New British restaurant Marlow set to open in Mareterra this January

04/01/2025

Mareterra will be inaugurating its first restaurant – Marlow – on 16th January. The eagerly awaited venue promises to blend English charm with Mediterranean sophistication, offering a fresh addition to the Principality’s dining scene.

Located in the heart of Mareterra, Monaco’s innovative six-hectare district reclaimed from the sea that was inaugurated on 4th December, Marlow will bring a vibrant atmosphere to the area’s luxury residences and high-end amenities. The restaurant will feature a spacious 300 sq.m interior and a 100 sq.m terrace, designed to accommodate everything from leisurely breakfasts to festive evenings.

Marlow’s design will reflect the vision of acclaimed Franco-Mexican designer Hugo Toro, who is known for his work in Paris and London. The interior will showcase natural materials, warm tones, light marble, and inviting furnishings, all centered around a striking bar. Details such as art books and biographies of English lords will add a unique and whimsical touch to the space.

The restaurant will be led by Bryan Gaillard, an experienced restaurateur who honed his craft in some of London’s most prestigious venues. Under his guidance, Marlow will serve an enticing menu featuring English breakfasts, indulgent Sunday brunches, and Anglo-Saxon specialties such as lobster rolls paired with champagne. Guests will also have the option of Mediterranean-inspired dishes and a takeaway service for enjoying Marlow’s cuisine on the go.

Afternoon tea, complete with cozy armchairs and fine pastries, will be a highlight of the experience, while evenings will focus on expertly crafted cocktails, aged whiskies, and a refined dinner menu.

Marlow is the latest restaurant to join Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s (SBM) extensive portfolio. The company also plans to open 99 Sushi in the new Mareterra district.

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

Photo by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

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Monte-Carlo SBM reveals name of new Courchevel hotel and international brand

Energy-efficient light replacements continue in Monaco’s Dorsale tunnels

by: Stephanie Horsman

04/01/2025

In line with its commitments to establishing greener infrastructure, the Monaco Government will continue its extensive lighting replacement and modernisation project in tunnels across Monaco throughout 2025. The works will require a series of closures and diversion routes, with three tunnels set to close to the public for a month starting on 6th January.

Since 2021, the Urban Development Directorate of Monaco (DAU), which operates under the Department of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, has been systematically replacing outdated fluorescent and sodium lamps in the Principality’s tunnels with advanced LED lighting systems.

These LED lights are significantly more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable, boasting lifespans of 80,000 to 100,000 hours. This upgrade will dramatically reduce energy consumption and minimise the need for frequent replacements, as the new equipment requires renewal only once every decade.

Following the successful completion of lighting upgrades in the Sainte-Dévote-Débarcadère and Digue tunnels, the DAU is extending its campaign to the entire Dorsale underground network. To carry out this work, various tunnels will be closed on a rolling schedule between 9.30pm and 6am, based on a set calendar from 6th January to 4th August.

The first phase, running from 6th January to 5th February, will involve the closures of the Rocher Nice tunnel under the Rocher, the Rocher tunnel and the Canton tunnel.

The second phase, scheduled from 10th February to 28th February, will see the closure of the Colle, Dorsale, Hélios, Fontvieille descent and Rocher Nice tunnel under the Rocher.

The final phase, taking place between 16th June and 4th August, will include the closure of the Dorsale tunnel, Canton tunnel (T2ter) and Larvotto tunnel.

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

Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Prince Albert sends condolences to President Biden in wake of horrific NYE attack in New Orleans

by: Stephanie Horsman

03/01/2025

A deadly New Year’s Eve attack on the American city of New Orleans, in which 14 were killed and dozens more injured, has prompted Prince Albert II of Monaco to send the outgoing US President Joe Biden a touching letter of condolence.

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, festive celebrations in New Orleans turned into a scene of terror when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas resident and US Army veteran, drove a Ford F-150 rental truck into a crowd of revellers. 14 people were killed and dozens more were injured in what the FBI is calling a “premeditated and evil act”.

CCTV footage shows the white rental truck accelerating into the crowd in the area around Canal Street and Bourbon Street before crashing three blocks away near Conti Street. Jabbar exited the vehicle and exchanged gunfire with police before being shot dead.

A special dispatch from Monaco

In the wake of the attack, Prince Albert wrote directly to President Biden on 2nd January to express his “deep sorrow” upon hearing the news.

His letter to President Biden reads:

“It is with deep sorrow and profound sadness that I learned of the tragic vehicle attack in New Orleans, which has claimed innocent lives and left many injured.

In these difficult times, I wish to extend, on behalf of my family and the people of Monaco, our heartfelt solidarity with the families of the victims, the injured and the American people as they face this devastating tragedy. Together, we stand united in grief and in our firm rejection of all acts of violence.

Let me assure you, Mr President, of my sincere condolences and the expression of my highest consideration.”

Monaco’s ties to America run deep, as both his mother Grace Kelly and previously Alice Heine, a New Orleans native married to Albert I, hailed from the USA.

Latest information from the FBI

The FBI has stated that an Islamic State (IS) flag was found in the vehicle used in the attack, but that investigators believe Jabbar was acting alone. Two makeshift explosive devices were found near the scene as well, possibly made at the New Orleans Airbnb rented by the perpetrator.

Jabbar reportedly made five videos before the event, one of which stated that he also had plans to harm his friends and family but was concerned the media would misinterpret the crime. His intention appears to have been to highlight the “war between believers and disbelievers”, with the murders being a secondary consideration.

Among those tragically killed were a former Princeton University American football player, an aspiring nurse, a young mother and a New York account executive.

Another explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas involving a Tesla Cybertruck has led the FBI to investigate potential links to the New Orleans incident. However, no links have been established so far according to the latest reports.

The attack has echoes of the attack in Nice in 2016 when Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian national living in France, deliberately drove into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 and injuring 434. It remains one of the deadliest attacks on French soil outside of wartime.

Photo credit: Isawred, Unsplash

The Mediterranean mercury crisis: study reveals costly consequences of seafood contamination

by: Stephanie Horsman

03/01/2025

A groundbreaking study from the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and Côte d’Azur University has uncovered the shocking extent of methylmercury contamination in Mediterranean seafood, revealing the devastating dual threat to public health and livelihoods that could be costing the region more than €10 billion annually.

An alarming report led by Dr. Nathalie Hilmi, the head of Environmental Economics at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), and Professor Marie-Yasmine Bottein, a biologist at Côte d’Azur University, has brought into sharp focus the dangers of dangerously high methylmercury (MeHg) levels in seafood found in local waters throughout the Mediterranean basin.

MeHg is a hazardous substance that accumulates in marine food chains, including those in the Mediterranean Sea. Long-term exposure, particularly through seafood consumption, poses significant risks to human health. Infants and developing children are especially vulnerable, as MeHg can cause neurological damage and developmental delays.

However, the impact goes beyond health. The report states that cognitive deficits caused by MeHg exposure could result in reduced productivity, costing Mediterranean economies dearly — and far beyond the more immediately visible or individual effects.

The study, which analysed seafood supply data, dietary surveys and mercury contamination levels, estimates that MeHg exposure costs Mediterranean countries over €10 billion annually due to reduced IQ and productivity losses.

Despite the Mediterranean diet’s reliance on seafood, the full scope of MeHg’s impact has remained chronically understudied, especially as global trade shifts consumption patterns.

One key insight from the research is the paradoxical role of the international seafood trade. Importing less contaminated seafood can lower local MeHg exposure, but it shifts the contamination burden to exporting regions, highlighting the need for global cooperation to ensure safe seafood practices and manage shared risks.

This study by CSM and Côte d’Azur University stands out for its interdisciplinary methodology, combining ecological, dietary, and economic data for a comprehensive view of MeHg’s effects. By linking seafood consumption directly to economic outcomes, the research underscores the high stakes of environmental and public health policies.

The findings call for urgent action to better regulate and monitor methylmercury levels in seafood. Without coordinated efforts, the health and economic costs of this invisible threat will continue to climb.

To read more about the report and its findings, click here.

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CSM joins team of scientists tracking threatened Antarctic emperor penguins

Photo credit: Egor Gordeev, Unsplash

AS Monaco Basketball start 2025 with determined win over Alba Berlin

by: Elsa Carpenter

03/01/2025

AS Monaco Basketball have gotten the new year off to a flying start with a hard-fought 105-90 victory over Alba Berlin. Despite key players being sidelined due to injuries and illness, the squad proved itself resilient and determined, earning the Roca Team a deserved EuroLeague victory that maintains the side’s position at the top of the rankings.

Heading into the game at Berlin’s Uber Arena on Thursday 2nd January, Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis knew the team would be facing a significant challenge. With the team depleted—Alpha Diallo recovering from injury while Terry Tarpey, Mam Jaiteh, and Petr Cornelie were all ill—the remaining players needed to rally, and rally they did.

The team made a blistering start to the away fixture. Mike James led the charge, ably supported by Matthew Strazel and Donatas Motiejunas, and Monaco raced to a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Roca Team extend their advantage further, with Strazel hitting crucial three-pointers and Elie Okobo impressing with his drives to the basket. By halftime, the Monaco side had built a commanding 20-point cushion.

Alba Berlin push back

The second half, however, was far from straightforward. Alba Berlin, led by Tim Schneider and Sterling Thomas, cut Monaco’s lead to just six points late in the fourth quarter as Monaco’s defense faltered.

Spanoulis called for calm during a timeout, and his team responded. James delivered a vital three-pointer, and Jaron Blossomgame’s late contributions helped secure the victory for Monaco.

Reflecting on the game, Spanoulis acknowledged his team’s second-half struggles but praised their resilience, saying, “Offensively and defensively, we relaxed too much in the second half and were a bit naïve against an Alba team with nothing to lose. But we showed character and secured an important win in the end.”

Strazel, who added 18 points to the score, emphasized the need for defensive improvements, noting, “There are things to work on, especially defensively in the second half, but offensively, we shared the ball well and found more solutions. That’s something to build on.”

EuroLeague standings tighten

With this win, AS Monaco Basketball maintains their position at the top of the EuroLeague standings, tied with Olympiacos.

The Roca Team will now look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next challenge, knowing that consistency will be key in their quest for European glory.

Read related:

AS Monaco Basketball: all the home and away games this January

Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball

EU mandates USB-C as standard for electronic devices

by: Cassandra Tanti

03/01/2025

As of Saturday 28th December, all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the European Union must feature USB-C charging ports, marking a significant step toward reducing electronic waste.

The new regulation applies to smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, video game consoles, and other similar devices, ensuring that consumers no longer need different chargers for each product. This long-anticipated change is part of a broader initiative to reduce the environmental impact of discarded chargers, which generate significant electronic waste annually.

A push for sustainability and convenience

The European Parliament and member states approved the rules in 2022, aiming to simplify consumer experiences and reduce waste. By standardising USB-C ports as the universal charging solution, EU households are expected to save an estimated €250 million annually by avoiding unnecessary charger purchases.

In addition to requiring USB-C ports, the regulation allows consumers to opt out of receiving a charger with every new device they buy, further reducing waste and costs.

Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, hailed the move as “a decisive step toward consumer convenience and environmental responsibility”, saying that the rules directly address waste issues while benefiting consumers financially.

Expanded requirements in 2026

The regulation is set to expand further: as of 28th April 2026, laptop manufacturers will also need to comply with the USB-C standard. This staggered implementation ensures manufacturers have time to adapt their production lines and supply chains.

Oversight and adaptation

The European Parliament has committed to monitoring how manufacturers adhere to the new rules, ensuring a smooth transition for consumers and industries alike. Despite initial resistance from some manufacturers, the move has been widely recognised as a milestone in environmental policy and consumer rights.

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

Photo credit: Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Month: January 2025

New British restaurant Marlow set to open in Mareterra this January

Energy-efficient light replacements continue in Monaco’s Dorsale tunnels