News
Emmanuel Macron issues warning at G7 summit - French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that attempting to change Iran’s regime by military force would be a “strategic error,” as the Israel-Iran conflict takes centre stage at the G7 summit in Canada. Speaking on Monday from the summit, Macron said: “All those who believe that by striking with bombs from outside we save a country in spite of itself and against itself have always been wrong.”
His comments come amid a fifth consecutive night of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. Tehran announced overnight strikes “until dawn,” retaliating against Israeli attacks on its national TV station and other targets. Air raid sirens were triggered in northern Israel early Tuesday, with Israeli forces confirming missiles launched from Iran.
In response to the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump cut his G7 visit short, returning to Washington Monday evening. On Truth Social, he warned: “Everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately... adding Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon”. In a joint statement, G7 leaders reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence, while blaming Iran for regional instability. They also called for a broader de-escalation, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
Prefect orders removal of Israeli flag from Nice City Hall amid tensions – Meanwhile, locally, the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux, has formally requested that Mayor Christian Estrosi remove the Israeli flag from the front of Nice City Hall. Citing the principle of public service impartiality, the prefect sent a letter on January 16th and is preparing guidelines for all mayors in the department to prohibit foreign flags on town halls. The Israeli flag has flown over Nice’s town hall since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. Mayor Estrosi vowed to keep it flying as long as Hamas hostages remain in Gaza, emphasizing his commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Since late 2023, regular pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place in Nice, often centred around the town hall. The Israeli flag has become a focal point of tension, with protesters calling for the Palestinian flag to be displayed.
France braces for early heatwave as temperatures climb towards 40°C – In other news, an early heatwave is looming over France, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 40°C in parts of the country this weekend. The southwest will be hit first, with forecasts of 37°C on Saturday, June 21st. Driven by a persistent high-pressure system, the extreme heat will likely spread to the north and east of the country by Sunday. Météo France warns that temperatures could climb even higher by the end of the week, marking a potentially record-breaking early summer heatwave.
Tropical nights - Meanwhile, if you’ve been feeling the heat during the night in our region, then that’s probably because two early records for minimum nighttime temperatures have been broken. Temperatures stayed as high as 23.6° C on Monday, June 16th, 2025, in both Le Luc and Peille, an unusually warm “tropical night” for this time of year. Météo-France explained that while these aren’t all-time highs, they are early-season records, with temperatures running 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal. Toulon also recorded 23.6°C overnight, while in the Alpes-Maritimes, Peille saw 21.4°C—another early record for the area. Nice and Menton had similarly warm minimums, about 4 to 8 degrees above seasonal averages. Good news for residents: cooler nights are expected soon, with lows dropping to between 17°C and 20°C along the coast. Daytime highs on Tuesday will be milder at 30°C to 32°C, before temperatures climb again later in the week.
Case of chikungunya - A new case of chikungunya, a virus spread by tiger mosquitoes, has been found in mainland France, in the Hérault region. This is the second local case this year, after the first one appeared last week in the Var region. Chikungunya causes sudden fever and joint pain. The person who got sick is doing okay. Health officials are taking steps to stop the virus from spreading. This virus is more common in warmer places like Réunion and Mayotte, but warmer weather in France is helping mosquitoes stay active.
Tende Tunnel sets to open on June 27th after years of delays - After more than a decade of delays and setbacks, the Tende Tunnel in the Alpes-Maritimes is finally set to open to traffic on June 27th, 2025. The announcement came from Philippe Tabarot, France’s Minister of Transport, confirming that this marks the end of a long-awaited project linking the Po Valley to the Côte d’Azur. Construction began 12 years ago but faced numerous challenges, including legal hurdles, safety concerns like emergency exits, and damage caused by Storm Alex in 2020, which complicated access and delayed progress.
Initially, traffic will be regulated with alternating flow during specific time slots—from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m, pending a full-scale safety exercise scheduled for June 25. A second tunnel or renovation of the historic tunnel is planned for 2027 to allow two-way traffic without interruption. The project has been a priority for Minister Tabarot, who recently strengthened cooperation with Italy to push the tunnel’s completion forward.
Monegasque Language Competition showcases Monaco’s bright future- Finally, on Monday, June 16th, Monaco’s Mayor Georges Marsan and other dignitaries, including HSH Prince Albert II, gathered at the Town Hall to honour winners of the 2025 Monegasque Language Competition. The event began with the Monegasque anthem celebrating its 30th anniversary. Mayor Marsan stressed the importance of preserving the Monegasque language as a key part of the country’s unique identity. Deputy Mayor Karyn Ardisson Salopek praised the youth for their passion in studying Monaco’s language, history, and culture. This year, nearly 1,900 students participated in the competition, with 68 finalists receiving prizes in front of their families and teachers. Organized by Monaco City Hall, the National Education Department, and the Committee of Monegasque Traditions, the competition plays a vital role in safeguarding Monaco’s linguistic heritage. Congratulations to all the winners!
Business
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on UK-manufactured cars entering the U.S., activating key elements of a trade agreement reached last month between the two nations. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed it as a “very important day” for UK–US relations and British exporters. The move follows weeks of negotiations aimed at easing the impact of Trump’s broader tariff policies on British businesses. However, the deal still includes a 10% levy on most UK goods, including vehicles, and does not lift tariffs on steel imports, leaving parts of the UK manufacturing sector exposed.
And - WhatsApp is rolling out three new advertising features globally, though the Meta-owned platform insists users' private messages will remain off-limits for targeting. The new ads will appear in the Updates tab, separate from private chats. WhatsApp says it will not use message content, which remains end-to-end encrypted, to determine ad content. Instead, ads will be based on users' location (country, city), language, interaction with other ads, and the channels they follow. Users who link their WhatsApp account to Facebook or Instagram may see more personalised ads.
Sport
Football - Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC, but in front of tens of thousands of empty seats. Played at 3pm on a working Monday, the match drew just 22,137 fans in a venue that can hold over 71,000. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted the “strange” atmosphere, saying: “The stadium was almost empty… we have to adapt.” The newly expanded tournament, seen as a trial run for next year’s World Cup in North America, is being hosted solely in the U.S.
Tennis - Great Britain's Dan Evans pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career, defeating world number to reach the last 16 at Queen’s Club. It marked Evans' first win over a top 20 player since the 2023 Davis Cup, and only his second ever on grass. While Evans impressed, fellow Brit Cameron Norrie was knocked out on the opening day. British number two Jacob Fearnley also advanced with a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over qualifier Alex Bolt.
Cycling - Welsh cyclist Stevie Williams has been ruled out of both the 2025 Tour de France and the British National Road Race Championships due to a persistent knee injury. The 29-year-old, who won the 2024 Tour Down Under, posted on social media, saying he was “gutted to miss them, especially racing Nationals in front of a home crowd.” The National Championships will be held from 26–29 June and the Tour de France begins 5 July in Lille.
Weather
Warm sunshine and clear skies from Saint-Tropez to Monaco. Highs of 30° in Nice, 29° in Monaco with a light sea breeze. 26° in Saint-Tropez. 27° in Vence and 28° in Antibes. This evening going down to 20° with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday, remaining fine and sunny with highs of 30 degrees.
Sunrise 05.47am
Sunset 09.14pm
Weather elsewhere
Paris 29° sunny.
London 27° sunny.
Dublin 21° sunny.
Beach weather
Nice – sea temperature 24°, air temperature 28°, UV level 8.
Menton - sea temperature 24°, air temperature 28°, UV level 8.
And Finally
Spending time alone is no longer seen as lonely or sad, it’s becoming a way to recharge and find joy. A growing number of books, films, and social media posts are celebrating the benefits of solitude and single living. Wim Wenders’ 2023 film Perfect Days shows a man living quietly and happily on his own, which many viewers found calming and inspiring. Similarly, recent books like Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone and Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms highlight how choosing to be alone can be positive and fulfilling.
Experts say it’s important to distinguish between loneliness—feeling isolated against your will and solitude, which is a deliberate choice to enjoy your own company. The pandemic helped people understand this difference, sparking a new appreciation for solo time.
Younger generations are also rethinking traditional ideas about relationships, with many choosing to focus on themselves rather than settling down quickly. So, whether it’s enjoying a quiet moment with music, reading, or simply reflecting, being alone is now seen as a healthy, creative, and joyful part of life.
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