Monaco United Women gear up for French Cup debut and historic derby

02/09/2025

Monaco United Women’s Football Club has wrapped up its pre-season training as it prepares for its debut in French competition, with head coach Marco Simone praising the progress of his newly assembled squad.

The new club, which only began training 10 days before their first fixture, has already made its mark with two important pre-season friendlies.

Monaco United’s first match saw them travel to Arles to face Arles-Avignon Women, where they secured a 5-1 victory. During the match, former French international Marina Makanza, who earned 15 caps for her country, scored the club’s first-ever goal from the penalty spot.

“I am very satisfied with the quality and progression of the team in such a short time,” said Simone, reflecting on his team’s early performance. “After only 10 training sessions, it’s impossible for everything to be perfectly in place, but I saw real consistency between the work done and what the players delivered on the pitch.”

However, the club’s second friendly proved more challenging, with Monaco United travelling to Milan to face AS Milan’s Under-19 women’s side at the Puma House of Football Centre. The occasion was particularly meaningful for coach Simone, who returned to his former club where he spent nine seasons as a striker.

Despite suffering a 5-1 defeat against one of Europe’s top football academies, the Italian head coach viewed the experience as invaluable for his developing squad. The team delivered a competitive first half full of intensity and commitment, but found the second period more difficult against Milan’s experience and quality.

*Monaco United Women vs AS Milan’s Under-19, photo credit: Monaco United*

Historic derby awaits

The football calendar has delivered a historic first for Monaco, with the Principality set to witness its first-ever women’s derby on Sunday, September 14th at 3pm. Monaco United will face AS Monaco Women’s second team (ASMFF) in the opening match day of the 2025/26 Women’s Division 5 championship.

“The great beauty of this project is that its has created true competition in Monaco between clubs dedicated to women’s football,” Simone explained. “I believe this will help us progress with greater determination, to push the game forward and make it a permanent part of our sporting culture.”

The derby comes just one week after Monaco United’s competitive debut away at FC Carros in the French Cup on Sunday, September 7th.

The club has also secured Groupe Marzocco as official sponsor for the 2025/26 campaign.

“Women’s football is still too often underestimated, but we are convinced of its importance and the following will only continue to grow,” said company head Claudio Marzocco. “By supporting this initiative, we want to contribute to the rise of women in football, through an ambitious project which, starting from the local level, is destined to develop to the highest stages.”

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Main photo of Monaco United Women credit: Athletic Club Arlésien

Monaco Trott’n’roll returns for 11th year as local cancer trial shows promise

by: Kyriaki Topalidou

02/09/2025

Monaco is gearing up for the 11th Monaco Trott’n’roll on September 13th, organised by Fondation Flavien to support paediatric cancer research. This year’s event highlights exciting progress in the MEPENDAX clinical trial, developed locally, that could change the game for children fighting the disease.

The event takes place at the Jardins d’Apolline on Promenade Honoré II, opening at 9am with an expanded course. Families can register on-site for just €2 to access ‘l’ADN du trott’ – described as “rolling against childhood cancers”.

As part of the MEPENDAX clinical trial, a 26-minute documentary will air on TV Monaco, ahead of the next oncology biennial conference in January 2026. A symbolic €100,000 cheque will also be presented to the Centre Scientifique de Monaco.

Programme highlights

At 11am, local authorities will join the official inauguration featuring ‘la descente des étoiles’ – a tribute to those affected by childhood cancer. Monaco’s fire service will take part in the orange ribbon cutting ceremony.

Meanwhile, a costume and cosplay competition judged by ‘Les Pirates du Coeur’ from Galaxie Vésubie will run throughout the day, with a cash prize for the top three winners in adult and children’s categories.

The venue will include inflatable structures, a temperate skate park, face painting, and merchandise stands. From 10am, motorcycles and racing cars will take to the Formula 1 circuit, culminating in a parade at 2:30pm. The tombola, supported by local merchants, concludes at 4pm.

The event coincides with ‘Septembre en Or’ part of the international #GoGold childhood cancer awareness campaign. On 13 September, monuments across France will be illuminated in gold, while organisers encourage institutions of the Principality to illuminate their buildings in orange.

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Main photo provided by Fondation Flavien

Monaco bans TPO in cosmetics from 1st September

by: Cassandra Tanti

02/09/2025

From Monday 1st September, the use of TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) has been banned in Monaco and across the European Union, with immediate effect. The substance, commonly found in semi-permanent nail varnishes, has been classified as toxic for reproduction.

The Department of Social Affairs and Health has confirmed that the new measures apply particularly to professionals in the nail industry, who must ensure full compliance. Existing stocks of products containing TPO must be eliminated without delay.

Regulation aligned with EU law

The prohibition follows the entry into force of the European Regulation (EU) No. 2025/877, Omnibus VII, which restricts the use of substances deemed carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction in cosmetic products.

Impact on the beauty sector

While the ban will require nail technicians and salons to adapt their practices, it also provides an opportunity for the industry to transition towards safer alternatives. The government has urged professionals to take all necessary measures to comply, ensuring the wellbeing of both clients and employees.

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Photo credit: Giorgio Trovato, Unsplash

Deadline looms for Monaco Telecom email security update

by: Cassandra Tanti

02/09/2025

Monaco Telecom has issued a final reminder to users of @monaco.mc and @libello.com email addresses to update their mailbox settings before 15th September 2025, or risk losing the ability to send emails.

From 15th September, outgoing mail servers that do not comply with international security standards will be permanently shut down. This move comes amid rising phishing attacks, with Monaco Telecom strengthening its infrastructure to safeguard users against risks such as identity theft, password breaches and banking fraud.

How to check and update settings

All users who access their mailbox through software such as Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird must ensure their accounts are configured with Monaco Telecom’s secure servers across every device they use. A dedicated support page – monaco-telecom.mc/config – provides video tutorials and a ‘Check’ tool that allows users to confirm their settings with a single test email.

Support for customers

Since June, more than 1,300 clients have sought assistance either via Monaco Telecom’s customer service or at the Maison du Numérique. Users can book an appointment with an advisor (+377 92 26 92 26), contact customer service directly (+377 99 66 33 00), or consult the operator’s virtual assistant through its website or WhatsApp (+377 377 10 000). Customers who use Monaco Telecom’s Webmail exclusively do not need to take any action.

Operators stress shared responsibility

“Securing our clients’ data is one of our top priorities. Cyberattacks are now the leading threat facing email users,” said Martin Péronnet, Director General of Monaco Telecom. “We are reinforcing our infrastructure while supporting clients through this transition.”

Frédéric Fautrier, Director of Monaco’s Digital Security Agency, added: “The risks posed by malicious emails are significant, from stolen personal data to compromised banking details. Vigilance is essential, but it is equally important for operators to implement robust measures to protect their users.”

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Photo credit: Brett Jordan, Unsplash

From Old Trafford glory to Champions League finals, these are the jerseys that tell Monaco’s story

by: Kyriaki Topalidou

02/09/2025

AS Monaco has opened a new exhibition at State Louis II featuring 30 authentic jerseys worn during the club’s European campaigns over the past three decades.

The exhibition is located in the Salon Honneur, showcasing match-worn shirts from every European competition Monaco has participated in since 1978. Additionally, 12 historic football pennants decorate the walls of ‘Le Pub by Blue Coast’ inside the stadium.

All items come from the personal collection of Julien Bouron, a devoted Monaco supporter and collector who owns over 1,000 jerseys.

“I have over 1,000 jerseys in my collection, and 30 are currently on display here,” Bouron told Monaco Life. “These particular jerseys represent only those worn in European competitions throughout Monaco’s history.”

*Julien Bouron with his historic collection of football pennants. Photo by Monaco Life.*

Historic pieces on show

Among the standout items is a jersey worn during Monaco’s 2004 Champions League final appearance, displayed along the runner-up medal from the match against Porto.

“This is a beautiful piece because it’s the jersey worn in the Champions League final, which is the most prestigious European competition, with the finalist medal,” Bouron explained.

Another highlight is the shirt worn at Old Trafford during Monaco’s quarter-final victory over Manchester United in 1997-98. “This is quite an iconic jersey for Monaco supporters, as Monaco eliminated the great Manchester United with David Beckham,” Bouron said.

The collection includes jerseys from the European Cup Winner’s Cup semi-final in 1991-92, when Monaco reached the final for the first time in their history, and shirts from their Champions League semi-final qualification in 1993-94.

More recent additions feature the jersey from Monaco’s 2016-17 title-winning season, when the team also reached the Champions League semi-finals against Juventus.

*The jerseys decorating the walls in the Salon Honneur at Stade Louis II, photo by Monaco Life.*

Building the collection

Bouron’s collecting journey began at age 12 when a player gave him his first jersey. “From there I started researching online, and discovered there was a real collecting community for authentic match-worn shirts,” he said. “I immediately became fascinated and wanted to recreate the club’s history through these jerseys.”

Finding authentic pieces also requires patience and timing. “You have to be in the right place at the right time to be lucky enough to find them, because they’re rare,” Bouron explained. “Like any type of collecting, you have to hunt for them.”

Thibaut Chatelard, AS Monaco’s Director of Marketing and Revenue, said the exhibition builds on last season’s successful 100th anniversary celebrations.

“This initiative continues the successful collaboration we had with Julien Bouron during last season’s centenary celebrations, which received excellent feedback,” Chatelard said. “We want to bring the club’s great history to life and allow our supporters, particularly our hospitality clients, access to rare and exceptional collector’s pieces.”

“The objective is to enrich their stadium experience whilst contributing to the transmission of genuine club culture through this collaboration with Julien Bouron, who has managed to build a unique collection over the years and, beyond that, is a true club enthusiast.”

Three exhibitions planned

The European campaign display is the first of three themed exhibitions planned for this season. The second will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Monaco’s academy ‘La Diagonale’, featuring jerseys worn by players developed through the club’s youth system.

The third exhibition will showcase international jerseys worn by Monaco players, with one shirt representing each player’s national team. Examples include Glen Hoddle jersey for England and Jurgen Klinsmann for Germany, timed ahead of the 2026 World Cup

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Main photo of Julien Bouron by Monaco Life.

Delta announces new Boston–Nice route for summer 2026

by: Cassandra Tanti

02/09/2025

Travellers from the French Riviera will gain easier access to the United States when Delta launches a new seasonal route between Nice and Boston in May 2026, strengthening transatlantic links from the Côte d’Azur.

From 17th May 2026, Delta will operate three weekly flights between Boston Logan International and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport using its modern A330-900neo aircraft. The route will run seasonally through the summer and will complement Delta’s existing services to Nice from Atlanta and New York JFK.

Expanding Delta’s European network

The announcement comes as part of a wider expansion of Delta’s transatlantic operations. A daily service from Boston to Madrid will begin on 16th May 2026, while seasonal flights to Barcelona and Milan will resume earlier than planned, starting on 7th and 16th May respectively.

Nice among Boston Logan’s milestones

According to Massport CEO Rich Davey, the inclusion of Nice marks a significant development for Boston Logan International Airport. “We appreciate our partnership with Delta and are thrilled about their plans to grow their operations at Boston Logan with these new offerings to Spain and France, including Nice which will be our 60th international destination,” he said.

Enhanced passenger experience

The new routes coincide with Delta’s ongoing investment at Boston Logan. The airline recently opened a Delta One lounge on Concourse E, which is connected to its Sky Club unveiled in 2023. Together, these facilities are designed to elevate the travel experience for both business and leisure passengers.

More choices still to come

Delta has also engaged customers in shaping its network expansion. Last month, members of its SkyMiles programme voted on a potential new European destination for 2026, choosing between Malta, Ibiza and Sardinia. The winning choice will be revealed later this month, further broadening the airline’s reach across the Mediterranean.

See also:

Major disruption expected as France’s largest air traffic control union calls September strike

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Photo credit: Daniel Shapiro, Unsplash

Day: 2 September 2025