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Month: June 2026

Prince Albert II Foundation brings young environmental leaders to Monaco for Re.Generation campus

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/06/2026

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation hosted the 2026 edition of its Re.Generation Future Leaders campus in the Principality from 22nd to 30th May, bringing together ten emerging environmental leaders from across the world for an intensive nine-day programme of leadership training, mentoring and field experience.

Now in its fourth year, the programme targets young people who have already demonstrated exceptional commitment to environmental protection. This year’s cohort spans an unusually broad range of disciplines and geographies — from a Nepalese glaciologist studying climate impacts on mountain ecosystems and a Bolivian Indigenous leader restoring high-altitude wetlands, to a Brazilian entrepreneur developing seaweed-based textile fibres, a French wingfoil world champion and biodiversity expert, and a Kenyan climate-tech engineer.

The full 2026 cohort: Garvita Gulhati (India, water conservation and sustainable finance), Aman KC (Nepal, glaciology), Dayana Blanco (Bolivia, Indigenous regeneration), Flora Artzner (France, biodiversity and wingfoil), Amber Carter (United Kingdom, marine social-ecological science), Grace Cordsen (United States, polar exploration and environmental storytelling), Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya, climate technology), Thamires Pontes (Brazil, seaweed textiles), Ge Yu (China, sustainable fashion) and Fiorella Herrera (Peru, marine biology).

Training co-designed with INSEAD

The programme curriculum, developed in partnership with INSEAD, focused on leadership identity, decision-making, resilience, public speaking and storytelling. A series of individual masterclasses brought in senior figures from sustainability, business, media and ocean protection, including Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering; Paul Polman, business leader and co-author of Net Positive; Bill O’Dowd, founder and CEO of Dolphin Entertainment; Christine Amour-Levar, entrepreneur and philanthropist; and Nadine Fau, Managing Director of Château Galoupet.

Paul Watson and a day at sea

A highlight of the campus was an ocean-focused day that began with a scuba diving session before a masterclass by Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The session, entitled Activism: The Ocean Is Not Silent, invited participants to connect direct experience of the marine environment with a broader conversation on ocean protection and the defence of marine biodiversity.

A meeting at the Prince’s Palace

The campus also included exchanges with institutional representatives, participation in Foundation activities and a meeting with Prince Albert II at the Prince’s Palace — experiences designed to embed participants in the Foundation’s ecosystem and strengthen their international networks ahead of a year of further support.

“This new cohort brings together remarkable young leaders who combine expertise, courage and a deep sense of responsibility,” said Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Foundation. “Through this campus, we aim not only to strengthen their skills, but also to provide them with the visibility, confidence and network they need to influence decision-making and inspire action far beyond Monaco.”

The Foundation will accompany the 2026 cohort throughout the coming year, supporting their participation in international events, facilitating media exposure and connecting them with partners from its global network.

See also: 

Interview + Podcast: Ocean warrior Captain Paul Watson

 

 

Formula One for Life charity auction raises over half a million for road violence victims

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/06/2026

A charity auction held at the Hôtel Hermitage during Monaco Grand Prix weekend raised more than €500,000 for the Association Antoine Alléno, with 23 lots sold in a live sale conducted with Christie’s in the presence of Prince Albert II.

The event, Formula One for Life, was organised by Yannick Alléno, the three-Michelin-starred chef who founded the association following the death of his son Antoine in a road accident on 8th May 2022. Bringing together Formula 1 drivers, constructors and partners for the first time around a public interest cause, the evening raised money that will be directed entirely towards supporting families of road accident victims.

The standout lots

Two helmets each sold for €85,000. The first was a unique helmet gilded in fine gold, designed by Adrien Paviot and Valentin Belgy and signed by Prince Albert II — described as priceless before the bidding opened. The second was a helmet signed and worn by Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 world champion. A third helmet, a replica signed by Charles Leclerc, was adjudged at €50,000.

The most significant lot of the evening was a Renault RS 19 single-seater in the colours of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team, which sold for €220,000. Other notable results included a unique artwork by Stéphane Gillot for Alpine at €55,000, a photograph of Michael Schumacher entitled Bye bye Barcelona taken by photographer Vanessa von Zitzewitz in Spain in 1998 at €26,000, and a replica race suit signed by Alain Prost. The race suit signed and worn by Pierre Gasly — who was instrumental in creating the Formula One for Life project — also went under the hammer. Further lots continued on The Auction Collective platform after the live evening.

The cause behind the evening

The Association Antoine Alléno was created in the wake of Antoine Alléno’s death, caused by a driver under the influence of nitrous oxide. Since then, the association has become an active force in the campaign against road violence in France. In July 2025 it secured a significant legal victory with the creation of a specific offence of road homicide in French law. It has since launched a class action against producers and distributors of nitrous oxide.

The association noted that since Antoine’s death, nearly 3,000 young people aged 15 to 25 have lost their lives on French roads.

Yannick Alléno said: “I am deeply moved by the mobilisation of the motorsport world at this exceptional evening. Together, we have raised funds that will go directly towards supporting families of victims. Coluche said that in France, the country of good food, we have no right to let people die of hunger. France is also the country of human rights — we have no right to let our young people die on the pavements.”

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Main photo of Prince Albert II and Prince Jacques with Yannick Alleno, photo credit: Michaël Alesi / Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier 

Inside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix opening party aboard Explora I

by: Kayla Sauceda
09/06/2026

The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco weekend kicked off on Thursday 4th June with the official opening party aboard Explora I. Docked in the heart of Port Hercule, the luxury ship welcomed an international guest list for an evening blending hospitality, entertainment, and motorsport ahead of Monaco’s most iconic weekend of the year.

The event marked Explora Journeys’ second consecutive year partnering with the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, further expanding its presence in the Principality. “Maybe the most exciting new address in Monaco this weekend isn’t on land,” said Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys. “Hosting the official opening party of Formula 1 aboard Explora I places our brand, our ships, and our vision centre stage during one of the world’s most iconic events.”

One of the evening’s standout moments came through Europe’s largest ever drone show featuring 3,050 separate drones. The show highlighted Formula 1’s history, Monaco’s connection to Formula 1, and even the Grand Prix trophy, showcasing a visual celebration of the sport against the iconic backdrop of the Principality.

Inside, the atmosphere was glamorous and high-energy, with dim lighting, live entertainment, and guests moving between cocktail bars and performances throughout the ship. Dancers, contortionists, jugglers, and a tarot card reader added to the immersive atmosphere as the evening unfolded. The event reached its peak with two anticipated DJ sets.

Naomi Campbell on the decks at the F1 Explora 1 event during the Monaco Grand Prix

First, international supermodel Naomi Campbell made an appearance spinning a set. Following her, Bob Sinclar also took to the decks, keeping the energy alive into the late hours of the evening. The two drew one of the strongest crowd responses of the night.

Guests onboard could also cross paths with several notable figures including Mika Häkkinen, Damon Hill, and David Coulthard, along with senior executives from both Formula 1 and Explora Journeys.

As the only ship of its kind docked in Port Hercule for the weekend’s entirety, Explora I offered guests staying onboard a unique vantage point and base for Grand Prix weekend, combining exclusive onboard experiences with close proximity to the action.

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Photos provided

Council of Europe anti-racism body calls on Monaco to strengthen hate speech and discrimination laws

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2026

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has called on Monaco to strengthen its criminal legislation on hate speech and hate crime, tackle racist and LGBTI-phobic bullying in schools, and examine the situation of foreign nationals in undeclared work — while acknowledging significant progress since its last report in 2022.

The report, published on Thursday 9th June, is ECRI’s latest assessment of Monaco’s record on combating racism and intolerance as part of the Council of Europe’s monitoring process.

Progress acknowledged

ECRI noted a number of improvements since its previous evaluation. These include advances in preventing and combating hate speech and hate crime, greater equality of treatment and inclusion in education, and improved access to healthcare for foreign nationals, including those present irregularly. The report also recognises that medical costs for a partner in a same-sex couple married abroad can now be reimbursed, that the principle of non-discrimination between civil servants has been enshrined in legislation, and that vocational integration support is available for displaced Ukrainians holding a temporary residence permit.

Areas of concern

Despite the progress, ECRI identified several areas requiring further action. On criminal law, the commission found shortcomings in provisions punishing hate speech and hate crime, as well as in the capacity of judicial authorities to order the removal of hateful content online or block sites carrying such content. Training of criminal justice professionals was also flagged.

ECRI expressed concern about racist and LGBTI-phobic bullying in schools, the absence of legislation prohibiting non-therapeutic and medically unnecessary surgery on intersex children, and the continued vulnerability of foreign nationals employed in undeclared domestic work. The report also noted that foreign nationals in Monaco can still be dismissed without prior and valid reason.

Key recommendations

ECRI’s recommendations cover several areas. On hate speech and hate crime, it calls on Monaco to explicitly incorporate the grounds of colour, language, gender identity and sex characteristics into all relevant criminal law provisions, to allow hate elements to be retained for all criminal offences, and to amend the civil and administrative legal framework to provide protection against hate speech in cases that fall below the threshold for criminal liability.

On education, ECRI recommends the systematic and uniform implementation across schools of human rights education and teaching on tolerance and diversity, including topics related to sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.

More broadly, the commission recommends the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, the development of a legal framework explicitly regulating legal gender recognition, and the commissioning of an in-depth study — in cooperation with affected foreign communities — into undeclared work and the discriminatory treatment those workers may face.

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Photo by Cassandra Tanti

 

Train strike Wednesday to cause significant disruption for Monaco commuters

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2026

A nationwide strike across the SNCF group — covering Gares & Connexion, Réseau and Sud Azur — is set to cause serious disruption to train services at Monaco-Monte-Carlo station on Wednesday 10th June.

The strike is expected to have particularly high impact on the Les Arcs-Draguignan to Ventimiglia line. Passengers are urged to check whether their train is running before heading to the station, with real-time information available from 5pm Tuesday through the usual SNCF channels.

The Princely Government is advising commuters to work from home where possible, or to consider carpooling or other alternatives.

How to check your train

Real-time timetables and strike information are available through the following channels:

SNCF TER ZOU!: ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur

Strike traffic information: ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/info-trafic/greve

Real-time timetables for Monaco-Monte-Carlo: garesetconnexions.sncf

Apps: SNCF Connect, Your Monaco, Citymapper Monaco

Carpooling as an alternative

The Princely Government is also pointing commuters towards BlaBlaCar Daily, a free carpooling app suited to daily home-to-work journeys. Passengers travel to Monaco at no cost, while drivers receive payment for their journey.

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Photo by Monaco Life

 

UN ocean report singles out bottom trawling as greatest threat to deep-sea ecosystems

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2026

The United Nations’ Third World Ocean Assessment, released on World Ocean Day, has delivered one of its starkest warnings yet about the state of the deep ocean — and placed commercial fishing, specifically bottom trawling, at the centre of the crisis.

The assessment describes bottom trawling as “the most significant human activity on continental margins and in canyons,” warning that the practice leads to the permanent and irreversible destruction of the natural seafloor. The finding builds on the Second World Ocean Assessment, which had already identified bottom trawling as the “greatest current threat to seamount ecosystems”. The report also highlights that the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation remains the only regional fisheries management body to have banned bottom-contact fishing on seamounts across its regulatory area.

Ancient ecosystems at risk

Seamounts — underwater mountains that rise from the ocean floor — are among the ocean’s most biodiverse environments, home to ancient corals, sponges and species found nowhere else on Earth. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), which has been campaigning for their protection, called the UN findings a mandate for urgent policy action.

Bronwen Golder, DSCC Global Seamounts Campaign Director, said the science was no longer ambiguous. “The reality is that we are discovering more about these ecosystems every day, and with every piece of new knowledge we gain, the case against bottom trawling on seamounts becomes more damning. Governments must now commit to phasing out bottom trawling on seamounts — a destructive, antiquated practice that has no place in our ocean in 2026.”

A closing window for action

An upcoming UN review of high-seas bottom fisheries is being framed by the DSCC as a critical and time-limited opportunity. The coalition is pushing governments to use the review to establish a binding deadline to protect seamounts and end bottom trawling on seamounts and other vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems by the end of 2027.

Sian Owen, DSCC Executive Director, said the wider implications of inaction were hard to overstate. “This new report confirms that the deep ocean is an essential life-support system for our planet, yet remains a major knowledge gap. Erasing ancient, vulnerable ecosystems that sustain the health of our global ocean before we’ve even had the chance to explore them would represent a catastrophic failure of global governance. We can do better.”

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Photo source: Greenpeace