News
French President hails important moment at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice - French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed a "very important moment" at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, announcing that 55 of the 60 required ratifications have been secured for the landmark High Seas Treaty. This international agreement aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, areas that make up nearly half the planet but remain largely unregulated. In addition to this milestone, 15 countries formally committed to the treaty during the summit. The move represents a major diplomatic win for France, which made the treaty's advancement a central priority for the conference. If fully ratified, the treaty will pave the way for the creation of marine protected areas and strengthen oversight of activities in the high seas, from fishing to mining.
Gala dinner as part of UN Ocean Summit - Meanwhile, Sunday night’s gala dinner at the iconic Negresco Hotel in Nice set a dazzling tone for the Ocean Summit, with 63 heads of state and more than 300 guests in attendance. President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron welcomed guests outside along the seafront before leading them into the Belle Époque landmark. Security was tight. All hotel staff were required to surrender their phones before their shifts to avoid leaks or selfies and none were allowed to carry devices during the event. Dinner was equally high-profile: a menu crafted by chefs Virginie Basselot, Alain Ducasse, and Fabrice Desvignes featured exclusively local and seasonal ingredients.
Angry fishermen gather on the sidelines of the UN Ocean Summit - However, on the sidelines of the UN Ocean Summit around 50 fishermen gathered in Nice on Monday, using the Conference as a platform to voice their concerns. "The farmers blocked the roads, we're going to block the sea!" they declared at Place Garibaldi, demanding to meet with representatives of the French government. Their main grievances include new European regulations they say threaten artisanal fishing, such as mandatory satellite tracking (VMS) for small boats, which they call unaffordable and unnecessary. Marine protected areas are another flashpoint; fishermen argue they should help shape environmental rules, not be sidelined by them.
Greenpeace ship banned from Nice port - Also, it’s not just the fishermen who are upset as Greenpeace’s ship Arctic Sunrise has been banned from entering the port of Nice during the Ocean Summit. Originally scheduled to dock for three days starting June 4th, the vessel was blocked by a decree from Nice City Hall, made in coordination with local authorities and the Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Greenpeace’s CEO Mads Christensen slammed the move as “a political decision... absolutely unacceptable.” Undeterred, Greenpeace announced on June 8th that Arctic Sunrise is en route to Nice, carrying the voices of three million people from 94 countries demanding a freeze on deep-sea mining, a topic notably missing from the summit’s draft declaration. As of Monday evening, the ship was spotted near Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, but how authorities will respond remains uncertain.
France’s Transport minister speaks about transport between Nice and Monaco - Another topic discussed at the Ocean Summit was transport and mobility. Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, said there is no single major project that will solve all the traffic problems between Nice and Monaco. Instead, efforts focus on improving maritime transport by speeding up decarbonization, with a new charter signed with Monaco to promote sustainable fuels, protect marine biodiversity, electrify docks, and reduce pollution. He hopes Italy and Spain will join this initiative. Tabarot also addressed unfair competition in Mediterranean shipping and promised stronger controls against foreign vessels that don’t follow labour laws, to protect French companies. Regarding Low Emission Zones, which have faced criticism, he stressed their importance for reducing pollution and saving lives but acknowledged the need to improve public transport and public acceptance. On the Saint Isidore toll in Nice, he explained that while the toll booths will be removed for safety and traffic flow, drivers will still have to pay fees. The future of motorway tolls will be discussed at a national level soon.
Taxi and private hire drivers across France launch wave of protests today - In other news, taxi and private hire drivers across France are launching coordinated protests starting today, Tuesday, June 11th, voicing separate but urgent demands. The mobilization, announced by unions representing both sectors, includes rallies in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Nice, Montpellier, Nantes, and Bordeaux. Private hire drivers (VTCs, including Uber, Bolt, and Heetch) are calling for a suspension on new driver registrations, arguing that market saturation is undercutting earnings. They are also demanding higher fares and plan to escalate pressure ahead of a key meeting with platforms on June 26th. They hope to secure talks with the Ministries of Labor and Transport before the summer break. Taxi drivers, meanwhile, are protesting a new health insurance agreement on patient transport set to take effect in October, which they say will significantly reduce their income. Their protest convoy began moving toward Paris Monday night, with a major rally planned for today at 3pm in Bercy, near the Ministry of the Economy. Additional actions are expected around Roissy and Orly airports on Wednesday morning. Frustration is mounting as taxi unions claim negotiations with the government have stalled, with no meaningful progress made in recent weeks. A meeting with the Ministry of Health is scheduled for Wednesday.
Netflix drama Adolescence to be shown in French schools - France has joined the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium in introducing the Netflix drama Adolescence into secondary schools, aiming to educate teenagers about toxic masculinity, online radicalisation, and the dangers of social media. The series follows a 13-year-old boy arrested for murdering a female classmate after being radicalised by harmful digital material. France’s Education Minister Élisabeth Borne confirmed that Netflix had granted rights for educational use. She said the material would be shown to students aged 14 and up, accompanied by specially developed teaching resources. With over 140 million views since its March 13 release, Adolescence is now the second most-watched English-language series in Netflix history. Its classroom rollout is seen as a powerful way to spark discussion, build digital literacy, and help teenagers resist harmful influences online.
Neighbourhood in Fréjus completely paralysed - Tensions ran high in Fréjus on Monday as more than 250 caravans of traveling families attempted to illegally settle on protected land near the Villepey ponds. The massive encampment brought traffic to a standstill along the D559 and left the Saint-Aygulf neighbourhood paralyzed. The travellers broke into private property owned by the Coastal Conservatory, ignoring the availability of a designated transit area in the city capable of hosting up to 450 caravans. Despite the efforts of police, around 70 caravans managed to access the protected site. With another hundred expected to arrive today Tuesday 10th June, local officials are scrambling to defuse the escalating situation. By Monday evening, some travellers began relocating to authorized areas, while others left the city altogether.
Summer sales - Summer sales are just around the corner in Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, set to start on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, at 8am., running through Tuesday, July 22. For over 20 years, Côte d'Azur retailers had enjoyed different dates to coincide with the arrival of summer tourists, but a 2023 decree aligned the region’s sales calendar with most of France. Only Corsica and overseas territories maintain separate schedules, with Corsica starting July 9th and some overseas areas waiting until September or October. The sales follow strict rules: discounts must be clearly shown, and sale items distinguished from regular stock. Despite promotions, many local shops face closures due to competition from online shopping. A recent 2025 survey found half of French shoppers combine online and in-store purchases during sales, while 18% shop exclusively online, though even online retailers must respect these official sale periods.
Beach accessory comes under fire in Saint-Tropez - Finally, while some are focused on saving the ocean, others in Saint-Tropez in the Var are battling over parasols or rather, Seins-Tropez. This cheekily named beach accessory, designed by two French creators to challenge taboos around breasts, features a canopy illustrated with a single nipple. Though intended as a humorous and empowering statement on breaking censorship and promoting body positivity, the pun on Saint-Tropez’s name hasn’t gone down well locally. Residents and the Mayor have called it “a scandal” and “ridiculous,” criticizing the use of the town’s identity for what they see as vulgar and commercial. The parasol’s price, 259 euros has also attracted criticism for being overpriced, while questions circulate on social media about the sincerity of its promised charitable donations towards breast cancer. The designers defend their concept as a playful, political gesture with limited production, but the town hall is now considering legal action to protect Saint-Tropez’s honour and image.
Business
In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the country aims to become an “AI maker, not an AI taker”. His comments came during the unveiling of millions in funding to train students and workers in artificial intelligence. Starmer pledged a “better future” through tech. The government has launched a £187 million “TechFirst” program to equip secondary school pupils with AI skills and partnered with Google, Microsoft, and others to train 7.5 million workers by 2030.
Canada is set to increase its defence spending to reach NATO’s 2% of GDP target earlier than planned. Speaking at the University of Toronto, the Prime Minister cited growing threats from hostile states, terrorists, and cyber criminals. He also admitted that Canada relies too much on the US, which is cutting back its security contributions. NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, is urging members to aim for a new target of 3.5% of GDP at an upcoming summit.
And - Warner Bros Discovery, owner of CNN and HBO Max has announced it will split into two companies by mid-2026. The separation will divide its streaming and studio business from its traditional cable TV networks. This move reflects the growing popularity of streaming services, like HBO Max—which has hits like Succession and The Last of Us, while cable channels such as CNN have seen declining viewers.
Sport
Athletics - Mark English became the first Irishman to break the 1:44 barrier in the 800m, clocking 1:43.92 to win at the FBK Games in the Netherlands on Monday. The 32-year-old's performance set a new national record, surpassing the 1:44.34 mark he had set just 10 days earlier in Poland. It marks his third outdoor win of the season and continues a strong year that includes a European indoor bronze in March.
Football - Roman Abramovich has broken his silence for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced him to sell Chelsea FC in 2022. The sanctioned billionaire expressed his desire to attend a match and bid a “proper goodbye” to the club he owned for nearly two decades. A new book, Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, reveals Abramovich was involved in behind-the-scenes peace talks early in the war.
Rugby Union - Scotland prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ 2025 tour to Australia due to a calf injury. The 29-year-old, who hasn’t played since early April, will be replaced by Ireland’s Finlay Bealham. Fagerson’s club, Glasgow Warriors, confirmed the news on X, expressing support: “We’re all behind you, Z – we know you’ll come back even stronger.” He missed Glasgow’s URC semi-final loss to Leinster over the weekend.
Cricket - Nicholas Pooran, one of the top T20 batters in the world, has retired from international cricket for the West Indies at just 29. The Trinidadian, who played 167 matches for his country, made the decision to focus on his career in global franchise leagues. Pooran had already opted out of the current T20 series against England to rest after a stint with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. He is also signed to play in Major League Cricket (MLC) and The Hundred this summer.
Tennis - Britain’s Sonay Kartal earned the biggest win of her career with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over world No. 16 Daria Kasatkina, marking a strong start to her grass-court season. The match was part of a historic moment as women’s tennis returned to London’s Queen’s Club for the first time since 1973. The venue, long a fixture on the men’s tour, now hosts a WTA 500 event to boost the profile and visibility of the women’s game. Top seeds Zheng Qinwen, Madison Keys, and Elena Rybakina are also in contention for the title.
Weather
Fine and sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 26 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 25 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 28 degrees in Antibes and Mougins. This evening going down to 18 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday, fine and sunny with highs of 27 degrees.
Sunrise 05.48am
Sunset 09.11pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux and Madrid 33° sunny.
Belfast 17° light cloud.
Milan 30° sunny.
Beach weather
La Ciotat – sea temperature 21°, air temperature 27°. UV level 8.
Saint-Tropez – sea temperature 21°, air temperature 29°. Strong winds forecast. UV level 8.
A two-day conference on the 11th and 12th of June will focus on combating school bullying, organized by the association Marion la main tendue and the ...
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French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed a "very important moment" at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, announcing that 55 of the 60 required ratif...
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Fine and sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 26 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 25 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 28 degrees in Antibes and Mougins....
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The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) will be held from the 9th-13th of June in Nice, gathering 63 world leaders, scientists, and NGOs to tackle marine prote...
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Prince William has made a strong appeal to protect the world’s oceans in a speech at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum here in Monaco. Speaking on Su...
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