NEWS
Yellow storm alert leads to closures - Due to a yellow storm alert, all parks, gardens, and the coastal path are closed today in Nice. Météo-France forecasts heavy rain, strong winds up to 80 km/h, and possible hail in the Alpes-Maritimes. The closures aim to protect residents and tourists from risks like falling trees and landslides.
Trees are shedding due to heatwave - An autumn-like scene is taking place as trees are shedding leaves this month In Aix-en-Provence and other parts of the PACA region. The heatwave and drought have put trees under water stress, forcing them to drop leaves to survive. Locals see it as a striking sign of climate change, raising questions about how to adapt to hotter, drier summers.
French Drone Racing Championship - The French Drone Racing Championship takes place this weekend at the Mont-Gros stadium in La Gaude, near Nice. Thirty of France’s top pilots, including world champion Kilian Rousseau, will compete with drones reaching 250 km/h. The free event runs Saturday for trials and Sunday for the main races, offering a Formula 1–style competition format.
New Casino mini-market and butcher in Colomars - A new Casino mini-market and a butcher shop have just opened, offering fresh and local products while reviving local commerce that had disappeared in Colomars, Alpes-Maritimes. Residents welcomed these openings enthusiastically, with more services and a new client parking area planned by 2026.
Composting sites under maintenance - Composting sites are undergoing maintenance, reorganization, and changes in usage rules to improve waste sorting in Valbonne, Alpes-Maritimes. Several sites are temporarily closed, with alternatives available and a new site opening in September at La Tourangelle. Residents are encouraged to adopt better composting practices, with events like a “café compost” to promote awareness.
Reinforcing the Roya riverbanks - The Ventimiglia city council has approved a €2.5 million project to reinforce the Roya riverbanks after the devastation of Storm Alex. The plan will strengthen dikes to protect against flooding and landslide risks, funded through regional soil defence programs. Mayor Flavio Di Muro called it a key step to reduce flood vulnerability in high-risk neighbourhoods.
NEWS UPDATE
Gas leak in Nice - A gas leak has led to the evacuation of about 30 people and traffic disruptions today near Place Yves-Klein in central Nice. Firefighters secured the area after a construction machine pierced a medium-pressure gas pipe. The leak was quickly stopped by GRDF, and evacuees were able to return once safety checks confirmed no danger.
False fire alert as black smoke is seen in Nice - Thick black smoke seen today above L’Archet hospital in Nice was caused by a backup generator. The generator, triggered after a power outage, malfunctioned briefly when starting up, producing heavy smoke. Fire services confirmed there was no danger, dismissing rumours of a blaze spread on social media.
Car models recalled - Nearly 50 car models from ten brands, including Toyota, Ford, Peugeot, Citroën, and Fiat, are being recalled in France. Defects include faulty automatic emergency braking, fuel leaks, weak seatbelt anchors, and defective airbags, posing risks of injury or fire. Owners can check the official Rappel Conso site to see if their vehicle is affected and should contact their dealer if so.
wash wash scam - A 48-year-old yoga teacher has lost €220,000 to a con artist who posed as a high-ranking official living in Monaco. He tricked her with the “wash wash” scam, claiming he could multiply money using a chemical solution and staged fake demonstrations. After months of manipulation, the victim realised the fraud. The man, already known for multiple scams, was arrested but released under judicial supervision.
BUSINESS
A new UNEF ranking shows the cost of student living has risen sharply in France, with Aix-en-Provence now the 3rd most expensive city outside Paris. Students there spend about €1,291 per month, mainly due to high rents averaging €603. Paris tops the list at over €1,600 monthly, while Limoges is the cheapest at €1,073.
And - Walmart has recalled certain frozen shrimp products in 13 US states after the FDA detected radioactive Caesium-137 in a shipment from an Indonesian supplier. While the contaminated sample did not reach consumers, shoppers are urged to discard shrimp from three affected batches. Walmart has removed the products from stores and is offering full refunds while investigations continue.
SPORTS
Football - Leon Bailey has completed a loan move from Aston Villa to Italian club Roma.
Cricket - Rehan Ahmed starred with bat and ball as Trent Rockets sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Manchester Originals at Trent Bridge.
Boxing - Former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has been jailed in his native Mexico for charges of arms trafficking and organised crime. This comes after his arrest by ICE officers in the United States in July, five days after fighting Jake Paul.
WEATHER
Hazy with showery thunderstorms across the region, and hail on the Alpes-Maritimes’ coasts. We’ve got gentle to moderate winds accompanied by slightly cooler temperatures reaching 27 degrees in Nice, Cannes and Marseille, 28 in Toulon and 29 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, mostly clear with lows of 23 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, rainy start of the day near Nice and Cannes followed by a cloudy afternoon as thunderstorms persist inland with highs of 28 degrees accompanied by moderate to strong winds.
A mother and her two daughters have narrowly escaped after masked attackers set fire to their apartment early today in Grasse....
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A landslide on the RN 205 near Chamonix in the Haute-Savoie has killed two passengers and seriously injured the driver. Traffic has reopened but the a...
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Due to a yellow storm alert, all parks, gardens, and the coastal path are closed today in Nice.
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French MP Éric Ciotti is set to stand trial on the 27th of March 2026 over allegations linked to defamation, following a complaint made by Christian E...
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A power outage has left shops and homes without electricity for about 30 minutes today in Nice’s Libération district....
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