NEWS
French people stuck in Tel Aviv - A French man from Nice, Pierre Mario, is stranded in Tel Aviv with his wife and 11-year-old child due to the closure of Israeli airspace amid the Iran-Israel conflict. He criticizes the lack of clear support from France, especially compared to Germany’s organized repatriation efforts. Unable to safely leave by land, the family remains in a hotel under threat from nearby missile strikes. Local leaders in France are calling for a secure evacuation corridor for citizens in the region. Mario, still managing his business remotely, hopes for a swift and safe return.
El Al plane grounded in Nice - An El Al plane is grounded at Nice Airport after its flight to Tel Aviv was cancelled. The cancellation is due to Israel closing its airspace following major military strikes on Iran last Friday. These unprecedented attacks aim to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The strikes reportedly killed at least 224 civilians and injured over a thousand. As a result, several airlines have also suspended flights in the Gulf region.
Contaminated cheese recalled - A 300g cheese called Doucrémeux from the brand Chêne d'argent is being recalled due to listeria contamination. The cheese has been sold in Lidl stores, 49 of which are in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments. The affected lot (c5116025, GTIN 20637408) was sold between the 2nd of May and the 13th of June, with a best-before date of June the 15th. Listeriosis is a rare but serious infection that can cause septicaemia, meningitis, or complications during pregnancy. Symptoms may appear days to months after exposure. Consumers are advised not to eat the cheese and follow hygiene precautions.
Vésubie Valley rebuilding projects - Twelve new citizen-led projects have been unveiled to help rebuild the Vésubie Valley, Alpes-Maritimes, heavily damaged by Storm Alex in 2020. These projects, developed by local residents and officials through the "Avenir des Vallées" initiative, focus on sustainable transport, environment, local attractiveness, and quality of life. Selected ideas include restoring a farm, modernizing a cheese factory, and revamping a former hotel. In Saint-Martin-Vésubie, major investments will rebuild housing, sports facilities, and a damaged heritage museum. The French state is funding 50% of the €50 million effort, with local authorities covering the rest.
Michelin-starred chef introduces new payment method - Michelin-starred chef Alain Llorca is introducing a rare initiative in fine dining: allowing customers to pay for their meals in three instalments without fees. Facing inflation and a drop in lunchtime clientele, he sees this as a practical response to rising living costs. His gourmet restaurant in La Colle-sur-Loup, Alpes-Maritimes, offers high-end menus starting at €85 for lunch and €240 for dinner. The new payment option will launch around the 5th of July and apply to meals and overnight stays. Llorca says it's about balancing luxury with modern realities while supporting his 35 employees.
Private beaches to reopen in Menton - Three private beaches have been allowed to reopen for summer 2025 following a long legal dispute over irregularities in concession procedures in Menton, Alpes-Maritimes. Out of nine private beaches previously operating, only three, namely Dolce Vita, French Plage, and La Cabane Plage, can now open, with the latter still awaiting a final court ruling by the end of 2025. Four concessions have been denied due to confirmed legal irregularities, and two operators withdrew. Despite continued high demand, the number of beach loungers has dropped from 700 to 300.
Shy'm in Monaco - Singer and actress Shy’m is co-hosting the closing ceremony of the Monte-Carlo TV Festival alongside Ricky Whittle. She’s juggling a packed schedule between judging Drag Race France All Stars, starring in the Chicago musical, and filming season 2 of Cat’s Eyes, all while raising her 4-year-old son. Though music is on hold for now, she hints at a return in 2026 for her 20-year career anniversary.
NEWS UPDATE
Slowdown due to accident on A8 - Following morning slowdowns traffic on the A8 motorway is once again heavily disrupted due to two accidents and a broken-down vehicle in the Alpes-Maritimes. A collision near the Nice Nord tunnel caused a major traffic jam, with delays reaching 30 minutes with only one lane still open. Additionally, a broken-down car near Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and a truck accident after the La Turbie tollbooth further complicated traffic in both directions.
Road accidents in May 2025 - Road accidents have significantly increased in May on the Côte d’Azur, with five fatalities compared to two in May 2024, and 33 serious injuries versus 25 last year. All deaths occurred in urban areas, affecting three motorcyclists, a cyclist, and a pedestrian. In response, authorities plan increased police checks and safety awareness campaigns throughout the summer. Despite this month of may, overall road deaths for 2025 are similar to 2024 so far.
BUSINESS
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow and a staunch supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages to Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems employee, for defamation. Lindell had falsely accused Coomer of helping rig the 2020 election, claims he continued to push during the trial. Coomer said the accusations ruined his reputation and led to death threats. Dominion has also sued other Trump allies and media outlets for spreading false claims. Lindell, who plans to appeal, has used his legal troubles to promote his products and raise funds.
And - The UK plans to announce new sanctions against Russia during the G7 summit to pressure President Putin to "restrict Putin's war machine". Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the goal is to cut Russia's energy revenues and weaken its military industry. However, US support seems unlikely as Donald Trump voiced opposition, citing high costs and calling for a potential peace deal instead. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said 14 people were killed after another wave of drone and missiles struck Kyiv overnight. G7 discussions include lowering the cap on Russian oil prices, though global enforcement remains a challenge.
SPORTS
Football - Michail Antonio came on as a substitute for Jamaica in the Gold Cup in his first appearance since a serious car crash in December. The forward has not yet returned for club West Ham but came on in the 85th minute in Jamaica's 1-0 group stage defeat by Guatemala in California. Antonio, 35, skidded off the road in his Ferrari and struck a tree in Epping Forest which broke his leg just over six months ago.
Swimming - Lilou Ressencourt, a 22-year-old swimmer from Nice, won both the 100m and 200m butterfly at the French Championships in Montpellier, setting a personal best and achieving the 10th fastest French time ever in the 200m. Her win also secured her first individual qualification for the World Championships. Trained at Olympic Nice Natation, she now studies in California and will continue training in the U.S. Another Niçois, Jérémie Delbois, also broke the national 50m breaststroke record at the event.
Tennis - Aryna Sabalenka says she wrote to Coco Gauff to apologise for her "completely unprofessional" remarks after the American beat her in the French Open final. World number one Sabalenka put in an error-strewn performance in a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 loss to Gauff earlier this month. The Belarusian said afterwards it was the "worst final I ever played", adding: "I think she won the match not because she played incredible [but] just because I made all of those mistakes."
WEATHER
Mostly sunny across the whole region today! We’ve got moderate winds and highs of 28 degrees in Nice, 29 in Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Toulon and 30 degrees in Marseille.
Tonight, perfectly clear with temperatures dropping to 22 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, fine and bright across the whole region, though there will be a slight chance of rainfall in the Hautes-Alpes department with temperatures ranging from 28 degrees on the coast to 32 degrees inland.
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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