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Month: August 2026

AS Monaco Basketball appeals Betclic Élite decision as uncertainty surrounds 2026-2027 season

by: Kayla Sauceda
07/08/2026

Following a successful 2025-2026 season, reigning Betclic Élite champions and EuroLeague playoff contenders AS Monaco Basketball find themselves facing an uncertain future just one month before the start of the new season.

The current uncertainty is a stark contrast to the club’s recent success. Over the past several seasons, Monaco has established itself among Europe’s elite, winning domestic trophies while also reaching the EuroLeague championship game in the 2024-2025 season.

On Tuesday 4th August, the Roca Team announced that it has referred its case to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), the next stage in the French sports dispute resolution process, following the French Basketball Federation Appeals Chamber’s decision to reject the club’s admission into the league.

In their statement, the club confirmed it remains “fully determined to explore all legal avenues provided for under French sports law” while continuing its restructuring process internally.

The latest appeal comes after a complicated summer for the reigning French league champions. Just weeks after winning the 2025-2026 title, the club found itself facing financial and administrative challenges that arose during the season. Without an immediate resolution, Monaco was left in a compromised position. The FFBB Appeals Chamber upheld a decision refusing the club’s registration for the upcoming season after required documentation was not submitted within an extended deadline set by the federation.

The uncertainty is not limited to the domestic competition. As part of its ongoing restructuring, Monaco will not compete in the EuroLeague this season and is set to participate in the EuroCup, a significant change after several years of competing at Europe’s highest level.

The ongoing uncertainty has also stalled preparations for the upcoming season. While other clubs have confirmed signings and assembled their teams, AS Monaco has yet to officially announce a playing roster. With the club’s future still unresolved, it is unknown when these decisions will be made, and there is not much time left to resolve the situation as players also need certainty over their futures.

The CNOSF conciliation process forms Monaco’s latest opportunity to overturn the decision and regain its place in Betclic Élite before the start of the 2026-2027 season. If the appeal is unsuccessful, further legal options may remain available under French sports law. However, time is running out to reach a resolution. With the club’s first EuroCup game scheduled for the end of September, the window to finalize the situation is rapidly closing.

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Place d’Armes car park reopens after Condamine Market works

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/08/2026

The Place d’Armes car park in Monaco has reopened to the public, having been closed since mid-June for strengthening and refurbishment work carried out alongside the restructuring of the Condamine Market.

Monaco’s Mairie confirmed that the car park has been accessible again since 5th August. It had been shut, initially until the end of July, so that the ceilings of its entry and exit ramps could be reinforced, with the public-parking authority also using the closure to carry out repairs and improvements across the structure.

Part of the Condamine Market overhaul

The work was tied to the wider, 13-month overhaul of the Condamine Market, which began in January and is due to be completed in early 2027, with the market’s traders relocated to Place d’Armes for the duration. While the car park was out of use, drivers had been directed to nearby options, including the Condamine and Colle car parks.

Monaco Life is produced by qualified, multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo by Monaco Life

 

easyJet founder Sir Stelios backs €4.9bn Apollo takeover as family commits 15% stake

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/08/2026

The founder of easyJet, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has thrown his support behind Apollo Global Management’s recommended acquisition of the airline, confirming that he and his family will remain major long-term investors after backing the £5.7 billion (€6.6 billion) takeover.

The announcement follows months of takeover speculation that saw US investment giant Apollo outbid rival private equity firm Castlelake with a recommended cash offer of £7.15 (€8.27) per share. easyJet’s board unanimously recommended the proposal, describing it as the best outcome for shareholders.

Stelios and family back Apollo’s vision

In a statement released on Thursday, Sir Stelios – who has lived in Monaco for more three decades – said he and the wider Haji-Ioannou family had “carefully reviewed” Apollo’s proposal before deciding to support the acquisition.

The family, which collectively owns around 116 million easyJet shares, representing 15.31% of the airline, has given irrevocable undertakings to back the transaction. Rather than cashing out completely, they have elected to exchange almost all of their shares for an unlisted equity interest in the new ownership structure, signalling confidence in the airline’s future.

“My family and I intend to remain invested as long-term major shareholders of easyJet for the next chapter in the company’s journey,” Sir Stelios said.

From 19 aircraft to one of Europe’s largest airlines

Sir Stelios reflected on founding easyJet in 1994 at the age of 27 before floating the airline on the London Stock Exchange in 2000 to finance its expansion.

Since then, the carrier’s fleet has grown from 19 aircraft to 356, while becoming one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines serving hundreds of destinations across the continent.

He also highlighted a key strategic decision made at the time of the flotation: retaining ownership of the ‘easy’ brand through his private company, easyGroup Ltd. The licensing of the easy family of brands has since provided a steady income stream that now supports the work of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

Apollo promises long-term growth

Apollo says it intends to build on easyJet’s existing strategy rather than fundamentally change the business.

The investment firm has pledged to retain the airline’s UK and European headquarters, support current management, continue fleet modernisation and expand higher-margin businesses such as easyJet Holidays and ancillary services. The proposed ownership structure has also been designed to comply with European airline ownership rules, allowing Apollo to acquire the business while preserving its operating licences.

Sir Stelios said Apollo’s willingness to invest in easyJet demonstrated confidence in both the airline and the wider easy brand.

“I am pleased with Apollo’s strategic intentions for the easyJet business, which aim to create more growth,” he said.

Deal expected to complete next year

Apollo’s recommended acquisition values easyJet at £5.7 billion (€6.6 billion) and follows Castlelake’s decision to withdraw from the bidding process after months of takeover interest.

If approved by shareholders and regulators, easyJet will leave the London Stock Exchange and become privately owned. The transaction is expected to complete during the first quarter of 2027, subject to the necessary approvals.

Monaco Life is produced by qualified, multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Main photo source: Stelios Philanthropic Foundation

Slow boating takes centre stage at the Cannes Yachting Festival

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/08/2026

The Cannes Yachting Festival has made ‘slow boating’ the theme of its 49th edition, which runs from 8th to 13th September, championing a gentler and more sustainable way to enjoy the sea.

Borrowed from the idea of slow tourism, the approach favours cruising in short legs, spending more time in coastal areas and paying closer attention to the marine environment. It is built around pace, the choice of route and restraint rather than speed, and is embodied by a new generation of boats designed for comfort and easy handling. The edition is the first under the festival’s new director, Constance Brément, who took over in January.

“Slow boating answers a very concrete need: giving time and space back to the voyage at sea and to the places it crosses,” said Brément. “The boats, like the marina networks and destinations present this year, show that the journey and its stopovers are an essential part of the experience — encouraging navigation that is more responsible, more local and more mindful of the marine environment.”

A wider shift

The festival frames the trend as part of a broader change in how people want to travel. A 2023 study by France’s Fédération des Industries Nautiques found that 72 per cent of boaters surveyed wanted to slow their pace, 65 per cent to cut fuel consumption and 58 per cent felt weary of rigid itineraries. A separate Booking.com survey of more than 27,000 travellers across 33 countries found that 67 per cent wanted to discover less-crowded destinations and more immersive experiences.

Marinas as the backbone

Central to the idea is infrastructure. The festival argues that networks of well-spaced marinas make coastal hopping practical, letting sailors adapt their stops to the weather and rely less on the engine, while turning each port into a gateway to local food, heritage and culture. Among the marina groups and destinations taking part are the associations representing Catalonia and Sardinia, the Balearic operator IPM-IMG, the Mediterranean network D-Marin and IGY, which runs the marina in Cannes’ own Vieux Port. Closer to home, Marina Baie des Anges, between Nice and Antibes, is presenting a €63 million upgrade of its 515-berth port, while further afield Barbados and Tunisia are pitching themselves as unhurried cruising grounds.

Boats built to slow down

The trend is visible on the pontoons too. Jeanneau’s Sea Loft 480, neither monohull nor catamaran, is a hybrid-electric coastal cruiser with solar panels for recharging at anchor. The Caelum 1029 Oasis Meu Amor is a solar-powered floating home built to ‘live on the water’ rather than race across it. And the Aventura 37 Explorer is a fuel-efficient trawler catamaran made for long, slow passages, part of a growing appetite for trawlers among owners who travel for the route rather than the speed.

The festival in numbers

Founded in 1977, the Cannes Yachting Festival spreads across the Vieux Port and Port Canto and is regarded as the opening event of the international boating season. This year’s edition is expected to bring together 680 exhibitors and more than 700 boats, ranging from 5 to 50 metres, with close to 150 world premieres and some 56,000 visitors.

Monaco Life is produced by qualified, multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: Cannes Yachting Festival

Fresh wildfire threat forces widespread forest closures in the Var

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/08/2026

Eight of the Var’s nine forest massifs have been closed on Thursday 6th August as firefighters brace for extreme heat, dry vegetation and a strengthening Mistral.

The Gros Bessillon fire is no longer advancing, but firefighters are still working to secure its perimeter and extinguish remaining hot spots. Winds of up to 50km/h are expected to raise the risk of fresh outbreaks during the afternoon, while temperatures could reach 37°C on the coast and 40°C inland.

The Var remains under an orange heatwave alert and authorities have described Thursday as a particularly high-risk day for wildfires.

Gros Bessillon remains under close surveillance

Firefighters worked throughout Wednesday to secure the edges of the Gros Bessillon fire, tackle remaining hot spots with the support of water-bombing helicopters and open tracks into difficult terrain.

Their main concern is the south-eastern front, where the Var prefecture warned that strengthening westerly winds could cause new flare-ups.

The fire has burned approximately 6,350 hectares since it first broke out near Pontevès on 21st July. Firefighters had stopped its spread by 28th July, but a major new outbreak began near Correns three days later and burned a further 1,850 hectares.

Around 800 firefighters remained deployed on Wednesday, supported by approximately 250 vehicles, water-bombing helicopters and drone teams locating residual hot spots.

Access prohibited across most of the Var

The Sainte-Baume, Haut-Var, Centre-Var and Maures massifs are closed because of an extreme wildfire risk.

The Monts Toulonnais, Corniche des Maures, Estérel and Îles d’Hyères are also closed, with the risk rated very severe. Entry, traffic, walking and outdoor work are prohibited across all eight areas.

Access to the Canjuers plateau, the only massif not formally closed, is strongly discouraged because of a severe fire risk.

Two departmental roads remain closed near the affected area: the RD22 between Montfort-sur-Argens and Le Val, and part of the RD45 between Châteauvert and Vallon Sourn in Correns.

Several municipalities, including Le Lavandou, Saint-Raphaël, Le Muy and La Crau, have cancelled or postponed fireworks displays. Le Cannet-des-Maures has prohibited fireworks until 15th September.

Suspect held as investigators examine deliberate fires

A 23-year-old man has been placed under formal investigation and remanded in custody over a series of fires between 19th and 24th July.

The suspect was arrested on 25th July after investigators used CCTV footage to identify and locate him. He is suspected of starting around 10 fires near Brignoles, Cabasse and Vins-sur-Caramy and has acknowledged responsibility for at least one outbreak.

According to the French Gendarmerie, he is being investigated for destroying woodland by fire and causing irreversible environmental damage. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a €150,000 fine. A psychiatric examination has also been ordered.

Investigators are separately examining whether deliberate ignition caused the major resurgence near Correns on 31st July. No definitive link between the detained suspect and that outbreak has been established.

The wider investigation covers numerous fires across the Var, including six outbreaks involving human intervention around Gros Bessillon since 24th July. Authorities have cautioned that the incidents may involve several people and are not necessarily connected.

Assistance available for affected residents

Correns is among the worst-affected communities, with approximately 52% of its municipal territory burned and five houses destroyed. In Cotignac, local authorities have reported 27 damaged homes, including around 10 that were completely destroyed.

Residents and businesses affected by the fires in Gros Bessillon, Brignoles and the Taradeau–Les Arcs area are being asked to register with their municipality and contact their insurer.

The deadline for submitting insurance claims has been extended to 31st August. Exceptional assistance will also cover up to three weeks of accommodation for residents evacuated from their main home.

The French government will fully reimburse partial-employment payments made by eligible small and medium-sized businesses in evacuated areas between 20th July and 31st August.

Psychological support is available through the emergency medico-psychological unit on +33 4 94 33 18 00, with walk-in sessions scheduled in several affected communities between 7th and 14th August.

Residents and visitors are being reminded not to smoke, light fires or barbecues, or carry out work capable of producing sparks near dry vegetation. Any outbreak should be reported immediately by calling 18 or 112.

Monaco Life is produced by qualified, multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: Prefect of the Var

 

Monaco’s minister honours Roma genocide victims at Auschwitz

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/08/2026

Monaco’s Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, has told the official commemoration of the Roma and Sinti genocide at Auschwitz-Birkenau that remembrance demands constant vigilance against every form of hatred, speaking in her role as president of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

She was speaking on 2nd August, the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti, which marks the night in 1944 when the SS murdered the last Roma and Sinti prisoners of Auschwitz — around 4,300 people, most of them women, children and the elderly — in the gas chambers. The ceremony was held at the memorial on the site of the former camp.

Monaco currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for the first time, a role Berro-Amadeï chairs on the Principality’s behalf.

A call for vigilance

In her address, the minister said the duty of remembrance was not only about preserving the memory of the victims but about staying alert to every form of hatred, racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism and discrimination, and to the trivialisation of exclusion. Memory, she said, is one of the foundations of peace and of the defence of Europe’s democratic values.

She reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s commitment to Holocaust education, to combating denial, to preserving sites of memory and to the recognition of the genocide of the Roma and Sinti — a persecution that claimed an estimated half a million lives across Nazi-occupied Europe.

Passing on memory

On the margins of the commemoration, Berro-Amadeï joined a meeting between young Roma and Sinti and survivors of the Holocaust, devoted to passing remembrance on to new generations.

Monaco Life is produced by qualified, multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: Government Communications Department