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Day: 8 February 2026

Women of Monaco Awards return for fifth edition celebrating achievement across eight categories

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/02/2026

The Women of Monaco Lunch and Awards ceremony returns on Thursday 12th March at the Yacht Club of Monaco, bringing together more than 50 women to celebrate female achievement in the Principality while supporting the Princess Grace Foundation.

Organised by Sandrine Knoell and Five Stars Events, the fifth edition will present Women of Monaco Awards across eight categories: Culture, Fashion, Art, Health, Media, Entrepreneur, Philanthropy and Sport. The event is supported by Barclays Private Bank, whose Women’s Team serves as trusted partner, with the ceremony organised in support of the Fondation Princesse Grace.

Three-year milestone for Women of Monaco Club

The event marks the third anniversary of the Women of Monaco Club, founded by Sandrine Knoell in March 2023 as an exclusive community for women to share values and ideologies. Membership is by sponsorship and reserved for women with ties to Monaco through residence, work, education, philanthropic commitments or passion for art.

“I believe it is essential that women in Monaco do not feel isolated, but are part of a community where they can learn, share and grow together,” says Knoell. “Some women are new to Monaco and do not yet speak French well – by joining the Club, they can participate in social events and communicate mainly in English.”

Fashion showcase and luxury partners

The ceremony will feature a fashion show presented by Fashion Business Lab, introducing Biancaneve Bridal Boutique alongside other collections. Monaco-based high-end jewellery house Arije Monaco will showcase luxury pieces during the event, while models will be styled by Cool Bay Monaco.

Event partners include Explora Journeys, which sets new standards in ocean travel through sophisticated design and exceptional service, and Clinique La Prairie, the world-renowned luxury longevity clinic offering exclusive health and wellness programmes. International artist and designer Agneta Livijn, known for exclusive kitchen creations combining art and functionality, also supports the event.

Triple mission

The Women of Monaco Lunch and Awards ceremony maintains three core objectives: rewarding exceptional women through the awards, bringing together a vibrant and diverse community of international women in Monaco through the Club, and supporting the Princess Grace Foundation.

The event takes place at noon on Thursday 12th March at the Yacht Club of Monaco, continuing a tradition established five years ago of recognising and celebrating women’s contributions to the Principality across culture, business, philanthropy and sport.

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Photo from left to right: Isabell Kristensen, Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Princess Caroline of hanover, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sandrine Knoell. Source: Five Stars Events

 

Volkswagen overtakes Tesla as Europe’s top electric car seller

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/02/2026

Volkswagen has dethroned Tesla as Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle brand, marking another setback for Elon Musk’s automaker following its loss of global EV leadership to China’s BYD last year.

Data from JATO Dynamics released on Thursday showed Volkswagen brand battery electric vehicle sales in Europe rose 56% in 2025 compared to 2024, driven by strong performance from its new ID.7 model. The German automaker sold 274,278 BEVs across Europe during the year.

Tesla, meanwhile, saw registrations drop 27% over the same period, selling 236,357 vehicles – nearly 38,000 fewer than Volkswagen.

Ageing lineup faces mounting pressure

Tesla’s relatively small and ageing car lineup faces increasingly tough competition in Europe from both traditional European automakers and a growing number of Chinese rivals entering the market. The company has also confronted consumer backlash in Europe over CEO Elon Musk’s public backing of far-right political parties across the continent.

The shift in market leadership comes as Tesla struggles to maintain its dominance in key markets. China’s BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer in 2024, capitalising on aggressive pricing and rapid model expansion.

Europe’s EV market surges

Despite Tesla’s struggles, electric vehicles made “significant step forward” in Europe during 2025, according to JATO Dynamics. Fully-electric car registrations jumped 29% compared to the previous year, vastly outpacing overall car registration growth of just 2.3%.

The robust EV performance suggests European consumers are accelerating their transition to electric mobility, driven by expanding charging infrastructure, improving vehicle range, and tightening emissions regulations across the continent.

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Photo of the Volkswagen ID.7, source Volkswagen

Formula E supercharges AI partnership with Google Cloud to revolutionise racing

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/02/2026

Formula E has elevated Google Cloud to ‘Principal Artificial Intelligence Partner’ in an expanded multi-year deal positioning AI at the heart of electric motorsport’s future, from race strategy to carbon reduction.

The upgraded partnership builds on Formula E’s initial Google Cloud collaboration from January 2025. The championship will now integrate Gemini AI models across its entire ecosystem to accelerate performance and showcase innovation globally.

Millions of viewers already benefit from AI integration through Formula E’s Strategy Agent, which delivers real-time insights, predictions and race explanations during live broadcasts. The technology provides data-driven analysis of race dynamics, driver performance and strategic decisions as they unfold.

Digital twins to cut carbon footprint

Beyond the track, AI will drive operational transformation with environmental benefits. Formula E will create race and event digital twins to simulate and optimise site builds virtually, minimizing on-site reconnaissance and heavy equipment transport. This approach delivers measurable carbon footprint reductions while maintaining peak performance – crucial for a series that has been sport-certified net zero carbon since inception.

Formula E has already demonstrated AI’s potential through groundbreaking projects. The championship used Google’s AI Studio and Gemini models for its ‘Mountain Recharge’ project, mapping the optimal route for its GENBETA car’s mountain descent and identifying ideal braking zones. The car generated enough energy through regenerative braking to complete a full Monaco circuit lap.

Game-changer for motorsport

“Our expanded partnership with Google Cloud is a true game-changer for Formula E and for motorsport as a whole,” said Jeff Dodds, Formula E CEO. “The integration of Google Cloud’s AI capabilities will unlock a new dimension of real-time performance optimization and strategic decision-making. This collaboration will redefine how fans experience our races and set a new benchmark for technology integration in sport worldwide.”

As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship, Formula E provides an elite platform for automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation through racing in iconic city centres worldwide, including Monaco.

“Formula E is a hub of innovation, where milliseconds can define success,” Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA, added. “This expanded partnership is a testament to the power of Google Cloud’s AI and data analytics, showing how our technology can deliver a competitive advantage in the most demanding scenarios.”

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Photo: Formula E Grand Prix Monaco 2024, source Formula E