French and Riviera News Tuesday 16th September 2025

News

Far-right activists’ stage unauthorised demonstration in Nice - Around 100 far-right activists have staged an unauthorised demonstration in Nice waving French flags and singing La Marseillaise on the steps of the Monument aux Morts. The action mirrors the UK-born Raise The colours movement, which began after a British schoolgirl was excluded for wearing a Union Jack dress. The campaign has since spread to several countries and is now gaining ground in France.

School evacuated in Nice - Sixty-three children have been evacuated from the Magnolias nursery school in the west Nice. The incident occurred on Monday at around 5pm, after the fire alarm was triggered during after-school care. No injuries were reported, and parents were able to collect their children shortly after. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Lecornu announces end to lifetime privileges for former Ministers from 2026 – Recently appointed French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that "lifetime privileges" granted to former government ministers will be scrapped as of the 1st of January 2026. The move delivers on a pledge he made over the weekend in a regional press interview. These privileges do not apply to former Prime Ministers who already benefit from similar support due to other public roles. The reform is set to take effect at the start of 2026.

Plans to create network of health centres - Lecornu has also announced plans to create a nationwide network of 5,000 “France Santé” centres by 2027. The aim is to improve access to healthcare, particularly in underserved areas, where millions still lack a GP. Rather than building entirely new facilities, many will likely be labels assigned to existing health structures. The initiative will be included in the 2026 state and social security budgets and is described by Lecornu as a “major national priority”.

Three Var forest areas closed due to extreme fire risk - Access to forest areas in the Var is prohibited today, Tuesday, 16th of September, due to a “very severe fire risk,”. Public access, circulation, and most work activities are banned. Two rest areas on the A57 motorway will also be closed. A daily updated map of access restrictions is available on the Var prefecture’s website.

Cannes Shines in Record-Breaking Summer Tourist Season – Finally, the city of Cannes has enjoyed a booming summer, with hotels nearly full, packed beaches, and sold-out festivals. Hotel occupancy hit record highs, up to 88% in August, peaking at 97% mid-month, while luxury hotels saw revenues soar past €1,000 per room. With a sunny September and a full event calendar ahead, the Côte d’Azur’s tourist momentum shows no signs of slowing.

Business

The US and China have reached a framework agreement on TikTok’s US operations, aiming for American ownership to address security concerns. The deal, announced on Monday, is expected to be finalized this Friday. TikTok’s Chinese owner faces a September 17 deadline to sell or face a US ban, with Oracle reportedly involved in the potential takeover. Final approval is still pending.

And - Elon Musk has bought $1 billion of Tesla shares, boosting his stake and pushing Tesla’s stock up over 6%. This is his first big purchase since 2020 and signals confidence amid rising competition and sales challenges. Tesla’s board hopes this, along with a $1 trillion compensation plan, will keep Musk focused on the company despite his controversial political activities.

Sport

Football – In the Champions League this evening, Althetic Club face Arsenal, Real Madrid play the Olympique de Marseille and Tottenham face Villareal.

Skiing - Italian alpine skier Matteo Franzoso has died following a training accident in Chile. The 25-year-old suffered a head injury after colliding with a fence and was placed in a medically induced coma but later passed away. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

Rugby - France back row Axelle Berthoumieu has been handed a 12-match ban for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer during Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final. The suspension rules her out of Saturday’s semi-final against England and the tournament’s final weekend, plus 10 domestic matches through March 2026.

Weather

Cloudy with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze. Highs of 25 degrees in Monaco, 26 degrees in Nice, 27 degrees in Cannes and 28 degrees in Saint-Tropez with moderate to strong winds. This evening going down to 19 degrees with clear skies.

The outlook for tomorrow, sunny intervals. Highs of 27 degrees.

Sunrise 07.10am              Sunset 07.38pm

And Finally 

The Royal Mint has released collectible Monopoly-themed 50p coins to mark 90 years of the classic board game. While these coins are legal tender, they’re mostly for collectors and not meant for everyday spending. The basic coin costs £15, with special silver and gold editions available. You can even strike a version yourself at the Royal Mint Experience in South Wales. Monopoly superfan Neil Scallan called it the “holy grail” for enthusiasts. Just don’t expect to actually buy a hotel on Bond Street with them!

 

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