NEWS
4 of the 10 Most Welcoming Cities in France are in the PACA Region - Four cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region made Booking.com's 2025 list of the "most welcoming destinations in France." Roussillon, a village in Vaucluse, ranked first, followed by L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, another village in Vaucluse, in fifth, Bédoin, Vaucluse, in seventh, and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, in eighth. The rankings, based on over 360 million verified reviews, highlight exceptional hospitality and the region's enduring appeal to travellers.
Drug Trafficking - A drug trafficker has been arrested with 150 kg of cocaine on the 18th of February by anti-narcotics investigators from Ofast in Aix-en-Provence. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into dismantling criminal drug organizations. The city has seen increasing drug-related violence, including the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old during a drug deal in December 2024.
Car Crashes into Ravine - A car carrying four minors has plunged 50 meters into a ravine early Wednesday morning in Utelle, Alpes-Maritimes, killing a 17-year-old boy and injuring three others. Two 16-year-olds sustained minor injuries, while another 17-year-old was critically injured. The cause of the accident is still unknown, amid rising road accidents in the region.
Hunting Sparks Tensions in Breil-sur-Roya - A woman accuses hunters of illegally hunting on her land, sparking long-standing tensions In Breil-sur-Roya. Many locals fear speaking out against the hunters due to potential retaliation, including vandalism and threats. The hunters and local officials deny wrongdoing, but concerns persist over safety, favouritism, and an atmosphere of intimidation. In the past months, a horse has been injured, and an ox has been killed during a hunting accident.
Shopkeepers Struggling - Shopkeepers are struggling due to prolonged construction on Avenue des Tuilières, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, causing a significant drop in foot traffic and sales (down 20-50% for some). Many fear closures and layoffs, with calls for changes to traffic flow and potential financial compensation. While some businesses are heavily impacted, others remain stable, citing loyalty from regular customers.
2025 Classic Var and Tour des Alpes-Maritimes - The 2025 Classic Var and Tour des Alpes-Maritimes cycling races will take place from the 21st to the 23rd of February, featuring challenging courses and top international riders. The Classic Var offers a new 163.2 km route ending at the steep Mur de Fayence, while the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes includes a tough 162.4 km first stage to Gourdon and a 131.8 km second stage from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Vence.
NEWS UPDATE
Suspicious Bags in Cannes - A security perimeter was set up on Wednesday afternoon due to two "suspicious" bags around the Palais des Festivals and the maritime station in Cannes. Bomb disposal experts were called in, but the alert was lifted around 3:50 p.m. The bags were likely left behind by distracted tourists.
BUSINESS
South Korea has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of sharing user data with ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, leading to its removal from app stores. The country’s data regulator confirmed communication between the two companies but has yet to determine the extent of data sharing. DeepSeek, which gained rapid global popularity, faces increasing scrutiny over privacy concerns, with multiple countries banning it from government devices.
And - KFC is moving its US corporate headquarters from Kentucky to Plano, Texas, while keeping some operations in Kentucky. The move is part of Yum Brands' strategy to have dual headquarters, with KFC and Pizza Hut in Texas and Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill in California. Kentucky's governor criticized the decision, highlighting KFC's historic ties to the state.
SPORTS
Formula 1 - Lewis Hamilton says he is "invigorated" as he made his first global appearance as a Ferrari driver at Formula 1's glitzy 2025 season launch show at London's O2 Arena.
Rugby Union - Argentina second-row Guido Petti has signed for Harlequins for the 2025-26 season. The 30-year-old lock will join up with the club after completing the current campaign with Bordeaux Begles. Petti has 87 caps for Los Pumas and has featured at three World Cup.
Tennis - Emma Raducanu was beaten by Karolina Muchova 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 in a hard-fought match in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. However, the match was overshadowed after a man that "exhibited fixated behaviour" towards Raducanu earlier in the week was ejected from the crowd. The British wildcard was in tears as she approached the umpire's chair after the second game, with the match briefly halted after Muchova took a 2-0 lead.
WEATHER
Grey across the region this afternoon with moderate winds. Highs of 14 degrees in Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Toulon, and 16 degrees in Marseille.
Tonight, partly cloudy with lows of 9 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, partly sunny with highs of 14 degrees and moderate winds.
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Cloudy start with sunshine filtering in later in the day. Highs of 29 degrees in Monaco by mid-afternoon, 31 degrees in Nice and 28 degrees in Saint-T...
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France Travail, formerly Pôle Emploi, has suffered a cyberattack affecting the personal data of up to 340,000 job seekers. ...
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A serious accident involving four vehicles, including a lorry has caused major traffic disruption on the A50 motorway near Six-Fours in the Var region...
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Being well into the summer party season Monaco is ramping up efforts to tackle drink-driving with the return of BAF Monaco’s free late-night shuttle s...
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