News
Changes from June 1st - As with the first of every month in France several changes took effect Sunday, June 1st, impacting households, job seekers, and consumers. Gas prices have dropped again, with the regulated rate falling by 5.3%. For a household using 10,000 kWh a year, this means an annual bill of around €1,378, down from €1,518 in April. At France Travail, job seekers will no longer face automatic penalties for missing an appointment without justification. Instead, their overall behaviour and job search efforts will be assessed before any sanctions are considered. This is part of a broader reform aimed at improving efficiency and cutting paperwork. TV viewers will also see changes starting June 6th, as digital terrestrial channels are being reorganized. BFMTV, CNews, LCI, and franceinfo will be grouped together on channels 13 to 16. Other channels, including France 4, Gulli, and a new channel called T18, will also move to new positions. Later in the month, starting June 20th, all smartphones and tablets sold in stores will feature a new energy label. It will include details on battery life, repairability, and resistance to drops, dust, and water, helping shoppers make more informed choices.
Bad weather – In other news, bad weather hit eastern France, leading Météo-France placing ten departments on and orange alert on Sunday due to violent thunderstorms. Areas affected included the Ardèche, the Drôme, the Rhône, Isère, and the Jura. Winds up to 100 km/h, hail, and intense rainfall of up to 40 mm were forecast. In Valence, the storms disrupted TGV train services between Paris and the southeast, including the Côte d’Azur, causing delays and cancellations.
Man arrested after opening fire on two neighbours - Locally, a 53-year-old man has been arrested at the weekend in Puget-sur-Argens, in the Var region, after opening fire on two neighbours, killing one and injuring the other. Authorities say the suspect had posted racist videos on social media both before and after the attack. The incident came to light late on May 31st when a woman alerted police that her partner had just shot a neighbour. Officers arrived quickly and confirmed the death of a man, reportedly around 35 years old and believed to be of Tunisian nationality. A second victim, a 25-year-old woman of Turkish nationality, was wounded by a gunshot to the hand and taken to hospital. The man fled the scene but was later found and arrested by police. Several weapons, including automatic pistols, a shotgun, and a handgun, were discovered in his vehicle. A judicial investigation has been opened for murder and attempted murder with a discriminatory motive, related to the victims’ alleged ethnic backgrounds. The Draguignan prosecutor confirmed the investigation is ongoing, and the accused’s police custody will be extended ahead of a court hearing.
Beach closures – In other news locally, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) has announced that four beaches in the Alpes-Maritimes will remain closed to swimming throughout the summer due to water quality concerns. In Saint-Laurent-du-Var, the Landsberg and the Cousteau beaches will stay closed, despite recent reopenings. Gorbio Beach in Menton is also closed, along with Marina Beach in Villeneuve-Loubet, which remains shut due to ongoing construction. From June to September, ARS will carry out weekly water quality checks across the region. Temporary closures may occur if pollution levels rise, as happened 96 times in 2024. Updated information is available on the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur ARS website.
World Environment Day on June 5th focuses on fighting plastic pollution – This Thursday, June 5th, the United Nations’ World Environment Day will be celebrated worldwide, with this year’s theme centered on “Fighting Plastic Pollution.” Since its launch in 1974, the day has grown into a major global awareness event, observed in over 100 countries. The Principality’s Department of the Environment is marking the occasion with an all-day event on Rue Princesse Caroline from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visitors can learn about alternatives to single-use plastics, waste sorting, zero-waste solutions, and sustainable tourism. Various local organizations, including Green Box Monaco, the Tourist and Convention Authority and the Mission for the Energy Transition, will host workshops and presentations throughout the day. This initiative aligns with ongoing government efforts such as bans on plastic bags and single-use packaging, plus community beach cleanups, all aimed at reducing plastic pollution.
Artwork on port of Nice - Finally, for several weeks, a striking blue light has been flashing intermittently along the seawall at the Port of Nice, visible even from the airport and nearby hills. The installation, called "Cetacea," is an art piece by Emmanuel Régent created for the Ocean Arts Biennale and connected to the upcoming UNOC Summit. The 200-meter-long line of blue LEDs lights up for about five minutes each time a whale or other cetacean passes off the coast, triggered by a scientific system monitoring marine life to prevent boat collisions. The light mimics the breathing and heartbeat of whales underwater. The artist’s goal is to raise awareness about marine life and inspire the public to protect these animals. It will remain on display until September.
Business
China has accused the United States of “severely violating” their recent trade agreement and warned it will take strong action to protect its interests. In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the U.S. had “seriously undermined” the deal reached during talks in Geneva last month, where both countries agreed to reduce tariffs on each other’s goods. Tensions between the two powers appear to be rising again, despite efforts earlier this year to cool trade disputes. China has not yet specified what countermeasures it will take but said they would be firm and targeted.
Meanwhile, Asian share markets and the U.S. dollar started the week on a cautious note today, as ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions kept investors on edge. Market sentiment was further dampened by nervousness ahead of key U.S. jobs data and an anticipated interest rate cut in Europe.
And - Dozens of Glastonbury ticket holders have been left out of pocket after luxury glamping provider Yurtel went bust just weeks before the festival. Some customers lost up to £16,500 on accommodation and ticket packages they believed were secured. Yurtel told customers via email that it had ceased trading “with immediate effect” and would not be issuing refunds. Instead, they were advised to try to recover their money through a third party once the company enters liquidation. To make matters worse, many found out that Yurtel had never actually purchased Glastonbury 2025 tickets on their behalf, despite the bookings being part of expensive hospitality packages starting from £10,000.
Sport
Football - Celebrations across France turned violent after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won their first-ever Champions League title, leaving two people dead and hundreds arrested, according to the French interior ministry. In the southwest town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed on Saturday night. In Paris, a 23-year-old man was killed when his scooter was hit by a vehicle. Authorities are investigating both incidents.
What started as joyful celebrations quickly descended into chaos in several cities. Flares, fireworks, and vandalism lit up the streets. Cars were set on fire, bus shelters smashed, and shops looted, especially around the Champs-Élysées and Parc des Princes stadium. The French interior ministry said that 559 people were arrested, including 491 in Paris. At least 192 people were injured, including 22 police officers and seven firefighters. One officer was seriously hurt by a firework and is in an induced coma.
Despite the violence, PSG's victory parade went ahead on Sunday with tight security. Around 100,000 fans gathered along the Champs-Élysées to see the team parade the trophy in an open-top bus, followed by a second celebration at the Parc des Princes stadium.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the clashes as “unacceptable” and promised that those responsible would be punished. He still praised PSG’s win, calling it “a glorious day” and hosted the team at the Élysée Palace to congratulate them. PSG also released a statement denouncing the violence, saying these “isolated acts” do not represent the club or its supporters.
Formula One - George Russell has accused Max Verstappen of "letting himself down" after a collision during the Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen appeared to drive into Russell’s Mercedes on purpose. The Red Bull driver was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, which dropped him from fifth to tenth place in the final standings. The result leaves Verstappen 49 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, who claimed victory ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. As a result of the incident, Verstappen also received three penalty points on his licence, bringing his total to 11. If he gets just one more point before some of them expire, he’ll face a one-race ban. He’ll need to stay clean at the upcoming races in Canada and Austria to avoid that outcome.
Tennis - Cam Norrie is set for a major challenge as he faces Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the French Open. Norrie’s run to the last 16 has been one of the surprise stories of the tournament. Now 29 and ranked 82nd in the world, many thought his best tennis was behind him. But in Paris, he’s found form just in time, making it this far at Roland-Garros for the first time in his career.
Weather
Unsettled start to the week, with cloudy skies along the coast and showers inland. Light winds. Highs of 23 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez, 24 degrees in Nice and 25 degrees in Vence. This evening going down to 15 degrees with cloudy skies.
The outlook for tomorrow, sunny intervals with light winds. Wednesday thundery showers are forecast highs of 24 degrees.
Sunrise 05.50am
Sunset 09.06pm
Weather elsewhere
London 22° sunny intervals.
Paris 23° sunny intervals.
Dublin 19° sunny.
Beach weather
Marseille – air temperature 23°, sea temperature 19°, cloudy skies. UV level 8.
Nice – air temperature 23°, sea temperature 22°, cloudy skies. UV level 8.
And Finally
According to reports, a little-known rule in Switzerland might stop you from becoming a citizen, simply for being too annoying. While the country is known for its jaw-dropping scenery, high quality of life, and world-class chocolate, not everyone gets to stay. Applicants must be considered “well integrated” by local residents and if the locals don’t vibe with you, your citizenship could be denied.
One real case recently reported concerned Dutch-born activist Nancy Holten, who met all legal requirements but was rejected because of her vocal opposition to Swiss traditions like cowbells and piglet racing. Locals reportedly found her... well, a bit too much.
Her application was eventually approved by higher authorities, but the story sparked debate and a few laughs. One Swiss commenter summed it up online: “Absolutely true.” So, word of advice, in Switzerland, it pays to be polite... and maybe leave the cowbells alone.
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