National News
Threats of strike action by SUD rail union - The SUD Rail union has filed a strike notice for all weekends from April 17th to June 2nd, potentially affecting popular travel periods in France, such as the Easter holidays and May bank holidays. The strike, led by ticket inspectors, demands better compensation and working conditions. Disruptions are expected from Thursday evenings to Monday mornings. However, the SNCF has reassured the public, stating that not all strike notices lead to disruptions, as some past notices have had no impact. The company is currently in dialogue with the union to address the concerns. The union criticized SNCF's management for poor working conditions, constantly changing schedules, and the introduction of new software that disrupts ticket inspectors' hours without prior notice. Sud Rail plans to decide on its protest strategy in the coming days after consulting with union members.
Train services interrupted on Monday – Meanwhile locally, train service between Nice and Monaco were suspended on Monday, March 24, 2025, due to a reported issue at Èze train station. The disruption affected several routes, including those to Menton and Ventimiglia. The SNCF estimated that services would resume around 2:30 p.m. for the Nice-Monaco route and around 2:00 p.m. for other affected lines.
Recent study shows sharp increase in psychiatric care amongst the younger generation – In other news, a recent study by the French Hospital Federation (FHF) has revealed a sharp increase in the number of children being admitted to psychiatric care in French hospitals in 2024. Additionally, care related to addiction and alcohol is expected to be 25% higher than anticipated. Experts have highlighted an overwhelming suffering amongst young individuals which is becoming harder to manage within families or schools. The study also notes that despite stable or declining resources in child psychiatry, the growing demand is creating significant pressure.
Parking scam in Nice returns - A parking scam has returned to Nice, with fake QR codes appearing once again on parking meters. The QR codes, placed on the "PayByPhone" sticker, redirect users to a fake website which mimics the legitimate PayByPhone system for parking payments. This is not the first scam of its kind in Nice; a similar warning was issued in July of last year. The city urges residents and visitors to only use official platforms like the Apple Store or Google Play to download the PayByPhone app, ensuring secure transactions. Municipal agents have already begun removing the fake QR codes across the city.
New flight route from Nice to Santorini – Airliner EasyJet is launching direct flights from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to Santorini, Greece, starting June 25th, 2025. The flights, which will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, offer a great opportunity to visit the picturesque island known for its stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife. One-way tickets start at just €35, with round trips available from €78. Despite recent earthquakes in February 2025 that affected the region, Santorini has begun welcoming tourists again. The flight takes about 2.5 hours.
Restaurant loses its Michelin star - Le Saint-Martin, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Vence in the Alpes-Maritimes, has lost its star in the Michelin Guide as of March 2025. The restaurant, which offers gourmet cuisine focused on local South French ingredients, is now rated as "recommended" for 2025. This marks a disappointing moment for the local gastronomic scene, as the Michelin Guide also stripped 21 other establishments of their stars. In nearby Monaco, Le Yoshi, a Japanese restaurant, also lost its only star. The full list of new Michelin starred restaurants will be revealed on March 31st.
Villa in Cannes seized by authorities - A €45 million villa in Cannes, which once hosted Beyoncé and Jay-Z, is being seized due to its owner’s massive debt. According to local media the estate, owned by an English developer, is now being sold after he accumulated €29.2 million in debt. The property, listed for €45 million but now auctioned at €40 million, features nine bedrooms, a gym, a spa, a cinema, and stunning views of the sea and mountains. Located 4 km from Cannes and 24 km from Nice airport. The auction is set for this Thursday, March 27th, at the Grasse courthouse.
Correction and Apology: Gulf of Saint-Tropez Marathon Announcement - We would like to apologize for the earlier report regarding the Gulf of Saint-Tropez Marathon. Contrary to what was previously stated, the marathon has not yet taken place. The event is scheduled for this coming weekend. We sincerely regret the mistake and any confusion it may have caused. The Gulf of Saint-Tropez Marathon, which is expected to break participation records for its 5th edition, will take place on 30th March. With over 7,000 runners expected, including 267 elite athletes for the French Marathon Championship and 1,438 participants in the French 10km Championship, this event is set to be a significant highlight of the region’s sports calendar. Stay tuned for our updated coverage and details on this exciting event! Thank you for your understanding.
Business
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has surpassed Tesla in annual revenue for 2024, reporting 777 billion yuan ($107bn; £83bn), a 29% increase, driven by strong sales of its hybrid vehicles. This outpaced Tesla's $97.7bn revenue. BYD has also launched a lower-priced car to compete with Tesla's Model 3, the top-selling EV in China. Meanwhile, Tesla faces global backlash over Elon Musk's ties to US President Donald Trump, and Chinese carmakers struggle with Western tariffs.
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is considering a paid subscription in the UK that would remove ads from its platforms. Under the plan, users could pay for an ad-free experience if they don't want their data tracked. This follows a legal battle in which Meta agreed to stop targeting ads at a British woman. Meta already offers similar ad-free subscriptions in the EU for €5.99 (£5) a month, and a company spokesperson said they are exploring the possibility of introducing the service in the UK.
A group representing over 90 airlines using Heathrow Airport has threatened legal action if a settlement isn't reached over costs from Friday's day-long closure. Heathrow Airline Operators' Committee CEO Nigel Wicking told reporters he hopes the issue can be resolved amicably, but warned that legal action could be considered if the airlines don't receive adequate compensation for the costs incurred.
Sport
Football – England were 3-0 winners in the World Cup Qualifying match against Latvia on Monday evening. In this evening's matches Wales play North Macedonia
Tennis - Emma Raducanu reached her first WTA 1,000 quarter-final with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win over 17th seed Amanda Anisimova in Miami. The Briton started strong, taking the first set in just 24 minutes, and never looked back. This marks her first time winning four consecutive WTA main-draw matches since her 2021 US Open victory.
Rugby Union - England's senior coach Richard Wigglesworth will join the British and Irish Lions coaching staff for their summer tour of Australia. Lions head coach Andy Farrell has added the 41-year-old former England scrum-half to his team, which will have a strong Irish influence. The full Lions coaching team will be announced on Wednesday.
Golf - Golfer Tiger Woods has confirmed he is dating Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Vanessa, 47, was married to Trump Jr. for 13 years, during which they had five children, before divorcing in 2018.
Weather
Mainly fine with a gentle breeze. Highs of 16 degrees in Nice, Antibes and Vence, 15 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez. 17 degrees in Cannes with light winds. This evening going down to 8 degrees along the coast with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Thursday. Fine and sunny with some light showers forecast inland. Highs of 17 degrees.
Sunrise 06.24am
Sunset 06.48pm
Weather elsewhere
Palma 17° light rain.
Bordeaux 16° sunny intervals.
Liverpool 12° drizzle.
And Finally
A recent study has found that some relationships are doomed to fail, no matter how hard you try to fix them. Researchers discovered that there is a "point of no return" for relationships, typically between 7 to 28 months before one partner ends it. The study identified two key phases in a failing relationship: a gradual decline in satisfaction and a "transition point" where the breakup becomes inevitable. Interestingly, the person who ends the relationship often reaches this point about a year before the other partner. Once they realize the relationship is ending, their satisfaction drops even faster. Lead author Professor Janina Bühler warned that once this "terminal decline" phase is reached, the relationship is beyond saving. However, if you can spot the signs early, it may still be possible to salvage things before it’s too late.
Philippe Vedovini - the maternal grandfather of Émile Soleil - along with his wife and two of their adult children, have been placed in police custody...
Read More
Princess Charlene of Monaco led the inaugural Road Safety Day on March 23rd in Larvotto, promoting bike safety and sustainable mobility. ...
Read More
AS Cannes will face Reims in the Coupe de France semi-final on April 2nd, and the city of Cannes is setting up a fan zone on the Allées de la Liberté ...
Read More
Four people, including the grandparents, are in police custody in connection with the death of 2-and-a-half-year-old Emile Soleil, whose remains were ...
Read More
The SUD Rail union has filed a strike notice for all weekends from April 17th to June 2nd, potentially affecting popular travel periods in France, suc...
Read More
