News
Changes coming on May 1st, 2025: What You Need to Know –As we approach May 1st, 2025, several important changes are set to take effect in France as with every first of the month, affecting everything from tax returns to gas prices. The deadline for submitting your 2025 tax return, covering income from 2024, depends on where you live. The online filing process opened on April 10th, and deadlines are spread out across the country. For those in our department, numbered 1 to 19, the online filing deadline is May 22nd. If you live in departments 20 to 54, you have until May 28th. Those in departments 55 to 97 will need to submit by June 5th. For anyone filing on paper, or for French residents living abroad, the deadline is May 20th. If you haven’t yet filed, make sure to get your tax return in on time to avoid penalties.
In other news, gas prices are set to drop. According to the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), the benchmark price for gas will decrease by 6.4% in May 2025. This price drop is welcome news after a 13% increase earlier in the year. For households using gas for heating, this reduction will mean a 5.4% decrease in their annual gas bill. Households that only use gas for cooking and hot water will see their price per kWh drop by 5.16%. However, it’s worth noting that the monthly subscription price will remain the same.
Another significant change this May is the delayed distribution of the energy check. Typically sent out in spring, the 2025 energy check will not be distributed until November this year. This delay is due to the late passage of the 2025 Finance Act. The energy check is provided to low-income households to help them pay their electricity and gas bills. If you’re eligible, you will receive the check automatically, and mailings will continue for those who register on the platform.
Finally, the annual revaluation of social benefits will take effect on May 5th. Starting this month, benefits such as the Disabled Adult Allowance (AAH) and Active Solidarity Income (RSA) will increase by 1.7%, in line with inflation.
Ongoing protests over pension reforms in France – In other news, disgruntled French workers are being encouraged to arrive late to work as a form of protest against the government's decision to raise the retirement age in France. Artists have created an AI-powered "Minister of Latecomers," which promotes the idea of compensating for years lost due to the pension age increase and even offers a tool to calculate exactly how late one should turn up. Changes to France’s pension system have long been a contentious issue, sparking protests, civil unrest, and nationwide strikes that have often brought the country to a standstill. Two years ago, despite widespread opposition, President Emmanuel Macron passed a law raising the general retirement age from 62 to 64. At the time, it seemed that the issue had finally been resolved, but the dissatisfaction remains strong.
Illegal Work at Château Diter: State threatens demolition – A long-standing legal battle over illegal construction work at Château Diter in Grasse, near Nice, has escalated, with the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture now threatening demolition. The conflict, which began in 2005, involves the owner, Patrick Diter, who has defied orders to halt construction that violates urban planning laws. The dispute, which has lasted nearly 20 years, led to a 2019 court ruling ordering the demolition of the illegal structures within 18 months, accompanied by daily fines of €500. Despite these measures, the owner has not complied, resulting in penalties totalling €272,000. Now, the prefecture has moved forward with an eviction and demolition process, potentially leading to the destruction of up to 2,000 m² of the property.
Cannes Film Festival 2025: Jury led by Juliette Binoche - The jury for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13th to 24th, 2025, will be chaired by French actress Juliette Binoche. She will be joined by eight other prominent figures: Including American actress Halle Berry, Indian director Payal Kapadia, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, Congolese director Dieudo Hamadi, Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo, Mexican director Carlos Reygadas, and American actor Jeremy Strong. The jury will select the winner of the Palme d'Or from 21 competition films, with contenders including Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Jafar Panahi, Wes Anderson, and Hafsia Herzi.
Le Cap Restaurant Near Nice Wins Gault & Millau's 2025 Gold Award – Finally, in a prestigious ceremony held in Nice on April 28, 2025, chef Yoric Tièche of Le Cap restaurant in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was awarded the coveted Gault & Millau d'Or. Tièche, who has been the head chef at the renowned restaurant for nearly eight years, received high praise for his innovative cuisine, drawing inspiration from the region's marine and agricultural produce. The chef from Aix-en-Provence earned an impressive score of 17.5 out of 20. This makes him the only chef from the Alpes-Maritimes region to receive this prestigious recognition in 2025, solidifying Le Cap’s reputation as a top destination for fine dining on the French Riviera.
Business
President Donald Trump is set to announce measures reducing import duties on auto parts used in U.S.-made vehicles, aiming to soften the impact of his broader tariff policy on domestic carmakers. The move, described by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as “a major victory” for Trump’s America-first trade strategy, comes just days before a rally in Michigan marking his first 100 days in office. While tariffs will remain on foreign-made cars, some imported components will now be exempt from additional levies. Industry groups had warned the proposed 25% tariffs would hike prices and hurt both sales and servicing.
Households in the Basque region of southern France were without electricity for a few minutes on Monday as Spain and Portugal suffered a massive outage, French power grid operator RTE said that its teams had been mobilized to assist the Spanish grid operator, and 700 MW of Spanish consumption had already been restored via France by RTE.
And - ChatGPT is expanding into online shopping, with new features that help users find prices, reviews, and direct links to buy recommended products—all chosen independently and not as ads, says parent company OpenAI. The update, part of a wider rollout this week, puts ChatGPT in more direct competition with Google, Amazon, and review sites, aiming to make it “faster to find, compare, and buy products.” OpenAI also announced new search features including live sports updates and multi-source citations, as it continues to grow its billion-search-per-week user base.
Sport
Football – In the Champions League semi-finals this evening Arsenal are at home to PSG. Kick off is at 9pm French time. The Gunners, who beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarters, are eyeing their first final since 2006.
Tennis - Play at the Madrid Open was suspended on Monday after a major power outage affected large parts of Spain and Portugal, forcing organisers to halt all matches “to guarantee general safety.” The blackout disrupted public transport, card payments, and mobile networks, and also knocked out key tournament systems like electronic line-calling and scoreboards.
Boxing - Chris Eubank Jr has been released from hospital after undergoing precautionary checks following his hard-fought win over Conor Benn on Saturday night. The 35-year-old secured a unanimous decision in a thrilling 12-round bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and was admitted as standard procedure after the intense contest. On Monday, Eubank posted: "Well it took nearly three years, but we finally got the job done."
Formula One - Formula 1 heads to Miami this weekend (2–4 May) for the sixth round of the 2025 season, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leading the championship after his third win in Saudi Arabia. The Australian holds a 10-point advantage over team-mate Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen 12 points back in third. Miami hosts the second of six sprint weekends this year, with Sunday’s main race starting at 21:00 BST.
Weather
Fine and sunny with light winds. Thundery showers forecast by this afternoon in Marseille. Highs of 22 degrees in Nice, Monaco and Vence. 21 degrees in Cannes. This evening going down to 14 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for Wednesday and Thursday, fine and sunny with highs of 22-25 degrees.
Sunrise 06.25am
Sunset 08.30pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux 26° sunny.
Cardiff 24° sunny.
Liverpool 24° sunny.
Beach weather
La Ciotat – Sea temperature 16°, air temperature 20° feels like 24°. Fine and sunny. UV level 6.
Saint-Tropez – Sea temperature 17°, air temperature 20° feels like 25°. Fine and sunny. UV level 6.
Photo - Every Tuesday and Saturday, the heart of Saint-Tropez comes alive at Place des Lices. From local produce to artisan crafts, it’s a must-see for anyone wanting a taste of true Provençal life.
Insider tip: Arrive early to beat the crowds and snag the best tapenade or an amazing slice of pizza, quite simply the best in town! And keep your eyes peeled celebs are known to hang out here too. A regular of course being Brigitte Bardot with her signature glam-meets-boho flair.
A yellow weather alert is in place today, Tuesday April 29th, for the Alpes-Maritimes department, with Météo France warning of thunderstorms across pa...
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As we approach May 1st, 2025, several important changes are set to take effect in France as with every first of the month, affecting everything from t...
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Fine and sunny with light winds. Thundery showers forecast by this afternoon in Marseille. Highs of 22 degrees in Nice, Monaco and Vence. ...
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A massive power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France late Monday morning, leaving buildings in the dark, trains halted, and tra...
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French politicians have strongly condemned a deadly stabbing at a mosque in southern France, where a man was killed while praying. ...
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