Travellers from Monaco heading to the United States will soon need to complete an additional health declaration before flying, including those simply changing planes at an American airport. Airlines must refuse boarding without it, unless a US Government exemption applies.
In an announcement issued on Thursday 29th October, Monaco’s Government alerted Monegasque nationals and residents to the requirement, which asks travellers to confirm they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days.
The measure is intended to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced into the United States. It applies regardless of nationality, including to American citizens and permanent residents.
When does it take effect?
While Monaco’s announcement refers to 3rd November, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifies 11.59pm Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday 3rd November – equivalent to 5.59am on Wednesday 4th November in Monaco.
The requirement covers flights departing for the United States from another country at or after that time, including private flights.
A separate declaration for every traveller
Each passenger needs an individual declaration. A parent or authorised representative can complete it for a child, while authorised representatives may also sign for other travellers.
The form can be submitted on paper or digitally through the airline or aircraft operator’s process. Operators are responsible for checking completion before boarding and retaining the declarations for at least 42 days. Knowingly providing false information can lead to criminal penalties.
Airport transit through the Democratic Republic of the Congo counts as presence in the country, even if the traveller stayed onboard the aircraft. Passengers who have been there must generally wait until day 22 after leaving before boarding a US-bound flight, unless granted an exemption.
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Vacherot battles past Jódar to reach Basel quarterfinals
Valentin Vacherot secured his place in the Swiss Indoors Basel quarterfinals with a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (5) victory over third seed Rafael Jódar on Thursday 29th October.
The win required two tie-breaks and a third-set recovery from Vacherot, who resisted the Spaniard’s challenge to advance in the ATP 500 tournament.
VACHEROT TAKES THE OPENER
There was little separating the players in the opening set, with Jódar unable to convert three opportunities to break Vacherot’s serve. The set ultimately reached a tie-break, where Vacherot established the advantage, winning it 7-4.
Jódar responded strongly in the second set. An early break put him in control, and he went on to take it 6-2, bringing the match level and forcing a decisive third set.
THIRD-SET RESPONSE
The momentum initially remained with Jódar, who broke serve again to move ahead in the third set. Vacherot, however, prevented him from extending his lead, immediately breaking back.
Another difficult moment followed at 4-4, when Vacherot faced two break points at 15-40. He saved both to hold serve, keeping himself in contention as the match moved towards its second tie-break.
Even there, the outcome remained uncertain. Jódar led 5-4, putting himself within two points of victory, before Vacherot claimed three consecutive points to seal his place in the quarterfinals.
RUNE AWAITS IN QUARTERFINALS
Vacherot finished having saved eight of the 11 break points he faced, while converting one of his three opportunities against Jódar’s serve. His success in both tie-breaks proved to be the decisive factor.
Moving ahead, Vacherot will face Denmark’s Holger Rune in the last eight on Friday 30th October. heir only previous meeting came in the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals in 2025, when Vacherot fought back to win 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
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Photo source: ATP Tour
Mandalas of steel: Caroline Bergonzi’s meditative metalwork in Monaco
Art collectors and cultural figures gathered on Wednesday 28th October for the private vernissage of Caroline Bergonzi’s solo exhibition at the AIAP Monaco headquarters. Running through Saturday 31st October, the showcase brings the artist’s striking industrial steel mandalas and contemporary works back to the heart of the Principality.
Operating between her studio in Monaco and an industrial workshop outside Nice, Bergonzi transforms heavy, unyielding steel into fluid, intricate geometries. Suited in heavy protective gear, she works freehand with chalk and a plasma cutting torch, turning cold metal into tactile, three-dimensional sculptures.
From Paris to Manhattan, and back to the Principality
Born and raised in Monaco, Bergonzi left the Principality at 17 to study finance before switching courses to pursue design at the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM). Her subsequent move to Manhattan launched a two-decade stay in the US, where she joined historic institutions like the Sculptors Guild and established a broad international practice.
Her family roots run deep into craftsmanship; her great-grandfather was a violin maker in Cremona who brought music and visual arts together, passing down a lineage that blurred boundaries.
“In New York, I developed my work across sculpture, painting and jewellery,” Bergonzi told Monaco Life. “Returning to Monaco during the pandemic brought me back to my roots, but my outlook remains completely international.”
Caroline Bergonzi’s artwork exhibited in Monaco. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas
The three-stage ritual: Chalk, plasma and metal folding
As Caroline explained, creating a steel mandala is a rigorous, three-part meditative process. First, skipping computer blueprints or rigid templates, Bergonzi sketches directly onto flat, heavy sheets of steel using simple white chalk. Next, using a plasma cutting torch, she cuts freehand through the plate, pulverising metal in showers of sparks. “I use a machine with a large claw, and as you cut, it pulverises both the metal and the light,” she describes the process. “It’s very difficult to use, and you make one mistake and the creation is gone because a full piece of metal can fall down, so it’s very delicate.” Finally, once cut, the flat, exploded shapes are hand-folded outward into complex, concentric three-dimensional structures.
The physical act of folding carries a personal metaphor for the artist: “We are all born like a flat sheet with a certain drawing cut into us. How we choose to fold and shape that metal as we grow up in life depends entirely on us.”
Anchors in a fractured world
While Tibetan mandalas are traditionally crafted from sand and swept away to mark impermanence, Bergonzi’s steel structures offer permanent, physical grounding.
“Since the pandemic, with so much conflict and noise in the media, everything has felt utterly shaken,” she said, adding: “Looking into a mandala brings you back into the present moment. It is centring, calming and simple.”
Starting from a single square of steel, the finished sculptures prompt viewers to mentally reverse the process, imagining how the open, flowing geometric petals might fold back into a seamless block.
The prototype of Metamorphosis, Bergonzi’s monumental seven-metre-wide phoenix installed in Manhattan in 2015. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas
Monumental metal across international horizons
Beyond her intimate wall pieces, art jewellery, and private villa installations, Bergonzi’s sculptural footprint extends across international borders.
Over a two-decade career in New York City, her practice expanded into monumental metal installations and textured portraiture.
Her public works weave seamlessly into diverse landscapes on both sides of the Atlantic. Locally, her presence includes a notable 3-metre-long stainless steel bird sculpture installed at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Meanwhile, her transatlantic trajectory is highlighted by major past achievements, including the studio model for Metamorphosis, her monumental seven-metre-wide phoenix installed in Manhattan in 2015.
“My original prototypes are like my children, I keep them in my personal collection,” Bergonzi said. “Working on commissions allows me to translate someone else’s vision into the language of art. It’s about communication and connection.”
The vernissage offers visitors a rare up-close look at these meditative forms, bridging ancient spiritual symbolism with modern industrial craft. The exhibition is open daily from 1pm to 4pm and by appointment at 10 Quai Antoine 1er.
It was a day of high diplomacy and strategic networking at the Palace on Tuesday 27th October, as Prince Albert II officially welcomed six new power players to the Principality’s international stage. Envoys spanning four continents gathered in Monaco to formally present their credentials, setting the stage for a new chapter in global partnerships.
During private audiences at the Palace, Prince Albert II formally received Canada’s Nathalie Drouin, South Korea’s Hyuk-woon Kwon, Burundi’s Spès-Caritas Njebarikanuye, El Salvador’s Tania Camila Rosa, Thailand’s Nikorndej Balankura, and Lebanon’s Rabih Chaer.
From left to right: Rabih Chaer, Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic; Tania Camila Rosa, Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador; Nathalie Drouin, Ambassador of Canada; Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Kwon Hyuk-woon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea; Spès-Caritas Njebarikanuye, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi; and Nikorndej Balankura, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali
Forging new international ties
Following the Palace reception, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, hosted the newly accredited diplomats at a traditional welcome luncheon held at the Hôtel Hermitage.
Joined by their respective honorary consuls alongside representatives from Invest Monaco and the Monaco Chamber of Commerce, the envoys discussed deepening bilateral trade, cultural ties, and international cooperation with the Principality.
Six decades after its first official notes resounded across the Rock, the Prince’s Carabiniers Orchestra will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a special performance at the Grimaldi Forum in November.
The ensemble’s origins trace back to 19th November 1966, when the first Monegasque ceremonial trumpet signal, specially commissioned by Prince Rainier III, was performed during National Day celebrations. What started as a traditional military fanfare has grown over the past six decades into an internationally renowned ceremonial band
, performing at major state events and global military music festivals worldwide.
An eclectic anniversary line-up
To mark this big occasion, the orchestra is assembling an extraordinary lineup of more than 80 musicians and special guest performers. The programme will break away from traditional military repertoire, offering an eclectic mix that spans monumental classical works, jazz standards, dynamic rock and roll, and contemporary variety pieces.
Key event information
The anniversary concert takes place on Friday 6th November, starting at 8pm inside the Salle Prince Pierre at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco. Tickets are priced at a flat rate of €35 per seat, with booking open via the venue’s official box office.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will take part in a major European conference at the Grimaldi Forum on 4th November, as Monaco welcomes ministers to discuss how to make sport safer and healthier for children.
The 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport will bring the protection and wellbeing of young athletes into focus under the theme ‘A safer and healthier sport for all children’.
Prince Albert II will deliver the opening address in the morning, while Princess Charlene will introduce the afternoon programme. Both former Olympians, the Princely Couple will highlight their commitment to physical activity and its role in supporting children’s development and overall wellbeing.
While ministerial discussions will happen behind closed doors, a public photography exhibition outside the Grimaldi Forum will offer visitors a look at Monaco’s sporting achievements and initiatives.
OLYMPIC MOMENTS TO LOCAL SPORT
The exhibition will feature 15 photographs capturing sporting life in the Principality, from major international competitions to school and amateur sport.
Among the images will be a photograph of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene carrying the Olympic flame together on Place du Palais during its visit to Monaco in 2024. This marked the flame’s second passage through the Principality, following its first in 1968.
Other highlights will include Charles Leclerc’s historic 2024 Monaco Grand Prix victory, the recent visit of La Vuelta, and Monaco’s Davis Cup team’s victory over Finland in September.
The exhibition will also highlight initiatives promoting inclusion and passing sporting values on to younger generations.
SHARED COMMITMENT TO SPORTING VALUES
The exhibition will also reflect the priorities of the Princely Couple in their roles as President and Vice-President of the Monaco Olympic Committee.
Prince Albert II has emphasised the potential for a city-state to become a global reference for ethical, sustainable, accessible, and committed sport. Princess Charlene highlighted the responsibility that comes with sporting excellence: bringing people together, inspiring them, and passing on sporting values.
Those educational and social dimensions of sport will be the backdrop to the ministerial discussions as Monaco prepares to welcome the conference.
Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
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