News
French air traffic controllers to strike on 18 September - France’s main air traffic controllers’ union has called a strike for Thursday the 18th of September, blaming a “failure of social dialogue.” The walkout is expected to disrupt flights across France and Europe.
Bad weather disrupts flights at Nice Airport – Meanwhile, poor weather has caused disruption at Nice Airport. Thursday afternoon saw many arrivals delayed or cancelled. Some delays reached up to an hour.
French Prime Minister comes under fire – In French politics, France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou has faced strong criticism after saying he avoided opposition talks in August because “everyone but him was on holiday.” Facing a likely defeat in a confidence vote on the 8th of September over the 2026 budget, Bayrou plans to meet opposition leaders next week to try to secure their support.
Eight French cities ban tuna from school menus over mercury risk – In other news eight French cities, including Paris, Lyon and Mouans-Sartoux in the Alpes-Maritimes, have temporarily removed tuna from school canteen menus to limit children’s exposure to mercury, a neurotoxic metal. The move follows an NGO study showing high contamination levels in canned tuna.
Local authorities in France face criticism for overcharging on bin collection fees - French local authorities have face criticism for overcharging residents on bin collection fees, with some charging up to 160% of actual service costs. While some authorities claim extra charges fund future investments in waste management, the practice may violate French tax law, which limits fees to service costs. Legal actions have already forced some regions to repay millions for overcharging.
Heavy traffic this weekend - With schools in France reopening on Monday, holiday traffic will cause delays on France’s roads this weekend, today southern routes and around Paris are expected to be busy. Saturday brings heavy traffic in the northwest of France and on key return roads, easing somewhat on Sunday. Early travel is recommended.
Mama Goes Dancing returns - Mama Goes Dancing returns to the Principality for its second edition on Thursday, 18th September, at Neptune Beach from 7 pm to midnight. Open to women of all ages, the event offers a fun evening of dancing, relaxation, and celebration under the stars. Tickets cost €15-€20 and include one drink. Reservations are required at hello@entreparents.mc.
$200m superyacht spotted off Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat – Finally, a 107-metre superyacht, once rented by Bill Gates for his birthday, is currently anchored off Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Valued at around $200 million, it reportedly costs nearly $1.8 million per week to charter.
Business
France’s state-owned electricity board EDF will make 6 gigawatts of hydroelectric capacity available to third parties as part of an agreement with the European Commission. The "virtual capacity" will be sold under the supervision of France’s Energy Regulatory Commission, aiming to boost competition in the energy market.
French Finance Minister Eric Lombard has tried to calm market jitters on Thursday, saying he sees “no risk of a financial crisis” in France, despite growing political uncertainty and an upcoming confidence vote that could bring down the government. The reassurance follows a sharp drop in French bonds and stocks after Prime Minister François Bayrou unexpectedly announced the vote over his sweeping budget cuts.
Sport
Cycling - Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome has been seriously injured in a training accident near Fayence in the Var. Froome was taken to hospital in Toulon on Thursday afternoon after losing control and hitting a traffic island. His condition is said to be stable with no head injuries, and no other vehicles were involved. Froome lives partly in Monaco and frequently trains in the Var region.
Football - Liverpool and Manchester City will both face 15-time champions Real Madrid in a thrilling Champions League league phase, while Tottenham and Newcastle must take on defending title-holders Paris St-Germain. City also face Monaco away, marking the French side’s return to the European spotlight, while Tottenham will also visit the Stade Louis II. Matches begin on the 16th of September, with the final set for Budapest in May 2026.
Meanwhile, former Uefa president Michel Platini and ex-Fifa boss Sepp Blatter have been definitively cleared of corruption after Swiss prosecutors dropped their appeal. Both had already been acquitted over a £1.6m payment made in 2011. The ruling closes a case dating back to 2015.
Tennis - World number one Jannik Sinner extended his unbeaten run at hard-court Grand Slams to 23 matches with a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Alexei Popyrin in the US Open second round and is now through to the third round.
Athletics - World Athletics president Lord Coe says athletes are "overwhelmingly supportive" of a new one-time gene test being introduced to confirm the right to compete for the female category in international competitions. The test becomes mandatory from the 1st of September and will be in use at the World Championships in Tokyo starting 13 September.
Weather
Fine and sunny with moderate to strong winds. Highs of 28 degrees in Monaco, 29 degrees in Nice, 30 degrees in Cannes and strong winds and highs of 26 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 18 degrees with clear skies. The outlook for the weekend. Saturday, strong winds persisting in the Var with high of 27 degrees. Sunday, sunny with a gentle breeze and highs of 25 degrees.
Sunrise 06.50am Sunset 08.10pm
Beach weather
In Monaco, the sea is a pleasant 25 degrees. The UV index is a high 7. Winds are light to moderate. In Saint‑Tropez, the water temperature is similarly inviting at about 24 degrees. The UV index is also . Strong winds paired with clear skies and warm air.
And Finally
A woman in France has been fined €110 after her cat, Monet, allegedly miaowed too loudly on a high-speed train from Brittany to Paris. Despite travelling in a pet carrier with a valid ticket, the noise sparked passenger complaints. Rail staff said the owner refused to move to a quieter carriage, leading to the fine for "troubling public order." The case has sparked debate over whether the penalty was fair.
The speed limit on the coastal road between Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer has been reduced from 70 to 50 km/h on the 26th of June to prepare for tramway wor...
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France’s main air traffic controllers’ union has called a strike for Thursday the 18th of September, blaming a “failure of social dialogue.” ...
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The massive wildfire in the Aude’s Corbières massif, has now been fully extinguished after three weeks. ...
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It’s been reported that Uber plans to launch high-speed trains between London, Paris, Lille, and Brussels by 2029, partnering with Gemini Trains. ...
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Éric Ciotti has officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Nice in the March 2026 municipal elections, challenging current mayor Christian Estros...
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