NEWS
SFR offers compensation following network outage - Following a major network outage on Monday the 16th of June, which disrupted calls, SMS, and internet, SFR has revealed the outage came from a technical issue in their core network. Though services were gradually restored by the evening, SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers. No action is required from users, and they will be notified by SMS with activation details. The operator has not provided further technical explanations.
Eric Ciotti speaks of Louis Sarkozy - Éric Ciotti has refused to support a possible 2026 mayoral bid by Louis Sarkozy in Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, citing a lack of local roots and genuine political conviction. Speaking on TV5 Monde, Ciotti has expressed surprise at Sarkozy’s sudden interest in the city. He emphasized that politics requires deep community ties, which he believes Louis lacks. Ciotti also dismissed the idea of backing him even if Nicolas Sarkozy requested it, stating he doesn’t take orders from the former president. He called such a request "incongruous" and said he would ignore it.
Renovation work in the Stade Louis II - Renovation work at Monaco’s Stade Louis II, set to finish by 2035, requires clearing out many of the stadium’s parking spaces ahead of the 2027 Games of the Small States of Europe. Around half of the 1,400 users must permanently move, sparking discontent, especially among local employees now relocated to more distant lots. The government acknowledges applying pressure to meet deadlines and denies any threatening behavior, emphasizing efforts to communicate and support users. New pedestrian paths and shuttle buses are being added to ease the transition. Despite tensions, officials insist the relocation is necessary and will be completed by summer 2025.
New bus lane linking Antibes to Sophia Antipolis - A new dedicated bus lane now connects Antibes and Sophia Antipolis in just 20 minutes, after over ten years of construction and €129 million invested. The final section was inaugurated near the Weisweiller roundabout. Around 15,000 commuters will benefit from this faster, more reliable route. The six-kilometre lane serves bus line A, which runs every 10-12 minutes from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm. The bus is gas-powered and free to use, requiring only a €5 pass valid for five years.
Luxury watch theft attempt - A luxury watch theft attempt worth €80,000 was foiled last Saturday evening around 9 p.m. on the Croisette in Cannes. Two men tried to rob a victim but were caught by the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC), patrolling as part of a special watch-theft prevention operation. The suspects were taken into custody immediately. They appeared before the Grasse criminal court on Wednesday. Despite security measures, such thefts remain a serious issue in Cannes.
Wingsuit jump accident - A 32-year-old mountain guide has died on the 17th of June after a wingsuit jump from the Pointe des Trifides, which is 3,450m high, in the Hautes-Alpes. His body was found at the base of a cliff in La Grave. The man, from the Vallouise valley, was an experienced high-mountain guide. An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of death. Wingsuit flying involves jumping with a winged suit and ending the flight by deploying a parachute.
Sperm shortage in the Alpes-Maritimes - Sperm and egg donations are no longer anonymous since the 1st of April 2025 in France, so children conceived this way may access donor information once they reach adulthood. This bioethics law has led to a drop in sperm donors, especially in the Alpes-Maritimes, where only about 100 men donate and most remaining sperm samples from previous anonymous donors are now unusable. Demand is growing, particularly from single women and same-sex couples. Nonetheless, some donors see their act as altruistic and support transparency for future children.
NEWS UPDATE
Creating a secure humanitarion corridor - Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi and Région Sud President Renaud Muselier are urging the creation of a secure humanitarian corridor to repatriate French citizens stranded in Israel. Several residents from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region are reportedly affected. Local authorities have mobilized support services to assist families and coordinate with French and Israeli officials. A helpline and support system have been set up in Nice for affected families. Each reported case will receive personalized assistance to ensure a safe return.
Shiprwreck discovered - Marine archaeologist Anne Joncheray, in collaboration with engineering students from the École des Mines, has discovered a new shipwreck at a depth of 107 meters near Île d'Or, off Saint-Raphaël, Alpes-Maritimes. The wreck, a 15m x 5m work barge with a crane and engine, was first detected in 2016 but identified only recently using underwater robots. Though the cause of the sinking remains unknown, the site has become a marine sanctuary. This find adds to Joncheray’s extensive work documenting underwater heritage along the Mediterranean coast.
Heatwave - France is expected to face a heatwave in the coming days, with temperatures rising up to 38°C, peaking on Saturday, especially in the western regions. Warm nights are also forecast, with lows not dropping below 20°C. A noticeable cooldown is expected on Sunday, particularly in the west, while the east will remain hot. Météo-France has issued yellow heat alerts and plans to raise some areas to orange alert by Friday. The heatwave is due to a high-pressure system trapping hot air from the Iberian Peninsula, also affecting parts of Western Europe like Spain and the UK.
BUSINESS
Elon Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) is suing the New York State over a law requiring social media companies to disclose how they handle hate speech and extremism. X argues the law violates the First Amendment by forcing disclosure of protected speech. The law, called the Stop Hiding Hate Act, was passed in December and is defended by its sponsors as necessary to combat online hate. Critics say Musk has weakened content moderation and reduced enforcement on X, increasing the spread of harmful content. X has previously won a similar case in California and is citing that in this lawsuit.
And - Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has revealed that Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s company, has been offering his team massive incentives, reportedly $100 million signing bonuses, to lure them away, but so far none of his top talent has left. Meta is aggressively expanding its AI capabilities, recently investing $14 billion in Scale AI. Altman respects Meta’s ambition but doubts their strength in innovation compared to OpenAI. He believes OpenAI’s mission to build superintelligence and its unique culture keep staff loyal. Altman also suggested that OpenAI may eventually be more valuable than its competitors due to its focus and vision.
SPORTS
Football - Sheffield United are expected to confirm the departure of manager Chris Wilder on Wednesday after they failed to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. Former Southampton, Reading and Hull City manager, Ruben Selles, is expected to take over at Bramall Lane after Wilder's departure is confirmed. The Blades finished third in the Championship but lost to Sunderland in injury time in the play-off final last month.
Rugby Union - Argentina have named a strong team to face the British and Irish Lions in Dublin on Friday night, with hooker Julian Montoya captaining the Pumas, six days after losing the Premiership final with Leicester. Sanitago Carreras, who will move to Bath from Gloucester this summer, is at full-back with Tomas Albornoz at fly-half.
Tennis - Former British number one Dan Evans has been given a wildcard into the men's singles draw at Wimbledon later this month. Evans, 35, recently regained his place in the world's top 200 and the news comes two days after the former world number 21 earned his biggest win in two years.
WEATHER
Bright and clear today with moderate winds and highs of 28 degrees in Marseille, 29 in Nice, 30 in Cannes and Toulon and 31 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, mostly clear with lows of 22 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, bright and clear, though Barcelonnette and Briançon will be met with risks of thunderstorms midafternoon. We’ll have moderate winds with highs of 31 degrees on the coast and 35 degrees inland.
A major police stop-and-search operation along France's borders is being carried out today, involving 4,000 police officers, gendarmes and customs off...
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SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers following a major network outage on the 16th of June....
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French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ...
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Fine and sunny with light winds. Highs of 28 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 27 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 29 degrees in Toulon. ...
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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...
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