NEWS
19-year-old potential accomplice jailed - A 19-year-old woman has been jailed for complicity in attempted murder after last week’s knife attack at a horticultural high school in Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes. She had exchanged messages with the attacker who injured a teacher and a student before being arrested. Investigators suspect she knew and supported his violent plans, though she remains presumed innocent at this stage.
Ponzi scheme - A financial advisor and his wife have been charged for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded around 50 people of €8.5 million between 2018 and 2024. They allegedly diverted over €2 million for personal use, presenting fake rental investments in storage units and parking spaces. The couple, who had fled to the US before returning to the Var, were arrested. The husband is in custody while his wife is under judicial supervision.
Tomorrow's strike - 90-95% of pharmacies in southern France will close as part of Thursday’s national strike. Emergency requisitions will ensure essential services remain available in the PACA region. Meanwhile, major disruptions across the Alpes-Maritimes are expected, with widespread impacts on trains, buses, trams, and schools. In Nice, the Lignes d’Azur bus and tram network will be heavily affected, while Antibes’ Envibus will provide no service at all. About 3 TER out of 5 and 9 TGV out of 10 will run, and up to 30% of primary school teachers are expected to strike, with some schools and cafeterias closed.
Sauvage Méditerranée - A local currency called “Sauvage Méditerranée”, launched in Marseille, rewards people who collect plastic waste or volunteer with tokens to spend in eco-friendly local shops. Over 4,000 tokens have been issued, with 40 businesses now participating in Marseille, La Ciotat, and Toulon with plans to expand to other French cities like Lille and Dijon.
EuroMillions winner... again! - A French man has won €1 million in the EuroMillions for the second time in two years, astonishing even lottery officials. He discovered his new win on the same day he remarried his ex-wife, just after the ceremony. From his honeymoon in Venice, he jokingly told the lottery company: “You’ll never guess, it’s me again. I’ve won again!”
NEWS UPDATE
Graduate Integration Commission of Monaco - The Graduate Integration Commission of Monaco has helped 98 young people find jobs out of 183 supported for 2024–2025, working with 269 partner companies. Key initiatives included job forums, CV workshops, career guides, and public service exam support, reaching hundreds of students and professionals. For 2025, new projects include an Alumni network, a digital CV platform, and expanding support to a wider audience.
Road deaths dropped and licence suspensions surged last month - Road deaths in the Alpes-Maritimes have dropped sharply in August after a deadly July, with one fatality compared to eight last year. Overall deaths since January are also down, though motorcyclists and pedestrians remain the most affected groups. At the same time, license suspensions surged to 391 in August, reflecting stricter penalties for alcohol, drugs, and speeding violations.
This week's weather - A warm air mass is pushing up over France, bringing summer-like temperatures to the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, with highs reaching 31–33°C through Friday. However, from Saturday night into Sunday, rain and thunderstorms are expected to return, first in the Var and then moving east.
BUSINESS
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit after nearly 50 years, saying Unilever stripped the brand of its independence and social activism. His departure follows years of disputes since the company stopped sales in Israeli settlements in 2021, sparking clashes with its parent firm. Unilever, now spinning off its ice cream business, thanked Greenfield but rejected his claims, insisting it still supports the brand’s values.
And - GSK, a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, will invest $30bn in the US over five years to build new factories, boost AI use, and fund drug research, including a $1.2bn plant in Pennsylvania. The move aligns with US pressure on pharma firms to relocate production, while other companies like Merck and AstraZeneca have scaled back UK projects.
SPORTS
MMA – 20-year-old Adel Erredir will proudly represent France at the MMA World Championships in Georgia this autumn, in the amateur category.
Football - Winger Lamine Yamal won’t be a part of Barcelona's squad for their Champions League match at Newcastle United on Thursday due to a groin issue.
Rugby Union - Franco Smith hopes the experiences his Glasgow Warriors players gathered playing alongside their Leinster counterparts for the British and Irish Lions in the summer can help strip away the "aura" of the Irish side.
WEATHER
Partly cloudy with long sunny intervals and gentle to moderate winds. Highs of 26 degrees in Nice, 27 in Cannes and Toulon, 29 in Saint-Tropez and 30 degrees in Marseille.
Tonight, mostly clear with lows of 18 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, partly cloudy with highs of 28 degrees and a gentle breeze.
Five suspects have been arrested after an armed robbery this afternoon in Lyon
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In Paris, left-wing and far-right MPs have joined forces to pass a new measure against tax optimisation by multinational corporations, during the firs...
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A ceremony took place in Nice this morning to mark the fifth anniversary of the attack at the Notre-Dame Basilica ...
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Income from fixed speed cameras in France fell by €76 million in 2024, dropping to €889 million from €965 million in 2023. The fall comes after many c...
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There’s been a large increase in unemployment in France. Just over 3.2 million people were completely unemployed in the third quarter...
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