As the world’s leading ocean advocates, scientists and policymakers converged in the French Riviera and Monaco for a landmark series of high-level events, Dr Alexander Venn of the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM) was among them. In this interview with Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti, Dr Venn offers a critical professional perspective on what is at the top of the climate agenda for scientists, and what must happen next.
Dr Alexander Venn has spent nearly two decades at CSM, joining in 2008 as a post-doctoral researcher before advancing to head of the coral physiology and biochemistry team. His research focuses on how coral organisms respond to environmental stress, particularly the impacts of climate change, and he plays a key role in shaping the institution’s broader scientific direction while mentoring the next generation of marine scientists. With CSM at the forefront of coral research in a rapidly warming world, Dr Venn gives his perspective on three significant ocean-focused events held over the past fortnight in Nice and Monaco: the One Ocean Science Congress, the Blue Economy Forum, and the United Nations Ocean Conference.
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The 64th Monte Carlo Television Festival opened June 14th, transforming the Grimaldi Forum into a dazzling showcase of international talent.
The festival’s famous blue carpet rolled out on the opening night of the Monte Carlo Television Festival for an impressive star line-up. From Teen Wolf actors Charlie Carver, Holland Roden, Tyler Posey, and Tyler Hoechlin to established television veterans like Sarah Rafferty and Jean-Luc Reichmann. The atmosphere was electric as fans gathered behind barriers, smartphones on the ready to capture every glamorous moment.
The evening’s emotional highlight came during the Opening Ceremony at the Salle des Princes, where American actress Jaz Sinclair received the Nymphe d’Or for Best International Rising Talent 2025. The Gen V and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star appeared genuinely overwhelmed by the recognition.
“I’m so flattered and honoured. It’s not something I was expecting at all!” Sinclair said as she accepted the crystal trophy.
The 30-year-old actress, who also performs music under the name Jasimi, has built an impressive resume since leaving Texas for Hollywood. She first appeared in the series Revolution, then gained recognition with a role as an SDF and orphan character in Rizzoli & Isles, before breaking through with Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Amazon’s Gen V, the spin-off of The Boys.
Prince Albert II opening the Monte Carlo Film Festival, photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life
French television legend honoured
Pierre Arditi, the distinguished 80-year-old French actor, received a Nymphe de Cristal for lifetime achievement, adding another milestone to his remarkable career spanning decades of television excellence. Known for playing a former police officer turned mediator in seven seasons of Sauveur Giordano on TF1, and starring as oenologist Benjamin Lebel in Le Sang de la vigne for France 3 from 2011 to 2017, Arditi’s acceptance speech was both humble and moving.
“These rewards are a recognition from the public, saying that we’re still part of the family, even at my age,” Arditi reflected. “This Crystal Nymph is precious. It will help me get through the less happy days that will undoubtedly await me, one day or another.”
The festival also treated audiences to the French premiere of Watson, CBS Studios’ bold reimagining of the classic Sherlock Holmes companion. Morris Chestnut, who plays the titular Dr. Watson rebuilding his life after losing Sherlock Holmes, engaged with the audience during a post-screening discussion.
“We incorporated the Sherlock Holmes mentality, alongside medical cases, because Watson is a detective and a doctor. That’s what makes our show different from other procedurals,” Chestnut explained.
The series premiere set the tone for what Prince Albert II described as “a thrilling start to our festival.”
The festival continues through June 17th, with more premieres, award ceremonies, and star-studded events planned throughout the weekend
Monaco Life’s Kyriaki Topalidou was there! See more in her video 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.
Main photo sourced from Monte Carlo Television Festival’s official website
Tende tunnel set to reopen after 12-year delay, but traffic remains limited
The long-awaited Tende tunnel connecting France and Italy will be officially inaugurated on 27th June, more than a decade after works began, yet motorists will have to wait an extra day to use the route.
After 12 years of delays and ballooning costs, the Franco-Italian Tende tunnel will finally be inaugurated on 27th June. But in a scenario echoing recent infrastructure unveilings in the region, the ribbon-cutting will be ceremonial only. Public traffic will not be permitted until the following morning, 28th June, as was the case with the new Mathis tunnel in Nice.
Local mayor Jean-Pierre Vassallo did not hold back in his comments, labelling the project a “complete and total failure”, despite welcoming its long-overdue reopening. “It’s a breath of fresh air for the local population,” he said, while lamenting that the tunnel is reopening under 2013-era conditions: alternating one-way traffic, regulated by lights.
Traffic rules and operating hours still under debate
Only vehicles under 3.5 tonnes will be permitted to use the tunnel initially. A strict alternation system via traffic lights will allow passage every 30 minutes, with speeds capped at 70 km/h, dropping to 50 km/h near the curved entrances. French and Italian authorities remain in discussions over the precise schedule. France favours three daily slots—morning, midday, and evening—while Italy is pushing for a morning and evening window to leave space for daytime construction work on the French approach, which won’t be completed until March 2026.
Technicians are also adjusting the “svuotamento” timing—an Italian term for the vehicle clearance interval—ensuring one direction clears the tunnel entirely before the next wave begins. On busy days, such as Sunday afternoons, these intervals could be tweaked to manage heavy cross-border flow.
Old traffic levels expected to return
Forecasts suggest 1.2 million vehicles annually, a return to pre-Tempête Alex levels before the original tunnel’s closure. Yet current limitations may frustrate drivers expecting a modern, high-capacity route.
Rising costs, delayed penalties
Originally budgeted far lower, the works have now cost €255 million, 42% of which was funded by France. With plans to also modernise the old tunnel, total costs could hit €330 million. Edilmaco, the Italian consortium overseeing the works, was meant to face penalties of €130,000 per day for delays after a revised deadline of 7th January 2025. However, according to reports, Edilmaco is seeking to push the deadline further to avoid these fines—while requests for updates from the Italian road authority Anas have gone unanswered.
The tunnel’s reopening offers a necessary boost to cross-border transport, but frustrations linger over the pace and transparency of its troubled redevelopment.
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.
Teen Wolf revival on the cards? Cast teases about future projects at Monte Carlo Television Festival
The second day of the Monte Carlo Television Festival transported fans back to Beacon Hills on Saturday afternoon, as beloved Teen Wolf cast members reunited. Tyler Hoechlin, Tyler Posey, Holland Roden and Charlie Carver—better known as Derek, Scott, Lydia, and Ethan—gathered for an exclusive behind-the-scenes event that left fans buzzing with excitement and hope for the franchise’s future.
The burning question on every fan’s mind was whether Teen Wolf would return to the screens, and Tyler Posey’s response offered hope for the show’s continuation.
“We all really want it to happen. It’s got to be done the right way, of course,” Posey revealed, hinting that their reunion at Monte Carlo Television Festival might only be the start. “I mean, I feel this is a pretty good sign, us being here. Teen Wolf is the show that keeps on giving.”
The actor, who portrayed lead character Scott McCall throughout the series’ six-season run, highlighted the show’s enduring appeal, noting that “new people are finding out about it every single day.” He considers this fact “a huge sing and a green flag to give you more.”
However, Posey stressed that any continuation would need to evolve with both the characters and the audience. “I think it needs to honour you, who you are today,” he explained, acknowledging how much the fanbase matured since the series concluded.
Brotherhood beyond Beacon Hills
Fans were particularly keen to know whether the cast maintains their close bonds, especially with Dylan O’Brien, who played Stiles Stilinski but wasn’t present at the festival. Posey’s response was both heartwarming and definitive.
“Absolutely. Yes. We all are,” he confirmed. “We all keep in touch. Obviously, we’re all very busy and we always seem to miss each other. We’re always travelling. But, this will always remain a great friendship.”
Holland Roden also offered a thoughtful perspective on the series’ lasting impact, describing the show as a “huge metaphor for growing up.”
Lighter supernatural moments
In a more playful segment, the cast was asked which supernatural creature they’d want to portray if they weren’t playing their original characters.
Holland Roden chose Coach Finstock, noting mysteriously that “he’s got some sort of supernatural aura”. Tyler Posey expressed interesting in exploring Scott’s dark side as a Void character, whilst Tyler Hoechlin pragmatically opted for banshee duties, joking “because no makeup.”
Wrapping up the conversation, Charlie Carver reflected on the series’ international success, describing his and his twin’s integration to the show as “the Netflix effect”. Jokingly, he explained how the show’s global reach expanded dramatically during the second season when he and his twin brother Max joined the cast.
“Teen Wolf was definitely a show that was talked about that you wanted to be on, and then I think there was what I would call the Netflix effect where something happened when me and my brother joined the show… suddenly there was this whole new energy around it, particularly internationally,” Carver explained.
The two-hour event concluded with an autograph session that saw fans queuing for precious moments with their favourite stars.
Whilst no concrete announcements were made about Teen Wolf’s future, Saturday’s gathering allowed fans to hope. As Tyler Posey put it, “You deserve more Teen Wolf,” and based on the weekend’s reception, the sentiment appears to be entirely mutual.
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.
Main photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life
Princess Alexandra of Hanover to patron Monaco Art Week
Monaco Art Week is set to return for its seventh edition in Monaco from 7th to 12th July, with Princess Alexandra of Hanover taking on the role of patron.
The prestigious cultural event, operating under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, will see 15 leading galleries and auction houses unite to create an artistic journey through Monaco’s most iconic districts. The programme spans centuries of artistic achievement, from Italian Renaissance masters to cutting-edge contemporary works, including sculpture, painting and fine jewellery.
“We are delighted to welcome Princess Alexandra of Hanover as patron of this iconic event. Her support reinforces our mission to promote the arts and illustrates the cultural richness of Monaco.” said Caroline Davaripour Jelmoni, Secretary General of Monaco Art Week.
A highly ambitious programme
This year’s programme promises to be the most ambitious yet, headlined by a solo exhibition of renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz at Hauser & Wirth. ‘Stream of Consciousness’ will present landscapes, still lifes and portraits created over the past two decades.
Contemporary art will also take centre stage across multiple venues. Recent Villa Arson graduate Suska Bastian will present ‘Of Feelers and Furies’ at collect|mc. Meanwhile, Franco-German artist Eric Massholder will pay tribute to Van Gogh with ‘For Vincent: Timeless Connections’ at Kamil Art Gallery.
British sculptor Bran Symondson, a former member of the British Special Forces, is set to bring his powerful ‘Art to Disarm’ exhibition to HOFA at YellowKorner Monte Carlo. Known for transforming instruments of war into art, Symondson redefines symbols of conflict, capitalism, and resilience through innovative sculptures.
Additionally, Swiss artist Simon Berger will showcase ‘Origins’ at Galerie Adriano Ribolzi, featuring his distinctive technique of creating fascinating portraits that emerge from the heart of glassy material
Opera Gallery will present ‘The Monaco Masters Show: Chagall & Léger, colour and form’, marking significant anniversaries – the 40th of Chagall’s death and 70th of Léger’s death. The exhibition explores both masters’ parallel experiences alongside masterpieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fernando Botero, George Condo, Jean Dubuffet, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Pierre Soulages, and Manolo Valdés.
Almine Rech will explore contemporary manifestations of landscape painting with ‘Looking at Horizons’, featuring works by Joël Andrianomearisoa, Alejandro Cardenas, Petra Cortright, Johan Creten, Genieve Figgis, Daniel Gibson, Scott Kahn, Minjung Kim, and others. The exhibition questions both the material aspects of territory and how we perceive it.
Street art enthusiasts can also explore ‘Street Mood’ at Teos Gallery Monte-Carlo, celebrating contemporary urban art through works by Mr Brainwash, Cedric Bouteiller, Marco Grassi, Chris Biancheri, Alec Monopoli, Arpe One, and Cipre.
M.F. Toninelli Art Moderne will present ‘Between Figuration and Abstraction: Gaul, Rivers, Monory’, bringing together three artists from the same generation whose works gave shape to tensions between abstraction, figuration and narrative in a changing world. Elisabeth Lillo-Renner will explores male body representation in ‘Corpus homini’ with works by Yannick Cosso, Joël Alain Dervaux, and jewelry by Martin Spreng, while Moretti Fine Art showcases Italian Old Master paintings.
Auction houses to deliver stunning presentations
Monaco’s leading auction houses are also preparing stunning presentations. Artcurial will organise Monaco Auction Week at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, featuring ‘Monaco Sculptures’ with works by François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, César, Baltasar Lobo, Tony Cragg, Manolo Valdés, and Philippe Hiquily displayed throughout the Société des Bains de Mer’s institutions and gardens.
Christie’s will celebrate its 40th anniversary in Monaco this year, represented by Managing Director Nancy Dotta for almost twenty years. The auction house’s presence in the Principality has enabled sourcing of remarkable works of art and private collections.
Sotheby’s will preview highlights from an important Monégasque collection at the Moretti Fine Art space, with works destined for auction at Sotheby’s Paris this autumn. The Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo rounds out the auction offerings with summer Prestige Sales featuring important jewellery, collector watches, luxury leather goods, and modern and contemporary art.
Monaco Art Week will run parallel to the Art Monte-Carlo international fair from 7th to 9th July at the Grimaldi Forum. Major exhibitions opening during the week include ‘Colours! Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou’ and ‘Monaco and the Napoleons: Intertwined Destinies’, both running from 11th July to 31st August.
The cultural programme extends across multiple venues with the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco presenting ‘The Roaring Twenties of Coco Chanel’ at Villa Paloma and ‘Tomorrow the Ocean?’ at the Salle d’Exposition du Quai Antoine 1er. Villa Sauber will host ‘Cactus’ running into 2026.
Full programme details and the complete calendar of events will be available at
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Main photo credit: Annie Leibovitz Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
A mining giant’s green vessel docks in Monaco to lead the charge for zero-emissions shipping
A towering dark-hulled vessel loomed off Monaco’s coast this past weekend, its presence impossible to ignore. Emblazoned with a giant fluorescent green zero and the words Leading the way to real zero, the Green Pioneer isn’t just a striking visual statement—it’s the world’s first ammonia-fuelled ship, and it docked in the Principality as a bold symbol of how big industry can drive climate action from the front.
Docked in Monaco for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, the Green Pioneer brought with it more than cutting-edge engineering. It brought a message: if one of the world’s largest mining companies can reinvent its shipping operations for the climate era, so can everyone else.
The maritime sector is responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the use of heavy fuel oil—an extremely polluting fossil fuel. Alternatives like LNG (liquefied natural gas) and biofuels have gained attention in recent years, but neither offer a long-term solution. LNG still emits CO₂ and leaks methane, a far more potent greenhouse gas. Biofuels, while cleaner, face scalability issues and competition with food crops.
Ammonia, by contrast, contains no carbon atoms, meaning that when burned correctly, it produces no carbon dioxide. It’s also already widely traded globally for use in fertilisers, giving it a built-in infrastructure base. “Ammonia doesn’t have a carbon molecule, which is perfect,” Andrew Hoare, Fortescue’s Head of Green Shipping, told Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti. “So we have set out to show that ammonia can be used as a very effective marine fuel.”
The Green Pioneer is powered by four engines, two of which have been converted to run on ammonia. This dual-fuel approach allows the ship to continue operating safely while testing ammonia propulsion under real-world conditions. Early land-based tests in Perth confirmed the viability of ammonia combustion, and in 2023, the ship completed sea trials and docked in Dubai for COP28 as a live demonstration of the future of low-emissions shipping.
Andrew Hoare, Fortescue’s Head of Green Shipping, was in Monaco promoting the value of Ammonia as a fuel for shipping. Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
No rulebook, no delay
Unlike LNG and methanol, ammonia had no formal regulatory framework for use as a marine fuel when Fortescue began this project. Rather than wait, Fortescue acted. “There was no rulebook,” said Hoare. “So we approached Singapore and said, ‘We’ll be burning ammonia in this ship in your port within six months’.”
Singapore responded, deploying 100 officials across various agencies to oversee the pioneering effort. Fortescue completed conversions in dry dock and sourced green ammonia locally for fuel. The ship sailed successfully in and out of Singaporean waters, and the demonstration helped fast-track a major regulatory milestone: in December 2024, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) approved ammonia as a marine fuel, years ahead of schedule.
Still, full-scale commercial use remains restricted. Ammonia fuel is currently only allowed in certain regulated port areas. International protocols for open sea use are still being developed, meaning further advocacy and demonstration projects are essential.
The interest—and the hurdles
Since its conversion, the Green Pioneer has travelled from Singapore to Dubai, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and now Monaco, with a flotilla sailing to Nice for the United Nations Ocean Conference. The interest it’s sparked along the way has been notable. At COP28, it was a quiet standout, drawing dignitaries and global leaders. At each port, regulators, investors, and industry figures have toured the ship to witness the technology first-hand.
Yet Hoare acknowledges the road ahead isn’t frictionless. The major obstacle is economic. Green ammonia, produced from renewable hydrogen and nitrogen, is significantly more expensive than traditional fuels. Fortescue sees this challenge as surmountable—particularly with the introduction of carbon pricing frameworks for shipping, which would make fossil fuels comparatively less attractive over time.
“Saving the planet is important,” said Hoare, “but it must also make financial sense for investors and consumers.” He added that shipping’s long vessel lifespans—typically 25 years—require clarity around future fuel standards to encourage companies to invest in alternative fuels now.
Next steps: scale, supply, and standards
Fortescue has already committed to a new ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier, a Newcastlemax vessel due for delivery in 2026 or early 2027. It will transport iron ore from Australia to China—one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors—and serve as the next major test of green ammonia at scale.
The company’s immediate goal is to secure green ammonia infrastructure along this route. Ports like Rotterdam already offer ammonia bunkering, but many others do not. Fortescue believes the key is focused investment in a few strategic trade routes rather than global overhaul. “We don’t need every port to change overnight,” said Hoare. “If we secure green ammonia availability along that corridor, we can make a big impact.”
At forums like the one in Monaco, Fortescue continues to press the point: corporates don’t need to wait for perfect conditions—they can create them. By investing early, acting decisively, and bringing regulators along, industry leaders can move faster than government policy alone.
As Hoare put it, “The technology exists. The policies are coming. We’ve proven it’s possible. Now it’s time to scale, to walk the talk, and to keep accelerating the pace of change—on the ocean and under it.”
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.
Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
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