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Month: September 2026

Team Monaco claims first E1 podium in Luanda

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/09/2026

Team Monaco has taken its first-ever podium in the UIM E1 World Championship, finishing second at the Luanda Grand Prix in Angola on Sunday 13th September — and it did so the hard way, recovering from boat damage and a 30-minute trackside repair to force its way into the top three. The result, in only the Principality’s fifth race of a debut season the team had framed as one for learning, arrived well ahead of the podium it had targeted for 2027.

The Monaco entry, racing under the Principality’s number 98, scored 30 championship points and climbed from ninth to sixth in the standings — its strongest weekend yet in a grid stacked with celebrity-owned teams.

A podium built on a 30-minute repair

Team Monaco reached Sunday’s finals from fourth on the grid after Saturday qualifying, but the day began badly. In the opening race of Group A, poor visibility forced Maxime Nocher to change line and make contact with a rival RaceBird, damaging the left foil of the all-electric hydrofoil boat. With roughly an hour before their next outing, the crew rebuilt it in just 30 minutes to make Race 3.

From there the recovery gathered pace. Oban Duncan brought the RaceBird home second in Race 3 to put Monaco back in contention, before Nocher fought back from a poor start to third in the first final, securing the team’s place in the deciding race. Duncan then took the wheel for the finals and took the fight to the leaders, finishing second by just 1.4 seconds after pushing them all the way to the line, while setting the fastest lap at 1:12.218 and earning the PIF Pilot of the Day award.

Photo source: E1 Team Monaco / Credit: Opposite Land Productions

‘It worked out in the end’

“I had absolutely no idea where we were when I crossed the line. When I found out we had finished second, it was such a great achievement. The whole team should be so proud,” said Duncan. “I feel amazing. I trusted Max and it worked out in the end. I’m so pleased for the whole team.”

“Oban was perfect. We were catching up quickly, and I said we could finish first. We were only one second behind. I trusted Oban and the strategy, and it worked out in the end. We pushed for it and we got second place. It was great,” said Nocher, the team’s co-owner and an 11-time kitefoil world champion.

For Nocher, the result marked a turning point for the young team. “We’re so happy for everyone who has trusted us. It has taken us a few races to get used to the boat and get used to the team, and now we’re on the podium. We are really pleased to be here. And we are looking forward to Miami races!”

Miami to close the season

The race was won by Tom Brady’s team, their first victory of the season despite reaching the podium in every round, and the reigning champions left Angola with a 40-point championship lead over Will Smith’s Westbrook Racing. The title will be settled at the season finale, a double-header in Miami on 13th and 14th November, where Brady chase a third crown in a row and Monaco look to build on Luanda.

“We have to keep pushing. Miami is going to be two races, so we have to keep improving and pushing. Hopefully, we can make the podium again at the end of the year. We’re going to do our best,” said Duncan.

See also: 

Interview: E1 Pilot Oban Duncan on flying Team Monaco’s colours into its home race

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Main photo source: E1 Team Monaco / Credit: Opposite Land Productions

Another setback for Roca Team as NM1 application rejected

by: Kayla Sauceda
14/09/2026

The Roca Team’s troubles have deepened after the Fédération Française de Basketball (FFBB) rejected its application to compete in Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1), less than a week before the season begins.

Despite pulling together €10 million in funding to pay off debts and fund the upcoming season, representing a budget significantly larger than those of other competing NM1 teams, concerns surrounding AS Monaco’s recent history appear to have remained an obstacle to obtaining approval.

With little time remaining, the club is expected to file an appeal with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), with only days remaining before competition begins. Should the club choose to forego an appeal or fail to overturn the decision, attention could instead turn to securing a place further down the French basketball pyramid.

Such an outcome would reflect a dramatic fall for a club that entered the summer as reigning French champions and EuroLeague playoff competitors. However, with the domestic season beginning and the Roca Team still without a confirmed competition, the priority is increasingly to find a realistic path back onto the court.

The latest rejection adds another level of uncertainty to the downfall that has rapidly consumed the offseason. Whether through another appeal or an application at a lower level, the coming days could now determine where, and at what level, the Roca Team will be able to continue its season.

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Photo by Monaco Life

Ursula von der Leyen prepares for 2026 State of the Union address

by: Virginia D’Umas
14/09/2026

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this Wednesday 16th September. 

The speech will set out the executive’s legislative priorities and strategic vision for the year ahead, building on a busy 12-month period focused on economic competitiveness, industrial autonomy, and defence readiness, guided by the theme of turning past promises into concrete progress.

Stepping up defence and security

Defence has dominated the agenda over the past 12 months. Following the October 2025 Defence Readiness Roadmap, the Commission proposed five major joint security projects in July 2026—including the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. To back them up, the EU is pushing a ‘military Schengen’ plan to make it faster and simpler for troops and military equipment to cross national borders when needed.

Boosting the economy and industry

The EU has launched major changes to boost business and trade. In December 2025, the Commission introduced an affordable housing plan alongside an energy infrastructure package to speed up cross-border power grids. January 2026 saw the signing of a historic trade agreement with Mercosur—the South American trade bloc—wrapping up a year of completed deals with Australia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Switzerland.

Spring brought a wave of industrial tranformation, starting with the Industrial Accelerator Act in March to boost low-carbon manufacturing, followed by EU Inc.—simpler online rules designed to make starting and running a business easier across the bloc. 

In April, the Commission launched the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap to complete the single market by 2027, followed in June by a new tech package featuring Chips Act 2.0 and cloud and AI development acts.

Protecting democracy, society, and digital spaces

Domestic and social initiatives have shaped the wider portfolio. In November 2025, the EU introduced the European Democracy Shield and a new strategy for civil society groups, alongside the Pact for the Mediterranean to build closer ties with southern partner countries. 

Early 2026 saw an action plan against cyberbullying launched in February—backed by technical readiness trials for a pan-European age-verification app in April and a child safety report in July. 

In May, the Commission adopted its first-ever anti-poverty strategy alongside updated LGBTIQ+, anti-racism, and gender equality frameworks, as well as a transport package to make cross-border train travel and single-ticket bookings easier.

Backing Ukraine and managing emergency crises

The EU also increased its support abroad. In June 2026, official talks began on the first set of steps for Ukraine to eventually join the EU, backed by an agreement among member states to provide an extra €90 billion in budget and military support for 2026 and 2027. 

Closer to home, when severe wildfires tore through several member states in July and August 2026, the EU put its crisis response into practice by coordinating an emergency cross-border deployment of 777 firefighters and 41 aircraft.

As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes the floor on Wednesday morning, her message will echo a simple truth from the past year: “When we are tested, Europe responds together.”

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On 16th September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her sixth State of the Union address in Strasbourg. Photo Credit: Alain Rolland / European Parliament 

Prince Albert II welcomed astronaut Thomas Pesquet to the Prince’s Palace

by: Virginia D’Umas
14/09/2026

Prince Albert II received European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet in an official audience at the Prince’s Palace on Friday, 11th September.

The meeting followed a busy few days in the region for the French astronaut, who arrived in Monaco straight from the first International Space Summit in Paris, where he served as a special envoy. 

Earlier in the week, Pesquet spoke at a conference titled ‘Space Exploration Today and Tomorrow’ at One Monte-Carlo, hosted by the Monaco Méditerranée Foundation, and met with students at the Lycée Albert Ier.

A veteran of the stars 

Born on 27th February 1978 in Rouen, France, Pesquet was 31-years-old when he was selected by the European Space Agency in 2009. He has since become one of Europe’s most experienced astronauts, spending six months on the International Space Station (ISS) during his first mission in 2016–2017, and returning in 2021 for the Alpha mission, where he made history as the first French commander of the station.

Alongside his flight career, he actively promotes European technological autonomy in space.

Technology in the service of earth 

At the Palace, discussions between the Prince and the astronaut transcended pure exploration, homing in on the vital link between orbital observation and terrestrial conservation. According to the Palace, Prince Albert II confirmed Monaco’s ongoing support for scientific innovation, particularly projects that use satellite data to monitor marine ecosystems and climate shifts.

As the Principality develops its own space sector — supported by local industrial players like Venturi Space — the meeting highlighted a central point: advancing our reach beyond the atmosphere is key to protecting life on Earth.

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Thomas Pesquet meets Prince Albert II during visit to Monaco. Photo Credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier 

Rokethon set to return to Monaco for a day dedicated to animal welfare and adoption

by: Kayla Sauceda
14/09/2026

The Rokethon is returning to Monaco for a day dedicated to animal adoption and supporting local animal welfare. Held under Princess Charlene and organised with the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) de Monaco on Sunday 27th September, the event will offer a full day of activities.

Held at the Chapiteau de l’Espace in Fontvieille, the morning will kick off with a speech from Princess Charlene, followed by a walk/run for participants and their dogs held in solidarity against animal abandonment. Awards will then be presented to Dr. Thierry Bedossa, founder of Agir pour la Vie Animale (AVA), and Ozeki, a deserving dog. The afternoon will continue with an agility course, a fashion show with dogs available for adoption, animal art, a photo studio, a raffle, food trucks, and a dog park.

Although the fashion show at 3pm will give added visibility to dogs seeking their forever homes, the entire day will offer visitors the opportunity to meet dogs available for adoption.

Registration opens on-site from 8:30am and entry is free, although donations will be accepted. Dogs must meet all regulatory requirements to participate, ensuring that the necessary hygiene and safety conditions are met.

Although the day is designed around dogs, bringing one is not mandatory to participate. Animal lovers looking to support the cause are welcome to join, whether or not they have a four-legged friend of their own.

Rokethon’s objectives are simple: to raise awareness, give visibility to associations and shelters, promote adoption, and bring together animal lovers to take action. This annual event brings each of these aims together for a day dedicated to animal welfare in the Principality.

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Photo credit: Rokethon

Musée Matisse Nice to explore artistic dialogue between Henri Matisse and Alex Katz

by: Virginia D’Umas
14/09/2026

From 28th October 2026 to 18th January 2027, the Musée Matisse Nice will present ‘Henri Matisse – Alex Katz. Le silence de la peinture’, an autumn exhibition exploring the contemporary reception of Henri Matisse’s work through the lens of leading American painter Alex Katz. 

Conceived in collaboration with the artist following his visit to the museum in 2024, the exhibition places Katz’s works in direct dialogue with the permanent collections.

Henri Matisse, Odalisque au coffret rouge, Nice, 1927 (oil on canvas). Photo credit: Musée Matisse Nice / François Fernandez

A lasting transatlantic connection 

The artistic link between Matisse and Katz traces back to February 1949, when Katz—then a student at Manhattan’s Cooper Union—discovered an exhibition of Matisse’s recent works at Pierre Matisse Gallery. Paintings such as Nature morte aux grenades (1947) and Le silence habité des maisons (1947), alongside brush drawings and cut-out watercolours, left a profound aesthetic impression on the young artist. This connection is anchored in a long history of cultural exchange between France and the United States, amplified by Matisse’s own 1930 trip to New York. Struck by the city’s unique visual power, Matisse remarked that  “New York light is exceptionally beautiful, and then these towers, these masses rising in the air, in this light which is like crystals”.

He famously predicted: “You will understand, when you see America, that one day they will have painters, because it is not possible, in such a country, which offers such dazzling visual spectacles, that there won’t be painters one day.”

Throughout his career, Katz has drawn ongoing inspiration from the French master, particularly in his handling of light and colour.

Alex Katz, Drawing for Black Roses 16, 2025 (ink on paper). Photo credit: Alex Katz / Adagp, Paris, 2026

Shared artistic vocabulary 

Born in Brooklyn in 1927, Katz developed a singular figurative style distinct from the dominant abstract expressionism of mid-century American art. Focusing on traditional genres such as landscape, floral still life, and human figures, his large-scale canvases and flat areas of colour share common ground with both pop art and Matisse’s aesthetic principles. Both artists rely on simplified forms, flattened spatial planes without perspective, and a rigorous elimination of non-essential detail to privilege immediate visual impact and sensory experience.

Exhibition highlights and visitor information 

Curated by Aymeric Jeudy, Director of the Musée Matisse Nice, the showcase spans Katz’s career from his early 1951 work Nude to recent 2025 pieces like Lilies 13, featuring an extensive selection of paintings, drawings, prints, and cut-outs.

The museum is open daily except Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm, with closing hours adjusted to 5pm from 1st November. 

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Alex Katz, Reclining Bather, 1960 (oil on cardboard). Photo credit: Alex Katz / Adagp, Paris, 2026