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Month: June 2026

Monaco to host third Ocean Space Forum on 2nd July

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/06/2026

The Monaco Government will hold the third edition of the Ocean Space Forum at the Auditorium Rainier III on 2nd July, bringing together space agencies, international organisations, scientists and private sector representatives to explore how satellite technology can be used to monitor and protect the world’s oceans.

Organised in partnership with the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and Prométhée Earth Intelligence, the event takes place under the patronage of Prince Albert II and is coordinated within the government by the Bureau of Space Affairs — the body established by sovereign ordinance in 2021 to oversee Monaco’s involvement in the international space sector.

Space technology in service of the ocean

The forum’s programme is built around three themes: the climate crisis and its consequences for the ocean, the enforcement of maritime law and ocean governance, and emerging technological opportunities in the space and ocean sectors. Sessions will take place in English, in the form of plenary conferences and roundtable discussions, and will be complemented by a networking area, a space industry exhibition zone, and an exhibition organised with the Prince Albert II Foundation, the Mairie de Monaco and the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur.

The 2026 edition is framed within the Space4Ocean alliance, an international initiative launched at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, of which Monaco is a founding member. The alliance aims to mobilise space-based capabilities for ocean conservation through cooperation between public institutions, international organisations and the scientific community.

International participation

The forum draws participation from a broad range of institutions. United Nations bodies confirmed to attend include the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organisation.

Space agencies from several continents will be represented, including the European Space Agency, CNES, the Italian Space Agency, the Maldives Space Research Organisation and the Senegalese Space Studies Agency. Scientific and academic participants include the Institut de la Paix et du Développement at Université Côte d’Azur and the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, alongside private companies including Prométhée Earth Intelligence, Orbital EOS, Telespazio and ACRI-ST.

The Ocean Space Forum takes place on Thursday 2nd July from 8:30am to 6:30pm at the Auditorium Rainier III, boulevard Louis II, Monaco. Admission is free and open to all, with registration required.

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Photo credit: Talia Cohen, Unsplash

International University of Monaco launches Swedish alumni branch in Stockholm

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/06/2026

The International University of Monaco marked its 40th anniversary year with the launch of a new alumni branch in Sweden on 1st June, as 35 graduates gathered at a historic Stockholm club to reconnect and strengthen ties with the Principality.

The IUM Alumni Club Sweden was inaugurated at Sällskapet, one of Stockholm’s oldest private clubs, in an event supported by the Monaco Embassy in Sweden. Founded in 1986, the International University of Monaco offers English-taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business, finance, luxury management, sport business and international management, and holds accreditations from both AACSB and AMBA.

Diplomatic support from Monaco’s embassy

The evening opened with addresses from Stéphanie Mourou Vikström, Monaco’s Ambassador to Sweden, and Jan Frydman, Monaco’s Consul in Stockholm. Viola Hillmer, Head of Alumni Relations at the International University of Monaco, spoke on behalf of Dean Dr Jean-Philippe Muller, conveying his message to the graduates in attendance. Alumni representatives Pernilla Brolin and Caroline Frisenberg also addressed the gathering.

The launch forms part of a broader effort to expand the university’s global alumni network, which now spans branches across multiple countries. The Sweden chapter is the latest addition as IUM builds towards milestone celebrations marking four decades since its founding.

Growing global community

All those present welcomed the formation of the new branch and expressed enthusiasm for future gatherings. The event reflected both the international reach of the university’s graduate community and Monaco’s ongoing effort to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties with Sweden.

The next round of alumni events is expected to be announced in the coming months as the university’s 40th anniversary programme takes shape.

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Photo source: Government Communications Department 

Kurt Russell receives Crystal Nymph from Prince Albert II as 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival closes

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/06/2026

The 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival closed on Tuesday evening with a ceremony at the Salle des Princes at the Grimaldi Forum, hosted by actors Ricky Whittle and Louise Ekland in the presence of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Kurt Russell received the Crystal Nymph — the festival’s highest individual honour — from Princess Charlene, in recognition of a career spanning more than six decades across film and television. From Escape from New York and The Thing to Tombstone, The Hateful Eight and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Russell has built one of Hollywood’s most varied and enduring bodies of work. He is currently headlining two streaming series simultaneously: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV+ and The Madison on Paramount+, the latter created by Taylor Sheridan and co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Fox.

Accepting the award, Kurt Russell addressed Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene directly, saying, “It is wonderful to see you again. I am looking forward to spending some time here — thank you for having me,” before turning to the crowd and continuing, “thank you for the kindness, and for thinking of me for this award. It has been a wonderful night. Thank you very much.”

British actor Matthew Broome received the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent, also presented by Princess Charlene. Broome, 25, has built his profile through the lead role in My Fault: London on Prime Video and his performance in The Buccaneers on Apple TV+. The sequel Your Fault: London premiered on Prime Video the same day.

The Golden Nymph winners

The fiction jury, chaired by British actress Lesley Manville CBE, awarded Best Film to Fadia, a Palestinian and Israeli co-production from Cinema Virgin, which also took Best Actress for Yara Jarrar and the Jury Special Prize. Best Series went to The Uniform, produced by Denmark’s Miso Film. Best Creation was awarded to Gomorrah – The Origins, a Sky Studios and Cattleya production from Italy. Best Actor went to Johannes Hegemann for the German production Olivia.

In feature reports and news, Sweden’s Mission Investigate: The Hunt won Best Social or Cultural Feature Report, while the French production La Guerre, Donald Trump et nous took Best Geopolitical or Conflict Feature Report. The BBC’s Into the Void: Putin’s Foreign Fighters received the Jury Special Prize. The Public Prize, voted by audiences in partnership with BetaSeries, went to the American series Ponies from Universal Television.

The festival’s newly introduced Digital category — presented for the first time at this edition — awarded Best Original Digital Creation to the South Korean production Next-Door Families – What Makes a Family? by KBS and director Yoo Kyung-Hyun. Best Documentary Digital Format went to the French production La face cachée de l’aéroport CDG la nuit by OK Charlotte.

The Prince Rainier III Special Prize was awarded to PFAS, Our Forever Poisons, a Franco-Belgian co-production. The AMADE Prize went to Child Protection: The Scandal of Minors in Prostitution, and the Monaco Red Cross Prize was awarded to The Voice of Hind Rajab, co-produced by Tunisia and France.

“The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has showcased once again the extraordinary vitality, diversity and creativity of the international audiovisual industry,” said Prince Albert II. “Through the quality of the programmes presented, the individuals honored for their outstanding talent and the conversations shared throughout the week, this 65th anniversary edition has celebrated the power of storytelling to inspire, entertain and bring people together.”

The 65th edition in numbers

The anniversary edition featured 24 programmes across three competitive categories, 13 screenings including four world premieres, five international premieres and four French premieres, and more than 29 public events. More than 1,500 interviews were conducted by journalists from around the world throughout the week.

The Business Forum included a second edition of the Tell Me A Story! Pitch Contest in collaboration with 1895 Films, with Mariana Machado of Universidade Lusófona in Portugal announced as the winner for her project Late to Desire: The Sex Lives They Never Had.

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Photo credit: Stephane Danna, Government Communications Department

Thrills and solidarity: The 3rd ‘Tour of Hope’ returns to Monaco

by: Virginia D’Umas
17/06/2026

The Principality is gearing up for a high-octane weekend of purpose and prestige as the ‘Tour of Hope’ returns for its 3rd edition from 19th to 21st June. Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the event blends the world of luxury automotive passion with a deep-rooted commitment to social impact.

“Behind every supercar involved is a child fighting a disease, a family hoping for a cure, and a researcher working toward a breakthrough. Our duty is to provide that hope.” With these words, Isidoro Miele, Secretary General of the Lions Club International Monaco, sets the tone for the 3rd edition of the ‘Tour of Hope’.

Organised by the Lions Club International Monaco—an institution with a 64-year history of service—the event is dedicated to fighting paediatric cancers and rare diseases. All proceeds raised throughout the weekend will be donated to the Flavien Foundation, which works tirelessly to advance medical research and support families in distress.

Honouring legends

The event has secured support from notable figures, including honorary patron and former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen and SBM President Stéphane Valéri. A central highlight is the 30th-anniversary tribute to Ayrton Senna, featuring the racing suit worn by the late champion during his 1990 title-winning season, presented by racing legend Pascal Tichit.

The automotive showcase is bolstered by the Supercar Club Monaco, providing four elite vehicles for passenger laps of the Grand Prix circuit. “For visitors at the Place du Casino, the chance to tour the circuit in such exceptional cars is a dream come true,” Isidoro Miele told Monaco Life.

The event also welcomes a delegation from the Automobile Club of Campione d’Italia, including 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Christophe Bouchut and two-time French Rally Champion Jean-Claude Andruet, who will participate with his legendary Alpine. “Having drivers of this calibre join us to support families in need,” Miele added, “proves that passion for motoring in Monaco goes hand-in-hand with a profound sense of solidarity.”

A weekend of high-performance charity

This spirit of solidarity extends beyond the track to the participants themselves. The three-day programme offers a blend of social and automotive engagement. Festivities commence on Friday, 19th June, with a gala dinner at the Hôtel Hermitage. Hosted in the Belle Époque Hall, the evening includes a grand raffle to benefit the foundation.

On Saturday, 20th June, the Place du Casino serves as the hub for automotive enthusiasts. Members of the public are invited to ride as passengers in elite machines—including McLarens, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Ferraris—guided by professional drivers. The weekend concludes on Sunday, 21st June, with a supercar convoy, organised by former rally champion Raul Marchisio, which will depart Monaco at 10am for a scenic, technical run to the Col de Turini.

A collective mission

Organisers credit the event’s viability to the support of partners, including MPM V Group, Performance GT, OR & METAL, and The Royal Saliñas Hotel Group. This alignment of local corporate support and community action remains central to the Lions Club’s mission of driving social impact within the Principality.

Practical information

Gala Evening: 19th June, 7:45pm, Hôtel Hermitage (Belle Époque Hall). €250 per person.

Supercar Experience: 20th June, departing from Place du Casino. €80 for a standard lap; €160 for an exclusive lap with a racing champion.

Supercar Road Trip: 21st June. €500 registration.

For further information or to secure tickets, contact the Lions Club International Monaco. 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Monaco leads Council of Europe push to seize criminal crypto-assets and close financial crime loopholes

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/06/2026

Justice ministers from all 46 member states of the Council of Europe adopted a declaration on Tuesday calling for stronger criminal justice action against money laundering and terrorist financing, with Monaco’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers taking a leading role in shaping the outcome.

The declaration, presented at a conference in Strasbourg under the Monegasque Presidency, sets out concrete measures to improve how financial crimes are investigated and prosecuted, how criminal assets — including crypto-assets — are identified, frozen and recovered, and how legal frameworks across member states adapt to the realities of digital finance, artificial intelligence and decentralised platforms.

Dirty money and democracy

“The fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is a long-term political commitment, which requires the constant adaptation of systems, the sustained involvement of all relevant stakeholders, and a strong, professional and independent judiciary,” said Samuel Vuelta Simon, Monaco’s Secretary of State for Justice.

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset went further. “Tracking down dirty money, recovering it and preventing it from infiltrating our institutions is not just about fighting crime: it is about defending democracy,” he said.

What the declaration calls for

The declaration identifies asset confiscation as one of the most effective tools available to criminal justice systems and calls on member states to strengthen their capacity to identify, freeze, seize and recover the proceeds of crime — specifically including digital and crypto-assets. Financial intelligence units are singled out for a stronger role in the early detection and analysis of suspicious transactions, with the declaration calling for improvements to the quality and operational use of suspicious transaction reports.

On international cooperation, the text calls for earlier exchange of information between prosecutors and judges across borders, more joint investigation teams, coordinated multi-state operations and formal frameworks for sharing confiscated assets. Member states are also called on to adopt national strategies that bring together public authorities and private-sector entities subject to anti-money laundering obligations.

The declaration notes that all measures must remain consistent with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Monaco holds the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers until November 2026.

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Photo: Samuel Vuelta-Simon (second from left), Monaco’s Secretary of State for Justice with Mattias Guyomar (second right), President of the ECHR, addressing justice ministers alongside Secretary General Berset (centre). Source: Council of Europe

La Compagnie extends all-business-class New York flights year-round

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/06/2026

La Compagnie, the all-business-class transatlantic airline, has announced it will extend its Nice–New York (Newark) service through the winter 2026/2027 season — the first time a direct flight has connected Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to New York outside of the summer months.

The airline, which resumed the Nice–Newark route on 6th May this year and currently operates up to four flights per week during the summer season, will reduce to two weekly flights from the start of the winter schedule. The decision to continue the service beyond October — when it was originally due to end — follows strong demand from American travellers visiting the French Riviera and from business and leisure passengers in the south of France seeking a direct transatlantic connection.

The schedule

The winter 2026/2027 service operates twice weekly in each direction. Flights depart Nice on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:00, arriving at Newark at 15:30. Return flights depart Newark on Mondays and Fridays at 20:30, arriving in Nice at 10:20 the following morning. All times are local and subject to change.

The broader context

The French Riviera is the best-connected region in France to the United States after Paris, with more than 300,000 passengers travelling on direct transatlantic routes in 2025. The extension of the Nice–New York service into the winter season is consistent with a broader push at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to develop year-round transatlantic connectivity, alongside the April 2026 opening of Terminal 2’s expansion — which increased the airport’s capacity to 18 million passengers — and the launch of Delta’s Boston–Nice route in May 2026.

Franck Goldnadel, President of the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur board, noted the significance of the timing, with the United States preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of its independence. “By maintaining a year-round transatlantic connection, it strengthens our territorial appeal and offers both business and leisure travellers a privileged gateway to a destination that continues to embody Franco-American friendship,” he said.

Christian Vernet, Chief Executive of La Compagnie, said demand on both sides of the Atlantic had made the extension a natural next step. “This extension strengthens our position in a strategic market and reflects our commitment to offering a unique transatlantic experience, entirely dedicated to business class,” he said.

The product

La Compagnie was founded in 2013 and operates a fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft — a narrow-body jet not typically associated with transatlantic flying, but one the airline has configured with 76 fully flat-bed business-class seats in a single-aisle layout. The model’s extended range capability makes the New York crossing viable, and the absence of an economy cabin allows the airline to position itself as a lower-cost alternative to the business-class cabins of major carriers.

Beyond Nice, the airline operates daily flights between Paris Orly and Newark, and up to six weekly flights between Milan Malpensa and Newark, making it one of the few carriers operating exclusively all-business transatlantic services from multiple European cities simultaneously.

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Photo source: La Compagnie