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Day: 30 January 2026

Olivier Wenden appointed Director of Prince Albert II’s Cabinet

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/01/2026

Prince Albert II has appointed Olivier Wenden as the new Director of the Prince’s Cabinet, effective Monday 2nd March 2026, according to an official communiqué released on Friday.

Wenden will succeed Christophe Steiner, who has held the position since 4th September 2023.

Currently serving as Vice-President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II Foundation, Wenden has been with the environmental organisation since 2014. During his tenure, he contributed decisively to expanding the Foundation’s international reach and strengthening its strategic positioning on global environmental issues.

Before joining the Foundation, Wenden built a career in public service and international affairs, holding senior positions within Monaco’s National Council and the Department of External Relations and Cooperation. His experience spans both legislative and diplomatic spheres, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the Principality’s institutional framework.

The role of Cabinet Director is one of the most senior positions in Monaco’s government structure, coordinating the Prince’s official activities and serving as a key liaison between the Palace and various government departments.

“The Sovereign Prince wishes to express his keen and warm gratitude to Mr Steiner for having accepted to exercise his high functions during a particularly demanding period for the Institutions of the Principality,” said the Palace in a statement. “Through his sense of statesmanship, his loyalty and his unreserved commitment in the service of the Prince and His Family, Mr Steiner has been able to conduct the action of the Prince’s Cabinet with rigour and discernment.”

The transition comes at a time when Monaco continues to balance its traditional governance structures with modern challenges, particularly in areas of environmental policy and international relations – domains where Wenden has built considerable expertise.

See also: 

Interview: Olivier Wenden, Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

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Photo credit: Philippe Fitte, Prince’s Palace

 

Disney in Concert returns to Monaco with symphonic celebration

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/01/2026

The Grimaldi Forum will host Disney en Concert – Suivez vos Rêves (Follow Your Dreams) on 24th October, bringing together a symphony orchestra, singers and dancers for a journey through classic Disney soundtracks.

The musical and visual spectacular combines live performance with iconic imagery from Disney films projected on giant screens, creating what organisers describe as an immersive family experience.

The show takes place in the Salle des Princes at 6pm on Saturday 24th October 2026.

From Simba’s kingdom to Elsa’s frozen lands

The production promises to take audiences through multiple Disney worlds, from the Pride Lands of The Lion King to the icy realm of Frozen, from the Pacific islands of Moana to Peter Pan’s Neverland.

The concert format pairs symphonic arrangements of Disney’s timeless music with visual elements designed to evoke childhood memories across generations.

A full orchestra will perform live alongside vocalists and dancers, with large-scale screen projections featuring scenes from the films.

Aimed at families

The Grimaldi Forum is positioning the event as a multigenerational experience, combining emotion, wonder and nostalgia.

Tickets are available online through the Grimaldi Forum website or by calling +377 99 99 30 00.

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Photo provided

 

Child protection chief: Roblox and AI tools hiding predators in plain sight

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/01/2026

France’s High Commissioner for Children has warned that artificial intelligence is creating new dangers for young people, including deepfakes used for sexual extortion and predatory behaviour on gaming platforms marketed to children as young as five.

Sarah El Haïry addressed a conference in Paris on Thursday, 29th January organised by associations Colosse aux pieds d’argile and Contre les violences sur mineurs, focusing on preventing violence against children in the digital age.

750,000 predators operating daily

El Haïry warned that 750,000 paedophile criminals operate daily on the internet with targeted and well-practised strategies, exploiting children’s vulnerability on platforms often perceived as harmless.

“I will never accept that the digital world and social networks become a jungle, with predators on one side and prey on the other,” she said. “The predators are the 750,000 paedophile criminals who operate every day on the internet. The prey are our children.”

She described herself as a “geek” who appreciates technology and gaming, but stressed that as High Commissioner for Children, her sole compass is protecting all children, everywhere and all the time.

Roblox highlighted as concern

El Haïry specifically cited Roblox, a gaming platform where users create their own games with graphics that appear child-friendly. More than 40% of its users are under 13-years-old, though the platform is officially designated for children from five-years-old.

Despite its playful appearance, serious problems have been observed on the platform, including games titled “Escape to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island” and others whose objective is to assault homeless people. The platform’s voice chat system allows strangers to contact children, frequently leading to other applications where photos are exchanged.

“Parents are often unaware that behind a graphic universe similar to Lego, very real dangers are hidden,” El Haïry said. “Predators have understood this perfectly: the more harmless a platform appears, the lower the vigilance.”

AI-generated sexual content

The commissioner referenced the scandal involving Grok, the generative AI on social network X, which allowed users to digitally undress young girls and boys on demand, visible to everyone.

“This is not a game. It is forbidden and punishable by seven years in prison, and ten years when the victim is under fifteen,” she stated.

Following discovery of these images, El Haïry contacted the European Commission’s vice-president to activate existing mechanisms. On Monday, 27th January, the Commission opened an investigation into X.

She also raised concerns about toys and stuffed animals for children incorporating conversational AI, where exchanges have been shown to quickly drift towards sexual discussions. “Who could have imagined this by looking at a simple teddy bear?” she asked.

Adolescent AI companion use

El Haïry noted that AI is transforming social interactions among young people. At age 15, 70% of adolescents use an AI companion, with 50% using it regularly.

Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 64% fear becoming victims of deepfakes, though younger children may perceive the risk as more abstract despite being most vulnerable.

Call for training and prevention

The commissioner emphasised that firmness must go hand in hand with prevention, training and awareness across the entire protection chain: children, parents and professionals.

“AI is here. So either we suffer it, or we choose to take advantage of all the opportunities,” she said, noting that AI can provide valuable time savings and support for child protection when used for data analysis.

She thanked the organising associations and stated she would closely follow the conference conclusions, which will inform public policies including the plan to combat violence against children, which she oversees.

“Everywhere there are children, including in digital space, risks exist, and our collective responsibility is never to ignore them,” El Haïry concluded.

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Photo credit: Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com, Unsplash

 

Monaco launches major justice reform with focus on transparency and financial crime

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/01/2026

Monaco is rolling out sweeping justice reforms this year aimed at restoring public trust and tackling financial crime. Secretary of State for Justice Samuel Vuelta Simon outlined the plans during a New Year speech on Thursday, highlighting a full agenda that includes modernising institutions, strengthening legal resources, and boosting transparency.

The conference comes as Monaco assumes the chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers this spring, 22 years after joining the organisation. The role will culminate in an informal conference of European justice ministers on 16th June focused on combating money laundering.

Restoring Monaco’s image

Vuelta Simon acknowledged that Monaco’s justice system faced hard judgement and unflattering perceptions at times. However, he insisted the reality was quite different.

“I quickly discovered its true face,” he said. “It is high quality justice that motivates its decisions, that knows neither uncontrolled backlogs nor significant delays, with committed actors and professionals who genuinely love the profession they have chosen to practise.”

He explained that Prince Albert II had given him a clear mandate: to restore serenity to Monaco’s justice system, maintain its independence, and modernise it to meet both national realities and international challenges.

To improve the system’s image, Monaco now publishes legal information to make it more accessible and, back in June, it launched a new journal called ‘Monaco Droit’, to make the justice system more understandable to the public.

Strengthening resources

To reinforce resources, a financial section was established within the Attorney General’s Office in September with two experienced magistrates, responding to recommendations from international evaluators. An audit of its effectiveness will be conducted in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a judicial reserve system, approved by the National Council in November, will allow around 10 experienced magistrates to temporarily reinforce courts when needed. Implementation will begin in the coming weeks.

Lastly, the attorney general’s office recruited two new prosecutors in 2025, with additional recruitments planned for 2026, focusing on candidates with experience in areas of public concern in Monaco.

Vuelta Simon also welcomed renewed interest from Monégasque students in the judiciary, calling it a “strong signal we have all been waiting for”. Recruitment processes for several new Monégasque magistrates will open within months.

Modernisation programme

To boost digital modernisation, the Justice Secretariat will launch a website in 2026, providing information about its services and activities. The department will also relocate from its current premises to free up space for judicial recruitment.

Digitalisation will continue with the modernisation of the criminal records system, with the aim of eventually connecting to those of neighbouring countries. Paper documentation was abandoned in 2025.

Reviews of the status of prison staff, magistrates, and court clerks are also planned to improve recruitment. The statuses of superior courts, including the Supreme Court, Court of Review, and Council of State, will also be examined.

Legislative reforms

Several legislative initiatives have also been launched to modernise the legal profession. Work is underway with the Bar Council on legal aid, court appointments, and regulation of the profession itself.

Similar collaboration with the Principality’s three bailiffs has resulted in updated tariffs and reforms to property sales procedures. A bill containing provisions for guilty pleas and criminal settlements is currently under examination by the National Council.

Reforms to prevent, detect, and punish corruption amongst high-ranking officials are also planned under the Council of Europe’s GRECO programme.

Samuel Vuelta Simon explained that the reforms aim for long-term sustainability rather than simply achieving international ratings. Progress with the Financial Action Task Force showed increasing improvements at each meeting, he said, with regular exchanges demonstrating Monaco’s commitment to best practices.

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Main photo credit Monaco Life.