French and Riviera News Thursday 9th October 2025

News

Macron to appoint new Prime Minister by Friday evening, says Élysée - French President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a new Prime Minister by tomorrow evening, following political talks led by outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. In a statement issued late on Wednesday 8 October, it was confirmed that the President had “taken note of the conclusions” drawn from Lecornu’s talks with political leaders.

Monaco residents exempt from EU's new digital border system, government confirms - The Monegasque government has confirmed that residents and nationals of Monaco will be exempt from the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which begins phased implementation on the 12th of October 2025. The EES is a digital border control system that will eventually replace passport stamping for non-EU nationals.  However Monegasque citizens and residents holding valid residence permits will not be required to register with the EES. Their current travel procedures will remain unchanged.

Parks closed due to anti-mosquito operation - Several parks and gardens in central Nice have been closed to the public as part of an anti-mosquito operation.  The move comes in response to the growing presence of the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a known carrier of diseases such as chikungunya. These spaces will reopen on Saturday 11th October. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the mosquito population intensify.

Authorities launch awareness campaign for fishermen in the Var - Local authorities and environmental groups have launched an awareness campaign among fishermen in Hyères in the Var following the presence of the invasive blue crab. While not yet a full-scale invasion, the blue crab, native to the Atlantic coasts of the Americas, is known for damaging fishing nets and disrupting marine ecosystems. Fishermen are encouraged to report sightings through a dedicated website, where they can submit photos and measurements to contribute to a national database—a model of citizen science in action. Importantly, they are asked not to release the crabs back into the wild.

Calanque National Park suffers landslide - Access to part of the calanque national park in Marseille has been closed indefinitely following a rockfall. Initial geological assessments have deemed the area unsafe.  Further expert inspections are scheduled for today, Thursday 9th October, with a clearer picture of the necessary repair work expected early next week. The natural beauty site attracts up to 2,500 visitors per day in peak season. To combat erosion and protect biodiversity, authorities have already implemented a summer booking system to limit visitor numbers.

Remarkable underwater discovery - Finally, a remarkable underwater discovery has been made in the Rhône River at Arles, where archaeologists have unearthed an ancient treasure of 847 Roman coins. The dive, focused on three well-preserved shipwrecks. While exploring the wrecks, researchers unexpectedly came across the coin hoard — dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. The coins likely fell into the river during Roman times, perhaps lost during loading or transport, and offer valuable insight into Arles’ role in ancient Mediterranean trade.

Business

China has tightened its rules on the export of rare earths. New regulations announced by the country's Ministry of Commerce "to safeguard national security" formalise existing rules on processing technology and unauthorised overseas cooperation.

The head of JP Morgan has told reporters that there is a higher risk of a serious fall in US stocks than is currently being reflected in the market.  Jamie Dimon, who leads America's largest bank, said he was "far more worried than others" about a serious market correction, which he said could come in the next six months to two years.

And - A new law in California is aimed at stopping ad breaks from pumping up the volume on streaming services. The law, which says commercials cannot be louder than the primary video content being watched, builds on a federal one that sets the volume of ads on broadcast TV and cable stations to include streaming platforms.

Sport

Football – Football manager Thomas Tuchel believes England will go into the 2026 World Cup as "underdogs" and says they have "no chance" of succeeding unless they unite as a team. England have reached successive European Championship finals but have not gone beyond the semi-finals at a World Cup since winning the competition in 1966.

Cricket - Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff says he will no longer coach Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, adding he is "worth more" than what the franchise's new owners offered him.

Motorsport - Formula E says its "ultra-fast" pit boost technology could be recharging regular electric vehicles in "five years, max". The system gives cars a 600KW 10% energy shot in 30 seconds during pit stops.

Weather

Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze. Highs of 21 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 22 degrees in Monaco, 23 degrees in Nice and reaching 24 degrees in Cannes. This evening going down to 14 degrees along the coast with clear skies. The outlook for tomorrow, fine and sunny, highs of 24 degrees.

Sunrise 07.37am                              Sunset 06.36pm

And Finally

Cécile Saras, mother of 11, has been in the news this week after launching her own cleaning company in Dijon after years as a stay-at-home parent. Cécile trained with France Travail and created 11 De Ménage, now serving 30 clients and employing six staff. Her story stands out not just for the size of her family, but for how she balances entrepreneurship with a tightly organised home life. Recently awarded a local business prize, Cécile hopes her journey inspires others to take the leap, on their own terms.

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French and Riviera News Thursday 9th October 2025

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