French and Riviera News Wednesday 3rd September 2025

News

France’s far-right calls for snap elections - The far-right National Rally (RN) has urged President Macron to dissolve parliament and call snap elections, warning Prime Minister François Bayrou’s fragile minority government may fall in a confidence vote on September 8th. Bayrou announced the vote last week to secure support for controversial 2026 budget cuts. RN and other opposition parties have pledged to bring down the government, increasing political uncertainty.

Screen time and children: government action plan on hold - A confidential survey shows 70% of French people support banning screen use for children under six, amid health concerns about harming their development. Despite President Macron’s initial promise for swift action, the government’s interministerial plan is stalled with key meetings postponed and no clear timeline.

Suspicious package halts tram traffic in Nice - Tram services near Libération stop in Nice were suspended on Tuesday due to a suspicious package. Police secured the area and bomb disposal experts detonated the suitcase, which was harmless. Tram traffic resumed around 5 pm after delays impacted several stops and caused heavy road congestion.

18-year-old seriously injured in Cannes scooter accident -An 18-year-old has been seriously injured after falling at high speed from an electric scooter on Avenue de Vallauris, in Cannes. Emergency services treated him onsite before rushing him to hospital. No other vehicles were involved. The cause remains unclear.

Head of Nice medical Council criticizes doctor surveillance - Hervé Caël, president of Nice’s Medical Council, condemned the monitoring of 500 doctors accused of over-prescribing sick leave. He called the focus on numbers unfair, ignoring factors like aging workers and rising illnesses. Caël urged a national debate on public health and healthcare access instead of blaming doctors.

Wunderman Foundation seeks return of Jean Cocteau works - The Wunderman Foundation, which donated nearly 2,000 Jean Cocteau artworks to Menton 20 years ago, has reportedly asked to reclaim them. The Cocteau Museum, which was flooded in 2018, remains closed. The foundation claims Menton failed to permanently display the collection as agreed. The Mayor Yves Juhel said efforts continue to resolve the dispute, aiming to reopen the restored museum within three years.

Elton John spotted in Nice – Finally, despite ongoing health issues, Sir Elton John was recently seen in good spirits at Nespo, a popular restaurant in the heart of Nice. The owner called his visit “an elegant and memorable way to end the summer season.”

Business

French Finance minister Eric Lombard has warned that France’s efforts to rein in its budget deficit could be derailed if Prime Minister François Bayrou loses a key confidence vote next week. Speaking to the Financial Times, Lombard said the government would likely be forced to compromise on its fiscal strategy and make concessions to the left in fresh negotiations, potentially reducing its planned deficit-cutting measures. The political uncertainty adds pressure as France faces mounting financial challenges.

A cryptocurrency launched by the Trump family, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), has begun public trading this week, assigning a market value of roughly $5 billion to the Trumps’ combined holdings. The digital asset is the largest component of Donald Trump’s declared fortune. Critics argue that the coin is a vehicle for self-enrichment, while the White House defends it as part of a broader strategy to boost innovation and financial opportunity.

And - The price of gold surged to a record $3,508.50 per ounce on Tuesday, as investor demand for safe-haven assets continues to climb amid global financial uncertainty. The metal has risen nearly 30% this year.

Sport

Tennis - Novak Djokovic has booked his place in the US Open semi-finals after a hard-fought four-set victory over American Taylor Fritz at Flushing Meadows.

Cricket - England’s new white-ball era under captain Harry Brook suffered a brutal wake-up call as they were thrashed by seven wickets in the first ODI at Headingley. The second match of the three-game series takes place at Lord’s on Thursday.

Cycling - Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome sustained a life-threatening heart injury in last week’s training crash in southern France. Froome now faces a long road to recovery and won’t be back on a bike anytime soon.

Formula One - The woman who made sexual harassment allegations against former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has returned to work in Formula 1, months after being suspended by Red Bull in March 2024. Her identity remains confidential, and both she and her employer have declined to comment.

Weather

Sunny with a gentle breeze. Highs of 25° in Monaco, San Remo and Nice, 27° in Vence, 26° in Saint-Tropez with a moderate breeze. This evening going down to 18 degrees with clear skies.

The outlook for tomorrow, fine with highs of 26 degrees.

Sunrise 06.56am              Sunset 08.02pm

Beach weather

The sea is calm and inviting with a temperature of about 25 °C. UV levels are low in the morning but will rise to around 7 by midday, so sun protection is essential. Light south-westerly winds will keep the air pleasant without affecting sea conditions.

 

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