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Month: January 2026

Princess Grace Irish Library to explore Princess Grace’s Irish heritage in upcoming talk

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
18/01/2026

The Princess Grace Irish Library is set to host a talk by historian Neal Doherty on January 22nd, exploring the Irish ancestry of Princess Grace.

Doherty, who works as a lecturer and tourism guide, will present a visual talk about County Mayo in Ireland’s west, where Princess Grace’s grandfather was born before emigrating to the United States in the late 1800s.

The presentation will look at why John Henry Kelly, then 20-years-old, left his homeland during a period marked by famine and widespread poverty. The talk will cover the harsh conditions faced by Irish emigrants, many of whom travelled on dangerous vessels that became known as “coffin ships” due to the high number of deaths during the Atlantic crossing.

Monaco’s link to Mayo

The Kelly family’s original home in Drimurla is now in the hands of Prince Albert II. He had toured the site back in 2011 alongside Princess Charlene, who back then was still his fiancée. That visit had come five decades after Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III first travelled to Ireland in 1961.

In March 2023, Prince Albert returned to the area to unveil a statue honouring his mother in the town Newport.

Prince Albert unveiling a statue honouring his mother in the town Newport. Credit: Edward Reid

About the speaker

Originally from Dublin, Doherty spent his early career in the food industry with Nestlé before changing direction to focus on history and guiding. He now leads private tours in both English and French from his base in western Ireland, and has written multiple guidebooks about Irish locations and monuments.

His tours in Mayo include stops at Drimurla, where he shared the Kelly family story with visitors.

Booking information

Entry costs €10, with a reduced rate of €5 for students. Tickets are available through my.weezevent.com, or by contacting the library directly via email at info@pgil.mc or phone on +377 93 50 12 25.

Those planning to pay on arrival should note that only cash or cheques made out to “Fondation Princess Grace” are accepted.

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Main photo: Princess Grace arrives in Ireland in June 1961 for the first time. © Princess Grace Irish Library Archives

 

Historic ocean treaty comes into force to protect the high seas

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/01/2026

A landmark UN treaty protecting nearly half the planet’s ocean has officially entered into force, marking a new era for marine conservation.

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), became international law on Friday after two decades of negotiations.

The treaty establishes the first-ever legal framework to protect biodiversity in international waters beyond any country’s control, covering regions that make up nearly 50% of Earth’s surface.

Under the leadership of Prince Albert II, Monaco played a pioneering and active role in advancing this landmark agreement, becoming the first European and Mediterranean State to ratify the BBNJ Agreement.

What does the treaty do?

The agreement provides tools to create marine protected areas on the high seas and sets clear obligations for sustainable use of ocean resources.

It also includes provisions for capacity building, technology sharing, and mechanisms to ensure benefits from marine resources are distributed fairly among nations.

The treaty is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

Two decades in the making

Negotiations for the treaty began more than 20 years ago, with the final text agreed in March 2023.

The treaty required ratification by 60 countries to come into effect, a milestone reached in September 2025. Following a 120-day waiting period, it has now become international law.

So far, 83 countries have joined the agreement, with more encouraged to sign up ahead of the first Conference of Parties (CoP), scheduled within the next year.

What happens next?

Several legal obligations take effect immediately, including requirements for environmental impact assessments for any planned activities that could affect the high seas.

Governments must also publicly notify such activities and promote the treaty’s objectives in other international bodies governing shipping, fisheries and seabed mining.

A UN Preparatory Commission is currently developing the treaty’s institutional framework and decision-making processes, with proposals to be adopted at the first CoP.

Countries are also being encouraged to identify important high seas sites requiring protection ahead of future meetings.

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Photo credit: Artan Sadiku, Unsplash

 

Join hundreds in Monaco’s iconic Pink Ribbon Walk on 15th February

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
17/01/2026

The 15th Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk is set to return to Port Hercule on February 15th, attracting hundreds of participants in support of women’s cancer awareness and early detection.

The 5km walk, which starts at approximately 10:15am, forms part of the broader Monaco Run event and passes some of Monaco’s most iconic landmarks, including the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum and the Casino de Monte-Carlo terraces.

For this event and unlike traditional timed races, participants do not wear numbered bibs for timing purposes. Instead, they write messages of support or tribute to those affected by cancer on their race numbers.

Additionally, many participants are themselves patients and survivors in remission, while others walk in memory of loved ones who have passed away.

All proceeds from the walk will support screening studies for lobular breast cancer at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre.

Open to all

The walk is designed to be accessible to participants of all fitness levels. Children under 13 can take part free of charge, and the route accommodates pushchairs and wheelchairs, though assistance may be needed at certain points. Furry friends are also welcome.

To mark the anniversary, this year’s official poster and T-shirts have been created by renowned artist Mr A, whose minimalist and poetic graphic work has featured in collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Longchamp, Uniqlo, Supreme and L’Oréal.

Each participant will receive an official walk T-shirt, subject to availability, with limited edition versions also available for purchase.

Registration for the event costs €30 and can be completed online at www.pinkribbon.mc, on the Port Hercule esplanade the day before the event from 10:15am to 5pm, or on the morning of the walk at the Pink Ribbon Monaco stand before departure.

The event is supported by Rotaract Club Albert 1er and operates in partnership with the Monaco Athletics Federation. Those taking part in other Monaco Run races can also support the cause by opting for a solidarity race number with a minimum donation of €100, which the Federation will transfer to the association after deducting administrative costs.

A tombola will also be held during the event, with tickets available at €10 for three.

Photo credit: Pink Ribbon Monaco

About Pink Ribbon Monaco

Founded in 2011 by Natasha Frost-Savio, Pink Ribbon Monaco operates under the Honorary Presidency of Princess Charlene of Monaco and the Vice-Presidency of Olympic athlete and professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.

The organisation was the first in the region to illuminate monuments and buildings in pink. For more than 15 years, it has worked to promote early detection, raise awareness, support medical research and champion women’s rights

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Main photo credit: Pink Ribbon Monaco

Football: Monaco’s slide continues ahead of Real Madrid tie

by: Luke Entwistle
16/01/2026
Denis Zakaria looks on as Monaco are defeated by Lorient at the Stade Louis II

AS Monaco conceded their seventh defeat in eight Ligue 1 matches at the hands of promoted Lorient (1-3) as the Principality club were further distanced in the race for Europe.

Friday night’s game at a sparsely populated Stade Louis II officially marked the second half of the Ligue 1 season. “The first half of the season leaves us a big margin to do better in the second,” said Sébastien Pocognoli pre-match. There remains a big margin, one insurmountable to make up for lost time and secure European competition? On Friday’s evidence, certainly.

Olivier Pantaloni said that he smelled blood, sensed “fear” in the Monaco side that was already wounded going into this match, on a historically bad streak in the league, despite progression in the Coupe de France and good performances in the Champions League.

With Monaco’s ultras boycotting the first 45 minutes, it was a tepid atmosphere and it was the players who had to summon their own energy and drive. Despite Folarin Balogun and Mika Biereth sharing a couple of early half-chances between them, Pocognoli’s side failed to do that. Uninspired, lethargic, disinterested, there are plenty of adjectives to describe Les Monégasques’ first-half – none of them positive, much to the frustration of the home crowd who became increasingly vocal in expressing their discontent as the game progressed.

Dier at the scene of the crime for Lorient’s goals

The Principality club were lucky not to go in behind, as Bamba Dieng saw his finish ruled out, with Pablo Pagis adjudged to have impeded the view of goalkeeper Philipp Kohn from an offside position.

But Dieng would get his goal in the second half, profiting from a moment of absent-mindedness that summarised Monaco’s night. It was Eric Dier at fault as he was caught unawares by Dieng, who came around his blindside to intercept the ball, hone in on goal and beat Kohn.

Finally, a reaction was summoned. Ansu Fati’s entrance off the bench after an injury-related absence was a reaction to the opener, and he brought a momentary spark, latching onto a Balogun ball and finishing past Yvon Mvogo on the second attempt.

But that spark was quickly extinguished as the rain began to fall in the Principality. Les Merlus would have expected a backs-to-the-wall last 15 minutes, but it was the visitors who asked the questions and then broke the deadlock.

Monaco ‘lacked bravery’, says Pocognoli

Jean-Victor Makengo’s shot was fortuitously deflected past Kohn by Dier, who was then at the scene of the crime again just minutes later. This time, it was Dermane Karim who cut inside the Englishman and slotted a sublime curled effort into the top corner.

‘Olés’ rang around the Stade Louis II in the final stages as Lorient kept the ball out of Monaco’s reach, not from the 32 travelling fans, but from those who came to support the players playing in red and white. With the fans calling for the resignation of CEO Thiago Scuro, Pocognoli and his players are trying to foster unity, but it is not through performances like this that they will do it.

Pocognoli accused his players of a “lack of bravery on the ball”, of a “lack of impact” without it. In every phase of play, there are shortcomings. Not the ideal way to prepare for Tuesday’s mammoth UCL clash against Real Madrid, Pocognoli admitted, but Monaco arguably have bigger and more pressing concerns.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

Podcast: Everything Monaco residents need to know about wills, inheritance and powers of attorney

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/01/2026

Raphaëlle Svara, Partner at CMS Monaco and co-head of the Private Clients team, joined Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti to discuss the complexities of wills and succession planning in the Principality. With litigation increasing in recent years, Svara reveals why inheritance disputes can be more brutal than divorce, how Monaco’s unique legal system interacts with international laws, and the practical steps residents should take to protect their estates.

Raphaëlle Svara, Partner at CMS Monaco and co-head of the Private Clients team

Podcast Timestamps

  • 1:18 – Do you see that there is a lot of contesting of wills?

  • 4:03 – No one can foresee how their family will react after death. What else should people be thinking about?

  • 4:40 – What makes Monaco’s legal system so unique?

  • 9:31 – So there are instances when Monaco law can be overruled?

  • 10:02 – What should people be considering when drafting their wills?

  • 11:20 – You mentioned a law change in 2017. Tell us more about that.

  • 12:00 – There are a few different types of wills. Can you talk us through them and how they work?

  • 14:00 – For someone who has moved to Monaco from abroad, what kind of will would you recommend and why?

  • 15:20 – If someone has just arrived in Monaco, what is the first thing they should think about with regard to estate planning?

  • 16:49 – For people with more than one nationality, how do they handle succession planning if they haven’t chosen which country’s law should apply?

  • 19:10 – Monaco has forced heirship rules. Who are the ones primarily affected by this?

  • 19:47 – Even if someone has made a clear choice in their will, can it still be challenged? For example, if a spouse is left out?

  • 20:47 – Tell us about lasting powers of attorney — what are they and why are they becoming more important in Monaco?

  • 25:20 – How often should someone update their will?

  • 26:47 – What are some practical things people can do to ensure their will stays valid and easy to access?

  • 27:07 – Writing a will can be emotional. How do you help clients navigate that personal side of the process?

  • 28:50 – If you could give one final piece of advice to international residents in Monaco about wills and succession, what would it be?

See more: 

Podcast: Getting a divorce in Monaco with CMS Lawyer Raphaëlle Svara

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Photo credit: Melinda Gimpel, Unsplash

 

 

Monaco names Bruno Valentin as new cybersecurity chief

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/01/2026

Bruno Valentin is set to assume leadership of Monaco’s national cybersecurity agency next month, the government announced on Friday.

Having previously served as deputy director of the Monaco Cybersecurity Agency (AMSN), Valentin will take over the role on February 4th. His promotion follows the departure of Frédéric Fautrier, who is moving to head the principality’s Interior Department.

The government acknowledged Fautrier’s contribution, noting that he joined the AMSN when it was established in 2015 and had led the organisation since August 2021.

Valentin brings nearly three decades of experience in combating cybercrime and securing digital systems across both public and private sectors. He joined the AMSN in late 2016 and has since played a key role in shaping its operational strategy.

Officials said his background will prove valuable as Monaco confronts the same digital security challenges facing other wealthy nations. Cyberattacks and online crime now threaten organisations across every industry.

The agency, established to protect the principality’s digital infrastructure, works closely with businesses and public institutions to help them defend against ever-evolving cyber threats.

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Main photo credit: AMSN ©Direction de la Communication, Michaël Alesi