National News
Proposed ban on hijabs for those under 15 in France - French President Emmanuel Macron's political party, Renaissance, has proposed banning those under the age of 15 in France from wearing the Muslim headscarf in public. The move comes as the government reviews a report on the rise of "political Islamism" in France, which describes the Muslim Brotherhood as a potential threat to national integration. The proposed ban would restrict the headscarves in public spaces, such as in the street, cafes, and stores, arguing that the garment undermines gender equality and children's protection. The party, led by former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, also calls for making it a criminal offense for parents to coerce their underage daughters into wearing the veil.
While Renaissance is part of a minority government in France, the proposal has sparked strong debate. Critics argue that the ban reflects growing concerns some maintain it infringes on religious freedom. The discussions come as France and Germany have the largest Muslim populations in the European Union.
Drug trafficking investigation - A wave of arrests has taken place across France as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation in Nice. The operation, led by the Nice prosecutor's office and the police service of the Alpes-Maritimes, has resulted in the arrest of five individuals, four in the Paris region and one in Toulon. The arrests are linked to a turf war among traffickers aiming to control the narcotics sales point in Nice. Authorities believe the suspects had been planning violent acts to establish dominance in the area. Investigations revealed the suspects had been traveling between the Paris region and Nice to carry out attempted break-ins and other criminal activities.
The arrested individuals, aged between 24 and 48, are known to the justice system for previous offenses related to aggravated violence and drug trafficking. This operation is part of broader efforts to tackle the rising figures of drug trafficking and violence in the Alpes-Maritimes region.
Airline abandons planned flight route - Odyssey Airlines has abandoned its planned flight route connecting Nice to Nîmes, a decision that has left many customers disappointed. Originally set to launch in June 2025, the new service was meant to offer residents of the Côte d'Azur a convenient way to travel to Nîmes from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. However, the first flight will never take off, as Odyssey Airlines scrapped the route before it even began. This cancellation is part of a broader pattern of planned domestic routes that the airline failed to launch, leaving many travellers disappointed by the airline's inability to fulfil its commitments.
New bill to reduce tobacco use in the Principality – The Monaco National Council has passed a new bill aimed at reducing tobacco use, especially among minors. The bill raises the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 18 and expands smoking restrictions across the principality. This move updates Law 1.346, initially set in 2008, which previously allowed minors over the age of 16 to legally buy tobacco.
A significant aspect of the new legislation is the ban on puffs, disposable electronic cigarettes that have become popular with younger users due to their affordability and flavoured options. Authorities view puffs as a "gateway to smoking" and aim to curb their appeal. The ban includes the manufacture, sale, distribution, and free distribution of puffs, with fines of up to €200 for consumption, €18,000 for selling, and €90,000 for manufacturing. The bill also extends tobacco consumption bans to coastal beaches, public swimming pools, public transport, playgrounds, and vehicles transporting minors.
As part of the law, Monaco will launch an awareness campaign to educate the public on the dangers of smoking and vaping, especially among the younger generation. The legislation reflects Monaco’s commitment to pioneering public health measures and fighting the rising use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes among youth.
Monaco Grand Prix - With the Monaco Grand Prix just days away, Charles Leclerc has shared his thoughts on a challenging start to the 2025 F1 season during a press session at the Marius restaurant here on the port of Monaco. Reflecting on Ferrari’s performance struggles, Leclerc emphasized the motivation to improve despite difficulties, especially compared to competitors like Red Bull and Mercedes. Leclerc touched on his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, calling the opportunity to learn from the F1 legend invaluable. He also looked ahead to the two-stop rule introduced for Monaco, which he believes will bring unpredictability to Sunday’s race.
Cannes Film Festival - At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Jodie Foster has made her debut in a major French role at the age of 62. Starring in a psychological drama Private Life, which is presented out of competition. The actress, known for her iconic roles in Taxi Driver and Silence of the Lambs, plays a psychiatrist who unravels while investigating the sudden death of a patient. In Private Life, Foster stars alongside French cinema luminaries, including Daniel Auteuil (her ex-husband), Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric (her husband and patient), and Vincent Lacoste (her son). Despite a history of English-language blockbusters, Foster’s heart for French cinema led her to decline previous offers, preferring a genuine French film rather than a co-production. Reflecting on the cultural differences between American and French filmmaking, Foster noted the small crews and strong role of writers in France, contrasting with Hollywood's larger, more commercial-driven productions.
PAWARDS ceremony – Finally, the inaugural PAWARDS ceremony took place on May 21 in Cannes, celebrating the crucial role animals play in culture. Hosted by Christophe Beaugrand and chaired by Stéphanie Chermont, the event recognized emotional and impactful works. 2025 PAWARDS Winners:
Best Film: The Friend (Scott McGehee & David Siegel) – A moving story of grief and healing through a bond with a dog. Best Documentary: Best Friends (Bryce Dallas Howard) – A global exploration of human-animal relationships. Best Animated Film: Flow, the Cat Who Was No Longer Afraid of Water (Gints Zilbalodis) – A poetic adventure led by a brave cat. Best Book: Sitting, Standing, Lying Down! (Ovidie) – A tale of love and loyalty through a dog's lessons. Best Advertising: It’s Never Too Late to Fall in Love (Peterborough Humane Society) – A heartwarming story about late adoption. Best Communication Campaign: Taylor Swift – The Black Dog (Secondechance.org / BETC Paris) – A campaign renaming black dogs "Taylor Swift" to combat adoption challenges.
The PAWARDS highlighted the emotional bond between animals and humans in art, film, and advertising.
Business
The Marks & Spencer website has been reported to be currently offline this Thursday morning, leaving customers unable to browse or place orders as the retailer deals with the ongoing effects of a cyber-attack that occurred last month. Users attempting to visit the site on Wednesday evening were met with a message. M&S has not commented further. The retailer has also warned that the cyber-attack will likely result in a £300m hit to this year's profits. M&S confirmed its online services would remain disrupted until July, with a gradual return to full functionality.
Nike has announced it will increase prices on a range of products, including shoes and clothing, starting 1st June, citing “seasonal planning” as the reason behind the move. The company made no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, which have disrupted global supply chains and prompted competitor Adidas to warn of higher prices for popular models. In a notable shift, Nike also confirmed it will resume direct sales through Amazon in the U.S. for the first time since 2019.
And - Legendary British designer Sir Jony Ive, who helped create the Apple iPhone, is joining forces with OpenAI, as the artificial intelligence (AI) firm sets its sights on developing hardware. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, will buy a start-up founded by Sir Jony. Open AI boss Sam Altman said the goal was to create a "family of devices" made specifically with AI in mind. The deal comes as the tech industry has been looking for its next hardware hit after the iPhone and takes particular aim at Apple, which some say has been moving too slowly to incorporate AI into its devices.
Sport
Football - Tottenham Hotspur have clinched their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final. The victory brings long-awaited silverware to the North London club.
While Spurs celebrate a return to the Champions League and a £100m windfall, United's miserable season continues.
Tennis - Novak Djokovic made a confident start to his Geneva Open campaign to reach the quarterfinals and notch his first clay-court win since last summer’s Olympic triumph in Paris. The 37-year-old, chasing his 100th ATP title, ended a three-match losing streak with the victory and looks to build momentum ahead of the French Open, where he will seek a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
Formula One - Formula 1 returns to Monte Carlo this weekend for the 82nd Monaco Grand Prix. Qualifying on Saturday is now widely regarded as the most crucial and thrilling part of the weekend, as track position often dictates the final result. The race runs from May Friday to Sunday continuing a tradition that dates back to 1929, and has been a permanent fixture in F1 since 1955, with the only recent absence in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Cannes film festival report - with Tiara Miramar Beach Hotel
Kevin Spacey has made his return to Cannes. The two-time Oscar-winner accepted a lifetime achievement award for excellence in film at the Better World Fund benefit gala dinner at the Carlton Hotel.
Spacey's appearance had raised some eyebrows. It marks a return to the limelight for an actor whose career was derailed by a number of misconduct allegations.
This is his first visit to Cannes since 2016, one year before the #MeToo movement began.
Making its world premiere at Cannes yesterday was Romería, one of the 22 films vying for the Palme d'Or. It's the third feature film from Spanish director Carla Simón. It's a drama about an orphaned young woman, Marina, who travels to Galicia to find her uncle and uncover information about her biological father.
Now we've made it this far into the festival talking almost entirely about films. But Cannes is more than just that - it's the red carpet, the after-parties and, of course, the fashion. Cannes has a reputation for being one of the glitziest and most glamorous events in the world.
According to reporters who know more about this than we do, the fashion this year has been top-tier with plenty of memorable style moments from the likes of Natalie Portman, Bella Hadid, Eva Longoria and Nicole Kidman.
But this year, organisers told guests attending the festival to dress more modestly. Sheer see-through outfits were banned - as were long or voluminous dresses that could hinder the flow of people and complicate seating arrangements.
The new dress code came at the last minute, just hours before kick-off. That prompted Halle Berry to have to make a last-minute costume change on the opening night or risk being turned away from the very festival that she's on the jury for. Since then, however, there have been multiple breaches of the new dress code, by the likes of Dakota Johnson and Stella Maxwell.
And where there's a rule, there's a loophole. Some celebrities have noted that the ban only applies to official Cannes premiere red carpet moments. That gives them carte blanche to whatever they want for other outings during the festival.
Weather
The Alpes-Maritimes department has once again been placed on a yellow thunderstorm alert. While the morning will see some clear spells, conditions are expected to worsen by the afternoon as thunderstorms move in, bringing a risk of heavy storms across the region. Météo-France has issued the yellow alert from 4pm to 10pm. Winds will intensify throughout the day, with gusts of up to 80 km/h in Antibes, and 70 km/h in Nice and Théoule. Temperatures will see highs of 27°C in Antibes and 26°C in Nice during the afternoon. Stay alert for rapidly changing weather conditions later today.
Highs of 23 degrees in Monaco, 21 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 13 degrees along the coast. The outlook for tomorrow and heading into the weekend. Friday, fine and sunny with highs of 25 degrees, strong winds persisting in the Var. Saturday and Sunday should be mainly fine for both the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Sunrise 05.58am
Sunset 08.56pm
Weather elsewhere
London 15° sunny.
Paris 19° sunny intervals.
Dublin 17° sunny intervals.
Beach weather
Nice – Sea temperature 19°, air temperature 23° risk of showers. UV level 7.
Saint-Tropez – Sea temperature 19°, air temperature 23° strong winds clear skies. UV level 7.
Photo - Breil-sur-Roya is a charming village nestled in the Alpes-Maritimes region of southeastern France, near the Italian border. Surrounded by mountains and crossed by the Roya River, it's known for its picturesque old town, baroque churches, and outdoor activities like hiking and canyoning.
During World War II, Breil-sur-Roya was occupied by Italy, then Germany and finally liberated by local resistance fighters in 1944, making it a place with a layered and resilient history.
French President Emmanuel Macron's political party, Renaissance, has proposed banning those under the age of 15 in France from wearing the Muslim head...
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The Alpes-Maritimes department has once again been placed on a yellow thunderstorm alert. While the morning will see some clear spells, conditions are...
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After deadly storms have killed three people in the Var, local mayors are calling for solidarity and urgent action on climate change. ...
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Three elderly people have died following a sudden surge in water levels caused by torrential rainfall in the Var region on Tuesday, 20th May. Among th...
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After Tuesday’s devastating floods, Météo-France forecasts a calmer day for the Var department today with sunshine expected in the morning and cloudy ...
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