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Day: 29 June 2026

Three injured after explosion in Monaco, suspect on the run

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

A powerful explosion struck a residential building on rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla in Monaco on Monday evening, injuring three people, two of them seriously, with a suspect still being sought by police. The blast occurred at around 9pm and was followed by a major deployment of security and emergency services.

According to initial information from Monaco’s Sûreté Publique, an individual was caught on surveillance cameras leaving a backpack at the scene before walking away. Shortly afterwards, several people entered the area and the explosion occurred. The suspect is reported to have fled on foot towards Beausoleil, just across the border in France, and remains at large.

Two of the injured are Ukrainian and Russian nationals

Monaco’s government confirmed around 10pm that three people had been injured, two of them seriously, according to AFP. French police identified the victims as Ukrainian and Russian nationals. Monégasque authorities have so far described the incident as an “acte malveillant“, or malicious act, and have said a terrorist motive is not currently the leading line of inquiry, though the investigation remains in its early stages.

Emergency response

A police source told BFMTV that the “plan rouge” had been triggered, a pre-established emergency protocol used in Monaco for incidents involving, or liable to involve, a significant number of casualties, allowing for a graduated escalation of resources depending on the scale of injuries. Five vehicles and 14 firefighters from the Alpes-Maritimes were also called in as reinforcements, arriving on the scene at around 10.15pm, according to the Alpes-Maritimes fire and rescue department.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Photo by Cassandra Tanti

Grimaldi Forum Monaco named Best International Venue at the 2026 micebook Awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

The Grimaldi Forum Monaco has been named Best International Venue at the 2026 micebook Awards, held in London on 25th June, in a ceremony recognising the best venues and organisers across the events industry. The award, presented by British events professionals and considered one of the most prestigious in the MICE sector, confirms the venue’s standing as a global reference point for hosting major international events.

The jury highlighted three particular strengths behind the win: the venue’s commitment to more sustainable event management through an ambitious corporate responsibility policy, its recently inaugurated extension, which has increased both capacity and flexibility, and its fully tailor-made approach, designed to meet the specific needs of each event organiser.

Part of a wider run of recognition

The award extends a string of recent accolades for the Grimaldi Forum. Earlier this year, the venue received a Gold Award at La Nuit de l’Événementiel in Paris, in the ‘Lieux et Territoires’ category, while late 2025 saw it named Best Overseas Conference Centre at the M&IT Awards. The venue has also previously received the Princely Government’s Trophée Handipact in recognition of its commitment to inclusion, taking its total distinctions in recent years to more than thirty.

A model built on three pillars

Sylvie Biancheri, General Director of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, said the recognition reflected years of sustained effort. “Receiving this distinction in the United Kingdom is a wonderful recognition for our teams,” she said. “It rewards a vision we have pursued for several years: offering international organisers events that are increasingly innovative, responsible and entirely tailor-made. This award encourages us to continue our ambition of making the Grimaldi Forum Monaco an unmissable reference point in international events.”

The venue’s model, combining a congress centre, an internationally renowned cultural programme and its own production activity for live shows under one roof, is one the Grimaldi Forum credits with strengthening both its own international appeal and Monaco’s broader profile as a destination for major events.

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Photo source: Grimaldi Forum Monaco

A season to remember: Inside AS Monaco Basket’s historic 2025-2026 season

by: Kayla Sauceda
29/06/2026

The 2025-2026 season will go down as one of the most memorable in AS Monaco Basket history. Despite navigating financial issues, administrative uncertainty, injuries, and a demanding schedule, the Roca Team completed a domestic quadruple while securing a fifth consecutive EuroLeague playoff appearance.

Their final victory, defeating Paris in Game 5 of the Betclic Elite Finals, sealed their fourth national trophy of the season. The series proved to be a tough battle, but it was evident Monaco wanted to end their season on a high note. Following the Supercup, Leaders Cup, and French Cup victories, they were aiming for their historic fourth trophy. This Betclic Elite title also marked the team’s third French championship in the last four seasons.

Although they did not earn their spot in the EuroLeague Final Four, the team faced the now-champions Olympiacos in a playoff series. At a time when the team had consistently been relying on an eight-man roster and facing an intense schedule, reaching the EuroLeague playoffs remained a significant achievement, marking Monaco’s fifth consecutive appearance.

Each player on the Monaco roster proved critical at different points throughout the season and could easily be highlighted for their accomplishments and role in the club’s success. French guard Elie Okobo was consistently a key player in Monaco’s success, as demonstrated by his Betclic Elite MVP, Betclic Elite Finals MVP, and Leaders Cup MVP titles. In national play, he led the team in points and came in second in assists. In EuroLeague play, he averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 assists.

Matthew Strazel, a young guard from France, also stepped up when it mattered most. As a player who developed significantly during his time in Monaco, Strazel was first in assists and second in scoring nationally, while averaging 9.2 points and 3.9 assists in EuroLeague play.

Forwards Alpha Diallo and Jaron Blossomgame provided the consistency and defensive presence that supported Monaco’s success, with Diallo being crowned EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year.  These players each proved critical, and their absence was always apparent. Whether due to injury, suspension, or other circumstances, when someone was not on the court, you could feel the change.

Throughout the season, Monaco developed the teamwork necessary to compete with such a small roster. In many ways, this chemistry was built out of necessity, as the team had little choice but to rely on one another and learn to play together more effectively. This cohesion became especially important during stretches of the season when injuries and absences forced players into unfamiliar roles and increased responsibilities.

Looking ahead, the next season is filled with uncertainty. Multiple players have announced their departures, while others have expiring contracts. Questions also remain surrounding league participation, ownership, and the club’s future direction.  Regardless of what lies ahead, the Roca Team can walk away from the 2025-2026 season with pride in what they accomplished.

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Sting, Lola Young and Busta Rhymes to headline Nice Jazz Fest 2026

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

Nice Jazz Fest returns to Place Masséna and the Théâtre de Verdure from 23rd to 25th July, with Sting, Busta Rhymes and Lola Young topping a three-day bill that spans jazz, soul, hip-hop and pop. The festival, one of the longest-running jazz events in Europe, continues its recent format of pairing major international headliners on the Masséna stage with a more jazz-focused programme at the nearby Théâtre de Verdure.

The festival opens Thursday on the Masséna stage with Girlband! at 8pm, followed by Naïka at 9.15pm and Sting closing the night at 11pm. Over at the Théâtre de Verdure, the evening runs from Gabrielle Cavassa at 7.30pm to Kassa Overall at 8.45pm and Gotts Street Park at 10.30pm.

Friday 24 July

Friday’s Masséna line-up brings Durand Bernarr at 8pm and Noga Erez at 9.15pm, before Busta Rhymes headlines at 11pm. At the Théâtre de Verdure, the Mario Canonge Trio opens at 7.30pm, followed by Nubiyan Twist at 8.45pm and Cymande at 10.30pm.

Saturday 25 July

The festival’s final night sees The Getdown open the Masséna stage at 8pm, followed by Gabriel Jacoby at 9.15pm and Lola Young closing out the festival at 11pm. The Théâtre de Verdure programme features Biréli Lagrène at 7.30pm, the James Carter Quintet performing ‘Coltrane: A Centennial Supreme’ at 8.45pm, and Obongjayar closing the stage at 10.30pm.

Tickets and rates

A three-day pass costs €165, while two-day passes are priced at €125 for Thursday combined with either Friday or Saturday, and €80 for the Friday/Saturday combination. Single-evening tickets are priced differently for Thursday than for Friday and Saturday: Thursday’s standard adult rate is €90, dropping to €75 for the reduced rate (covering families, students, seniors aged 65 and over, jobseekers and visitors with disabilities) and €75 for ages four to 17. On Friday and Saturday, the standard adult rate is €45, with the reduced rate at €32, also applying to the four to 17 age bracket. Children aged three and under go free on all three nights, and a transaction fee of €1.40 applies per order.

Gates open at 5.30pm on the Thursday and 6pm on Friday and Saturday, with concerts beginning at 7.15pm each evening. The festival box office on Place Masséna opens from Saturday 11th July through to the final night, with extended hours once the festival itself gets under way.

See also: 

Tom Jones, Seal and Marcus Miller head the bill as Jazz à Juan returns for its 65th edition

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Photo source: Nice Jazz Fest

Unveiling half a century of marine protection: The Ramoge Agreement exhibition

by: Virginia D’Umas
29/06/2026

Prince Albert II inaugurated a new exhibition at the Interior Ministry on Friday 26th June, titled ‘Preserving the Mediterranean: Ramoge, a pioneering agreement for 50 years’. Curated by the National Archives of Monaco and the Ramoge Secretariat, the exhibition commemorates half a century of environmental cooperation between France, Monaco, and Italy.

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge until 30th October 2026. It is hosted in a space of deep symbolic significance, as it serves as the venue where the Ramoge Commission has gathered annually for the past 45 years. The selection of this location underscores the historic importance of the agreement, which was signed on 10th May 1976 in the Palace’s Throne Room—a unique occurrence in Monaco’s modern history for an accord of this nature. The initiative was born under the impetus of Prince Rainier III, who aimed to establish a pilot zone for the protection of the marine environment and coastline, initially spanning from Saint-Raphaël to Genoa, and later expanded from the mouth of the Rhône to the mouth of the Magra.

Uncovering the archival record

Curated by Michaël Bloche—Director of the National Archives of Monaco—the exhibition is the result of intensive research that draws upon a vast array of historical sources. The displays feature previously unseen documents from the Ramoge Agreement fund—deposited at the National Archives of Monaco in 2025—alongside contributions from the Prince’s Government, the Palace Archives, and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco. Further insights are provided by French and Italian diplomatic archives, the Oceanographic Institute, the Scientific Centre of Monaco, and historical press coverage from publications such as Nice-Matin and Il Secolo XIX.

Michaël Bloche (Director of the National Archives of Monaco) and Florent Champion (Executive Secretary of the Ramoge Agreement). Photo by Monaco Life

Bloche said the agreement remains as relevant today as it was when it was signed 50 years ago. “It is still at the vanguard 50 years after its signing; it is the only agreement at the Mediterranean level to include both an anti-pollution component and a biodiversity preservation component.”

50 years of evolution

The exhibition follows a chrono-thematic path, documenting how the accord has continuously adapted to environmental challenges through photographs, educational content, testimonies, and moving images. The narrative begins with the project’s 1970s inception and the early maritime campaigns of the 1980s. It then highlights the 1991 Haven oil tanker disaster, a tragedy that prompted the 1993 creation of the Ramogepol plan to coordinate multinational anti-pollution responses. The exhibition moves on to the 2003 revision, which expanded the mission to include integrated coastal and biodiversity preservation, before concluding with the deep-sea exploration campaigns conducted from 2015 to the present day.

‘Preserving the Mediterranean: Ramoge, a pioneering agreement for 50 years’ exhibition at the Ministère d’État / Photo by Monaco Life

Sustaining a legacy of cooperation

The exhibition also highlights the continued role of the Ramoge Agreement as Monaco, France and Italy work together to tackle shared environmental challenges in the Mediterranean. More than five decades after it was signed, the agreement continues to coordinate joint action on issues ranging from marine pollution to biodiversity conservation.

Florent Champion, Executive Secretary of the Ramoge Agreement, said its longevity stems from active collaboration rather than simply having an agreement on paper. “It is a cooperation which is alive, and that is important because it is not enough to just create an institutional agreement with three countries; one must also know how to make it live.”

See also: 

Fifty years on: Monaco honours the Ramoge Agreement’s environmental legacy

 

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Main photo: Michaël Bloche, Director of the National Archives, presents the exhibition to Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco / Photo credits: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department 

F1: Leclerc comes in eighth as Ferrari struggles in Austria

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen to take his first victory since the season-opener. It was a tougher afternoon for Scuderia Ferrari HP, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc forced into a largely defensive race, finishing fifth and eighth.

Both Ferrari drivers made strong starts, with Hamilton passing Leclerc on the opening lap, but it soon became clear the SF-26s could not match the pace of their closest rivals on the medium tyre, dropping behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Verstappen. In an effort to fight back, the team switched from a two-stop to a three-stop strategy, which did not work out. Hamilton was eventually overtaken by Oscar Piastri to finish fifth, while Leclerc dropped behind Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar to take eighth.

“It was an extremely hot and demanding race,” said Hamilton. “The team did a great job with the pitstops but it’s clear we’re still struggling on the straights, and tyre degradation was quite high, which made things challenging. We’ve got a week until Silverstone and will look at everything we learnt.”

Leclerc pointed to a setup that worked in qualifying but not in the race. “In the race, it was less effective and I struggled mainly with the rear, which caused me to slide around quite a bit. These new cars are very sensitive, so if you are not in the right window with the setup, you pay the consequence. We have a lot of work to do ahead of Silverstone.”

Team Principal Fred Vasseur said the team had been too focused on Mercedes. “We pushed hard in the opening laps and then reacted too aggressively with the strategy, trying to stay with them when, realistically, that wasn’t our race. We will learn from this and immediately turn our attention to the British Grand Prix.”

A Mercedes one-two ahead of the Ferraris

Russell took the chequered flag ahead of Verstappen, with Antonelli completing the podium for Mercedes in third place. Piastri finished fourth for McLaren, just ahead of Hamilton in fifth, while Hadjar brought his Red Bull home in sixth. Norris followed in seventh for McLaren, with Leclerc eighth for Ferrari, and the two Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad rounding out the top ten in ninth and tenth.

Formula 1 moves straight on to Silverstone next weekend for the British Grand Prix, Hamilton’s home race.

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre