News
Storm Benjamin leaves one dead in Corsica and travel chaos across Southern France - 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 evening, only Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud remained under an orange weather alert, while the Alpes-Maritimes returned to yellow alert at 6 p.m., according to Météo-France. The victim, a 45-year-old German tourist, was swept away by the sudden rise of the Fango River in Galeria (Haute-Corse) while swimming with his family. His wife and two children were rescued unharmed. Seven other people were injured across France, including a firefighter in Gironde who was seriously hurt but is in a stable condition. In the Alpes-Maritimes, gusts of up to 100 km/h caused falling trees, minor damage and power outages. Around 253 homes in Vence were left without electricity after a tree struck a high-voltage line, while over 3,000 households in the Grasse area also lost power. Transport networks were heavily affected. Rail services between Antibes and Cannes and Cannes and Grasse were suspended for much of the day due to debris on the tracks, resuming only after 8 p.m. Flights at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport experienced delays of up to an hour as strong crosswinds disrupted operations. Elsewhere, a brief “mini-tornado” was reported in Nice’s Pellegrini Square around 1:30 p.m., though no injuries occurred. Authorities in Nice and Grasse activated local crisis centres to coordinate responses, and parks across the city were closed as a precaution. Despite the severe winds and widespread disruptions, the South-East of France escaped major devastation. Officials praised emergency services for their swift action and urged continued caution as Corsica braced for winds of up to 170 km/h through Friday morning.
Teenager seriously injured after scooter crashes during police chase in Nice - A 17-year-old has been seriously injured after his scooter collided with a car in central Nice during the early hours of Thursday morning, following a refusal to comply with a police traffic stop. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. near Place de l’Île-de-Beauté, where officers had set up a routine road check. According to police sources, the rider avoided the checkpoint and fled, pursued first by police patrol units and then by the anti-crime brigade (BAC). During the chase, the scooter reportedly ran several red lights before crashing into a car at the junction of Rue de Rivoli and Rue de France. The rider suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pasteur Hospital by firefighters from the Alpes-Maritimes emergency service (SDIS 06). His passenger, also 17, sustained minor shoulder injuries and was transported to Lenval Hospital. The driver of the car was unharmed. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
Two thirds of French people struggle with online administration, study finds - Nearly two thirds of people in France say they struggle with online administrative procedures, according to a new study by the Défenseur des Droits. The survey found that 61% of respondents “sometimes or often” face difficulties when completing online forms or accessing public services, up from 44% in 2016. Tasks such as filing taxes, applying for benefits or downloading certificates were most commonly cited. Problems included missing or incorrect information (52%), complex procedures (46%), and late or absent responses (47%). Some groups were hit particularly hard: 69% of those in financial difficulty and 68% of people with disabilities reported issues. More than half of respondents said they cannot complete online admin without help, and almost a quarter gave up on applying for rights due to digital barriers.
Autumn Antiques Fair opens this weekend in Fayence - From this Saturday until 2 November, the charming Provençal village of Fayence will host its Autumn Antiques and Art Fair at the historic Grand Jardin estate. The event brings together around 40 exhibitors from across France and Italy, offering visitors a refined blend of history, art and craftsmanship. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (entry €6), the fair also invites visitors to enjoy a gourmet pause at the on-site restaurant run by chef Nicolas Denis. Set within the restored 18th-century Grand Jardin — once the residence of the Marquise de Villeneuve, the event promises an elegant celebration of heritage, passion and the Provençal art of living.
Sport
OGC Nice have suffered their third straight loss in the Europa League. They lost their league match against Spanish side Celta Vigo 2-1 last night. There was a goal by Mohamed-Ali Cho 16 minutes in - although a red card was handed to Jonathan Clauss shortly afterwards. It leaves the club 33rd in the table.
British boxer Anthony Joshua is set to go the whole of 2025 without a fight. The former heavyweight champion hasn't been in the ring since losing to Daniel Dubois in September last year - his fourth professional defeat.
Max Verstappen will hope to keep the pressure on McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix. The Red Bull racer goes into first practice trailing F1 championship leader Piastri by 40 points.
Business
Donald Trump has said he's ending all trade negotiations with Canada - because of a TV advert. The US President called the ad - which opposed US tariffs - 'egregious behaviour'.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he aims to double exports to countries outside the US because of Trump's levies.
Apple has lost a UK legal case which accused the company of charging too much commission on its App Store. It was the first mass lawsuit against a tech giant under British law. Apple say they're planning to appeal.
Figures show investment scams are pushing up the amount of money being stolen in online payment frauds. Losses from people being tricked into transferring money to a fraudster went up by 12-percent in the first half of this year.
Weather
A bright and clear day across the Cote d'Azur. Slightly milder and less breezy than usual - with highs of 18 degrees in Nice. The weekend is also looking dry, sunny and warm.
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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