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Month: August 2026

Monaco offers cyclists a free tune-up for Mobility Week

by: Virginia D’Umas
28/08/2026

The Mairie de Monaco is hosting a special cycling initiative as part of European Mobility Week. Partnering with Decathlon, the municipality is running a free workshop dedicated to bicycle diagnostics and adjustments on Wednesday 16th September. 

The session will take place from 3pm to 6pm at the Marché de la Condamine. Residents and visitors can bring their bicycles for professional check-ups, though anyone requiring a puncture repair or replacement tyre must bring their own inner tubes and components. 

Background on the initiative

The event builds upon the success of the broader Mùnegu Repair Café scheme launched by the Mairie de Monaco in April 2022. Established to promote a circular economy and combat waste, the regular Repair Café events invite the public to bring in portable household items—ranging from small electronics to clothing—to be fixed free of charge with the help of volunteer specialists.

The specialised cycling edition expands on this environmental ethos by encouraging soft mobility and active transport across the Principality. Entry to the workshop is completely free and open to all on a drop-in basis.

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Photo credit: Anton Savinov, Unsplash

Prince Albert appoints Chloé Boscagli as Cabinet adviser

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/08/2026

 

 

Chloé Boscagli, who has spent the past year leading Monaco’s start-up incubator MonacoTech, will join the Cabinet of Prince Albert II as an Adviser to the Cabinet from Tuesday 1st September, stepping into one of the Principality’s inner circles of government after a career that has moved through law, luxury and innovation.

Her appointment draws a figure who has become a familiar name across Monaco’s business and public life into the Prince’s immediate team, and reflects the growing weight the Palace places on attractiveness, technology and enterprise.

A path through law and luxury

A graduate of HEC Grande École, Boscagli also holds a Master 2 in business law and international taxation from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She began her career at the law firm CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre before spending nine years as Director of Missions to the President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the group at the heart of Monaco’s hospitality and leisure economy.

Driving the Principality’s innovation agenda

In 2023, she joined the Princely Government’s Attractiveness Unit, taking charge of the Monaco Private Label, an international network of two thousand entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders.

From the end of 2025, she led MonacoTech, where she reshaped the incubator’s direction towards applied artificial intelligence, environmental and marine technologies, and innovation in health and sport, the sectors Monaco has increasingly staked its economic future on.

A decade in public service

Her career has run in parallel with a long commitment to communal life. Elected to the Communal Council for 11 years, she held responsibilities relating to early childhood, youth and gender equality, and served this summer as a delegated mayor of Monaco.

That blend of private-sector experience and public office now follows her into the Prince’s Cabinet, where her appointment takes effect on 1st September.

See also: 

Interview: Monaco Private Label’s Chloé Leclercq and her vision for the global elite club

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Photo source: Prince’s Palace

American Airlines to launch New York–Nice flights from Nice airport in 2027

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/08/2026

American Airlines will operate a daily direct flight between Nice Côte d’Azur and New York’s John F. Kennedy airport from summer 2027, adding a second Côte d’Azur–United States service and further strengthening Nice’s position as a leading French gateway to North America.

The new seasonal route launches on 6th May 2027 and will be flown by the state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR, configured with 155 seats. It joins American’s existing service between Nice and Philadelphia, which the airline introduced in 2024. The addition brings the total number of long-haul flights from Nice to North America to ten, including four to New York.

A gateway to North America

Nice Côte d’Azur, the nearest international airport to Monaco, has added a new North American destination or connection almost every year. With eight routes to the United States, it describes itself as France’s leading airport outside Paris and a primary gateway to North America. The Nice–New York link had already moved to year-round service before this latest announcement.

“The launch of this new route between Nice and New York (JFK) by American Airlines reflects not only the growing appeal of the North American market for the French Riviera but also the renewed confidence of the airline, which has already been operating a service between Nice and Philadelphia since 2024,” said Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur. “More than ever, our mission remains to connect our region directly and sustainably to major global capitals,” he said.

A vote of confidence from the airline

For American Airlines, the route reflects strong demand after two summers of service to the Côte d’Azur.

“Since introducing our first service to Nice in 2024, feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. With the addition of a second flight to the Côte d’Azur, we’re providing even more opportunity for those much-desired summer escapes,” said José A. Freig, Vice President of International and Business Partner Operations. “We’re also excited to be expanding the reach of our new Airbus A321XLR, which launched in summer 2026, providing customers with an elevated experience in the air as they cross the Atlantic,” he said.

The aircraft

American is the first US airline to introduce the Airbus A321XLR, a long-range single-aisle jet. On this aircraft, the carrier’s 155-seat cabin features 20 Flagship Suite seats, 12 Premium Economy seats and 123 Main Cabin seats. All passengers have access to high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary seatback entertainment with Bluetooth connectivity.

The Nice route is one of several new transatlantic services American unveiled for 2027, with the A321XLR also taking on new flights from New York to Amsterdam and from Philadelphia to Porto and Vienna. Tickets for the new routes go on sale on 31st August.

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Photo: American Airlines Airbus A321XLR, source: American Airlines

Monaco expresses deep grief and solidarity following devastating Himalayan floods

by: Virginia D’Umas
28/08/2026

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene have expressed their profound sorrow as rescue efforts intensify following a catastrophic glacial collapse along the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday 26th August.

In an official statement issued through the Prince’s Palace, the Sovereign said that he and Princess Charlene wished to convey their deep sorrow in the face of the terrible catastrophe currently striking the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet.

“In these painful hours, my family and the Monegasque population join me in offering our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and expressing our full solidarity with the Nepalese people and all the affected populations,” the Prince said.

He also paid tribute to the rescue teams working in exceptionally difficult conditions. “We salute the dedication of the rescue teams mobilised in particularly difficult conditions, and we express the hope that the search operations will make it possible to find those still reported missing as quickly as possible,” he said.

The catastrophe and current crisis 

The disaster was triggered by the collapse of a vast mass of glacial ice and rock on the morning of 26th August, generating seismic signals comparable to a magnitude-5.2 earthquake before sending torrents of mud, debris and ice through river valleys on both sides of the border.

The death toll has now risen to at least 489 in Nepal and five in Tibet, while nearly 1,000 people remain missing, including more than 500 foreign nationals.

Rescue operations were temporarily suspended on Friday after a lake formed by the debris began overflowing into Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River, prompting fresh evacuations and warnings of further flooding, landslides and avalanches. Crews have since resumed work where conditions allow, but damaged roads, unstable terrain and severe weather continue to hamper access to the worst-hit areas.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

King Harald V of Norway dies aged 89: the monarch’s ties to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/08/2026

King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89, bringing to an end a reign of more than three decades. The Norwegian monarch had longstanding ties with Monaco’s Princely Family, strengthened by a shared commitment to polar exploration, the oceans and environmental protection.

The Norwegian Royal Court announced on Friday 28th August that King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6.35am.

King Harald had reigned since 1991 and was one of Europe’s longest-serving monarchs. His death marks the end of an era for Norway and paves the way for his son, Crown Prince Haakon, to succeed him.

For Monaco, the relationship is more than one of diplomatic protocol. Prince Albert II and King Harald shared close ties through their respective royal houses, while Norway and Monaco have developed a particularly strong connection around ocean protection and the legacy of Prince Albert I.

A royal relationship strengthened in Norway

One of the clearest demonstrations of the relationship came in June 2022, when Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene travelled to Norway with their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

The visit formed part of commemorations marking the centenary of the death of Prince Albert I, whose scientific expeditions and pioneering work in oceanography and polar exploration took him repeatedly to the Arctic.

During the visit, King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted the Monegasque Princely Family for lunch at their private residence at Bygdø Royal Farm in Oslo.

The two families also took part in events celebrating the historical links between Monaco and Norway created through Prince Albert I’s expeditions to Svalbard, where his contribution to Arctic exploration remains recognised today.

Monaco-Norway relationship continues with next generation

Those links have continued with King Harald’s son, Crown Prince Haakon.

In June 2025, Haakon travelled to Monaco for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, held ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. The Norwegian heir joined Prince Albert II and international leaders for discussions focused on financing ocean protection and developing a sustainable blue economy.

The visit reflected an area in which Norway and Monaco have increasingly found common ground, with Prince Albert II making protection of the oceans and polar regions a central element of his international environmental work.

Formal relations between the two countries also remain active. Earlier this year, Norway’s ambassador to Monaco, Vegar Sundsbø Brynildsen, presented his credentials to Prince Albert II.

Prince Albert II’s letter of condolence

Prince Albert II paid tribute to King Harald V on Friday, offering a personal glimpse into the relationship between the two sovereigns. In a letter to the new King Haakon VIII, Prince Albert II said that he and Princess Charlene had learned of King Harald’s death with “profound sadness”, describing the late monarch as leaving behind “a remarkable legacy of duty, humanity and commitment”.

Prince Albert II singled out causes that the two men shared, including environmental protection and the Olympic values of sport, inclusion, cultural diversity and respect for human rights. “These causes reflected His profound humanity and will remain an important part of His legacy,” he wrote, before adding a more personal reflection: “I remember fondly the wonderful moments we shared all together.”

Prince Albert II concluded by expressing confidence that King Haakon VIII, after “so many years of devoted service to Norway”, would carry forward his father’s work “with the same dignity and dedication”.

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Photo of Prince Albert II with King Harald and Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella during a visit to Norway in 2022. Photo source: Prince’s Palace

Laughter among the succulents: Jardin Exotique to hosts ‘Garden Comedy’

by: Virginia D’Umas
28/08/2026

The historic cliffs of Monaco are trading quiet contemplation for comedy this week. On Friday, 28th August at 9pm, the Jardin Exotique de Monaco will host the ‘Garden Comedy by Hassan de Monaco’, marking a major cultural highlight in the newly reopened exotic garden. 

The open-air evening brings together five comedic talents—Myriam Barouk, Alexandra Roth, Bruno Peki, Yacine Belhousse, and Hassan de Monaco—to perform against the backdrop of the Principality’s captivating succulent collection.

From the operating room to the stage

Offstage, Hassan de Monaco—whose real name is Hassan Moukfi—is well known locally as a state-certified nurse anesthetist at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG). Balancing his days in a white coat with a thriving, multi-award-winning stand-up career, the 44-year-old Moroccan-born resident—who has lived in Monaco since he was three months old—weaves a unique perspective into his comedy.

Over the years, his trajectory has taken him from local rooms to major festival awards—including winning the jury prize at the Festival les Fous Rires d’Avignon and performing regular runs at renowned venues like Paris’s Point Virgule. Juggling life between Monaco and Paris, he has also built a strong media presence with radio columns on France Bleu Azur. Yet, despite touring widely across France, Switzerland, and Belgium, he continues to maintain his vital medical work in hospital scrubs. His routines draw heavily on this dual identity, contrasting real-life hospital shifts with television medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy, while celebrating his upbringing in the Principality between Bentley convertibles and mint tea.

Weathering the elements

The upcoming garden debut follows a brief weather-related hiccup for the venue’s recent programming. An earlier planned ‘Aperitivo’ event had to be postponed due to unfavourable conditions. Fortunately, Friday’s forecast looks clear for the open-air showcase.

Practical information

Doors open at 8pm, with the ticket office at the Jardin Exotique remaining open from 8pm to 9pm to accommodate last-minute purchases. Tickets are priced at €18 and can also be bought daily in advance from 9am to 7pm at the garden box office.

For further details or inquiries, the venue can be reached at jardin-exotique@mairie.mc or by calling +377 93 15 29 80.

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Hassan de Monaco. Photo credit: Hassan Moufki’s official Facebook page