French and Riviera News Wednesday 11th June 2025

News

Macron pushes for Under-15 Social media ban in France - French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France could independently ban social media for under-15s within months if the European Union fails to act. The move comes amid concerns over youth violence, following the fatal stabbing of a school worker in the Haut-Marne department. 31-year-old school monitor, Mélanie G., was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old student outside the Françoise-Dolto middle school on Tuesday morning during a routine bag check conducted in the presence of police. The victim was treated at the scene but later died of her injuries. The suspect was immediately arrested and had no prior criminal record.

Authorities say the attack happened just before 8 a.m. as students arrived. Witnesses described the student chasing the supervisor before stabbing her near the school gate. Prime Minister François Bayrou and Education Minister Elisabeth Borne have called for stricter controls on bladed weapons. President Macron condemned the attack as a "senseless surge of violence" and said the nation is in mourning. An investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz said in May that France would give the EU three months to agree on binding rules for age verification. If no progress is made, Macron says France will act alone. He cited existing tools like facial recognition and ID verification, already used on school platforms and pornographic sites, as proof age checks are possible. The EU is expected to propose its own system by summer 2025.

Ocean Summit in Nice: 95 countries push for binding plastic treaty – In other news, at the UN Ocean Summit in Nice, 95 countries signed a joint declaration on Tuesday June 10th, calling for an ambitious global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. The signatories urged a legally binding agreement to cut the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers and to phase out the most harmful plastic products and chemicals.

They also proposed a financial mechanism based on the polluter-pays principle to support developing nations. This move comes ahead of key negotiations in August in Geneva, after talks in South Korea last year failed due to opposition from major plastic-producing countries.

Plastic waste now makes up over 80% of marine litter, with global production surging from 2 million tons in 1950 to over 413 million tons in 2023.

Speaking on France 2 during the “Ocean Emergency” summit special on Tuesday evening, President Emmanuel Macron defended France’s new marine protection measures, including limits on bottom trawling in marine protected areas. The move has faced criticism from environmental groups who say it lacks ambition. Macron highlighted that protected French waters would rise from 33% to 78%, thanks in part to French Polynesia creating the world’s largest marine reserve. However, only 14% will be under “strong protection,” up from 4%.

Businesses on the Port of Nice express frustration - Meanwhile, since the Port of Nice was closed off on June 5th, 2025, for the UN Oceans Summit, local businesses in the area have been expressing growing frustration over a sharp decline in customers.

On Monday morning, June 9th, the usually bustling Lympia port was unusually quiet. While the summit was officially underway at the nearby convention center, attended by President Emmanuel Macron, Mayor Christian Estrosi, and around sixty heads of state, local business owners felt the impact of restricted access firsthand.

Restaurants and shopkeepers described the situation as “a disgrace,” lamenting the drop in foot traffic and sales since the protection zone was established, limiting public entry to the port area. Many fear the financial strain will continue as the summit proceeds, with some drawing comparisons to the quiet streets during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the summit aims to address pressing environmental issues on a global scale, the local business community hopes for measures to cushion the blow of the financial effects on their livelihoods during such high-profile events.

France Alzheimer launches powerful campaign - France Alzheimer has launched a new awareness campaign titled Territoire de l’intime, featuring emotional video clips from patients and caregivers, including public figures in France like Alain Chamfort and JoeyStarr. The campaign, unveiled on Tuesday June 10th, aims to shed light on the often-isolating struggles of those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Singer Alain Chamfort, who cared for his mother with Alzheimer’s, described the experience as an “uphill struggle” highlighting the toll on families and the need for early support. JoeyStarr also criticized the lack of adequate care structures in France, calling the disease “still taboo.” The videos seek to encourage families to seek help and connect with support networks offered by France Alzheimer. “It affects everyone,” said a spokesperson for France Alzheimer, “and no one should face it alone.”

EU updates list of high-risk countries for money Laundering, adding Monaco - The European Commission announced on Tuesday that Monaco has been added to the European Union’s list of high-risk countries for money laundering, while the United Arab Emirates has been removed. This update follows the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list,” which has included Monaco since mid-2024.

Monaco acknowledged the update and reaffirmed its commitment to implementing measures aimed at being removed from the FATF list. The European Parliament and EU Council have up to two months to review or challenge the new listing. Alongside Monaco, Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela were also added to the list. Countries such as Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, and the UAE were removed. The European Commissioner for Financial Services highlighted the importance of maintaining this list as a tool to protect the integrity of the EU’s financial system.

Tensions rise between French Government and Marineland Antibes over orcas - Tensions have increased between the French government and Marineland Antibes regarding the future of two orcas, Wikie (24) and her son Keijo (11), at the park, which has been closed for six months. The park’s management criticized the government for the ongoing situation, calling for urgent responsibility to resolve the issue. Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher responded that the park must take responsibility for the animals that have generated profits for years urging Marineland to propose solutions.

Marineland has sought approval to transfer the orcas to parks in Japan or Spain, but both options have faced refusals. The minister mentioned plans to discuss the creation of dolphin sanctuaries in Italy and Greece, though none will be ready for at least a year. Meanwhile, the NGO Sea Shepherd remains actively involved, offering funding and support for a sanctuary and has obtained an expert appraisal on the park’s facilities to ensure the orcas’ well-being.

Heatwave to hit France; Alpes-Maritimes to see mild but warm temperatures - A heatwave will sweep across France from today, with temperatures soaring up to 38°C in the southwest. However, the Alpes-Maritimes will experience milder conditions, with highs ranging from 25°C to 29°C. In Grasse, the warmest spot in the region, temperatures are expected to reach 29°C on Thursday and Friday. Coastal cities like Cannes and Nice will see highs around 26-28°C. Thunderstorms are forecast in the Tinée and Vésubie valleys later in the week. Evenings will remain mild, with temperatures around 26°C in Nice and Grasse. The weather will stay stable into the weekend, with some clouds and continued warm conditions.

Business

The US and China have agreed in principle on a framework to ease trade tensions between the two largest economies. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the deal aims to resolve restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets. Both countries will now present the plan to Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping for approval. The agreement followed two days of negotiations in London between senior officials from Beijing and Washington.

According to recent figures the average price of an Australian home has exceeded A$1 million (£483,000, $652,000) for the first time, highlighting the country’s ongoing housing affordability crisis. Data shows that the average home was valued at A$1,002,500 in the March quarter, marking a 0.7% increase from the previous quarter. Australia is now home to some of the world’s least affordable cities, with many residents finding it increasingly difficult to buy or rent property. Experts attribute the crisis to a shortage of homes, population growth, tax incentives favouring property investors, and insufficient investment in social housing.

And - Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia will cease operations at the end of July, with affected passengers eligible for full refunds. The airline has faced challenges including rising supplier costs, high airport fees, and increased competition in the region. The closure will result in more than 500 job losses. The shutdown, however, will not affect the operations of its Australia-based Jetstar Airways or Jetstar Japan. Jetstar Asia will gradually reduce its services over the next seven weeks, and passengers with flights scheduled after July 31 will be contacted directly.

Sport

Football – England suffered their first defeat under Thomas Tuchel as Senegal earned a well-deserved win at the City Ground. Despite taking an early lead through Harry Kane’s 73rd England goal, England struggled against an impressive Senegal side, the first African team to beat England’s men.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland has secured a narrow friendly 1-0 victory over Iceland despite playing with 10 men for more than half an hour. Isaac Price gave the hosts the lead with a goal in the 36th minute.

And - Tottenham is reportedly close to appointing Brentford manager Thomas Frank as their new head coach. Ongoing talks between the clubs have been described as positive. Sources say discussions are amicable, with all parties keen to finalize the agreement quickly.

Formula One - The new Madrid Grand Prix will make its debut as the final race in the uninterrupted European leg of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Scheduled for September 11-13, the Madrid race will be Spain’s second Grand Prix and will replace the Grand Prix at Imola in Italy. The total number of races remains at 24. Several calendar changes aim to improve logistics and reduce carbon emissions. Notably, the Canadian Grand Prix has been moved to May 22-24, following the Miami race on May 1-3, while the Monaco Grand Prix is now set for June 5-7. According to Formula One officials these adjustments create “significant freight efficiencies,” allowing equipment to move directly between Miami and Canada.

Tennis - Emma Raducanu kicked off her grass-court campaign at Queen’s with a commanding straight-sets win over Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa. The British player won 6-1, 6-2 in just 65 minutes, showing confidence and enjoyment in front of the home crowd in west London.

Cricket - England have achieved a record T20 score on home soil as they secured a 37-run victory over West Indies in the third match, completing a series sweep. England posted a total of 248-3, their highest T20 score in England, surpassing the 234-6 against South Africa in 2022.

Weather

Sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 25 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Antibes. 24 degrees across the boarder in San Remo. 23 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 17 degrees with clear skies.

The outlook for tomorrow and Friday. Fine and sunny with highs of 26-27 degrees.

Sunrise 05.48am

Sunset 09.12pm

Weather elsewhere

London 24° sunny intervals.

Amsterdam 21° sunny.

Dublin 20° sunny

Beach weather

Hyeres – Sea temperature 22°, air temperature 29°. UV level 8.

Cannes  – Sea temperature 22°, air temperature 26°. UV level 8.

Photo – Perched on the Mediterranean coast near Monaco, the ancient castle fortress in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin offers breathtaking views of the sparkling sea and the iconic Côte d'Azur. A fascinating fact: the castle dates back to the 10th century and once served as a strategic lookout to protect the region from invaders. This historic site perfectly blends stunning scenery with rich history along the French Riviera.

And Finally – Brits have shared surprising thoughts that pop into their heads during intimate moments.
A recent survey found that many people’s minds wander during intimate moments, sometimes thinking about everyday worries or surprising things. While some think about work, money, or chores, others admit their thoughts have drifted to an ex, a celebrity, or even a friend. The study also showed that men and women tend to be distracted by different things, with men more likely to think about people they know, and women more often focused on daily stresses. Experts say it’s normal for minds to wander, and sometimes people may not always be completely honest about their experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

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