News
Monaco to formally recognise Palestinian state, says Prince Albert II – HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has announced that the Principality will officially recognise a Palestinian state, joining over 145 countries supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, the Prince reaffirmed Monaco’s commitment to Israel’s security and Palestine’s right to statehood. Israel strongly opposed the summit, with its UN ambassador denouncing the recognition as premature without a negotiated peace deal.
Macron urges Trump to help end Gaza conflict for Nobel Peace Prize hopes – Meanwhile, also speaking from New York, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Donald Trump to use his influence to end the Gaza conflict, saying peace is a condition for any hope of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Farmers’ protests - Several farming unions in France have called for a national day of action this Friday the 26th of September 2025, involving blockades, protests, and slow-moving convoys. In the Alpes-Maritimes, no official protests are planned so far, the head of the local farmers’ union, says the focus is on dialogue with authorities.
Eurostar to begin EU biometric border checks from the 12th of October - Eurostar will start rolling out the EU’s new biometric border checks, known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), from the 12th of October 2025. Eurostar has installed self-service kiosks at key stations, with extra staff to assist travellers. Exemptions apply for EU citizens, long-term residents, and children under 12.
Investigation opened after near-miss at Nice airport - French authorities have launched an investigation into a serious near-collision between two planes at Nice-Côte d’Azur airport. Transport Minister Philippe Tarabot ordered a thorough inquiry to determine if pilot error, air traffic control, or weather were factors. The final report is expected in the coming months. This follows a recent incident in Corsica where an air traffic controller reportedly fell asleep, delaying a flight but causing no accident.
Hyères to boost security – Following a petition from local shopkeepers over growing insecurity in the old town of Hyères in the Var, the city council has announced plans to strengthen its security measures.
Actress Claudia Cardinale dies at the age of 87 - Finally, iconic French Italian actress Claudia Cardinale has died at the age of 87. Cardinale was a major star of 1960s cinema, working with legends such as Fellini. Her agent described her as “a free and inspired woman, both in life and in art."
Business
France's consumer protection authority has fined Debenhams-owned online fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing 1.3 million euros for deceptive commercial practices. The fine follows an investigation for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) that found PrettyLittleThing misled consumers about the discounts they could benefit from when shopping on the prettylittlething.fr website.
Switzerland's UBS has agreed to pay almost a billion dollars to resolve a legal case concerning its cross-border business activities in France between 2004 and 2012. As part of the resolution, UBS will pay a fine of 730 million euros plus 105 million euros in civil damages to the French state.
And – A Canadian investigation has found that TikTok's efforts to stop children using the app and protect their personal data have been inadequate. Hundreds of thousands of children in the country use TikTok each year despite the firm saying it is not intended for people under the age of 13.
Sport
Golf - World number one Scottie Scheffler, along with other teammates will donate their $500,000 Ryder Cup payments to charity following criticism over the payouts. The move comes after critics claimed that players should compete for pride, not pay.
Football - Alexander Isak scored his first goal for Liverpool as the Reds beat Southampton 2-1 to reach the fourth round of the League Cup.
Cricket - Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have been included in England’s squad for the Ashes in Australia, despite ongoing injury concerns. Stokes is expected to be fit for the first Test in Perth on November 21st.
Weather
Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze. Highs of 22 degrees in Monaco, 23 degrees in Nice, 20 degrees in Saint-Tropez with moderate to strong winds. Thundery showers are forecast inland in the Alpes Maritimes and highs of 19 degrees. This evening going down to 16 degrees. The outlook for tomorrow mainly fine with highs of 21 degrees.
Sunrise 07.19am Sunset 07.23pm
And Finally
A retired shopkeeper from Manche, Normandy, owns a rare pair of Adidas Stan Smith trainers signed by tennis legend Stan Smith. The original white-and-green shoes were displayed in his former shop but never sold and have never been worn. The autograph was arranged in 2017 through a connection at Adidas during Stan Smith’s visit to France.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison with a deferred incarceration order. ...
Read More
French unions have announced a new day of strikes and protests for October 2nd, ramping up pressure on newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorn...
Read More
French and Italian authorities have dismantled a major international money-laundering network tied to the DZ Mafia, which moved over €30 million in le...
Read More
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has announced that the Principality will officially recognise a Palestinian state, joining over 145 countries supportin...
Read More
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...
Read More
