In this interview, Monaco Life Editor in Chief Cassandra Tanti speaks toOlivier Wenden, CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, about some incredible milestone actions that have been initiated for the ocean, including the game-changing $100 million ReOcean Fund, and why the Blue Economy is so important in helping to save the planet.
Over the next two months, admirers of the collections on display at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco’s Villa Paloma will be able to indulge their passions for contemporary art at a series of special evening events that will blend the artistic with the culinary.
‘Late Night at Villa Paloma’, the new soirée concept that began at the museum on 1st August, is a mixing of art and architecture, and food and wine. It is free to attend, and will offer visitors the chance to learn more about the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco’s (NMNM) exhibits while enjoying an array of drinks and gourmet treats available to purchase from Camion Valentin.
Monaco Life joined the guests of the inaugural event, which was held between 6pm and 9.30pm at the Regulus Pavilion and featured a delicious selection of antipasti, ravioli and panna cotta for dessert. Camion Valentin’s signature Spritz Valentin was much appreciated by the evening’s guests, as were the organic wines and refreshing cocktails served throughout the event.
The semi-circular Regulus Pavilion, composed entirely of solid bricks, was created by artist and architect Guillaume Aubry, who led a school residency initiated by the NMNM in 2021. Regulus was inaugurated on 3rd July during Monaco Art Week, and has been designed to be part café, cocktail bar and social space. A solar oven at the centre captures the sun’s rays and provides the power to heat and prepare a range of dishes.
The new Regulus Pavilion at the Villa Paloma. Photo by Monaco Life
Between 7pm and 9pm, guests were invited in to view the ‘Miquel Barceló, Oceanographer’ exhibit, which presents around 60 works by the Spanish artist, who is known for depicting marine life and seascapes.
Barceló’s body of work spans various mediums, including paintings, ceramics, embroidery and works on paper, and explores themes from the ocean floor to human interactions with the sea. Barceló’s exhibition will run until 13th October 2024.
Villa Paloma will be hosting additional nocturnal events on 22nd August and 5th September. For more information, click here.
Reports of sexist and sexual transgressions skyrocketed in France last year, with men being identified as the perpetrators in 97% of the 3,400 cases recorded by police forces around the country.
The number of sexual misconduct cases reported to the authorities in 2023 rose by a full 19% compared to 2022.
Of the 3,400 cases recorded by French police forces, 2,700 were classified as violations, while a further 700 incidents were categorised as misdemeanours.
88% of those who came forward to make a report were women, with the vast majority being under the age of 30. 15% were under the age of 16. Overall, 92% of the women who made a report were of French nationality, with a further 5% being African.
Conversely, the perpetrators of these acts were almost exclusively male—97%—and around three-quarters of these men held French citizenship.
Police data indicates that 14% of these incidents occurred on public transport networks, such as buses, trams and trains, as well as in affiliated stations.
The publicly available report into the rise in sexual misconduct cases also reveals that the larger a town or city is, the higher the rate of incidents is likely to be.
In a study on violence against women in France, released in 2020, 99% of those polled claimed to have suffered some form of harassment in a public space. 86% suggested that the incidents had sexual undertones, while 75% of the women who answered the survey said that they had, at least once, been followed on the street.
Hollywood Actress Sharon Stone was the belle of the ball as she welcomed guests to her Knights of Charity Gala at the magnificent Château de La Croix des Gardes in Cannes, an iconic venue known for hosting legends such as Princess Grace and Cary Grant.
The evening brought together prominent personalities from around the globe for an evening of glamour, elegance and philanthropy.
Robin Thicke performing at the Knights of Charity Gala
The gala, presented in partnership with Ulyssia, was orchestrated by renowned philanthropist Milutin Gatsby, who said, “At this year’s Knights of Charity Gala, we stand by the principle that ‘Generosity is the key to our future’. Together, we can make a significant impact.”
Jay Ali and Orlando Bloom
Also present were Actor Orlando Bloom and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, while the large crowd was entertained by musical performances by Andrea Bocelli, Lisa Stansfield, Robin Thicke, and Martin Solveig.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
An auction, conducted by Simon de Pury, was a highlight of the evening, and featured one of Sharon Stone’s own paintings. Her artworks will also be exhibited at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome this November.
Château de la Croix des Gardes
The Knights of Charity Gala, the third edition of which was held in Cannes, supports several causes including Save the Children, Children UNICEF, Sarah’s Trust for Children, and DeliverFund.org.
Milutin Gatsby, Helena Gatsby, Orlando Bloom, Aleksander Gatsby, Jay Ali
Another highlight was the Knights of Charity Humanity Award, which was presented to Andrea Bocelli for his exceptional philanthropic contributions and his remarkable 30-year career.
Andrea Bocelli performing at the Knights of Charity gala
Trenitalia’s new Espresso Riviera service between Nice and Milan will not be stopping in Monaco, as had been previously advertised, after it was revealed that the train will be running on diesel fuel rather than being electrically powered.
Interest in the new service has been building since the plans were announced earlier this year, but passengers who had been hoping to embark and disembark in the Principality will be disappointed to learn that the Monaco stop has been removed from the schedule.
In light of revelations that the Espresso Riviera train will be powered by diesel engines instead of electric, the authorities have decided that it would not be safe for the subterranean Gare de Monaco Monte-Carlo to welcome the service, citing concerns over the station’s ventilation systems and the emissions that would be produced by the train while it paused to welcome or bid farewell to passengers in the Principality.
The planned stops in Nice and Menton will, however, be maintained.
While frustrating in the short term, especially for those who have already purchased tickets for the service, which will be up and running from 3rd August, there is still hope that the Monaco stop will be restored in the future.
“Until the last minute, we negotiated with Akiem (a subsidiary of SNCF that rents locomotives) to obtain an electric locomotive,” Marco Caposciutti, the president of Trenitalia France told Monaco Matin. “But it will not be possible for this summer, the equipment is limited. We hope to change the situation next year.”
For more information about the service and its updated timetable, click here.
After eight years at the helm of Monaco’s Police Department, Richard Marangoni is to step down next month. He will be replaced by Eric Arella.
On 9th September, Richard Marangoni will formally pass the baton to Eric Arella before assuming his new role as Monaco’s Special Advisor-Minister of the Interior.
He has spent more than eight years at the head of Monaco’s Police Department, and was thanked by the government for his service when the announcement of his transition and replacement was made on 31st July.
His successor has been named as Eric Arella, who began his career as a Police Commissioner at the age of 23.
Arella brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the Principality, having held a number of important positions over his 37-year long career, including Regional Director of the Judicial Police in Ajaccio on Corsica, Director of the Regional Judicial Police Service in Marseille, and Zonal Director of the South Judicial Police. In 2023, he was appointed Head of the Inter-Directorate and Service Coordination mission within the National Police, and was instrumental in the construction of the new police station in Marseille.
He was also at the head of the investigations into the terrorist attack on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais in 2016.
In a statement, the administration acknowledged both men, saying, “The Prince’s Government extends its warm wishes for full and complete success to Misters Arella and Maragnoni in the important missions that have been newly assigned to them.”
