News
Earth tremor - 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 morning, with its epicentre located in the northern part of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The quake was mild but widely felt, with tremors reported across the Alpes-Maritimes and into the Var. While no damage has been reported, the event adds to a series of minor earth tremors in the region this week. On Wednesday, July 30th, a slightly stronger quake with a magnitude of 3.1 shook inland near Menton.
Road accident - In other news locally, an accident on the A8 motorway near La Trinité has resulted in a car catching fire. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, July 31st, shortly after 8:30pm eastbound. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene. Two young women were inside the vehicle at the time. One woman, in her early twenties, was seriously injured and is currently receiving treatment at the Pasteur Hospital in Nice. The second suffered minor injuries. Both were transported to hospital. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze. The cause of the accident is still unknown.
88-Year-Old woman dies after being hit by a scooter in Cannes - Meanwhile, an 88-year-old woman has died from her injuries after being struck by a scooter while crossing a pedestrian crossing in Cannes. The fatal accident occurred on Thursday, July 31st shortly after 6.30am on the Boulevard de la République. The scooter’s rider, a man in his fifties, sustained minor injuries and was treated by emergency services. Sadly, the woman was more seriously injured and, despite being transferred to Pasteur 2 Hospital in Nice, later died from her injuries. Police have launched an investigation for involuntary manslaughter. Video surveillance footage is being reviewed to help determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
Upgrade of tram network in Nice - Changes to public transport in Nice are currently underway as part of a plan to upgrade Line 1 of the city’s tramway network. The plan includes significant modifications to several tram units, with the goal of improving service quality for daily users across the Alpes-Maritimes. These updates are expected to roll out progressively over the coming months.
Changes to French nationality requirements – In other news, important changes are expected to come into effect in France concerning the process of acquiring French nationality. From January 1st, 2026, new rules will make it tougher for anyone applying for French citizenship. The language requirement will rise from a B1 level to a B2 level, meaning applicants will need to show a stronger, upper-intermediate command of French, both spoken and written. In addition, the way applicants demonstrate their knowledge of French society, history, and values will change. Instead of the current personal interview, there will be a formal civic exam. Exceptions will be made for those with chronic health issues or disabilities who cannot take the tests. The process will also become more streamlined and digital. Only applications that meet all basic criteria will move forward to the new civic exam stage. It’s important to note these changes apply only to applications submitted from January 2026 onward. Anyone applying before then will be assessed under the current rules.
Heatwave on its way – Finally, Meteo France has warned that there will be a sharp rise in temperatures from next week, with a hot air mass moving across western France and spreading toward the southeast. Some forecasts even suggest a full heatwave or possible new heatwave around August 11th, with temperatures potentially reaching 36 degrees or higher along the Mediterranean coast. While temperatures are expected to rise the exact duration remains uncertain.
Business
U.S President Donald Trump has increased Canada’s tariff rate from 25% to 35% in a new executive order. The move comes just hours before a deadline to finalise trade agreements, with the White House also announcing new tariffs on dozens of other countries, set to take effect in seven days. Earlier, Trump extended the pause on higher tariffs for Mexico by 90 days to allow for ongoing negotiations. The tariffs impose taxes on companies importing goods into the US, with experts warning that these costs could be passed on to consumers.
And - Heathrow Airport has announced an ambitious £49 billion plan to expand and modernize its facilities. The project will be funded through private investment. The UK government supports the plan, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves stating it will "make Britain the world's best-connected place to do business." However, the proposal faces strong opposition from environmental groups, politicians, and local residents. London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned the expansion would have a "severe impact on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets."
Sport
Formula One - Max Verstappen has confirmed he will stay with Red Bull for next season, ending speculation about a possible move to Mercedes. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the four-time world champion said he was focused on improving performance and planning ahead with the team.
Athletics - Britain's best athletes will compete in Birmingham this weekend at the UK Athletics Championships, aiming for a top-two finish and a qualifying standard to secure selection for the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Football - England midfielder Ella Toone has shared that her grandmother passed away on the morning of the Euro 2025 final. In an emotional Instagram post, Toone paid tribute to her. Toone said she would “miss her forever” but would “cherish the special memories.”
Weather
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 degrees in Marseille. Moderate to strong winds are forecast for the Var region. This evening going down to 17 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for the weekend, clear skies with plenty of sunshine highs of 28 degrees.
Sunrise 06.19am
Sunset 08.53pm
Weather elsewhere
London 21° light rain.
Paris 24° sunny intervals.
New York 23° light cloud.
Beach weather
Saint-Tropez – Air temperature 27°, sea temperature 25°. UV level 8.
La Ciotat – Air temperature 27°, sea temperature 21°. UV level 8.
And Finally
Scientists and Microsoft researchers have revealed the 40 jobs most likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence and the 40 that are safest for now. At the top of the list are interpreters, translators, and customer service representatives, with millions of jobs potentially affected. Jobs involving communication, information, and helping customers, like sales staff and flight attendants, also face a high risk of automation.
On the other hand, skilled industrial roles such as ship engineers and medical professions like oral surgeons are much less likely to be replaced by AI anytime soon. Experts warn that while AI could boost productivity, it might also lead to significant job losses. One leading AI specialist predicts that half of all current jobs could be automated within 15 years. However, many agree that AI can’t replace uniquely human skills like creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making. So, the future of work could look very different—but some jobs remain firmly in human hands for now.
Météo-France has declared the recent heatwave as an “exceptional episode,” lasting 11 days and ranking as the second-longest in August after 2003. Sou...
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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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