News National
France to tighten ban on mobile phones in middle schools - France’s Education Minister Élisabeth Borne has announced that France will tighten its ban on mobile phones in middle schools, requiring students aged 11 to 15 to store their devices in lockers or pouches at the start of the day, only retrieving them when leaving school. Borne explained that this measure aims to ensure students are fully separated from their phones throughout the school day, starting in September. She emphasized the importance of this "digital pause" for children’s wellbeing and success at school, citing concerns over the harmful effects of excessive screen use.
Since 2018, mobile phones have been banned in French middle schools (collèges), with devices required to stay off and stored away during the school day. This has led to positive outcomes, including more social interaction and better concentration. However, some students were still sneaking phone use during breaks. The new policy, tested in about 100 middle schools, involves fully separating students from their phones for the entire school day. Feedback from the pilot program has been positive, with significant support from parents and teachers.
Borne also referred to a recent study highlighting the decline in reading among students, with many multitasking on phones. She cited a report recommending that children should not have smartphones before age 13 and should be banned from mainstream social media until 18.
Rare cast of Rodin’s The Kiss to be auctioned - A rare cast of Rodin’s The Kiss is set to be auctioned for €500,000 after years in a private home. The 60cm bronze version, one of the first three cast during Rodin’s lifetime, has been in private hands for most of the past century. Rodin’s iconic sculpture, created in 1882, depicts the tragic lovers Paolo and Francesca from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The bronze was commissioned in 1904 as a wedding gift. Experts call it a “very desirable” and “very sensual” work. The piece will be sold by auction in Angers on April 25th.
Local News
Renovation of popular private beach - Renovations are underway at Paloma Beach causing significant changes to the iconic Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat coastline. The popular private beach, including its Mediterranean restaurant, has been dismantled and will remain closed for the season. A large part of beach is also inaccessible due to work being carried out. While swimmers can still enjoy a small section of the beach, there will be no dining options available as in previous summers. The Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat town hall announced plans to choose a new private beach manager, with a new facility set to open by summer 2026.
Emirates reaches significant milestone - Airline company Emirates has reached a significant milestone, with 3 million passengers having flown on its daily Nice-Dubai route, operated by the iconic A380 since 2017. The route, which has been in operation since 1994, connects the French Riviera to the world, and Emirates is the only airline offering daily A380 service outside of Paris. To celebrate the milestone on April 9, 2025, the CEO of Emirates France, Cédric Renard, presented a special gift to the 3 millionth passenger at Nice Airport. Renard praised the region's unique appeal and highlighted the A380's importance in connecting Nice to East Asia, Australia, and beyond. Looking ahead, Renard expressed hopes of reaching the next 3 million passengers long before 30 years, highlighting the growing demand for the route.
Coming into land at Nice airport is considered to be one of the most beautiful landings in the world - Meanwhile, according to a ranking by AllClear Travel Insurance, coming into land at Nice International Airport is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and the most impressive in France. The Côte d'Azur airport, known for its breathtaking views of the French Riviera, ranks 12th globally. It beats iconic locations like Gibraltar Airport. The descent into Nice Airport is especially striking, flying over the stunning coastline and the brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean. Lord Howe Island Airport in Australia tops the list, followed by Queenstown International Airport in New Zealand and Madeira Airport in Portugal.
Carlo app treaming up with Monaco Liver Disorder association - Carlo, the Monegasque payment app known for its 5% cashback and support of local businesses, is teaming up with the Monaco Liver Disorder (MLD) association for a special cause, a 662 km Ultra-Trail bike ride to raise awareness and funds for children with rare liver diseases. The aim is to make hospital stays more comforting for children and families by creating warmer, more welcoming environments. Carlo users can now support the initiative directly through the app with a simple donation. The challenge reflects the app’s values of community, solidarity, and local impact—turning every pedal stroke into a step toward a more humane future.
Michel Disdier from Nice become only French driver in over 40 years to participate in the NASCAR Championship - Michel Disdier from Nice has become the only French driver in over 40 years to compete in the American NASCAR championship. On March 21, 2025, he participated in a Craftsman Truck Series race in Miami, Florida, marking his return to the NASCAR circuit after several years away due to the pandemic. Looking ahead, Disdier hopes to secure a spot for the full NASCAR season. With Thierry Guetta, the famous French artist known as Mr. Brainwash, decorating his car, Disdier’s dream of becoming a fixture in NASCAR is very much alive.
French barbecue championship stops at Brignoles in the Var - The French Barbecue Championship took place at the Brignoles Fair on Saturday. Teams competed in three categories: lamb, chicken, and vegetables, using the same cut of meat and Weber barbecues. Judging criteria included presentation, cooking, taste, originality, and the "barbecue spirit." Two-time French champion Kevin from Aux Saveurs de Kev and other competitors showcased local products and creative recipes. The Fair's winner will represent the region at the final in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on June 28-29.
Call for Applications for the 2025 Music Festival - Monaco City Hall is inviting musical groups to apply for the 2025 Music Festival, aiming to offer a wide variety of free concerts accessible to everyone. This year, performances will be held across various venues in the Principality on June 21, 2025, between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30pm as part of the Fete de la Musique. Application Requirements: Interested groups of all musical styles are encouraged to apply. To participate, applications must be submitted by email before Wednesday, April 3th0, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. to animation@mairie.mc.
The application must include: A presentation of the group and its members, the proposed musical repertoire along with a demo tape. Successful applicants will be contacted by the City’s Entertainment Department and will have the chance to perform at one of Monaco's many venues dedicated to the event.
Business
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “nobody is getting off the hook” over unfair trade, hinting at more tariffs despite previously exempting smartphones and computers from China duties. Posting on Truth Social, he suggested these items could soon face tariffs under a “different bucket.” China responded by urging the U.S. to cancel tariffs entirely, calling for a reset in trade relations.
The UK government is taking control of Chinese-owned British Steel after fast-tracking emergency legislation through Parliament in a rare Saturday sitting. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said nationalising the Scunthorpe plant, which employs 2,700 people, is the likely next step.
And - France’s Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Sunday that France plans to reduce its budget deficit from 5.4% to 4.6% of GDP by 2026, which will require €40 billion ($45.4 billion) in savings. He added that “we are in a state of emergency regarding our budget”.
Sport
Tennis - Carlos Alcaraz has said he is "proud" of how he handled a tough month after battling back to beat Lorenzo Musetti and win the Monte Carlo Masters. After a slow start, Alcaraz raised his level to win 3-6 6-1 6-0, with Musetti hampered by a leg injury late in the match. The win marks Alcaraz’s sixth ATP Masters 1000 title and 18th overall and gives the 21-year-old a boost ahead of his French Open title defence.
Golf - Rory McIlroy has finally realized his lifelong dream at Augusta National, winning his first Masters title and completing the career Grand Slam after 14 years of trying. He beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off, sinking a short birdie putt after missing a par to win in regulation. Overcome with emotion, McIlroy roared, collapsed to the ground, and wept with joy.
Football – In the Premier League on Sunday it was a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea Ipswich Town, Liverpool edged out the Hammers 2-1. It was a high-scoring win for Wolves beating Tottenham 4-2 and a dominant performance from Newcastle as they beat Manchester United 4-1.
In the Premier League this evening Bournemouth are at home to Fulham kick off is at 9pm French time.
Formula One - McLaren's Oscar Piastri claimed a dominant win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, closing the gap on team-mate Lando Norris in the title race. Piastri led comfortably as George Russell held off a late challenge from Norris, who recovered from sixth and a penalty to finish third. Charles Leclerc took fourth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen, off the pace, finished sixth after passing Pierre Gasly on the final lap. Norris now leads the championship by three points over Piastri, with Verstappen eight points behind in third.
Rugby Union - Thomas Ramos kicked a last-minute penalty to seal victory for Toulouse over Toulon winning 21-18 in the Investec Champions Cup quarterfinals. They’ll face Bordeaux-Begles in an all-French semi-final next month.
Meanwhile, Scotland lost at home to Italy in round three of the Women's Six Nations.
Weather
Cloudy with moderate to strong winds expected across the region by this afternoon. Rain is forecast by early evening. Highs of 19 degrees in Nice, 18 degrees in Monaco, 17 degrees in Vence, 16 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 14 degrees along the coast with cloudy skies and showers.
The outlook for tomorrow and Wednesday. Showers to start giving way to some sunny spells in the afternoon with strong winds in the Var and highs of 17 degree. Wednesday rain is forecast across the region with highs of 18 degrees.
Sunrise 06.49am
Sunset 08.12pm
Weather elsewhere
London 16° sunny intervals. Dublin 12° light rain.
Paris 21° sunny intervals. Palma 20° thundery showers.
New York 17° sunny intervals. Oslo 17° sunny.
Beach weather
Nice Plage – Cloudy. Sea temperature 16°, air temperature 16° feels like 20°. Moderate winds by the afternoon UV level 3.
Marseille plage – Cloudy. Sea temperature 16°, air temperature 17°. UV level 3. Moderate to strong winds.
And Finally
Teenagers who share warm, supportive relationships with their parents are more likely to have stronger and longer-lasting romantic connections in adulthood, a new study from the University of Amsterdam reveals. Researchers tracked hundreds of teens into adulthood, finding that those who felt loved at home formed more intimate and committed relationships later on—and maintained closer friendships too. The study, published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, suggests open communication and emotional warmth at home help teens develop healthier interpersonal bonds. Previous research has also linked strong parent-teen relationships to better mental and physical health. Interestingly, a 2018 Cardiff University study found that teens who frequently clashed with parents were more likely to engage in activism and charitable causes—proving that even conflict has its potential upsides.
France has recalled its ambassador to Algeria and announced the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats, mirroring Algeria’s decision to expel 12 French of...
Read More
Rain with some thundery showers and moderate winds. Highs of 17 degrees in Nice and Toulon, 15 degrees in Monaco, 16 degrees in Mougins, 14 degrees in...
Read More
French justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has arrived in Toulon to support prison officers in the city. It follows an incident last night during which a...
Read More
France is weighing its response after Algeria ordered 12 French embassy staff to leave the country within 48 hours, following the arrest of an Algeria...
Read More
Monaco has paid tribute to Josephine Baker on the 50th anniversary of her death, with a ceremony on Saturday April 12th at the Monaco cemetery where s...
Read More
