News
Power blackouts following severe thunderstorms - Severe thunderstorms have caused power blackouts in the Alpes-Maritimes region. Over 1,000 homes were left without electricity on Tuesday evening, including 1,000 in the Le Tignet/Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne area and around 100 in the Cantaron area. France’s electricity board Enedis teams have been working through the night to restore the power.
Vehicle catches fire causing delays – In other news, a vehicle has caught fire near the La Turbie pay toll on the A8 motorway, heading towards Nice-Monaco. Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. Fortunately, all occupants of the car managed to escape unharmed before emergency services arrived. However, the fire caused significant delays on the motorway linking France to Monaco.
Burglaries: beware of the "Blank Sheet" technique, an alert issued in Nice – A simple trick is being used by burglars to determine if you're home, and authorities in Nice have issued a warning about it. The "blank sheet" technique is currently being used across the city. Burglars slip a blank sheet of paper into a mailbox, ensuring part of it is visible outside. If the sheet stays there for several days, it signals to the offenders that the house may be vacant, increasing the likelihood of a burglary. The Neighbourhood Watch network, coordinated by the municipal police, advises residents to collect their mail frequently. If you're away, it's suggested to ask someone you trust to collect it for you. The network also encourages reporting this practice to the municipal police. Additionally, you can sign up for an online service "Tranquillity Vacations" where the local police or gendarmerie patrol the area around your home and notify you of any disturbances.
Nice restaurants combat 'co-shows' - Several restaurants in Nice are tackling the issue of "no-shows" by requiring customers to provide their bank card details when making reservations. This practice, now becoming more common on the Côte d'Azur, is seen as a way to prevent losses from unannounced cancellations. One restaurant owner on the port of Nice has been prompted to implement the new measure after losing €2,500 when 25 people didn't show up for a reservation. Since requiring credit card details, he’s seen a drastic reduction in no-shows, with the platform holding €50 per person. Restaurant owners say they are aiming to avoid empty tables that could have been filled by other customers as well as ensuring that their revenue isn’t affected by last-minute cancellations.
Nice: Public transport to become free for children under 11 – From July 1st, 2025, public transportation in the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Area will be free for children under 11. The decision announced by Nice’s mayor Christian Estrosi follows a similar move by Montpellier’s mayor Michaël Delafosse, who introduced free transportation for all residents in his area. Currently, children over 4 pays for a season ticket or benefits from discounted fares. Under the new plan, Lignes d’Azur services will be free for children under 11, marking a significant step towards a more accessible transport. However, Estrosi remains against fully free public transport, arguing it could compromise service quality and local finances. He emphasized that the most vulnerable and non-taxable seniors (over 65) already enjoy free travel, representing 25% of passengers.
Trenitalia’s New Paris-Marseille high-speed train service – Meanwhile, from June 15th, 2025, the Italian railway company Trenitalia will introduce a new high-speed line connecting Paris to Marseille, expanding its operations in France. This new route offers a competitive alternative to France's SNCF, with four round trips per day. The journey from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Marseille’s Saint-Charles station will take 3 hours and 20 minutes, with stops in Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Avignon TGV, and Aix-en-Provence TGV. Tickets for this new service are now available on the Trainline website, with prices starting at €27 for second-class seats. Trenitalia's entry into France follows their success on the Paris-Lyon-Milan route, and the company plans further expansion with a Marseille-Nice-Genoa-Milan route expected in 2026. This service is a step towards increasing competition on France’s rail network, with companies like Spain's Renfe already operating services between French and Spanish cities. By 2030, it is expected that competition will cover most profitable lines, as SNCF also prepares to enter the Italian market by 2026.
Nice Airport: Nice-Nîmes air route cancelled - Odyssey Airlines has announced the cancellation of the planned air route between Nice and Nîmes, originally set to launch in June. The airline cited the newly introduced "solidarity tax on airline tickets" (TSBA) as the primary reason, which increased ticket taxes from €2.63 to €7.30 for European flights. Odyssey explained that the tax posed a financial risk which they couldn’t afford to take. While the Nice-Nîmes route has been scrapped, the flight between Nîmes and Ajaccio will still operate. The cancellation ends a controversial project, as many Green elected officials criticized the route for its environmental impact, given the cities are only about 300 km apart and reachable by car in three hours or train in four.
Success of the 5th PropTech Symposia: AI revolutionises real estate - The 5th edition of the PropTech Symposia, has taken place here in Monaco, focusing on the transformative role of AI in real estate the event was a resounding success. Hosted by the Prince's Government and the Monaco Economic Board, the event brought together top industry leaders to explore AI’s potential in reshaping the sector.
Keynote addresses and expert panels featured visionaries such as Dominique Alba of Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Ana Lozano Portillo of Nidus Lab, and Brice Vandevoorde of Realiz, offering deep insights into automation, tokenization, and AI-driven business models. The symposium also showcased Monaco's long-standing partnership with ESCP Business School, introducing the 2024 edition of the Global PropTech Barometer, a vital resource for understanding emerging trends in real estate technology.
With 150 industry professionals in attendance, the event reaffirmed the PropTech Symposia’s status as a pivotal platform for networking, innovation, and collaboration in the ever-evolving real estate landscape.
The Fairmont Monte-Carlo celebrates 50th anniversary with ambitions in Monaco and partnership with Ferrari – Finally, the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, the largest hotel in Monaco, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with extensive renovations, a revamped interior, and a strategic partnership with Ferrari. The hotel, originally opened in 1975, has undergone significant changes, including Mediterranean-themed room renovations, the addition of a second pool, and the opening of the rooftop restaurant. The hotel has also maintained its commitment to high-end international brands, with Nobu and Nikki Beach still active. Looking forward, General Manager Alexandre Ariel, who has been with the hotel since 2008, aims to continue the hotel’s legacy while adapting to the changes brought by the nearby Mareterra district. Despite some changes in sea views due to the new development, Ariel sees the district as an opportunity to strengthen the hotel's position in the heart of Monaco. The Fairmont remains a popular choice for business tourism, with 600 rooms and multiple amenities catering to international visitors. While rumours of demolishing the building to create two new hotels have circulated, Ariel has confirmed that the Fairmont will not be replaced and may even expand in the future.
Business
US President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium imports have taken effect, raising duties to 25% and removing all country exemptions. This move is expected to escalate tensions with major trading partners, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and the European Union, who have expressed plans to retaliate. Trump aims to boost US steel and aluminium production, but critics warn the tariffs will increase costs for American consumers and hinder economic growth.
Global smartwatch sales have dropped for the first time, with a 7% decrease in shipments in 2024 compared to the previous year. Apple's market-leading smartwatch, the Apple Watch, saw a 19% decline, primarily due to the lack of new features and the absence of the expected high-end Ultra 3 model.
And - US President Donald Trump has said he will "buy a brand-new Tesla" after shares in the electric car firm fell more than 15%. Trump blamed "radical left lunatics" boycotting the firm to "attack and do harm" to Tesla owner Elon Musk. However, stock analysts said the main reason for the poor performance of the shares was fear about Tesla meeting production targets and a drop in sales over the past year.
Sport
Football - Liverpool's Champions League hopes have been dashed after a dramatic penalty loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. PSG, needing to overcome a 1-0 shortfall, showed their maturity with Liverpool unable to break PSG's defence. In extra time, PSG dominated, and Alisson's brilliant save from couldn't prevent Liverpool's penalty defeat.
Cricket - The 150th anniversary of the first men's Test match between England and Australia will be a day-night contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from March 11-15, 2027. The historic fixture will take place at the MCG, where the first Test between the two teams was held in 1877, with Australia winning by 45 runs. The second match, also at the MCG, ended in a tie, 1-1. The 100th anniversary in 1977 was similarly celebrated with a Test at the MCG, again with Australia winning by 45 runs. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg called the anniversary match "one of the great cricket events."
Formula One - Oscar Piastri has signed a new long-term contract with McLaren, extending his stay with the team. The 23-year-old Australian, who secured two wins and finished fourth in the 2024 world championship, was already under contract until 2026. Piastri’s impressive results, along with Lando Norris' second-place finish, helped McLaren secure their first constructors' title since 1998.
Tennis - The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, set for April 5-13, 2025, is to feature nine of the top 10 tennis players, including Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and more. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is the only absentee due to suspension. The tournament will showcase 56 singles players and 28 doubles teams, with 42 of the top 45 players competing. Exciting new developments include the renaming of Court No. 2 to Court Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, a 35% venue expansion, and the introduction of Electronic Line Calling Live technology. The tournament will also host a kids' day and tennis exhibition, engaging fans from all ages.
Weather
Sunny intervals with some cloudy patches. Showers are forecast for this afternoon. Winds picking up by early evening in the Var. Highs of 14 degrees in Monaco and Saint-Tropez, 15 degrees in Nice and Marseille, 16 degrees in Toulon. This evening going down to 7 degrees along the coast with cloudy skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Friday. Sunny intervals tomorrow with light showers expected to return on Friday. Highs of 15 degrees.
Sunrise 06.47am
Sunset 06.32pm
Weather elsewhere
London 9° sunny intervals.
New York 11° sunny.
Dublin 9° sunny intervals
Over 100 lightning strikes were recorded on Tuesday evening in the Var, six times more than in the Alpes-Maritimes. ...
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Severe thunderstorms have caused power blackouts in the Alpes-Maritimes region. Over 1,000 homes were left without electricity on Tuesday evening, inc...
Read More
From July 1st, 2025, public transportation in the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Area will be free for children under 11. ...
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Odyssey Airlines has announced the cancellation of the planned air route between Nice and Nîmes, originally set to launch in June. ...
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The 5th edition of the PropTech Symposia, has taken place here in Monaco, focusing on the transformative role of AI in real estate the event was a res...
Read More
