News
Hunter fined and sentenced in France - An 81-year-old hunter in France has been fined and sentenced to a four-month suspended prison term for killing an endangered brown bear in the Pyrenees back in 2021. The man claimed he had shot the bear in self-defence after it attacked him during a boar hunt. Fifteen other hunters involved in the incident were fined over €60,000 in damages to environmental groups. The hunters were outside a designated hunting area when the incident occurred. The shooter, whose rifle was confiscated and hunting license revoked, was fined €750. Bear conservation group Pays de l'ours hailed the verdict, hoping it will raise awareness in the hunting community.
Checks carried out in National reserved areas - Meanwhile, locally an inspection in the Plaine des Maures National Reserve has led to eight violations, including illegal fishing and motorcycle riding in restricted areas. These checks, part of the ongoing Biomaures operation, are regularly conducted in natural reserves, such as large parks and mountainous areas, to ensure that visitors follow environmental rules. Among the violations were two fishermen and several vehicles parked in prohibited zones. The reserve, known for its biodiversity, is home to species like Hermann's tortoises, and the operation aims to balance nature protection with educating the public.
Two-year-old child dies after falling from the 8th floor – In other local news, a two-year-old child has tragically died after falling from the eighth floor of a social housing building in Grasse on Tuesday May 6th. The incident occurred in the Les Romarins complex on Boulevard Albert 1er. Despite immediate intervention from emergency services, the child, who suffered severe trauma, was pronounced dead at the scene. The child had been under the care of their grandparents while the mother was at work. Local and national police are investigating the exact circumstances.
Police checks - Police checks carried out on the region’s roads at the end of April led to in total 1,134 people and 1,023 vehicles being stopped. Checks were also carried out in local businesses and residential areas renowned for drug trafficking. The crackdown resulted in 214 fines, including 18 arrests, as authorities continue to combat delinquency and organized crime in the region.
Weather warning - The Alpes-Maritimes and the Var regions have been placed on a yellow alert for thunderstorms this Wednesday, May 7. Météo France has warned of unsettled weather, with sunny spells, showers, and occasional thunderstorms from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Temperatures are expected to remain cool, with highs of 19°C in Nice and Menton, 17°C in Grasse, and 12°C in Tende. Winds may reach gusts of up to 40 km/h near Nice by the afternoon.
New mobile waste collection service - Finally, Monaco has introduced a new mobile waste collection service, making environmentally friendly disposal easier for residents. The initiative, a collaboration between the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement (SMA) and the Prince’s Government, began in March and offers a mini mobile waste station that visits different districts of Monaco once a month. The service operates from 9am to 1pm, providing a safe and convenient way to dispose of hazardous household waste. The service is free and staffed by SMA professionals, who assist with waste sorting and provide advice on recycling as well as, pre-collection bags, and dog waste bags to promote better waste management at home. For more details on accepted materials and upcoming collection dates, residents can visit: SMA Mini-Déchetterie.
Business
US and Chinese officials are set to meet in Switzerland from the 9th to the 12th of May for their first high-level talks since the Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng attended Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. The talks aim to ease tensions after both sides imposed steep tariffs, up to 145% on Chinese goods and 125% on US exports. China warned the US must recognise the global harm of its tariffs but said it is open to talks, while also vowing to “fight to the end” if necessary.
Deliveroo has agreed to a £2.9bn takeover by US food delivery giant DoorDash, creating a combined business serving 50 million customers monthly across 40+ countries. The deal ramps up pressure on rivals Just Eat and Uber Eats in the UK and adds to concerns over UK firms being snapped up by US buyers.
And - The UK and India have finalised a trade deal aimed at boosting exports and cutting tariffs, easing access for UK goods like whisky and cars, and reducing taxes on Indian clothing and footwear. The agreement, three years in the making, excludes any changes to UK immigration rules. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it will grow the economy and support British businesses. Trade between the two nations was worth £42.6bn last year and is projected to rise by £25.5bn annually by 2040.
Sport
Basketball – Congratulations! To AS Monaco Basketball who secured a dramatic 85–84 victory over FC Barcelona last night, clinching the EuroLeague quarter-final series 3–2. The decisive game was held here in the Principality and the thrilling win propels Monaco into the EuroLeague Final Four, marking a significant achievement for the club. They will now face the winner of the quarter-final series between Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul and Panathinaikos Aktor Athen
Football - Inter Milan have reached the Champions League final after a sensational 4–3 win over Barcelona sealing a 7–6 aggregate victory in one of the competition’s greatest semi-finals. The 13-goal tie equals the highest-scoring Champions League semi-final ever, matching Liverpool’s 2018 win over Roma. Inter will face either PSG or Arsenal in the final on May 31st. This evening PSG are are home to Arsenal kick off is at 9pm French time.
Formula One - Alpine F1 team principal Oliver Oakes has resigned less than a year after taking on the role. No reason was given for his resignation, and Oakes has declined to comment. The surprise exit adds to a period of instability at Alpine, which has seen a string of leadership changes and underwhelming results. Alpine currently sits ninth in the constructors’ standings.
Tennis - Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has marked her first win since becoming a mother with a 7-5, 6-1 victory in Rome, ending a run of four straight losses since returning after 15 months away.
Golf - Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf course will host a DP World Tour event for the first time as the Scottish Championship returns from 7–10 August, replacing the cancelled Czech Masters. The Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen, opened in 2012, previously hosted senior PGA events and now steps up to stage the $2.75m tournament.
Weather
Unsettled with sunny intervals, thundery showers and strong winds expected in the Var region. Highs of 18 degrees in Monaco, 19 degrees in Nice, Saint-Tropez and Marseille. This evening going down to 9° along the coast with cloudy skies.
The outlook for Thursday and Friday, mainly fine tomorrow with moderate to strong winds persisting in the Var. Friday hazy sunshine gentle breeze and highs of 19 degrees.
Sunrise 06.14am
Sunset 08.40pm
Weather elsewhere
London 17° sunny.
Dublin 16° sunny.
Paris 18° sunny intervals.
Beach weather
Nice – Sea temperature 18°, air temperature 19°. Moderate to strong winds and thundery showers. UV level 6.
Marseille – Sea temperature 17°, air temperature 20°. Mainly fine with moderate to strong winds UV level 5.
Photo - Saint-Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval villages on the French Riviera, famously loved by artists like Marc Chagall, who lived there for nearly 20 years and is buried in the village cemetery. For a memorable visit, wander the cobbled lanes to the Fondation Maeght, a world-renowned modern art museum just outside the village walls, or stop at the iconic Café de la Place near the pétanque square to soak in the atmosphere like the locals.
Another power outage has hit three towns on Friday morning, the 30th of May, affecting 120 homes in the Alpes-Maritimes....
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France’s health minister has announced that France will introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in outdoor public areas commonly visited by children, st...
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The Var department has experienced its first "tropical night" of the season, with temperatures not dropping below 25°C at 3 am, particularly in Hyères...
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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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