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Day: 4 April 2025

Thomas Brezzo secures second term as President of Monaco’s National Council

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/04/2025
Thomas Brezzo

By a resounding majority, the National Council of Monaco has re-elected Thomas Brezzo as President. The vote, which took place in early April, marks the start of his second term. Brezzo has held the position since April 2024, when he replaced Brigitte Boccone-Pagès.

Thomas Brezzo, a 45-year-old Monegasque lawyer, will continue his role as President of the National Council, Monaco’s elected public representatives, for a second term following a decisive and near-unanimous vote that saw 22 votes in his favour. There was just one blank ballot and one absence, that of Balthazar Seydoux.

The electoral process proceeded considerably more smoothly this time around for Brezzo. He came to the position of President of the National Council in April 2024 by replacing the council’s first-ever female leader, Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, after a period of tension within her Union party majority.

During the opening speeches at the parliamentary session on 2nd April, National Council member Maryse Battaglia reviewed the past year under Brezzo, describing it as a period of transition and renewed momentum for the institution.

“Between us, I can attest to a renewed energy, in the expression of all sensitivities with great freedom of speech that allows us to achieve that point of balance for which we, Monegasques, hold the secret,” she said in comments published by Monaco Matin. Battaglia went on to call for continued collaboration and respect among all elected officials.

Brezzo, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to keeping an open discourse with the government while still maintaining the need for resolve. He urged the government to honour the commitments made by former Minister of State Didier Guillaume before his untimely death in January, saying, “A commitment is a debt to the future, a debt that cannot be erased under the pretext of the passage of time. Res non verba. Actions, not words.”

He reiterated the most urgent priorities for the coming months, including the Fontvieille Shopping Centre project, the Monaco Info and TV Monaco merger, and the development of a local waste treatment and recovery plant. He also spoke of advancing the long-delayed urban planning work in the Annonciade II district, the modernisation of the National Housing Plan, advancing the metro project linking Nice, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia, and reducing waiting times for medical consultations in Monaco.

Looking ahead, Brezzo announced that solid initiatives would soon be implemented to better advance the Principality’s priorities, and he also confirmed that public meetings with Monegasque nationals would begin in May, providing an opportunity for open discussions on key legislative issues.

The session concluded with Brezzo inviting Jean-Louis Grinda to run again for Vice-President. Grinda accepted, and the council members reconfirmed him with a near-unanimous vote.

Read related:

Can Monaco maintain financial balance? 2024 budget report shows big spending, slowing revenue

 

 

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real 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 credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

Benjamin Ferrand of M/Y Victoria Del Mar takes first place at Monaco’s Superyacht Chef Competition

by: Niki Borisova
04/04/2025
Superyacht Chef Competition

There was a high-stakes, high-pressure atmosphere at the Yacht Club de Monaco in early April as superyacht chefs from around the world faced off in Monaco in contest to see who would be crowned the winner of the 2025 Superyacht Chef Competition.

On 3rd April, the Yacht Club de Monaco was transformed into the dynamic galley of a world-class superyacht as the 2025 edition of the Superyacht Chef Competition, organised in partnership with Moët Hennessy and Bluewater, brought together nine chefs from vessels ranging between 36 and 97 metres in length.

Over a series of challenging timed cooking rounds, the international cohort of chefs were pushed to their limits as the audience, including Monaco Life‘s Niki Borisova, and a stellar jury watched on.

The competition followed the established format of three 40-minute rounds in which chefs had to create a main dish using a surprise basket of ingredients and a well-stocked pantry. The judging of their creations was based on originality, taste, presentation and creativity, with the field being gradually whittled down to a final Top 3.

The final round saw Benjamin Ferrand of M/Y Victoria Del Mar (50m), Gaetan Di Santo of M/Y Ocean One (36m) and Christoph Siebentritt of M/Y Synthesis (74m) tasked with creating a dish that featured kale, blue crab and lionfish.

See more: Impending invasion: “Lionfish will be swimming in front of the Oceanographic Museum, not just in its tanks”

Ferrand emerged as the winner, telling Monaco Life, “I’m proud to have represented my yacht and my crew. It’s a demanding competition, and to come out on top among such talented chefs is a real honour.”

Other participants included Will Pitt Brooke of M/Y Okto, Edouard Michel of M/Y Alfa G, Richard Broom of M/Y Illusion, Gino Razzano of M/Y Carinthia VII, Camillo Grosso of M/Y Vertige and Francesco Federico Benassi of M/Y Almax.

Kale, lionfish and blue crab: the mystery ingredients that finalists were tasked with transforming into a standout dish in the final round. Photo by Monaco Life

Jean-François Girardin, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, chaired the jury, which also featured: Paulo Ucha Longhin, the 2024 winner of the event; Marc Reynolds, Executive Chef at Tottenham Hotspur; Dimitri Droisneau of the three-Michelin-starred La Villa Madie; and Wendy Van Den Schrick, a Moët Hennessy ambassador. The technical jury included Duncan Biggs and Frédéric Ramos, both chefs, with the latter overseeing anti-waste criteria.

Bernard d’Alessandri, Director of the Yacht Club de Monaco, was present for the event and noted, “This competition is a celebration of excellence and versatility in the culinary world of yachting, but I was disappointed not to see any women chefs competing this year. We hope to welcome more female talent in the next edition.”

Check out Monaco Life’s Superyacht Chef Competition reel below: 

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real 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. 

Photos by Monaco Life

AS Monaco Basketball: Mixed EuroLeague results and domination against Le Portel in the BetClic Elite

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/04/2025

A tough and demanding week on court, both at home and away, has put pressure on AS Monaco Basketball, who suffered a bruising defeat to Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague on 3rd April following two initial wins.

The week opened with a game against Olympiacos FC at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 27th March. The fixture ended in a victory for Monaco, who won 80-77, but it was a hard-fought exchange that could have gone either way until the final minutes. Mike James, with 23 points, was the star of the show for the Principality side that night, with Jaron Blossomgame adding a brilliant 18.

On 30th March, attention shifted back to Betclic Elite action with an away game against ESSM Le Portel. The Roca Team dominated their opponents at the Salle du Chaudron, maintaining a relentless pace from start to finish. The Monaco side ultimately secured a commanding 91-67 victory, a result that puts Monaco firmly in second place in the standings, just behind LDLC Asvel. Top scorers for the night included Vitto Brown and Matthew Strazel, both with 14 points, while Elie Okobo added 12.

The most recent game on 3rd April, which took place in the Salle Gaston Médecin, saw the Roca Team come unstuck against the Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos FC.

Struggling to find their footing, Monaco found themselves trailing by 17 points in the second quarter before mounting a minor comeback after halftime. Despite incredible individual performances—high scorer Daniel Theis was on fire with 18 points, Alpha Diallo added 16 while Elie Okobo took 13 to the total—the team simply didn’t have the defence to stop the Athenian side, losing 76-88 in front of a disappointed home crowd. The loss puts Monaco in fourth place in the EuroLeague, just behind Panathinaikos.

“Congratulations to Panathinaikos, they were better than us and deserve their victory. We started the match very poorly, and it’s very difficult to come back against such a strong team,” said Vassilis Spanoulis, Head Coach of AS Monaco Basketball. “I’m confident, I trust my players. Our destiny is in our hands.”

Read related:

Monaco gears up for A1 Padel Tour after successful Grand Master in Beausoleil

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real 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: AS Monaco Basket

Prince Albert II mourns passing of Dr Jean-Joseph Pastor, former physician to his late father

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/04/2025

Dr Jean-Joseph Pastor, a key figure in Monaco’s medical sector and the co-founder of the Monaco Cardiothoracic Centre, passed away at the age of 93 on 3rd April. Prince Albert II of Monaco has expressed his sadness at the loss of the man who was once a personal physician to his late father, Prince Rainier III.

Prince Albert announced the passing of Dr Jean-Joseph Pastor, Chancellor of the Princely Orders, via a press release in the hours following his death at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG) in Monaco.

The statement, issued by the Palais Princier de Monaco, reads: “Prince Albert II is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr Jean-Joseph Pastor, Chancellor of the Princely Orders, who was the personal physician of Prince Rainier III… In this painful circumstance, Prince Albert II extends his most sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and all those who had the honour of working with him. He also pays tribute to the human qualities of Dr Pastor, who was devoted to the Princely Family, Prince Rainier III, and Princess Grace.”

Beyond being the personal physician to Prince Rainier III from 1975 until the Prince’s passing in 2005, Pastor’s medical career saw him lead the cardiology department at the CHPG in the 1960s. The department’s in-patient unit bears his name to this day.

Dr Pastor also co-founded the Monaco Cardiothoracic Centre alongside Professor Vincent Dor in 1987. He remained active in the institution throughout his life, maintaining an office there until his final days.

His interests were not only medical but civic-minded as well, with the Palais statement noting, “He also made his mark on Monegasque political life through his forty years of service on the National Council.”

Indeed, he served as a Councillor from 1968 to 2008, spending a decade as Vice-President of the National Council, Monaco’s equivalent of parliament.

Pastor’s passing marks the end of an era for Monaco’s medical and political communities, but he leaves behind a lasting legacy in both sectors.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real 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 credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

UBS’s Achille Monet on the investment case for AI: “We’re just scratching the surface”

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/04/2025

Artificial intelligence is reshaping global markets, and one of the analysts following the trend most closely is Achille Monet of UBS. During a recent visit to Monaco, Monet shared his insights into the trajectory of AI and why he believes this new wave of technology represents a generational opportunity for investors.

Monet was raised in Singapore and educated in British schools before attending university in the United Kingdom. A Swiss national, he went on to join UBS in Zurich, where he now works in the Chief Investment Office. His role involves covering European technology stocks with a focus on AI, while also contributing to UBS’s broader global strategy around artificial intelligence.

AI’s impact on productivity and business operations

Speaking at an investor event hosted by UBS Monaco, Monet said AI is not just a breakthrough but a foundational shift in how businesses will operate. “We truly believe this is a platform shift,” he said. “The marginal cost of generating intelligence is getting close to zero. That’s a very big deal. It’s like what the internet did for distribution.”

He said AI systems are already producing significant productivity gains, with some use cases delivering tenfold or even hundredfold improvements. That kind of performance, according to Monet, is what’s driving companies to accelerate investment, particularly in infrastructure. “We haven’t yet found the limits of this technology,” he said. “That’s pushing companies to spend aggressively, because the payoff could be massive.”

Data centres, demand, and the AI value chain

In the next five years, Monet expects strong progress on both the supply and demand sides of the AI economy. On the supply side, technology firms are building out massive data centre clusters with tens of thousands of GPUs. On the demand side, companies are finding ways to integrate AI into everyday operations—from software development to digital marketing. “We think coding, customer care and advertising are three early areas where AI will be monetised at scale,” he said.

Monet also explained why investors need to understand the AI value chain. The first layer, he said, is at the silicon level, where the industry has moved away from CPUs to GPUs, with firms like NVIDIA dominating. Above that sits the computing layer, where traditional data centres are giving way to AI data centres with higher memory, more advanced networking, and far greater capacity. The final layer is application-based, where AI models are changing how users interact with services and software.

“What’s new is the model layer,” said Monet. “Eventually we’ll see AI agents that can interact autonomously with each other, with no human input. That’s how big this shift is. Every layer of the stack is being redefined.”

Regulation, ethics, and the risk of misinformation

On regulation, Monet said the pace of innovation is making it difficult for lawmakers to keep up. While some rules are beginning to take shape, particularly around declaring large-scale models, there is no global standard yet. He added that U.S. politics could dramatically influence regulatory direction, especially in the case of a change in administration.

On ethical concerns, Monet said he is not particularly alarmed by fears of mass job losses. “This is more about job augmentation than job replacement,” he said. “Like calculators or ATMs, AI will make people more productive by taking over repetitive tasks.” He did, however, note the growing risk of misinformation. “Unlike search engines that give you a list of sources, AI gives you a direct answer. And that answer may not always be accurate.”

Where investors should look next

Looking ahead, Monet said the biggest megatrend for investors is the continuation of scaling laws—where more computing power leads to smarter models. “We’re now entering the next phase, where it’s not just about training a model, but getting it to think longer or reason more deeply. That’s where we’re heading.”

He added that while large tech companies such as Microsoft and Google are best positioned to capitalise on AI thanks to their scale and integration, there is still room for smaller firms to innovate. “It’s the big players who have the infrastructure,” he said. “But as adoption increases, there will be space for new entrants, especially in the application layer.”

Asked whether the AI race would come down to the United States and China, Monet said scale plays a major role in developing cutting-edge models. But he also pointed out that innovation in areas like enterprise software, customer tools and consumer applications can happen anywhere in the world.

As for investors wondering how to gain exposure, Monet recommended looking to the U.S. IT sector, which UBS currently rates as its most attractive segment. “We’re just scratching the surface of the generative AI transition,” he said. “And valuations are still reasonable. These are not dot-com bubble multiples.”

He concluded with a cautious note about forecasting too far ahead. “We have a 12-month view on this,” he said. “Nobody can say exactly what 2027 will look like. But we’re confident that hardware, especially semiconductors, will remain central to this story.”

Monaco Life is produced by a team of 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 of Achilles Monet at UBS Monaco, by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

New ambassadors from Malaysia, Austria, Honduras and Guinea accredited in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/04/2025

Four newly appointed ambassadors have officially presented their credentials to Prince Albert II during a ceremony held in Monaco on Thursday 3rd April.

Later that day, Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, hosted a luncheon at the Hôtel Hermitage in honour of the ambassadors, who represent Malaysia, Austria, Honduras and Guinea.

Among those accredited was Datuk Eldeen Husaini Bin Mohd Hashim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia. A graduate in law from Sheffield Hallam University and holder of a degree in public administration from Malaysia’s National Institute of Public Administration, Ambassador Eldeen joined Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998. His distinguished diplomatic career has included postings in Tokyo, Canberra, and Mumbai, followed by an ambassadorship in Cambodia. Since 2024, he has served as Malaysia’s ambassador to both France and Portugal.

Also presenting her credentials was Ambassador Barbara Kaudel-Jensen of Austria. With degrees in political science, European affairs and public administration from institutions including the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the College of Europe, and France’s École Nationale d’Administration, Kaudel-Jensen entered Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in 2004. Her experience spans postings at Austria’s missions to the European Union, the United Nations and NATO, where she served as Deputy Head of Mission. She has also held senior advisory roles within the Austrian Federal Chancellery.

Representing Honduras, Ambassador Luis Alberto Posadas Alfaro is a law graduate from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. He began his career advising Honduras’ Proveeduría General and went on to specialise in civil and commercial law, representing clients in both national and international legal affairs through his firm Bufete Posadas y CIA. He was appointed Honduras’ ambassador to France in 2023.

Ambassador Senkoun Sylla of Guinea, a career diplomat with over 25 years of experience, also presented his credentials. Having joined Guinea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2000, he held several roles before being posted to the Guinean Embassy in Beijing, first as political, economic and cultural adviser, then as chargé d’affaires. Between 2013 and 2022, he served as Guinea’s ambassador to Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Philippines and South Korea. In recognition of his service, he was decorated by the Emperor of Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real 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 from left to right: H.E. Mr Senkoun Sylla, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guinea; H.E. Datuk Eldeen Husaini Bin Mohd Hashim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia; Ms Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations; H.E. Ms Barbara Kaudel-Jensen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria; and H.E. Mr Luis Alberto Posadas Alfaro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Honduras. Credit: Manuel Vitali – Communication Department