This coming weekend, Monaco’s Espace Léo Ferré will welcome some 165 cats to the International Cat Show, an event organised by the De Gati De Mùnegu association. More than 20 different breeds are expected to be on display, from Maine Coons to Persian and Siberian felines.
On Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January, some of the world’s most beautiful cats and their handlers will be taking part in the eighth Exposition Féline Internationale de Monaco at the Espace Léo Ferré.
In total, 165 cats and more than 80 breeders will participate in the showcase, with 23 different breeds represented, from Maine Coons, Scottish Folds, Devon Rexes and Chartreux cats to Persians, Bengals, Abyssinians, Somalis, Ragdolls, Siberians, Siamese and Turkish Angoras.
Seven respected judges from countries across the globe—including France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and the US—will crown the winning felines in both Loof and Tica categories. Special Coup de Cœur prizes will also be awarded to the judges’ personal favourites.
The event will run from 10am to 6pm each day. Tickets are priced at €10 for visitors aged 13 and over, €5 for children aged six to 13 and free for children under six.
Monaco has long been synonymous with luxury and excellence, so it’s only fitting that residents and readers of Monaco Life approach the new year with the same ethos.
In 2025, health and performance are no longer just about physical fitness or fleeting resolutions—they’re about crafting a sustainable, balanced lifestyle that helps you thrive in every aspect of life. Let this be the year you embrace peak performance and mental fitness. Here’s your guide to starting strong and being able to maintain it!
Traditional New Year’s resolutions often rely on willpower and vague intentions—“I’ll get fitter” or “I’ll work less”—which is why so many fall by the wayside within weeks. The key to meaningful, lasting change lies in shifting the focus from outcomes to identity.
Instead of setting rigid goals, try identity-based behaviour change. For example, instead of saying you’re going to “run a marathon”, adopt the mindset: “I’m someone who enjoys running”. This approach makes habits feel natural rather than forced. Then build up to running that marathon with enjoyment, rather than going through hell.
The other game-changer I’ve found is setting micro-resolutions. These are small, manageable habits—like committing to a daily five-minute stretch or switching to herbal tea after dinner—that can snowball into significant transformation over time.
Actionable tip for Monaco Life readers: Incorporate change seamlessly into your daily routine. Whether it’s walking Monaco’s coastal paths or choosing to skip a breakfast or two for some intermittent fasting benefits, embrace changes that feel aligned with the health-conscious Monaco lifestyle.
Photo credit: Chelsea Gates, Unsplash
2. Mental Fitness: The Missing Link in Health and Performance
In the relentless pursuit of success, mental fitness often takes a backseat. Yet it’s the foundation of resilience, clarity, and focus—all essential for thriving in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
Mental fitness is about more than just managing stress—it’s about training your brain for optimal performance. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation and gratitude journaling have been proven to boost emotional regulation and cognitive function. Emerging technologies, such as neurofeedback and wearables like Muse, take mental fitness training to the next level, offering real-time insights into your brain’s activity.
Actionable tip to be a high achiever: Dedicate 10 minutes each morning to a mindfulness practice. Whether you prefer guided meditation apps like Calm or simply a moment of stillness overlooking the Mediterranean, these practices can recalibrate your mind for a more productive day.
Photo by Monaco Life
3. Fueling the Body and Mind: Nutrition for Peak Performance
Food isn’t just fuel—it’s a tool for enhancing physical and cognitive performance. As Monaco residents already appreciate fine dining, the next step is to embrace functional nutrition.
Focus on foods that enhance brain health and energy levels. Incorporate omega-3-rich options like salmon and walnuts, antioxidants from berries and dark chocolate, and magnesium-rich greens such as spinach and kale. Functional drinks like adaptogenic teas or nootropic-infused smoothies are also good. You no longer have to replace the taste with health, as you have so many great options in most stores around Monaco.
Emerging trend: Personalised nutrition is revolutionising health. Services that analyse your DNA and gut microbiome, such as Viome or Zoe, can help tailor a diet uniquely suited to your body.
Actionable tip for Monaco’s food enthusiasts: Visit one of Monaco’s organic markets or high-end grocers to stock up on brain-boosting ingredients. Pair these with some free vitamin D every morning for a naturally health-enhancing day.
Excercise at Larvotto beach. Photo by Monaco Life
4. Movement as Medicine: The Science of Intentional Exercise
Exercise is more than a path to physical fitness—it’s a daily prescription for better mental health, longevity, and energy. The modern approach to fitness emphasises intentional movement, combining strength, flexibility, and recovery into a balanced routine.
The beauty of Monaco is its natural playground: coastal trails for running, marinas for paddleboarding, and fitness centers for personalised workouts. Even short bursts of activity, micro workouts between calls, or taking the stairs over the escalator like Rocky Balboa can keep energy and productivity high throughout the day.
Emerging trend: Hybrid fitness routines are gaining popularity. These mix traditional workouts with recovery-focused practices like yoga, stretching, or low-impact activities.
Actionable tip to turbo charge your day: Schedule movement into your day. A morning swim at Larvotto Beach or a brisk walk in Le Rocher can energise you before meetings or social events.
Photo credit: Vitaly Gariev, Unsplash
5. Digital Wellness in a Hyperconnected World
Monaco may be known for luxury and exclusivity, but even here, the pull of screens and constant connectivity can take a toll. The overuse of technology is linked to anxiety, disrupted sleep, and reduced productivity.
Digital wellness is about taking control of your tech habits. Tools like screen time trackers and apps like Forest help encourage focus, while blue light-blocking glasses or evening digital detoxes can improve sleep.
Actionable Tip for the connected professional: Implement a “digital sunset” every evening. Power down devices an hour before bed and replace them with screen-free relaxation activities like reading, journaling, or simply enjoying the night view over the Riviera.
6. The Art of Recovery: Why Rest is the New Hustle
In the Principality’s high-performance culture, it’s easy to equate success with constant action. But rest and recovery are the secret weapons of true achievers. From sleep optimisation to stress reduction, recovery is where progress happens.
The importance of quality sleep can’t be overstated. It’s during sleep that your body repairs, your brain processes information, and your performance resets for the next day.
Emerging trend: Recovery tools like the Oura Ring and Eight Sleep mattresses provide insights into your sleep cycles and recovery needs. Monaco’s luxury spas and wellness centers also offer cutting-edge treatments, from cryotherapy to infrared saunas.
Actionable tip for the night owls: Create a bedtime ritual. Wind down with calming scents like lavender, dim lighting, and perhaps a soothing herbal tea before heading off to snooze town.
Photo credit: Andres Urena, Unsplash
7. Future-Proofing Your Health: Trends to Watch in 2025
The health and performance landscape is evolving, and you are perfectly positioned to benefit from emerging innovations. Here are three key trends to watch:
• Wearable Tech: Devices like WHOOP and Fitbit are becoming more advanced, offering insights into everything from heart rate variability to sleep quality.
• AI-Driven Health Coaching: AI is making personalised health advice more accessible, whether through tailored fitness plans or dietary guidance.
• Longevity Science: Breakthroughs in cellular reprogramming and supplements like NAD+ are paving the way for longer, healthier lives.
Actionable tip for the innovators: Stay ahead of the curve by investing in one piece of health tech that aligns with your goals. Whether it’s a device to track recovery or an app to refine your workouts, the right tool can elevate your performance.
2025 is your opportunity to redefine health and performance, aligning your aspirations in your pursuit for excellence. By embracing small, consistent changes in your mindset, habits, and routines, you can unlock a life of peak mental and physical fitness.
This year, let every decision—whether it’s a morning mindfulness session, a brain-boosting meal, or a luxurious spa recovery treatment—be a step toward the best version of you. After all, there’s no better place than Monaco to live your healthiest, most inspired life. Let 2025 be “your year”.
A new report by France’s Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility, and Development (CEREMA) has identified more than 860 primary residences and holiday homes along the coastline of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region that could be at serious risk of damage or destruction due to coastal erosion by 2050. The situation is expected to worsen by the end of the century, with more than 22,000 homes projected to be at risk by 2100.
CEREMA’s report casts a long shadow over the futures of the municipalities located on France’s Mediterranean coastline, many of which are likely to be at risk of coastal erosion and rising sea temperatures caused by global warming before this century is out. In the PACA region alone, a staggering 22,189 homes are projected to be threatened by considerable damage, if not complete destruction, by 2100, up from an already alarming 868 homes that will be at risk by 2050.
PACA’s coastline spans 1,035 kilometres, equivalent to 43% of France’s Mediterranean shore. Approximately 5 million PACA residents, or 80% of the population, live close to the sea, with the majority residing in major cities such as Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, and Nice.
By 2050, CEREMA forecasts that coastal erosion will affect 224 homes in Bouches-du-Rhône, 433 in Var, and 211 in Alpes-Maritimes. These figures account for both permanent and holiday residences.
By 2100, the erosion risks will intensify, affecting 10,703 homes in Bouches-du-Rhône, 9,809 in Var, and 1,677 in Alpes-Maritimes.
The threat extends beyond private homes too. In 2050, 464 business premises and around 10 campsites are expected to be at risk. Additionally, transportation infrastructure, including roads and railways, will require significant adaptations.
Experts say that the challenge will be to find solutions for each unique site, from land restoration and renaturalisation projects to strategic withdrawal, that respond to the diverse geographical and socio-economic demands of the zones while not further endangering the population and the environment. They stress that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to the issue.
To compile the report, CEREMA’s team of researchers cross-referenced data on climate events, infrastructure vulnerability and exposure to identify key areas at risk, using the IPCC’s temperature projections for 2030 (+2°C), 2050 (+2.7°C) and 2100 (+4°C), to determine how natural hazards and extreme events, such as floods, heatwaves and coastal submersion, will evolve and ultimately impact the region.
In the last five decades, France’s coastline has contracted by around 30 km² – around 4,200 football pitches.
After a deserved 105-90 win over Alba Berlin in the EuroLeague in the opening days of 2025, AS Monaco Basketball has backed up that victory with another in the Betclic Elite. This time, the side achieved a stunning 109-82 victory over Chalon-sur-Saône to the roars of their supporters at home in the Salle Gaston Médecin.
It was a similar story to the Alba Berlin game. AS Monaco Basketball were missing a number of key players for the Chalon fixture on 5th January, with Alpha Diallo out due to injury and Elie Okobo and Georgios Papagiannis resting at the behest of Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis, which meant the onus was on the remainder of the squad to step up and perform.
They delivered in style, responding to an initial Chalon lead in the first quarter with a glorious 22-9 run in the second quarter, sparked by Matthew Strazel. By halftime, the Roca Team had built a healthy 54-49 lead.
The Monaco side continued to assert their dominance in the second half, benefiting from the roar of a home crowd. Chalon’s resistance faded as Monaco outscored them 55-33 across the final two quarters, cruising to a commanding 27-point victory.
Jordan Loyd proved himself unstoppable, scoring 20 points, while Strazel and Mike James weren’t far behind on 19 and 17 points, respectively.
Post-match reactions
Speaking after the game, Spanoulis praised his team’s performance, saying, “After a shaky start, we were excellent. Sharing the ball was key—29 assists reflect how well we worked together. Defensively, we forced 23 turnovers. This was a complete team effort.”
AS Monaco Basketball have a busy month ahead in both the domestic French league and the EuroLeague. The next Betclic Elite fixture will see them play Blois on 7th January ahead of FC Barcelona’s visit to Monaco for a EuroLeague matchup on 9th January.
Beginning in spring 2025, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region will join a growing number of French regions implementing unmarked speed camera cars as part of efforts to curb speeding on secondary roads. A total of 126 unmarked vehicles are due to be deployed across southern France, primarily targeting speeders on roads with speed limits of 80 to 90 km/h.
This new initiative represents a significant shift in strategy for the region, which has so far not joined other areas of France, including Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in implementing these mobile monitoring measures.
In addition to PACA, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie regions will also see the introduction of these vehicles in the spring. In total, 126 cars will be licensed to monitor local roads across these three regions.
The unmarked vehicles, managed by OTC, a private company, will operate for several hours each day, discreetly capturing speeding violations via sensors located on the front bumper, dashboard, or rear of the vehicle. Although designed for discretion, motorists may be able to recognise the unmarked vehicles based on these distinguishing features. The most common models in use will include the Peugeot 308 and 508, Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia and Dacia Sandero.
OTC has been awarded a two-year renewable contract worth €34.5 million, with each vehicle costing approximately €68,409 annually.
Each unmarked vehicle is projected to generate significant revenue, with estimates suggesting an annual income of up to €390,000 per car, according to the Drivers’ Defense League (LDC). This highlights the dual purpose of the system: enhancing road safety and contributing to state finances.
The company is currently recruiting civilian drivers for the programme, offering salaries of €1,700 gross per month.
The decision to outsource the operation to a private company has sparked concerns, particularly regarding the collection of fines by the private sector rather than the government.
With the introduction of these unmarked cars, drivers on secondary roads in the south of France will face increased monitoring and stricter enforcement of speed limits. Roads that were once perceived as less policed will now be under heightened scrutiny. Tickets are expected to be issued starting in spring 2025.
To read more about OTC and the speed camera car system, click here.
France is facing a severe flu epidemic as 2025 begins, with all regions, including Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, now under epidemic conditions. The sharp rise in severe cases has prompted Public Health France to issue a warning about the intensity of this flu season, which is more severe than in previous years. The latest figures show that nearly 4% of deaths in the final week of 2024 were attributed to influenza—double the rate from the week before.
Health authorities across France have been reporting a sharp rise in flu cases in recent weeks, particularly among young people and those over 65. Hospitalisations have surged, especially in the elderly population, putting additional strain on healthcare systems already overwhelmed by a bronchiolitis outbreak and other seasonal illnesses.
Contributing factors to the flu epidemic include low vaccination rates and increased social mixing during the holidays. The gradual return of school and work routines is likely to further contribute in the coming days and weeks.
Around 4% of deaths in the final week of 2024 have been linked to the influenza virus, twice as many as the week before.
The local infection rate and demand for emergency services have surpassed levels seen in recent years, with both Alpes-Maritimes and Var now declared epidemic zones, in line with the rest of the country.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a major epidemic,” Dr. Jean-Luc Leymarie, a general practitioner in France, told EuroNews.
Health authorities are urging vulnerable individuals to get flu shots before the campaign ends in January, though they have indicated they may extend it if the epidemic continues to worsen.
EUROPE-WIDE IMPACT
France’s crisis mirrors that of many other countries in Europe, which are facing similar challenges.
Across the continent, flu cases are spiking after the holiday season. In Spain, influenza B is the dominant strain, with cases climbing rapidly. Hungary has introduced stricter public health measures to curb the spread, while Romania’s health authorities recently reported over 4,100 flu cases in one week—almost double the number reported a week earlier.
As Europe continues to battle the epidemic, health experts stress the importance of vaccinations and timely medical intervention to reduce hospitalisations and fatalities in the coming weeks.
