Air traffic control strike for start of holidays - French air traffic controllers have filed a strike notice for the start of the summer holidays, in a dispute over working conditions. The second largest union representing French air traffic controllers has filed the strike notice for Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th July. The union said it was protesting against what it called a toxic management culture, and called for better staffing levels. It is not yet clear how much disruption the strike action will cause. France's civil aviation authority will announce in the coming days how many flights will need to be cancelled. It's then up to each airline to decide which ones to scrap. If you're due to fly next Thursday or Friday, you should check with your airline.
Bride shot dead at wedding party - In other French news, a bride has been shot dead on her wedding night in a village near Avignon after masked gunmen opened fire. One of the gunmen was also killed in an apparent exchange of fire, and the groom and a 13-year-old child were seriously wounded during the incident in the village of Goult, in the Vaucluse. Three surviving attackers, who had arrived by car, fled on foot. Two people were arrested following a search involving dozens of officers and a helicopter and police are now actively looking for the third. A total of 28 people were present in the village hall at the time of the attack. The couple getting married were reportedly not residents of the village. No information about the suspects has been released, but reports say the violence may be linked to drug-related score-settling.
Heatwave causes Paris power outage - A power cut that hit Paris yesterday was caused by recent high temperatures. The power cut affected about 1,400 households and buildings, mostly around the Île de la Cité. Among the buildings affected was the Justice Palace and the Paris police HQ. Power grid operator Enedis said the blackout was due to the exceptional heat. Paris is currently in the middle of a major project to replace its underground electricity cables with heat-resistant ones, as the old power lines are not prepared to resist extreme temperatures.
Drugs raids lead to arrests in Menton - In local news, police have arrested five people and seized €75,000 in cash in a series of drugs raids around Menton. The arrests are connected with another anti-drugs operation last week in the Les Moulins housing estate in Nice. As well as the cash, police seized half a kilo of cocaine, herbal cannabis and a vehicle. Two of the arrested people are in pre-trial detention and the other three are at home under judicial supervision.
Syringe attacks at Fête de la Musique - Police in Cannes have arrested a man suspected of pricking people with a syringe during last weekend's Fête de la Musique festivities. The incidents occurred during concerts in the Carré d'Or on Saturday night. Four people went to hospital as a precaution to undergo tests.
Lenval hospital staff protest - Staff at Lenval children's hospital in Nice are demonstrating outside the hospital building today in an ongoing dispute with management. Three trade unions are taking part in the protest and urging members to stop work between midday and 2pm. They're complaining of a persistent worsening of working conditions and poor management, which staff say is affecting the care they're able to provide to children.
Paul Pogba set to join AS Monaco - In local football, it's reported that Paul Pogba is poised to make a comeback to football, and make his Ligue 1 debut, joining AS Monaco as a free agent. A two-year deal between the French international midfielder and the Monegasque club could be signed later today. He was seen at the club's training center in La Turbie earlier this month, where he is said to have toured the facilities and held talks with management. The 32-year-old has been away from the field for almost two years, due to a doping suspension. His contract with Juventus was terminated last November.
Bikers' tribute to Coluche in Opio - More than a thousand motorcyclists took to the streets of Opio on Sunday to pay tribute to Coluche, the comedian and actor who created the Restos du Coeur charity. Coluche died in a motorbike accident in Opio in June 1986 and the commemoration has been held annually ever since.
BUSINESS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes. His comments came after Iran's state-run Press TV reported that parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait but added that the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council. Any disruption to the supply of oil would have profound consequences for the economy. China in particular is the world's largest buyer of Iranian oil and has a close relationship with Tehran. Oil prices rose following the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites, with the price of the benchmark Brent crude reaching its highest level in five months.
Since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has become the most sanctioned nation on Earth, and yet its economy has been remarkably resilient. In 2024, if Russian official figures are to believed, its economy outgrew those of all the G7 nations - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US. The Russian economy expanded by 4.3% last year, compared with 1.1% in the UK, and 2.8% in the US. This growth in Russia was led by the Kremlin's record military spending. The country's oil exports, by volume, have also remained relatively stable, as supplies once destined for Europe have been diverted to China and India.
The eurozone economy has come close to stagnation this month, with little growth in its key sectors. The latest survey of purchasing managers across the euro area, just released by S&P Global, shows that the eurozone services sector is stalling this month, while factory growth slowed. Firms reported another drop in new orders but, more encouragingly, business confidence improved to the strongest since the start of 2025. German business activity returned to growth in June, but French output fell further during the month.
And the UK government has outlined its new industrial strategy to support the British economy. Dubbed the ‘modern industrial strategy’, the plan aims to increase business investment and grow the industries of the future. It focuses on eight important sectors: advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, clean energy, defence, digital and technologies, professional and business services, and financial services.
SPORT
Formula One - McLaren will continue to let Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris race freely despite their collision in the Canadian Grand Prix. However, McLaren say the incident reinforced that the team-mates must apply more "caution" when in close combat. Norris hit the back of Piastri's car as the pair battled over fourth place in the closing laps of the last race in Montreal. Team principal Andrea Stella said after the race that while there would be "tough" conversations back at their factory before this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. But he stressed the incident would not have any impact on the way they go racing and the rules the drivers have agreed to abide by.
Football - Crystal Palace's hopes of playing in Europe next season appear to have been boosted after shareholder John Textor sold his stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. Textor's shares in Palace threatened to be an obstacle to their participation in the Europa League next season because the American is a shareholder in French side Lyon, who are set to enter the same competition. Under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, it looked as though Palace could miss out. However, Textor's 43% stake in the London club has now been sold to Woody Johnson in a deal worth more than £190m and values Palace at more than £400m.
In transfer news, Liverpool have fully agreed the £34m sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen - but the move will not be completed on the player's side until he has finished his England U21 commitments. Quansah is currently gearing up for a European U21 championship semi-final against the Netherlands tomorrow having started the team's quarter-final victory over Spain on Saturday. The deal between the clubs is understood to include a buy-back clause for Liverpool on a player they are very proud to have seen come through their academy. Meanwhile, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is scheduled to undergo his Liverpool medical on Merseyside today. The Hungary international is expected to cost in the region of £40m.
WEATHER
Generally fine and sunny today, with some occasional light cloud, some strong winds in the Var gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour. Temperatures this afternoon reaching 28 degrees Celsius on the Alpes-Maritimes coast, 30 on the Var coast and up to 35 inland in western parts of the Var. Clear skies overnight with a gentle breeze, but staying warm overnight with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius on the coast tonight and 21 inland. The outlook for Wednesday: fine and sunny, light winds and the risk of some inland thunderstorms in the Alpes-Maritimes. Temperatures tomorrow around 28 degrees Celsius on the coast and 31 inland.
French air traffic controllers have filed a strike notice for the start of the summer holidays, in a dispute over working conditions....
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The French National Assembly is set to debate the current conflict in the Middle East on Wednesday
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French president Emmanuel Macron has held an urgent meeting of his national defence and security council on Sunday evening after the US waded into the...
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The porn sites YouPorn, Pornhub, and RedTube have been reactivated in France by their owner, Aylo, after a French court suspended a law requiring age ...
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Speed restrictions are in place on all major roads in the Alpes-Maritimes today because of a smog alert....
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