News
Call for more strike action across France - French unions have announced a new day of strikes and protests for October 2nd, ramping up pressure on newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Union leaders say they’re unhappy with his response to their demands to scrap budget cuts after mass protests on September the 18th drew hundreds of thousands.
French town halls fly Palestinian flag - After French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognised Palestinian statehood this week, dozens of French town halls raised the Palestinian flag in support, defying government orders. By Wednesday, some flags were taken down following legal action from regional authorities, with mayors saying the crackdown contradicted Macron’s message of solidarity.
Former French president in court today - Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will learn his fate today in a high-profile corruption trial. He’s accused of accepting millions from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 election campaign. Prosecutors have called for a seven-year jail term. If convicted, Sarkozy is expected to appeal, which would delay any sentence.
Clashes ahead of football match - Locally, violence erupted near the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on Wednesday evening, ahead of the Europa League match between OGC Nice and AS Roma. Around 200 masked individuals tried to storm a key exit near the stadium where Roma fans’ buses were scheduled to pass. Police responded with tear gas after objects like stones and barriers were thrown, causing chaos and major traffic jams on the nearby A8 motorway. These clashes come after violent incidents the previous night in Old Nice, where around 100 Roma fans were arrested and weapons confiscated.
Monaco announces temporary suspension of construction work - Monaco has announced a temporary suspension of construction work on the Moyenne Corniche at Cap-d’Ail, which began on September 1st and has caused daily traffic jams at Monaco’s exit. The work on a social housing building has been paused until October 5 to ease congestion for thousands of commuters traveling between Monaco, Nice, and the wider Alpes-Maritimes area.
New study - A new study has shown that France has fewer poor people compared to the EU average, but slightly more people with modest incomes. In France, 14% of the population is considered poor, below the EU average of 17%, while 13% fall into the “modest” income group, a bit above the EU average of 12%. Groups most at risk include single-parent families, large families, unemployed people, immigrants, and single adults. Pensioners in France are less affected by poverty than in the rest of Europe, with only 10% living in poverty compared to 15% in the EU.
Monaco Yacht Show 2025 Opens with Focus on Luxury and Sustainability – Finally, the Monaco Yacht Show 2025 kicked off on Wednesday at Port Hercule, featuring over 120 luxury superyachts. This year, sustainability takes centre stage with the Blue Wake programme highlighting environmentally friendly innovations like cleaner engines and ocean-safe paints. The show also features luxury cars and helicopters, completing the superyacht lifestyle. It runs to Saturday, with public access from today.
Business
A Paris court has ordered pharmaceutical giant Sanofi to pay €150.7 million in damages to France’s national health insurance fund. The case relates to anti-competitive practices involving Sanofi’s anti-clotting drug Plavix, dating back to 2009–2010.
And - New home sales in the U.S. surged by over 20% in August, hitting their fastest pace since early 2022. Builders ramped up discounts and incentives to attract buyers, while easing mortgage rates also helped lift activity. But economists warn the spike may be short-lived, calling the data "volatile" and cautioning that affordability remains a major barrier for many first-time buyers despite pent-up demand.
Sport
Golf - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has turned up the heat ahead of Friday’s tee-off, saying his side is "fuelled by something money can’t buy", in a clear jab at the American team, who are each receiving $500,000 to play. Donald said the Europeans are driven by pride and legacy, not cash, as criticism mounts over the U.S. players being paid for the first time in the event’s 98-year history.
Football – AS Roma grabbed a 2-1 win over Nice in their Europa League opener on Wednesday night. In other football news, Wayne Rooney says he believes he "could have died" if not for the support of his wife Coleen during his struggles with alcohol. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, the former Manchester United and England star admitted he was "struggling massively" with binge drinking during his playing days, often drinking for two days straight between games.
Formula One - Fernando Alonso says it will be "very hard" to retire from Formula 1 if Aston Martin aren't competitive next season. The 44-year-old's contract ends in 2026, and while he says a strong car could be the perfect time to bow out, he admits he'd struggle to walk away without one more shot at success.
Weather
Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze. Highs of 19 degrees in Monaco, 21 degrees in Nice, 23 degrees in Cannes and 21 degrees in Saint-Tropez with moderate winds. This evening going down to 14 degrees along the coast with clear skies.
The outlook for Friday and heading into the weekend, remaining fine and sunny highs of 22 degrees.
Sunrise 07.21am Sunset 07.22pm
And Finally
Sweden is now the first country that can be prescribed by GPs as part of a health treatment plan. The "Swedish Prescription" encourages patients to visit the country for nature, culture, and social activities proven to improve well-being. The initiative offers patients activities like picking cloudberries to lower blood pressure or enjoying saunas to improve sleep. Patients worldwide can download a referral to present to their doctors.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison with a deferred incarceration order. ...
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French unions have announced a new day of strikes and protests for October 2nd, ramping up pressure on newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorn...
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French and Italian authorities have dismantled a major international money-laundering network tied to the DZ Mafia, which moved over €30 million in le...
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HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has announced that the Principality will officially recognise a Palestinian state, joining over 145 countries supportin...
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A Frenchman has gone on trial charged with the murder of his wife, in a high-profile trial that has caught public attention - because the victim's bod...
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