NEWS
Cardin scam - A new scam called "carding" is worrying cybersecurity experts. Fraudsters steal banking details, often via phishing, and then make small, discreet transactions to slowly drain victims' accounts. These amounts are low enough to go unnoticed by both the account holder and the bank. To stay safe, avoid clicking suspicious links, don’t save card info on websites, and contact your bank if in doubt.
Drugs seized leads to network dismantle - French customs officers have seized 138.5 kg of nearly pure cocaine early June worth €9 million hidden in a shipment of cardboard in direction to Barcelona at the Marseille port. Using a controlled delivery strategy, authorities tracked the container to Spain, leading to the arrest of four people and the dismantling of a criminal network in Barcelona.
Water outage - A water outage has affected several neighbourhoods due to a supply line leak on Chemin du Val de Pôme in Biot, Alpes-Maritimes. Veolia is currently repairing the issue, with water service expected to resume by 4pm on the 31st of July. Areas impacted include Les Pomelines residence and nearby streets like Chemin des Prés and Route de la Mer. Residents may notice discoloured water once service returns and are advised to let it run briefly until it clears.
Luxury items stolen in TGV - A Franco-Canadian couple has been robbed of €350,000 worth of luxury jewellery and watches aboard a TGV from Aix-en-Provence to Paris. The theft occurred on the 27th of July, when the suspects stole a Louis Vuitton bag containing valuable items and got off at Avignon TGV station. Another passenger alerted the victim too late, and the thieves had already disappeared. The couple has filed a police report.
Fire in a nightclub - A fire broke out around 4am in a nightclub near Aix-en-Provence, causing significant damage but no injuries. The venue was closed at the time, and no one was inside. About 50 firefighters and 30 vehicles, including the Colossus firefighting robot, were deployed to contain the blaze. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Rescued children - Three children have been rescued by firefighters on Wednesday night after getting stuck 5 meters high on a ride at the Magic World fair in Hyères, Var. The ride suddenly stopped, leaving them unable to get down on their own. Firefighters quickly responded with a ladder truck and safely brought the children back to the ground. No one was injured, and the incident ended without harm.
Train des Merveilles line - The "Train des Merveilles" line in the Roya Valley has been out of service for nearly a year due to major renovation works, including the replacement of tracks and infrastructure in tunnels between Sospel and Touët-de-l’Escarène, Alpes-Maritimes. The project involves 28 separate sites over 14 km, replacing thousands of sleepers, rails, and tons of ballast. Despite challenging tunnel conditions, 75% of the €74 million project, mostly funded by the PACA region, is now complete. The train is expected to resume service by mid-December 2025.
Jasmine harvest - The jasmine harvest is underway in Grasse. It consists of a magical early-morning ritual where delicate flowers are handpicked at peak fragrance. The blossoms, essential for luxury perfumes, must be harvested precisely and gently before midday. Producers work under contracts with major cosmetic brands, ensuring stable income and shared climate risk. Grasse’s perfume flower tradition, including jasmine and rose, is a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage.
NEWS UPDATE
Wildfire - A wildfire broke out on the 31st of July, prompting road closures and aerial firefighting efforts near Sospel in the Alpes-Maritimes. Two helicopters and six fire engines have been deployed to control the blaze, which started in a sparsely populated area. Traffic on the RD 2204 was halted, with detours set up via nearby roads. Earlier that afternoon, another fire near La Gaude was quickly contained after burning 500 m².
Nice-Breil train line - The modernisation of the Nice-Breil train line, including two major tunnels, is set to finish by December 2025 after 15 months of closure. The project covers 14 km of tracks and aims to reduce delays while improving safety, especially in landslide-prone areas. It involves 15 companies and 200 workers, with major work including tunnel reinforcement, bridge upgrades, and full track renewal. Funded mostly by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, it will restore service to key local stops and support both commuters and tourism.
BUSINESS
The U.S. has announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Brazilian imports, raising the rate from 10% to 50%, mainly as political retaliation for Brazil’s prosecution of former President Bolsonaro. U.S. President Donald Trump claims this is about trade, but the U.S. actually has a surplus with Brazil, and the move is widely seen as a response to actions by Brazil’s judiciary, especially Judge Alexandre de Moraes. The tariffs could hurt both economies, raising prices in the U.S. and damaging key Brazilian exporters like coffee and beef producers. President Lula has condemned the move as foreign interference but gained domestic support, while the risk of a broader trade war between the two countries grows.
And - Restaurant owners across the UK are increasingly affected by “dine and dash” thefts, where customers leave without paying or use scams like placing glass in food to avoid bills. These incidents are rising, adding financial and mental stress to a sector already hit by the pandemic and rising costs. Some staff have been verbally abused or even physically assaulted. Businesses are responding with new security measures, but many cases go unreported due to limited police resources.
SPORTS
Pétanque - The 9th International Pétanque Tournament will take place in Nice from the 1st-3rd of August across two open-air sites: Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais. Over 250 men’s, women’s, and youth teams will compete, with finals held in a 2,500-seat arena at Place Masséna. Despite the large setup with sand and barriers, no traffic changes are planned, and the event has adjusted hours due to summer heat.
Rugby Union - British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has made two changes to his team for the third and final Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday. Blair Kinghorn replaces James Lowe on the left wing and James Ryan comes in for Ollie Chessum at lock. Farell said that winning the series 3-0 would mean the world to them.
Tennis - Emma Raducanu continued to build momentum before next month's US Open with a straight-set win over American Peyton Stearns at the Canadian Open. British number one Raducanu, a shock champion at the New York slam in 2021, progressed to the third round 6-2 6-4.
WEATHER
It’s bright and clear across the region with the exception of Tende where the greenest gardens can be seen as light rain keeps pouring over there accompanied by moderate winds. It’s nice and warm today with highs of 27 degrees in Nice, 28 in Toulon and Marseille, 29 in Cannes and 31 degrees in Saint-Tropez
Tonight, clear skies with lows of 20 degrees
Outlook for tomorrow, mostly clear with highs of 26 degrees though we’ll have chances of thunderstorms near Tende where the unsettled weather will persist throughout the weekend as the rest of the region will enjoy mostly sunny skies with occasional cloudy patches.
An earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale has been recorded in the Val d’Allos. According to SismoAzur, the tremor struck at 4:31am on Thursday...
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Sunshine with clear skies throughout the day. Highs of 27 degrees in Nice and Saint-Tropez, 26 degrees in Monaco, 28 degrees in Vence and reaching 30 ...
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A new scam called "carding" is worrying cybersecurity experts. Fraudsters steal banking details, often via phishing, and then make small, discreet tra...
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Regional health officials have confirmed the first locally transmitted West Nile virus (WNV) case in France this year, diagnosed in mid-July in Hyères...
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Nineteen months after losing his daughter in a fatal road accident in Monaco, Vugar Akhundov, father of 19-year-old Dilara, has issued an open letter ...
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