News
France endures “exceptional” August heatwave - Météo-France has declared the recent heatwave as an “exceptional episode,” lasting 11 days and ranking as the second-longest in August after 2003. Southern regions, especially our region, the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, saw record-breaking heat, with over 40°C recorded 32 times across 20 weather stations. Nice experienced an unprecedented number of “tropical nights,” with temperatures staying above 20°C. This summer now ranks as France’s second-warmest in heatwave days (27), with Météo-France warning that such events are a growing sign of climate change.
Autopsy finds no trauma in death of streamer Jean Pormanove - In other news, an autopsy has found no signs of trauma in the death of French streamer Raphaël Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, who died on Monday in Contes, near Nice. Prosecutor Damien Martinelli said on Thursday that the 46-year-old’s death was likely due to medical or toxic causes, not external injuries or third-party involvement. A investigation is ongoing.
Woman and children escape arson attack in Grasse - A suspected arson attack has taken place in Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes), after two masked intruders broke into an apartment occupied by a woman and her two children before setting it on fire. The incident occurred on Thursday. The family managed to flee before firefighters arrived at around 6am. Residents of the building were evacuated, and a safety perimeter was set up. An investigation is ongoing. The suspects remain at large.
Bandol wines hit by new 15% U.S. tariff - Winemakers in Bandol face a fresh challenge as the U.S. imposes a 15% tax on all European wines, with no exemption for French producers. Cédric Gravier, president of Bandol wines, called the move a major blow. The tariff follows a trade deal signed in July between Donald Trump and the EU, after EU's efforts failed to protect the wine industry.
Cagnes-sur-Mer racecourse wraps up summer season - The Hippodrome of Cagnes-sur-Mer will close its summer racing season this Saturday, August 23rd, with a festive evening marking both the end of the season and the 80th anniversary of regional newspaper the Nice-Matin. Starting at 6 p.m., the event will feature seven trotting races and a pony race showcasing young riders from France, Belgium, Malta, and Sweden. To mark the occasion, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and the Monaco SPA will jointly donate €5,000 to two racing-related charities, with Gareth Wittstock, the Princess’s brother, attending. Entry is €5 for adults, free for minors. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the first race at 7:15 p.m.
Paris app helps locals find sunny terraces and may help save bistros – Finally, a Paris-made app, Jveuxdusoleil ("I want sun"), helps users find sunny café terraces by tracking sunlight across city streets. Created in 2020, it surged in popularity after a gloomy winter, with up to 20,000 users in a week. Though small-scale, the app taps into a beloved Parisian ritual, drinks on a terrasse, at a time when traditional bistros are rapidly disappearing. As tech is often blamed for eroding social habits, Jveuxdusoleil may ironically help preserve one of France’s most cherished pasttimes.
Sport
Rugby - England’s Red Roses enter this evening’s match against the United States as overwhelming favourites, boasting 57 wins in their last 58 games and holding seven consecutive Six Nations titles. However, despite the dominance, coach John Mitchell urges caution. The match kicks off at 8.30pm French time at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
Football – In the Premier League action tonight, West Ham are at home to Chelsea, kick off is at 9pm French time.
Tennis - British men’s No.1 Jack Draper will face a qualifier in the first round of the US Open as he aims to build on last year’s semi-final run in New York, where he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The tournament begins Sunday on New York’s hard courts, a day earlier than usual.
Business
US President Donald Trump has scaled back plans to impose steep tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors imported from the EU. New trade deal details reveal these sectors will face a 15% tariff, aligned with most other goods, rather than the previously threatened rates. The EU must first reduce US car export tariffs from 27.5% to 15% as part of the agreement.
Elon Musk and social media firm X (formerly Twitter) have reached a tentative $500 million settlement with former employees suing over severance pay after mass layoffs in 2022. The lawsuit claims workers were denied proper severance, receiving only one month’s pay or none. The deal awaits court approval.
And – McDonald’s Japan has delayed its planned “One Piece” toy giveaway following complaints about food waste during a recent Pokémon card promotion. The earlier giveaway sparked long queues, bulk buying, and discarded food, as fans sought to collect cards being resold online.
Weather
Fine and sunny, highs of 27° in Monaco, Nice and Saint-Tropez. Light winds expected inland and in the Var. This evening going down to 20 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for the weekend remaining fine and sunny with highs of 30 degrees. Rain is expected by Sunday evening into Monday morning.
Sunrise 06.42am Sunset 8.22pm
Beach weather
A warm and mostly sunny day with temperatures between 22°C and 29°C (72°F to 84°F) along the coast. Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco all see pleasant conditions, with sea temperatures around 24-25°C (75-77°F) ideal for swimming and light winds keeping the water calm. The UV index is high, so sunscreen, protective clothing, and shade during peak sun hours are recommended.
And Finally
If you feel tired all the time, it could be what you're eating and that’s bad news for cheese lovers. A new study found that some foods, like aged cheese, salami, pickles, and soy sauce, contain something called tyramine. This can keep you awake at night and make you more tired during the day. Men seem to be more affected. But there’s good news too, foods like fish, nuts, and seeds (which have omega-3 and omega-6) may help you feel more awake. Scientists say both your body and your diet play a big role in how sleepy you feel. They now want to test if changing your diet could help people feel more alert.
Storm Benjamin swept across France on Thursday, battering much of the country with winds exceeding 160 km/h and leaving one person dead in Corsica. By...
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The Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are on Meteo France alerts for high winds until eight o’clock this evening as Storm Benjamin passes through our region...
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France is preparing for severe weather as Storm Benjamin sweeps in from the British Isles, bringing violent winds, heavy rain and powerful coastal wav...
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Storm Benjamin is on the way. It’s expected that the Atlantic coast and parts of north-west France will be worst affected, but Meteo France have yello...
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Dozens of left-wing activists have marched through Nice, protesting plans to name a public square after former president Nicolas Sarkozy, the march oc...
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