NEWS
Alpes-Maritimes and Var Departments Escape Severe Weather - The Alpes-Maritimes and Var departments will mostly escape the severe weather affecting France, with mild temperatures reaching up to 19°C midweek. While strong winds up to 120 km/h are expected elsewhere, local gusts will stay below 65 km/h. Rain is forecast for Sunday, but the rest of the week will be mostly dry with some cloud cover.
Lemons and Orchids on Sale After Menton Lemon Festival - After the Menton Lemon Festival 2025, orchids and citrus fruits used in the event are being sold. The orchid sale began on the 3rd of March, attracting a large crowd, with 150 pots selling out quickly. Citrus fruits will be available for purchase on the 6th of March at the Biovès Gardens.
City of Cannes Awarded for their Commitment to Fighting HIV - The city of Cannes has been awarded the "Ville engagée contre le SIDA" label for its commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS through prevention, testing, and support initiatives. Mayor David Lisnard honored Dr. Paul Simonet, a key figure in HIV advocacy, with the city's Gold Medal. Cannes continues to work with local and national partners to raise awareness and support affected individuals.
Jeanne d'Arc Parking Lot Renovations Complete - Renovations above the Jeanne d’Arc parking lot are complete, with the final drying phase before reopening to residents in Nice. The statue of Jeanne d’Arc remains controversial after a court annulled its contract, demanding its removal. A crowdfunding campaign has raised €50,000 so far to keep it in place.
Hiker found Dead - A 66-year-old hiker who went missing on the 27th of February was found dead on the 4th of March in the Montagne de Lure, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. His body was discovered by mountain rescue teams using a Lifeseeker system to track his phone. An investigation has been opened, with an accident being the likely cause.
Financial Police Raid RN-Town Hall in Fréjus - French financial police are conducting raids at Fréjus' RN-led town hall as part of a corruption probe targeting mayor David Rachline, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Investigators suspect favouritism and bribery linked to public contracts, with construction mogul Alexandre Barbero at the centre of the allegations. Gendarmes seized documents, phones, and searched multiple locations, including private companies.
Villa Nabila Central to the Trial against Nicolas Sarkozy - The abandoned Villa Nabila in Mougins, Alpes-Maritimes, is central to the trial on alleged Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. Suspected middleman Alexandre Djouhri bought it for €762,000 in 1998 and later sold it to Libya’s sovereign fund for €10 million in 2009. French judges suspect money laundering and corruption, believing the sale was used to conceal illicit payments.
Racist Insults Against Grasse Resident Sparks Protest in her Support - A resident of Grasse has filed around 40 complaints against her neighbours for racist insults. A second protest in her support has taken place on the 2nd of March, and a court hearing is set for the 5th of March. She seeks justice, stating, "What we are living is not normal."
Bel Espoir Sets Sail - The three-masted ship Bel Espoir has set sail from Barcelona for an eight-month peace voyage across the Mediterranean, carrying 25 young people of diverse backgrounds and faiths. Organized by the Marseille diocese, the Odyssée Med 25 aims to foster dialogue and unity among participants. A total of 200 young people will take turns aboard, with the journey ending in Marseille in October after 30 stops.
13th Monte-Carlo Fashion Week - The 13th Monte-Carlo Fashion Week will take place from the 22nd-26th of April, featuring top designers and emerging talents. Hosted at the Monaco Yacht Club, it will showcase resort, cruise, and capsule collections while addressing industry challenges like sustainability and inclusivity. The event includes runway shows, conferences, and the prestigious MCFW Fashion Awards.
NEWS UPDATE
Chips Called back Across France - Intermarché is recalling Bouton d'Or salt & vinegar chips across France due to excessive acrylamide levels, a potentially carcinogenic substance. Consumers should stop eating them and return the product for a refund before March 31.
PACA Region Recruits Forest Rangers - The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is recruiting 250 seasonal forest rangers (18-25 years old) for summer 2025 to patrol natural areas, educate the public, and help prevent wildfires. This initiative supports environmental protection and complements fire surveillance efforts. Applications can be submitted via the regional website.
MonaCollecte - The Monaco City Hall is partnering with the 4th edition of MonaCollecte on the 7th and 8th of March, focusing on textile recycling. The event will feature collection drives, educational workshops, and hands-on activities, including embroidery sessions, clothing repair, and book donations. It will take place at Quai Antoine 1er with free entry.
BUSINESS
Mougins approved its 2024 financial accounts, reporting higher-than-expected savings of €7.2 million. The city plans €11.2 million in investments, including road improvements and expanded video surveillance, while keeping taxes unchanged. Despite financial challenges, Mougins maintains strong self-financing capacity and reduced debt.
Chinese bubble tea giant Mixue Ice Cream and Tea, with over 45,000 stores worldwide, surpassed McDonald's and Starbucks in outlet numbers. Its Hong Kong IPO raised $444 million, with shares surging 40% on debut. Known for its low-cost drinks and franchise model, Mixue plans further expansion despite China's economic challenges.
And - The North American Toy Fair was overshadowed by concerns over new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, which have doubled to 20%, raising costs for toymakers. Industry leaders warn this will lead to higher toy prices for consumers and disrupt businesses, with many scrambling to absorb costs. Toymakers argue that domestic manufacturing isn't a viable alternative and hope for tariff exemptions.
SPORTS
Formula 1 - Ferrari have won a court case in Italy that blocks their former technical director Enrico Cardile from starting work at Aston Martin until the 18th of July. Cardile left Ferrari for a new role as chief technical officer at Aston Martin in July and the two teams have been in dispute about his start date ever since.
Tennis - Britain's Emma Raducanu will play world number three Coco Gauff in the second round at Indian Wells - if she can beat Japan's Moyuka Uchijima in the first round.
Golf - Tiger Woods' Jupiter Links GC and Rory McIlroy's Boston Common Golf have been eliminated from the TGL after failing to reach the play-offs. Boston needed to beat New York on Monday night to secure a play-off spot but lost 10-6.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny this afternoon with moderate winds. Highs of 16 degrees in Nice and Saint-Tropez, 17 in Cannes and Toulon and 18 degrees in Marseille.
Tonight, partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to 9 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, cloudy morning and mostly sunny afternoon with highs of 16 degrees with moderate winds.
France's Minister for Digital Affairs Clara Chappaz has announced that she is "actively working" towards a ban on social media for children under 15. ...
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Sunny with light winds. Highs of 22 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Menton. 21 degrees in Saint-Tropez. 23 degrees in Antibes. ...
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Around 1,000 residents in East Nice have experienced a power outage on the morning of the 29th of April, mainly affecting streets like Impasse des Lis...
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A yellow weather alert is in place today, Tuesday April 29th, for the Alpes-Maritimes department, with Météo France warning of thunderstorms across pa...
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As we approach May 1st, 2025, several important changes are set to take effect in France as with every first of the month, affecting everything from t...
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