More flights cancelled at Nice airport today - Air traffic controllers have begun the second day of their two-day walkout - with more disruption expected at Nice airport today affecting summer holiday travel plans.Yesterday 169 flights were cancelled, on departures and arrivals. Nice is one of the worst affected airports in the country, and the French civil aviation authority has again asked airlines to cancel about 50% of flights at Nice today. The timing of the strike deals a blow to many holidaymakers, as today is the last day of the term and the start of the summer getaway for many. French transport minister Philippe Tabarot said the decision to strike at the start of the summer holidays was "unacceptable" and unfairly penalised hundreds of thousands of travellers. If you're due to fly today, you can check the live departure boards on the Nice airport website, or check directly with your airline.
Air pollution alert continues in Marseille - Marseille has extended its traffic restrictions due to ongoing air pollution issues. Only electric vehicles and those with a Crit'Air 1 or 2 score are allowed to use the city's roads until the restrictions are lifted. Marseille was hit by a level 1 smog alert since earlier this week, due to hot weather, and this was raised to level 2 since yesterday. The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture is urging people to avoid intensive sports and high-traffic areas, and to use public transport and carpooling.
Early pick-up on last day of school term - Meanwhile, schoolchildren in Nice are being offered the opportunity to start their summer holidays a few hours earlier than usual. Nice city hall has confirmed that, because of the ongoing hot weather, parents are allowed to pick up their children at 11.30 this morning if they wish. The measure was introduced at the beginning of the week as the Alpes-Maritimes was placed on an orange heatwave alert.
Orpi estate agency set on fire - An arson investigation has been opened after a fire at a branch of real estate agent Orpi in Golfe-Juan in the early hours of yesterday morning. Six firefighters were called out and no one was injured. Another of the group's branches was set on fire last weekend in Marseille. It comes after Orpi's chief executive reported earlier this week that he had received insults and death threats, after two colleagues were accused of verbally abusing French MEP Rima Hassan. Samples from the Golfe-Juan fire have been taken away for analysis and police are trying to identify two men on a scooter who are suspected of being involved.
No evening metros in Marseille until next year - Marseille's metro system will remain closed after 9.30pm on weeknights for at least another year, as works continue to automate the network. The early closure was introduced in October 2023, from Monday to Thursday. The city's metros were due to be fully automated by the second half of 2025, but this has now been pushed back. The first automated trains could start running on parts of the network next year. In the meantime, replacement buses operate after 9.30pm.
Monaco names near Minister of State - Monaco's government has a new leader. The princely palace has appointed Christophe Mirmand to be the new Minister of State. The appointment comes six days after Philippe Mettoux, who was due to take up the role, withdrew before taking office, citing local opposition. 63-year-old Christophe Mirmand will take up the role on 21st July. A senior civil servant, he's a graduate of Sciences Po and management school ENA, a former chief of staff within Manuel Valls' government and a former prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes.
BUSINESS
Microsoft has confirmed that it will lay off as many as 9,000 workers, in the technology giant's latest wave of job cuts this year. The company said several divisions would be affected without specifying which ones but reports suggest that its Xbox video gaming unit will be hit. Microsoft has set out plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), and is spending $80bn in huge data centres to train AI models. The cuts would equate to 4% of Microsoft's 228,000-strong global workforce. It has initiated three other rounds of redundancies so far in 2025, including in May when it said it would cut 6,000 roles.
The cost of UK government borrowing has fallen, partly reversing a surge prompted by the chancellor's emotional appearance in the Commons earlier this week. The yield on UK 10-year bonds fell to 4.52%, down from 4.61% at Wednesday's close, as markets seemed to back the chancellor, afraid that if she left her job then control over the government's finances would weaken. The pound, which also fell on Wednesday, rose to $1.36, although it has not regained all the ground it lost.
US President Donald Trump has called for the chair of the Federal Reserve to quit right away, in an escalation of his attacks on Jerome Powell. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also included a link to a news article about a US federal housing regulator calling for Mr Powell to be investigated over his testimony about renovations to the central bank's Washington headquarters. Trump nominated Powell to be the Fed chair during his first term. Since then, he has repeatedly criticised him for not cutting interest rates but it is unclear whether the president has the authority to remove him from the post. Despite the president's continued criticism of Powell, he said earlier this year that he had "no intention of firing him".
SPORT
Football - Liverpool say they are "devastated" by the "unimaginable loss" of forward Diogo Jota, who has died in a car crash aged 28. The Portugal international and his brother Andre Silva died in the accident, which happened in the Spanish province of Zamora. Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, just last month. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota, expressed his condolences on social media. Liverpool said in a statement they were "devastated by the tragic passing". Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolves, won the Premier League last season and was also part of the squad that won the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021-22. The Portuguese Football Federation said he was "much more than an amazing player".
Rugby Union - Former England captain Owen Farrell has been called up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, marking a remarkable return to the Test scene. Coach Andy Farrell has turned to his son as a replacement for utility back Elliot Daly, who has been ruled out after fracturing his arm in Wednesday's win over Queensland Reds.
Formula One - Leading official Tim Mayer is to announce that he is running for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election. The 59-year-old American will stand against incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who fired Mayer as a steward in November. Mayer is to hold a news conference announcing his candidature today near Silverstone, which is hosting the British Grand Prix this weekend. An insider close to Mayer said he had the support needed to stand.
Tennis - British number one Emma Raducanu produced one of her best displays in recent memory to sweep aside 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova and reach the Wimbledon third round. In an outstanding performance marked by authority and intensity, the 22-year-old won 6-3 6-3 in 82 minutes amid an electric atmosphere on Centre Court.
Boxing - Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has hinted he will fight Oleksandr Usyk in a trilogy bout at Wembley Stadium in April 2026. Fury, 36, retired from boxing in January after losing a title fight rematch with Usyk by unanimous decision the previous month. Fury's co-promoters Queensberry said it was in discussions with Team Fury and Riyadh Season, the annual cultural and sporting event in the capital of Saudi Arabia. Both of their title fights to date were held in Riyadh. The Ukrainian won their first encounter in May 2024.
WEATHER
It should be fine and sunny throughout the region today, with a risk of thunderstorms further inland in the Alpes-Maritimes. Some strong winds in the Var, temperatures this afternoon reaching 31 degrees Celsius on the Alpes-Maritimes coast, 32 on the Var coast and up to 35 inland in the Var. Clear skies tonight, staying warm again, 27 degrees on the Alpes-Maritimes coast, 21 inland. The outlook for the weekend: a mix of sunny spells and thundery showers on Saturday, getting a bit cooler with temperatures around 29 degrees on the coast and 32 inland. There's more thunderstorms forecast for Sunday, temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius.
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