News
French MPs have approved the assisted dying bill in a landmark vote - French MPs have voted in favour of a bill that would allow assisted dying for people in the final stages of terminal illness. The National Assembly passed the legislation, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, by 305 votes to 199. The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate, with a second reading in the Assembly expected before it can become law, potentially by 2027. If passed, France would become the eighth EU country to legalise a form of assisted dying. The proposed law is more restrictive than those in Belgium or the Netherlands, where assisted dying laws are among the most liberal in Europe.
Traffic warning for Ascension Day weekend – In other news, a busy weekend lies ahead for drivers across France as many take advantage of the Ascension Day holiday, with good weather expected. France’s Traffic monitoring group Bison Futé predicts heavy congestion, with red alerts for outbound traffic today Wednesday, May 28th, and Thursday, May 29th. Return journeys on Sunday, June 1st, are also expected to be challenging, especially in the Grand Ouest region, where traffic conditions are forecast to be black, the highest level of congestion. The busiest routes will be those heading to popular coastal destinations, including the Normandy coast via the A13, the Atlantic coast on the A11, A10, and A63, and the Mediterranean coast along the A7, A9, and A61. In the Paris region, expect delays near toll barriers on the A10 and A6 from late Wednesday morning. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and consider delaying travel on Sunday to avoid the worst congestion. Significant delays are expected throughout the day, especially on major motorways in the northwest, southwest, and Mediterranean regions, as well as the Mont Blanc tunnel area. If you’re on the roads this holiday weekend, patience will be key.
New speed camera on the Prom - Meanwhile, a new mobile speed camera has been installed on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to help combat speeding. Installed on Tuesday, the radar is already operational in the 50 km/h zone and will be regularly moved along the busy road. The move comes as part of Mayor Christian Estrosi’s ongoing efforts to improve safety, having called for seven new speed cameras on the Promenade. However, permanent new-generation cameras won’t be installed until later this year due to government delays. City officials say this mobile radar will eventually be replaced by a permanent system to better protect motorists and pedestrians along this popular route.
Car trafficking ring between Marseille and Algeria dismantled - Authorities announced on Tuesday, May 27th, the raid of a large-scale stolen car trafficking ring operating through the port of Marseille, worth an estimated €30 million. The ring primarily targeted vehicles rented abroad and shipped to Algeria. The investigation revealed the operation ran for four years, moving about 20 vehicles each month. Ten suspects were arrested and face charges including receiving stolen goods, money laundering, and forgery. Five have been jailed, while others remain under judicial supervision. The ring operated with help from port employees who, for a fee, allowed vehicles into the port.
Blue Economy and Finance Forum - Monaco will host the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) on June 7th and 8th, spotlighting €25 billion of actual investments in ocean sustainability. Organisers aim to close the €150 billion gap needed annually to meet UN ocean goals by showcasing deployed capital. The forum will introduce ocean-focused biodiversity credits and share proven success stories of profitable sustainable businesses. Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute, sums up the occasion as “a rare moment when protecting the planet meets investors’ interests.”
“No Kids Zones” sparks concern for the French – Finally, the High Commissioner for Children in France has raised alarms over the growing trend of “adults only” venues, including restaurants and hotels that exclude children. This movement, originating in South Korea, sees many establishments openly banning minors, including some public sites like museums. Similar practices are growing across Europe, notably in Spain, where “Adultsonly” hotels have expanded from the Canary Islands to other countries, including France. Latin America is seeing a rise in adults-only tourism too, with Mexican resorts advertising child-free stays. In France, officials and industry leaders are working to prevent the trend, as “adults only” offers currently make up around 3% of the market.
Business
French police have arrested more than 20 individuals linked to a series of kidnapping plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families. The arrests follow investigations into a recent abduction attempt in Nantes and an attempted kidnapping involving a woman and child in Paris earlier this month. The incidents have sparked growing concern over the security of crypto wealth holders, who may be increasingly targeted by criminals seeking ransom payments. In response, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has pledged to enhance protection measures for crypto executives and their families amid rising threats in the sector.
The Governor of Texas Greg Abbott has signed a new online child safety law requiring Apple and Google to implement age verification measures on their app stores for users in the state. The legislation mandates that minors obtain parental consent before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. The bill, aimed at enhancing protections for children online, has faced pushback from major tech companies. Apple and Google both opposed the measure. Texas is the second most populous U.S. state, and the new law could have significant implications for how app platforms operate nationwide.
Under new proposals from Transport for London, London’s congestion charge could increase by 20% next year, rising from £15 to £18 a day. It would be the first price hike since 2020, when the fee jumped from £11.50, a 30% increase. The proposed change, currently under public consultation, would take effect from January 2026. TfL noted the rise is below the rate of inflation since the last increase. Combined with the £12.50 daily ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) charge, owners of older vehicles could face daily costs of £30.50 to drive in central London. TfL also indicated the charge may increase annually after 2026.
And – According to reports the supermarket chain Tesco’s has begun installing AI-powered cameras above self-checkout stations in the UK to detect items that aren't scanned properly. The system, similar to VAR in football, plays an instant replay on screen if it detects a potential issue, prompting customers with the message. Similar systems have reportedly already been introduced in some Sainsbury’s stores. While Tesco says the technology is designed to speed up and simplify the checkout process, some customers have expressed frustration. One user wrote on Reddit that “If they can't trust me to scan my shopping properly, perhaps they should employ staff to scan it for me,”. Another joked: “Can’t wait to hang around for four minutes while the ref camera decides if my carrots are too heavy.”
Sport
Football - Arne Slot was named both Manager of the Year and Premier League Manager of the Year at the League Managers Association (LMA) awards, after guiding Liverpool to a dominant title win in his debut season. However, the 46-year-old did not attend the ceremony, citing solidarity with those affected by the tragic incident during the club's title parade.
Around 50 people, including four children, were injured when a car drove into crowds in central Liverpool on Monday. Slot, honoured with the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, said: "This is not a decision I have taken lightly but it is one that I feel is absolutely right given the seriousness of the situation. I would like to thank the wider football community for the support we have received over the last 24 hours."
Tennis - Novak Djokovic has begun his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title with a confident straight-sets victory over Mackenzie McDonald at Roland Garros. The sixth seed defeated the world number 98, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Fresh off his 100th ATP singles title win in Geneva, the 38-year-old Serbian showed no signs of slowing down. Djokovic will next face France’s Corentin Moutet.
Formula One - Formula 1 drivers have offered mixed reactions to the new rule two stop rule at the Monaco Grand Prix, which required drivers to use three different tyre compounds during the race. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton said the rule "didn't make a big difference" but acknowledged that "F1 bosses need to keep on trying with this one." Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was more dismissive, stating, "Up front, it didn't do anything." The mixed reviews suggest F1 may need further innovation to make Monaco’s showpiece race more competitive and engaging.
Cricket - England fast bowler Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the upcoming one-day international series against the West Indies due to a hamstring injury sustained during England’s innings victory over Zimbabwe. The 27-year-old is expected to recover in time for England’s five-Test series against India, starting on 20th June at Headingley. England will not name a replacement for Atkinson in the ODI squad, which begins the three-match series at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Weather
Hazy sunshine with light winds in the Alpes Maritimes. Moderate to strong winds in the Var. Highs of 24 degrees in Nice and Cannes, 23 degrees in Monaco, 28 degrees in Toulon and Marseille and reaching up to 30 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
The outlook for Thursday and Friday mainly fine and sunny with highs of 27 degrees and a gentle breeze.
Sunrise 05.53am
Sunset 09.02pm
Weather elsewhere
Rome 28° sunny.
Copenhagen 17° cloudy.
Cardiff 18° sunny intervals.
Beach weather
La Ciotat – Sea temperature 17°, air temperature 25° feels more like 29°. Hazy sunshine with strong winds and gust of up to 50km/hr. UV level 5.
Saint-Tropez - Sea temperature 19°, air temperature 25° feels more like 30°. Hazy sunshine with strong winds and gust of up to 50km/hr. UV level 5.
The Société des Bains de Mer (S.B.M.) has announced solid financial results for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2025, with revenue rising ...
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France is set to experience record-breaking heat over the Ascension Day holiday, with tomorrow, Friday, May 30th, expected to be the hottest day of th...
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Sunshine with a gentle breeze in the Alpes Maritimes. Moderate to strong winds in the Var. Highs of 25 degrees in Monaco, 25 degrees in Nice, 26 degre...
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A teenager has died after being shot in Marseille last night. The 17 year old lost his life and two other people were injured in the shooting ...
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French MPs have voted in favour of a bill that would allow assisted dying for people in the final stages of terminal illness. The National Assembly pa...
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