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Month: February 2026

Financial watchdog recognises Monaco improvements but calls for sanctions boost

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/02/2026

Monaco has made progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering regime but must continue work on key areas after missing agreed implementation deadlines, according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) following its plenary meeting in Mexico City from 11th to 13th February.

The international financial watchdog acknowledged that since Monaco made a high-level political commitment in June 2024 to work with the FATF and MONEYVAL, the Principality “has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime on many of its action items, including by strengthening the timeliness of STR reporting.”

However, the FATF noted that “all deadlines have now expired and work remains”, and outlined two specific areas requiring continued attention: enhancing the application of sanctions for AML breaches and applying effective, dissuasive and proportionate sanctions for money laundering.

Recognised improvements

The FATF’s assessment highlighted significant progress in the quality and timeliness of suspicious transaction reports submitted to Monaco’s financial intelligence unit, the AMSF (Autorité Monégasque de Sécurité Financière).

A Monegasque delegation led by the Minister of Finance and Economy attended the plenary session. In a statement released on Saturday, the Prince’s Government welcomed the recognition of what it described as tangible and effective results, reflecting a change in scale in implementing the national action plan.

Strengthened enforcement framework

Monaco’s sanctions policy has been reinforced, particularly in high-risk sectors including real estate, auctions, and trust or company service providers. The government highlighted that recent administrative sanctions demonstrate increased capacity to meet international standards.

These developments are supported by structural reinforcement, with AMSF staffing levels increasing from 20 to nearly 80 officers over four years. The agency has also established a fully operational sanctions department.

Continued momentum

The government reported a 10% average increase in suspicious transaction reports between 2023 and 2025, a rise of over 20% in financial intelligence requests to international partners, and a nearly 60% increase in reports transmitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office since 2020.

Strengthening the criminal justice chain remains a priority for 2026, including through the specialised financial section of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the recruitment of two additional prosecutors.

Monaco is preparing its next National Risk Assessment for 2026-2027 and will submit a further progress report to the FATF addressing the remaining objectives under its action plan. The FATF encouraged the Principality “to build on its recent progress and continue to implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible.”

The Mexico City plenary also saw the FATF add Kuwait and Papua New Guinea to its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, and appoint Giles Thomson of the United Kingdom as incoming President for the 2026-2028 term.

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Photo: FATF Mexico Plenary February 2026. Credit: fatf-gafi

 

Alpine A390 review: Time for something different.

by: Richard McCreery
14/02/2026

Alpine, the French manufacturer of sports cars that celebrated 70 years last year, has a reputation for lightness and the marque has enjoyed a successful renaissance since the reboot of the A110 model in 2017, widely regarded as one of the best sports cars in the world.

This was followed by the co-winner of the European Car of the Year award, the Alpine A290 – reviewed by Monaco Life – last year. And now Alpine is keen to expand its range into the lucrative SUV segment of the market, even if there are some significant challenges to overcome, such as how to make a large all-electric SUV light.

A different approach to weight

In truth, it isn’t possible, so Alpine has chosen a different route. The A390 aims to mimic, rather than replicate, the dynamic driving abilities of the featherweight A110 sports car. Like all SUVs, it is quite large, in order to accommodate passengers and luggage (in contrast, the A110 doesn’t even have cupholders) and an EV also has to haul a heavy battery around.

But the first thing you notice when you see it in the flesh is how low the roofline is: 9cms lower than a Porsche Macan, its more expensive rival, but also 10cms shorter. Alpine knows that a smaller vehicle weighs less and handles better. That was the recipe for the A110 and here it also gives the A390 an advantage over its competitors.

Photo credit: Richard McCreery

On the road

The ride is firm (blame those striking 21 inch ‘snowflake’ wheels, a 1,800€ option) but always reasonably comfortable. The steering is true to Alpine form and is very light but accurate, encouraging you to push harder in the corners than you might in an ordinary SUV. There is a small amount of roll, and the high driving position always reminds you that you are not in a low-slung sports car, but it does manage to feel sporty and to be fun on all different types of road.

It is a pleasure to drive briskly, which is exactly what purists would hope for from this marque, and also very comfortable at normal urban driving speeds. Power delivery is smooth but it doesn’t snap your neck like some electric vehicles. We tested the lower power GT version (400hp) and the weight does sap some of the acceleration but on paper it will still do 0-100kms in 4.8 seconds (the 470hp GTS variant brings that down to 3.9 seconds). Alpine can’t claim to have designed a lightweight EV but at 2,199kg it handily beats the 2,405kg weight of the electric Porsche Macan and it’s quicker.

Torque vectoring technology

The A390 has another trick up its sleeve. It benefits from four-wheel drive and has three separate electric motors, two at the rear and one at the front, that are powered by a 400-volt, 89kWh battery. This setup enables the car to use torque vectoring, which adjusts how much power is sent to each rear wheel, helping improve agility in corners and acceleration.

The result is a car that drives better than most SUVs when you hit a winding road and confidence levels are boosted by the relatively communicative steering. There are five different driving modes that can be selected and, as on the A290, there is a beautifully finished red ‘boost’ button on the steering wheel that you can press to get a shot of maximum power when overtaking. The car begs to be driven playfully and I could happily have spent all day testing its abilities, especially as it has a claimed range of 557 kms, which is not class-leading but is sufficient to allay range anxiety for most trips.

Photo source: Alpine

Interior and practicality

The interior will look familiar to anyone who has already been in an Alpine, with the same distinctive three gear selection buttons in the centre console and a nice flat-bottomed steering wheel. Build quality is good, as you’d hope in this price range (from 67,500 euros), the materials are of a decent standard and the driving position is correct. The only letdown is in the rear seats where space for passengers is rather cramped, a reminder that this vehicle is ultimately more focused on being sporty than being practical.

Our test car came in the traditional Alpine blue colour, which everyone seems to love, and you can option some matching flashes of the same colour on the steering wheel and the alloy wheels. The French tricolore badges also serve as a reminder that this isn’t a common or garden German or Korean EV.

The verdict

Should you buy one? If you are in the market for an upmarket electric SUV that stands out from the crowd, this could be for you. It is stylish, it has a quality interior and it is a pleasure to drive at all speeds. It may not be the most practical model in its class but it would still fit the bill as a perfectly usable everyday car, something that you can’t say about its two-seater sibling, the A110.

Overall, the whole package is very attractive – the looks, the driving ability and the Alpine badge combine to make the A390 a car that stands out from the crowd and leaves you with the feeling that this is something a bit special.

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Main photo credit: Richard McCreery, Monaco Life

 

Avalanche kills three skiers in French Alps

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/02/2026

Three people have been killed in an avalanche in the French Alps, authorities confirmed on Friday. Two British nationals who were skiing off-piste with an instructor and a French national skiing alone died when the avalanche struck the Manchet valley near Val d’Isère at approximately 11:30 local time.

The British victims were part of a group of five people skiing with a qualified instructor when the snow slide occurred. Another British member of the group sustained minor injuries, according to Albertville prosecutor Benoit Bachelet.

Investigation launched

Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the incident. The inquiry will be conducted by CRS Alpes mountain rescue police.

The ski instructor, who was unharmed in the avalanche, tested negative for alcohol and drugs, Bachelet confirmed in a statement.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said officials are aware of the deaths and are in contact with local authorities to provide consular assistance to the families.

Dangerous conditions

The incident occurred one day after Storm Nils deposited between 60cm and 100cm of fresh snow across the region. France’s national weather service had issued a red alert for avalanche risk in the Savoie region on Thursday, which was downgraded on Friday, though risk levels remained high.

Antoine Martignon, who was in the valley with his wife at the time, captured the avalanche on video. “I was watching people free riding and skiing off-piste, and thought it looks very dangerous,” he said. “In 20 seconds there was an avalanche, it went down and took people below.”

The deaths mark the latest in a series of fatal avalanches in the region this winter.

Luc Nicolino, slopes manager at La Plagne, described conditions as particularly unstable this season. “We have had some very complicated, very unstable snow since the beginning of the season,” he told AFP. “It’s a kind of mille-feuille with many hidden, fragile layers.”

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Photo: Screenshot taken from Antoine Martignon’s video of the avalanche, published on Franceinfo

 

French study reveals concerning chemical contaminant levels in daily diet

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/02/2026

French people, particularly children, are exposed to excessively high levels of chemical pollutants through their daily diet, according to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), which published the first results of its third major total diet study on Thursday.

The study identified health risks for three metals—cadmium, aluminum and mercury—and health concerns for lead and acrylamide, an organic compound formed during cooking methods above 120°C such as frying or roasting.

Where contaminants are found

Cadmium appears in breakfast cereals, aluminum in pastries and sweet biscuits, lead in bread, mercury in fish, and acrylamide in fries and sautéed potatoes. The study, known as EAT3, follows a previous assessment conducted between 2006 and 2011 and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of chronic exposure to chemical contaminants in the French population.

The first results, released on 12th February, targeted more than 250 substances. Further sections covering other pollutant families including pesticide residues, PFAS, bisphenols and phthalates will be released gradually in coming years.

Cereal products main contributors

The study shows average concentrations of acrylamide, silver, aluminum, cadmium and lead in foods have decreased overall. However, increases appear in certain cereal-based products including bread, sweet biscuits, pastries and pasta. These products contribute most to dietary exposure to aluminum, cadmium and lead.

Concentrations of these contaminants also increased in certain vegetables, though ANSES noted this “does not call into question the undeniable nutritional benefit of their consumption.” The same cannot be said for sweet biscuits or pastries, which “in addition to being contaminated by certain trace metals and acrylamide, have low nutritional value.”

Mercury in fish

For methylmercury, the most toxic organic form of mercury found primarily in fish, contamination and exposure levels remain similar to the previous study. “However, fish consumption has undeniable nutritional value,” ANSES stated, recommending consumption of two portions of fish per week, including one oily fish, while varying species and supply sources.

Some improvements noted

Lead exposure through diet decreased compared to the previous survey—by 27% in children and 49% in adults. ANSES described this as “good news,” adding: “We see here the effect of public health policies in force for many years, such as the ban on lead in petrol, in water pipes, in paints, etc.”

Regarding acrylamide, ANSES observed decreased concentrations in foods that were most contaminated and the main contributors to exposure. Coffee, for instance, no longer shows detectable acrylamide. Despite these results, the agency believes consumer exposure “remains too high” and efforts must continue.

Study methodology

For EAT3, ANSES collected food samples from various retail outlets including supermarkets and markets in three departments: Hérault on the Mediterranean coast, Loiret south of Paris, and Puy-de-Dôme in central France. Over 700 samples were gathered between May 2021 and August 2022.

The foods selected—272 in total—represented more than 90% of the average French diet. Samples were prepared to reflect how consumers typically prepare them before being analyzed in laboratories to identify and quantify chemical contaminants. Results were then combined with food consumption data to estimate population exposure and health risks.

Recommendations

ANSES calls on authorities and industry to continue efforts to reduce contaminant levels in food. The agency reiterates its recommendation for a diversified and balanced diet, varying both foods and consumption quantities to minimize nutritional and chemical risks.

The study confirms adequate control of health risks associated with potential chemical contaminant presence in French food for most substances. However, for certain population groups, particularly children, risks of exceeding toxicological thresholds for substances like lead, cadmium and acrylamide remain, indicating continued reduction efforts are necessary.

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Photo credit: Marshalok Brend, Unsplash

 

Football: Simon Adingra inspires Monaco to win ahead of PSG test

by: Luke Entwistle
14/02/2026
Zakaria celebrates with his Monaco teammates as he scores the Principality club's third against Nantes, as sparks go off in the background

AS Monaco netted three goals in the space of five minutes to blow Nantes away (3-1) and keep pace in the race for European football.

The rain fell on a hollow Stade Louis II on Friday night. Nantes’ ultras didn’t come in great numbers and those that did travel made little noise. “Too many humiliations shatter our motivation,” read a banner unfurled by their fans, a justification for their silence. The club are mired in an umpteenth relegation battle… and this time, there is a very real fear of relegation.

But not all was well for the hosts either. Performances have improved in recent weeks, especially in a defensive sense. The mood, however, remains tense. As has become customary, the ultras were absent in the first half, the stand that they occupy filled instead by a banner that called on the hierarchy to resign. The stadium rang hollow, a night reminiscent of those COVID fixures.

On such a night, it is up to the players to provide a spark… and ultimately, it would transpire, one player in particular would do just that. Anthony Lopes said that Nantes “shot themselves in the foot” in the first 35 minutes. Three goals, three individual errors, and a match all but decided by the 30-minute mark.

Adingra at the double

But it could and should have been more than just the three. Imprecision, some impressive last-ditch defending, and one spectacular Lopes save ensured that Monaco were frustrated in the opening 25 minutes. Folarin Balogun went close, Simon Adingra saw a curled effort flash just inches wide, and Wout Faes had to score from his free header, but was instead denied by Lopes, in the right place to make an improvised stop. Chidozie Awaziem and Fabien Centonze were both also well-placed to prevent the Principality club from making their overwhelming superiority count.

But once the resistance was broken, Les Canaris crumbled spectacularly. Abakar Sylla was at fault for the first, miscontrolling, allowing Balogun in behind. His shot was tame but palmed straight to Adingra, who leapt on the invitation to open his account in Monaco colours. His first was predatory, but his second was much more impressive.

Once again, it was an error in the Nantes defence that allowed the high turnover. Aleksandr Golovin fed Adingra, whose body shape was perfect to curl the ball into the far corner first time. And the third quickly followed. Another high turnover, this time from Denis Zakaria, who then finished the move himself, jinking back onto his right and putting the ball over Lopes, who went to ground too early.

“The three goals underlined one of the best starts to one of our matches this season,” reacted Sébastien Pocognoli. It was a combination of Nantes’ self-sabotage, Monaco’s coherent pressing, and some Adingra magic that proved the perfect concoction for the Principality club, and the recipe for an easy night… or so it seemed.

Golovin with a rush of blood to the head

Monaco’s defence has shown significant improvement in recent weeks, with Pocognoli’s side keeping clean sheets in each of their last three Ligue 1 games before Nantes’ visit, and whilst there were collective solutions to keep the visitors quiet, the clean sheet was squandered by an individual error. It came from Thilo Kehrer, who missed a simple ball in behind. Deiver Machado leapt onto it, cutting back to find Centonze, whose emphatic first-time finish gave Les Canaris hope on the stroke of halftime.

And Monaco continued to dangle that carrot. Abakar Sylla almost reduced the deficit to just one goal with the final touch of the half, a free header that glided just past the face of the far post, and despite their disadvantageous position, Monaco handed them a numerical advantage just after the hour mark.

It was a moment of madness from Golovin. The Russian registered two assists in the first half but blotted his copybook by receiving two yellow cards in a matter of seconds, the first for protesting a refereeing decision, the second for sarcastically applauding the first yellow. “It is the reaction of a player frustrated by some refereeing decisions. He has to keep a clear head, but I also understand the frustration,” reacted Pocognoli.

But Nantes did not have the solutions to pose Monaco problems. It was a timid display from a club whose Ligue 1 future looks increasingly uncertain, and on Friday night’s evidence, you can see why. Their feeling leaving the Stade Louis II was unequivocally one of “disappointment”, as Ahmed Kantari confirmed, but the feelings for Monaco were somewhat more mixed. For the Principality club, there are the three points, perhaps valuable in their chase for European football, but also the sentiment of what could have been. “Until the [Nantes] goal, we could have had our most complete match. What was disappointing was the concede that goal […] in general, there is a bit of regret about how the match played out,” said Pocognoli.

There is also the concern surrounding Maghnes Akliouche, substituted before half-time with a muscular injury. “Maghnes is not the type of player to ask to come off like that. It isn’t in his character,” said Pocognoli, who nonetheless allayed concerns about an injury sustained by Lamine Camara. “For him, it was about prevention,” said the Monaco manager.

Monaco aim to ‘surprise’ in UCL tie against PSG

But beyond the result, the other bright spark was undoubtedly Adingra, who put on a show on a night that desperately needed a player to light the game up. “I pushed for him to come [to the club],” said Pocognoli. Based on Friday’s showing, you can see why. “When he was on the list of players available, I immediately said that he was very interesting,” added the Belgian.

The mood going into a crunch tie against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday is therefore positive, especially in light of Les Parisiens’ defeat to Rennes earlier on Friday, which has somewhat soured the mood at the Parc des Princes, not that Pocognoli revelled in their failure.

“I saw the result before the match. I’m not necessarily happy because Rennes are ahead of us [in the league]. I think PSG are a big club and will react,” said Pocognoli, who nonetheless pointed out his side’s capacity to “surprise”. That they are, but he will just be hoping that the surprise is a pleasant one.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

From Poussin to the present: Monaco exhibition traces four centuries of nature

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
13/02/2026

The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco has launched its first exhibition of 2026, bringing together works by nearly 40 contemporary artists alongside classical paintings. Some of the most notable are five canvases by the 17th century French painter Nicolas Poussin. 

‘Le Sentiment de la Nature. L’art contemporain au miroir de Poussin – The Feeling of Nature: Contemporary Art in the Mirror of Poussin’ runs at the Villa Paloma from 13th February to 25th May. The show was curated by Guillaume de Sardes, a writer and exhibition-maker who previously presented ‘Pasolini en clair-obscur’ at the same venue in 2024.

Nicolas Poussin, (1594-1665), spent most of his career in Rome despite being French, and is widely regarded as the first painter to treat nature as a subject in its own right instead of a background scenery. The exhibition uses his work to pose the question of whether this approach still resonates today.

From storms to butterflies

The show is divided into six sections: storms and nights, forests and gardens, seascapes and waterfalls, deserts and volcanoes, mountains, and flowers and butterflies. It spans sculpture, photography, video, installation and painting.

Some of most intriguing pieces are built around Poussin’s ‘The Storm’ (1651), an unusual work for a painter better known for ordered landscapes. Where Poussin painted the full drama of lighting striking, Fausto Melotti reduces rain to a single golden line and Pier Paolo Calzolari to a few spare marks. Then, Ange Leccia’s video goes even further, placing the viewer inside the storm rather than in front of it.

Nicolas Poussin, L’Orage (dit L’Orage Pointel), vers 1651. Huile sur toile, 99 x 132 cm. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Inv. 975.1 @ GrandPalaisRmn / Gérard Blot. Photo by Monaco Life.

Equally surprising is the forests section, where Thomas Demand built an entire forest out of paper at 1:1 scale and photographed it. Hung alongside Poussin’s ‘Landscape at Grottaferrata’ (around 1626) and Giuseppe Penone’s canvases on which tree forms are traced directly in chlorophyll, it raises a quiet question about what we mean by “natural” in the first place.

Poetry over protest

The exhibition has a clear editorial position. Much contemporary art dealing with nature takes environmental urgency as its starting point. De Sardes has assembled something different — work that finds poetry and wonder in the natural world without ignoring its fragility.

The choice is deliberate: some artists, he argues, restore the sense of poetry in the world rather than simply document its threats. Whether that is a political choice or an aesthetic one is left, deliberately, to the visitor.

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life