News
French President to chair high level security and defence meeting today - French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, as tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iran. The meeting comes just days after a similar session on June 13th and follows a wave of deadly Israeli airstrikes across Iran that have killed at least 224 people, including top military officials and nuclear scientists.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron warned against military-led regime change in Iran, saying it would lead only to “chaos,” and stressed the need to bring “everyone back to the negotiating table.” Meanwhile, Iran has vowed retaliation, warning of imminent strikes, urging civilians to evacuate. Iranian attacks have already killed 24 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
The U.S., under President Donald Trump, has reinforced its military presence in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier and ramping up its "defensive position". The escalating conflict marks one of the most dangerous confrontations in the region in recent years, raising fears of a broader war and drawing global concern over regional stability and nuclear escalation.
Mayor of Nice refuses prefects request - Meanwhile, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has refused the prefecture’s request, reported on Tuesday, to remove the Israeli flag from the front of the town hall. The prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux, ordered all foreign flags removed, specifically targeting the Israeli flag displayed since October 2023 in support of hostages held by Hamas. Estrosi rejected the order, pledging to keep the flag flying as long as hostages remain in Gaza. Critics argue Estrosi’s stance contradicts French foreign policy and indirectly supports violence in Gaza, while pro-Palestinian protests in Nice demand the flag’s removal or the addition of the Palestinian flag.
Citroen call for immediate suspension of all C3 and DS3 models equipped fir Takata airbags – In other news, Citroën has urgently called for the immediate suspension of all C3 and DS3 models equipped with Takata airbags across Europe, regardless of their production year, following a recent fatal incident in France linked to these faulty airbags.
Xavier Chardon, Citroën’s new CEO, announced on Tuesday that affected vehicles must be taken off the road and immobilized for repairs without delay. Around 441,000 Citroën C3 and DS3 cars fitted with defective Takata airbags are impacted in Europe, including 82,000 in France. This move expands on earlier recalls that began in southern Europe in spring 2024 and a partial suspension of roughly 236,900 vehicles in northern France earlier this year. The Takata airbag crisis has been a major global safety scandal since 2014.
25 year old nearly drowns in the Var - A 25-year-old man has been saved after nearly drowning near the Pampelonne beach in Ramatuelle. Emergency services at the scene quickly provided care and successfully saved him from a suspected heart attack. He was air lifted to a hospital in the Var for further care. Authorities remind swimmers to exercise caution during the busy summer season, stay aware of water conditions, and never swim alone to prevent similar accidents.
Scam email campaign - After a third scam email campaign in just a few months, Monaco Telecom is calling for "civil defence" and asking its users to configure their email accounts to protect themselves. Users will have to reconfigure their email accounts or risk no longer being able to send emails due to a resurgence of attacks. According to reports from September 15th, Monaco Telecom customers using an @monaco.mc or @libello.com email address must have checked their email account settings. Otherwise, sending emails will simply no longer be possible. The announcement was made by the operator and the Monaco Digital Security Agency (AMSN), as scam email campaigns targeting users in the Principality intensify.
UPAINT street art festival - Prince Albert II of Monaco has made a special appearance on the final day of the four-day UPAINT street art festival (June 13–16), viewing artworks by 12 international artists and receiving two cheques totalling €28,900 for charity. The Prince toured the promenade, spoke with artists including Monaco’s Mr. One Teas, before a charity auction concluded the event. Founded in 2017 the festival began as a live painting event and has grown into a full street art village. Last year’s auction proceeds were split between the Prince Albert II Foundation and the SPA animal protection group, each receiving €14,450. UPAINT features temporary, eco-friendly artworks focused on climate and biodiversity, attracting growing interest from street artists across Europe.
Heatwave - France is bracing for another surge of extremely high temperatures this week, driven by a stubborn high-pressure system that will keep the weather dry and sunny for several days, according to Météo-France. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 34°C by tomorrow, Thursday 19th June, in western regions, well above the seasonal norm of around 24–25°C. Even Brittany could see highs near 30°C by the week’s end. Over the weekend, the heat will likely move toward central and northern France, peaking around Sunday or Monday, though forecasts remain uncertain. The Mediterranean will also remain warm with only a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms in mountainous areas like the Alps and the Pyrenees. Due to the high risk of wildfires, the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse are already under an orange alert for forest fires.
Business
TikTok will remain operational in the United States for at least three more months, as President Donald Trump is set to extend the app’s sale-or-ban deadline for the third time since taking office earlier this year. The video-sharing platform was previously facing a U.S. ban after missing a January deadline to sell its American operations. Trump, who previously tried to force TikTok’s sale in 2020, said he now views the app more favourably, claiming it helped him win over young voters in the 2024 election. While Trump claims legal authority to extend the deadline, critics say his repeated delays cast doubt on whether a ban will ever take effect.
And – The CEO of Amazon Andy Jassy has told employees to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), warning in a company memo that the technology will lead to a smaller corporate workforce in the coming years. In the memo, shared on Tuesday, Jassy urged staff to “be curious about AI”, acknowledging that while new roles will emerge, many current jobs will become obsolete as the company gains efficiency through AI. The announcement places Amazon among a growing list of tech giants preparing for AI-led transformation. The company employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide, including around 350,000 in office roles. While warehouse jobs remain crucial, Amazon is increasingly using AI across “virtually every corner of the company,” from product listings to advertising.
Sport
Football - The countdown to the new Premier League season begins this week, as the full 2025-26 fixture list will be released today Wednesday, 18th June. It’s been less than a month since Liverpool lifted the 2024-25 title, and the team will soon discover who they face first in their bid to retain the crown.
The new season, which kicks off on Saturday, 16th August, sees Sunderland return to the top flight for the first time since 2017, joining Leeds and Burnley as the promoted clubs. This campaign falls between two World Cups — the expanded Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA World Cup in 2026 — adding to the pressure of a packed schedule. The season will run across 33 weekends and five midweek rounds, concluding on Sunday, 24th May 2026.
Rugby Union - Owen Farrell says he wants to get back to "loving every minute" of rugby after rejoining Saracens, following what he described as a "difficult year" in France with Racing 92. Farrell began his professional journey with Saracens in 2008, amassing 256 appearances and helping the club to six Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups. Now back in north London, Farrell is focused on recapturing his passion for the game. “I want to get myself into a really good place and I think that’s the starting point for me,” he added.
Tennis - Top tennis players are urging tougher measures to tackle online abuse after Britain’s Katie Boulter revealed the disturbing scale of threats and harassment athletes face on social media. Speaking to BBC Sport, Boulter described receiving death threats and vile messages as “the norm” for many players, with abuse increasing every time she checks her phone. Boulter also raised concerns about the mental health toll on younger players, sparking a wider conversation within the sport. Fellow professionals have since rallied behind her, calling for platforms to introduce identity verification to help hold abusers accountable.
Weather
Fine and sunny with light winds. Highs of 28 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 27 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 29 degrees in Toulon. This evening going down to 21 degrees along the coast with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Friday, remaining fine with highs of 29-30 degrees.
Sunrise 05.48am
Sunset 09.15pm
Weather elsewhere
Bordeaux 33° sunny.
Liverpool 190 sunny.
Palma 30° sunny.
Beach weather
Hyeres – sea temperature 23°, air temperature 29°, UV level 8.
Sainte marie de la mer - sea temperature 22°, air temperature 26°, UV level 8.
French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ...
Read More
Fine and sunny with light winds. Highs of 28 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 27 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 29 degrees in Toulon. ...
Read More
A French man from Nice, Pierre Mario, is stranded in Tel Aviv with his wife and 11-year-old child due to the closure of Israeli airspace amid the Iran...
Read More
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that attempting to change Iran’s regime by military force would be a “strategic error,” as the Israel-Iran...
Read More
Warm sunshine and clear skies from Saint-Tropez to Monaco. Highs of 30° in Nice, 29° in Monaco with a light sea breeze. 26° in Saint-Tropez. ...
Read More
