national cleanup campaign running until the 27th of May to collect cigarette butts, a major environmental pollutant. In the Var, events are held in towns like Régusse, Aups, and Draguignan, combining fun and education to encourage public participation. Associations like CleanMyNature and Recyclop provide tools and support, aiming to recycle or safely dispose of collected waste.
Pawards 2025 - The first-ever Pawards has taken place on the 21st of May, celebrating the role of animals in culture through film, books, and media in Cannes. Winners included The Friend for Best Film, Nos meilleurs amis for Best Documentary, and a standout adoption campaign by Secondechance.org featuring "Taylor Swift" dogs. The event highlighted emotional, meaningful works where animals inspire, heal, and connect.
NEWS UPDATE
Healthcare Job Fair - Are you a healthcare professional and are looking for work in the region? The University Hospital of Nice is hosting a healthcare job fair this Friday and Saturday for medical professionals and aspiring hospital staff. It will take place at two sites: L’Archet on the 23rd of May from 2-9pm and Pasteur 2 on the 24th of May from 9am to 2pm, featuring info stands, team meetups, guided tours, and presentations. Recruiters will be on site for interviews, so attendees are encouraged to bring multiple CVs.
Fake Robbery - A man in his 50s has claimed he was robbed of a €50,000 luxury watch near the Carlton Hotel in Cannes. However, police surveillance footage and lack of witnesses contradicted his story, revealing the robbery was fake. He was placed in custody for making a false report and will face court in December.
Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika Cases in the Region - 13 imported cases of dengue, chikungunya, and zika have been reported since the 1st of May, in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, prompting health authorities to issue a warning about tiger mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, active from May to November, can spread disease, and there's growing concern about local transmission due to returning travellers from outbreak regions. Residents are urged to eliminate stagnant water to help stop mosquito breeding and reduce the risk of infection.
BUSINESS
Marks & Spencer’s website is back online after a cyber-attack caused weeks of disruption, halting online orders and briefly taking the site down completely. The attack, likely by the hacker group Scattered Spider, led to the theft of some personal customer data but not payment details. M&S expects a £300 million profit hit and says full online service won’t resume until July.
And - The luxury Maybourne Riviera hotel on the French Riviera has been sanctioned for illegal construction, including 1,200 m² built without permits, some in protected zones. Though the project cost €250 million, the penalties were relatively light: fines, demolition of an annex, and €50,000 in damages to local residents. The case highlights tensions between high-end development and local regulations, sparking debate on justice and environmental protection.
SPORTS
Cricket - Fourteen-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named in India's Under-19s squad for this summer's multi-format tour of England. The teenager hit the headlines in April when he became the youngest player to score a century in a men's T20, smashing 101 runs from 38 balls as Rajasthan Royals beat Gujarat Titans by eight wickets.
Rugby Union - Decorated former England international Mike Brown says he wants to try to influence the future of rugby union by staying involved in the game after his retirement. When the 39-year-old Leicester Tigers full-back announced that he would be calling time on his 20-year professional career at the end of the season, he did so by making a plea to powerbrokers at all levels to better "protect and grow" the sport.
Formula 1 – Formula 1 returns to Monte Carlo this weekend for the 82nd Monaco Grand Prix. The race runs from Friday to Sunday, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1929 and has been a permanent fixture in F1 since 1955, with the only recent absence in 2020 due to the pandemic. Charles Leclerc, returning to Monaco as the defending winner, expects a tough weekend due to Ferrari’s struggles with slow corners, though he's determined to fight for victory despite recent setbacks. He reflects on last year’s emotional win and his challenges this season, including car performance and qualifying issues, while praising teammate Lewis Hamilton's approach. Meanwhile, rising star Oscar Piastri leads the 2025 championship with four wins, outperforming teammate Lando Norris and emerging as McLaren’s new leader, just as the F1 field braces for new regulations at the Spanish GP.
WEATHER
Mostly bright on the coast. We’ve got rather strong winds with gusts reaching 70km/h and very warm temperatures with highs of 23 degrees in Marseille and Toulon, 25 in Saint-Tropez, 26 in Cannes and 27 degrees in Nice.
This early evening rain and thunderstorms will cool us off starting at 6pm and stay with us until 10pm until temperatures drop to 16 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, mostly clear across the region - though a thundery cloud will hover above Puget-Théniers in the Alpes-Maritimes department. We’ll have highs of 22 degrees with strong winds in the west side of the region.
A new law passed by the French Parliament on the 21st of May, will ban telemarketing calls without prior consumer consent, aiming to protect people fr...
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French President Emmanuel Macron's political party, Renaissance, has proposed banning those under the age of 15 in France from wearing the Muslim head...
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The Alpes-Maritimes department has once again been placed on a yellow thunderstorm alert. While the morning will see some clear spells, conditions are...
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After deadly storms have killed three people in the Var, local mayors are calling for solidarity and urgent action on climate change. ...
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Three elderly people have died following a sudden surge in water levels caused by torrential rainfall in the Var region on Tuesday, 20th May. Among th...
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