National News
French President promises action against recent attacks towards French prisons - French President Emmanuel Macron has promised that those behind a wave of attacks on prisons and staff will be “found, tried, and punished,” calling the violence unacceptable. At least a dozen assaults have hit French prisons in recent days, including a gun attack on a Toulon prison and an arson attack targeting wardens' homes. The attacks are believed to be retaliation by drug gangs after the government announced tougher prison measures for traffickers, including plans to isolate 200 inmates in ultra-secure facilities. France’s anti-terror unit has taken over the investigation due to the scale and coordination of the violence. Macron praised the prison service’s courage, reaffirming national support amid efforts to clamp down on drug networks operating from behind bars.
UK and France in talks about illegal migrants - In other news, the UK government is in talks with France about a plan to return illegal migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats. In exchange, the UK would accept legal migrants seeking family reunion. France’s interior ministry has told UK media that the scheme would operate on a "one-for-one" basis, aiming to discourage smuggling networks.
Local News
Weather warning - Météo-France has issued orange weather alerts for Corsica due to "rain and flooding". The warning was put in place on Wednesday evening at 8pm, with rain expected to intensify overnight and into this Thursday morning. Meanwhile the yellow weather alert due to heavy rain remains in place for the Alpes Maritimes and the Var until 10am.
New art installation replaces #ILoveNice - The iconic #ILoveNice structure has been moved a few meters away to make room for a new art installation in Nice. The beloved selfie spot has been replaced by a large metal ball, which is part of the upcoming Arts and the Ocean exhibition, opening in May. Designed to look like a sea urchin, the work reflects the marine world and will be lit up at night over the Mediterranean. This sculpture is one of six monumental artworks on the theme of the ocean, part of a city-wide exhibition that stretches from the Promenade des Anglais to the Promenade du Paillon. The inauguration is set for early May, bringing art into public spaces for both locals and visitors to enjoy.
Article sparks controversy - An article published in Libération on April 10th has sparked controversy after the author Esther Teillard shared the experiences of disenchanted Parisians who moved to Marseille post-COVID, expecting sun, sea, and affordable living. The piece, which features the struggles of a 32-year-old newcomer, Elodie, who faced mockery for her "outsider" appearance, has been criticized for perpetuating clichés about the city. In response, Marseille journalist Gregory Martin-Aude called the article "condescending," accusing Teillard of viewing the city through a narrow, outsider's lens. On social media, many readers took issue with what they saw as a disrespectful portrayal of the city and its people. Teillard defended her article, clarifying that it was meant as a critique of the gentrification of Marseille, not a condemnation of the city or its inhabitants. She emphasized her own Marseille roots, countering accusations of contempt. The debate over Marseille’s transformation, from an artistic haven to a "Parisian fad," continues to stir emotions, with some calling for a shift away from divisive stereotypes.
Exceptional auction at this year’s Grand Prix - Finally, Schumacher's 2001 F1 car is to Be auctioned during this year’s Monaco Grand Prix. The Ferrari F2001 driven by Michael Schumacher to victory in the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix will go under the hammer on May 24th, just before qualifying, near the iconic circuit. After a notable victory in the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix, Schumacher secured the Monegasque win in this car, cementing its place in F1 history. Previously auctioned in 2017 for $7.5 million, the F2001 is expected to fetch an even higher price in Monaco. RM Sotheby’s has announced that part of the proceeds will benefit the Keep Fighting Foundation, supporting Schumacher’s charitable efforts.
Business
Gold has surged to a new record high amid rising fears over the US-China trade war. Hitting $3,357.40 (£2,540) per ounce on Wednesday before easing slightly, it marked a 30% rise since the start of the year. The jump follows comments from the head of the US central bank, warning that President Trump's tariff policies could lead to slower growth and higher prices. Investors are turning to gold as a safe haven during growing economic uncertainty.
A Tesla whistleblower has won a key round in her long legal battle against the company and Elon Musk. Engineer Cristina Balan was fired in 2014 after raising safety concerns about curling carpets under pedals in some Tesla models. Balan says she hopes to launch new proceedings and finally face Musk in court. Once a prominent Tesla employee—her initials were engraved on Model S batteries—she claims she was pushed out after managers ignored her safety warnings. Tesla later accused her of using company resources for a “secret project,” suggesting embezzlement. She denies the allegation and filed her case in 2019.
And - As the US-China trade war intensifies, focus has turned to the rising tit-for-tat tariffs — but China is also hitting back in other ways. Beijing has imposed export controls on key rare earth minerals and magnets, a major blow to the US and a stark reminder of its reliance on these resources. In response, President Trump has directed the commerce department to find ways to boost domestic production and reduce dependence on imports, aiming to regain control of this crucial industry.
Sport
Football – Newcastle United have climbed to third in the Premier League with a dominant 5-0 win over Crystal Palace at St James' Park, boosting their Champions League hopes. The Magpies surged ahead with a ruthless first-half display. Jacob Murphy opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
Meanwhile, in the Champions League Arsenal held off Real Madrid to reach the semi-finals sealing a 2-1 win. Arsenal now head to just their third ever Champions League semi-final, where they’ll face PSG. And Inter Milan secured a Champions League semi-final spot with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich at San Siro.
Boxing - Promoter Eddie Hearn remains optimistic that Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua could still happen — and says it might only take a direct message between the fighters to get it going. Fury, 36, retired shortly after back-to-back losses, while Joshua, 35, hasn't fought since losing in September.
Weather
Strong winds with heavy rain in Nice and Monaco and the Alpes Maritimes region, gusty winds in the Var. Highs of 17 degrees in Nice, 15 degrees in Monaco, 14 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 11 degrees with cloudy skies.
The outlook for Good Friday, sunny intervals with highs of 17 degrees in Nice, sunny with a moderate breeze in Saint-Tropez. The weekend, starting off fine on Saturday morning, with showers forecast by the afternoon. Sunday, sunny spells remaining dry and Easter Monday looks like it will be rather unsettled with sunny spells and some scattered showers. Highs of 18 degrees.
Sunrise 06.44am
Sunset 08.16pm
Weather elsewhere
New York 16° sunny.
Amsterdam 14° light cloud.
Glasgow 11° light rain.
A British man has died in an avalanche in the Savoie department. According to local reports, the man in his twenties was on a road near the ski resort...
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Senior US, European, and Ukrainian diplomats will meet again in London next week after what France called an "excellent" day of peace talks in Paris o...
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Mainly fine with light winds and highs of 17 degrees in Nice and Saint-Tropez, 16 degrees in Monaco, 19 degrees in Toulon. This evening going down to ...
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The French government has instructed local prefects across France to immediately reinforce surveillance and protection of prisons and their staff. The...
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French President Emmanuel Macron has promised that those behind a wave of attacks on prisons and staff will be “found, tried, and punished,” calling t...
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