News
Suspected arsonist arrested - A suspected arsonist has been arrested after six fires broke out within an hour in the village of Châteauneuf-Villevieille, near Nice, on Tuesday evening. Local residents caught the man in the act and pinned him to the ground before handing him over to police. Authorities are investigating whether he's linked to previous fires in the area. Thanks to a swift response from firefighters, the fires were quickly contained, limiting damage to around 2,000 square metres.
Missing diver is found safe – In other news, a missing diver has been found safe and well off the coast of Porquerolles in the Var, after a major search operation was launched on Tuesday morning. The alarm was raised when the man’s support boat lost contact with him for over an hour. The Cross-Med rescue centre coordinated and air and sea search. Authorities are reminding the public that diving is a high-risk sport and should always be carried out with proper precautions.
Road deaths on the rise - Latest data has revealed that three hundred and forty-one people died on French roads in August, up 18% from last year and the worst toll since 2011. Experts say 92% of accidents are caused by human error, with speeding, drink-driving, and phone use key factors. Authorities want stricter rules, including 30 km/h limits in cities across France and tougher phone penalties.
Motorist caught speeding – Meanwhile, a motorist has been caught speeding on the A8 motorway in the Bouches-du-Rhône travelling at 202 km/h in a 110 km/h zone. The driver, who held a provisional licence, had his licence immediately suspended and his vehicle impounded. He is expected to face legal proceedings.
Free parking - Parking will be free in Nice this Thursday, 18th September, due to expected disruption to public transport caused by a nationwide strike. The city has announced that on-street parking will be free from 9am to 8pm. Although local transport operator Lignes d’Azur hasn’t confirmed its strike plans, significant disruption is anticipated.
Princess visits new mothers at the Princess Grace Hospital - Princess Charlene of Monaco has visited the maternity ward of the Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG), where she met with five new mothers and their babies on Tuesday. Accompanied by members of the Monaco Red Cross, the Princess spoke with families and presented small gifts to parents and children. During the visit, Princess Charlene also inaugurated a new series of first aid workshops for parents of infants and young children. The programme aims to equip families with essential skills to respond to emergencies, including recognizing warning signs and performing first aid.
Robert Redford and Monaco - Finally, Robert Redford, who passed away on Tuesday, once shared a heartwarming story with Monaco on how he tried to meet Grace Kelly in 1956, just before she became Princess of Monaco. As a young art student on a European trip, Redford told reporters how he had approached the gates of the princely palace only to be turned away. He later described Grace Kelly as a talented and charming actress, though he had never met her. In 2015, Redford and his wife were honoured with Monaco’s Prince Rainier III Award for their contributions to the arts.
Business
Microsoft has announced a massive £22 billion investment in the UK’s AI sector — its largest outside the United States. The funding will go toward expanding data centre infrastructure and supporting a new supercomputer in Essex, as part of a broader £31 billion tech deal involving the UK government and other US giants like Nvidia and Google. The agreement also includes the creation of a new "AI growth zone" in north-east England, expected to generate over 5,000 jobs. The announcement comes during a three-day UK state visit by American President Donald Trump, alongside the signing of a new US-UK "Tech Prosperity Deal."
And - The US central bank is expected to cut interest rates today for the first time this year. The Federal Reserve is widely tipped to lower its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage points, bringing it down to a range of 4 to 4.25%, the lowest level since late 2022.
Sport
Football – In the Champions League Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot as 10-man Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Marseille. In this evening’s action Bayern Munich play Chelsea, Liverpool face Atletico Madrid and PSG play Atalanta.
Formula One - The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will host a sprint race in 2026 – one of six sprint events confirmed for the Formula 1 calendar that year. It marks the format's return to Silverstone for the first time since 2021, when sprints were introduced.
Cycling - Tom Pidcock will lead a streamlined British team at the Road World Cycling Championships in Rwanda, the first time the event has ever been held in Africa. The championships runs from 21st to 28th September.
Weather
Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze. Highs of 26 degrees in Monaco, 26 degrees in Nice and Toulon, 27 degrees in Vence, 28 degrees in Marseille and 24 degrees in Saint-Tropez. This evening going down to 18 degrees with clear skies.
The outlook for tomorrow and Friday, sunny with highs of 27 degrees.
Sunrise 07.11am Sunset 07.36pm
And Finally
A Scottish couple discovered the identity of a mysterious man who appeared in several photos from their 2021 wedding, despite no one knowing him. The man had accidentally gatecrashed the event after going to the wrong venue. Andrew Hillhouse was meant to attend a different wedding nearby but ended up at the couple’s celebration at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick. Realising his mistake only when the bride walked down the aisle, he tried to stay out of the way but was caught in photos. Thanks to social media and an influencer’s help, the couple finally found Andrew four years later. They’ve since connected on Facebook and shared a laugh about the unusual mix-up.
Five suspects have been arrested after an armed robbery this afternoon in Lyon
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In Paris, left-wing and far-right MPs have joined forces to pass a new measure against tax optimisation by multinational corporations, during the firs...
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A ceremony took place in Nice this morning to mark the fifth anniversary of the attack at the Notre-Dame Basilica ...
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Income from fixed speed cameras in France fell by €76 million in 2024, dropping to €889 million from €965 million in 2023. The fall comes after many c...
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There’s been a large increase in unemployment in France. Just over 3.2 million people were completely unemployed in the third quarter...
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