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International Underwater Photography teams take to Monaco waters

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/09/2025

Eleven countries took part in Monaco’s 2nd International Challenge on Friday morning, kicking off three days of underwater photography competitions organised by the Monaco Underwater Exploration Club (CESMM).

Teams from Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, and Tunisia gathered at 8:30am for briefings before taking to the water at 9:00am for the day dives.

The competition runs alongside the 20th National Contest and Junior Contest conclusion, making this weekend Monaco’s biggest underwater photography event of the year under the high patronage of Prince Albert II.

During the morning’s dives teams were able to encounter and photograph colourful Mediterranean fish, nudibranchs, and juvenile species in the Principality’s protected waters.

The photographs are set to be revealed on Sunday during the awards ceremony.

Portuguese team opens up about their first dive

Ana Ferro, representing Portugal alongside dive partner Vanda Gonçalves, described the welcoming contrast of Monaco’s waters with their home conditions.

“In Portugal, the water is much colder. So it’s very nice to be in warmer water,” Ferro told Monaco Life. The team observed various species including colourful fish, what Ferro described as “beauty branch” sea slugs, and small blue fish during their dive.

For Ferro, underwater photography offers more than competition. “It’s very relaxing. You forget about your daily life, your daily stress, your daily problems,” she explained, while Gonçalves described diving as her preferred “anti-depressive”.

When asked about her photographs from the morning dive, Ferro remained cautiously optimistic: “Let’s hope. I think they’re good, and I believe one or two are really good.”

Ana Ferro alongside dive partner Vanda Gonçalves, photo by Monaco Life.

The photographers use professional equipment with interchangeable settings for macro and wide-angle photography, plus external flashes triggered by the camera’s internal system. Competition rules require photographers to present sealed cameras to judges before opening them to ensure fairness.

World-first night challenge tonight

While Friday focused on standard day diving, the evening introduces underwater night photography to international competition for the first time. Teams will gather again at 8:30pm for briefings before taking once more to the water for their night dive.

“For our 2nd International Challenge, we wanted to innovate with a world-first: underwater night photography. Shooting conditions are much more challenging at night, especially with lighting, and the marine life encountered is entirely different,” said Roger Mullot, CESMM President.

Photographers must capture images across four categories: macro photography, fish portraits, wide-angle shots, and an imposed theme across three total dives.

The divers relaxing after their morning dive, photo by Monaco Life.

Weekend programme

Saturday will feature the 20th National Contest, bringing together 13 teams to compete in CESMM’S flagship annual event for the perfect shot.

The competition concludes on Sunday with the awards ceremony starting at 10:00am in the Oceanographic Museum’s Conference Hall.

The weekend reinforces the club’s motto “To know better is to protect better”, using photography to raise awareness of marine environment protection.

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Main photo by Monaco Life.

“You learn well when you feel well at school”: Monaco’s education reforms

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/09/2025

Monaco is implementing significant education reforms guided by a principle explained by Education Director Jean-Philippe Vinci: “You learn well when you feel well at school”, at a press conference on Wednesday.

These reforms respond to concerning trends identified through research and consultation processes, including ESPAD Monaco’s survey and extensive dialogue with young people themselves about extensive pressures they face.

Eight sessions with the Youth Consultative Commission show teenagers identify anxiety, academic pressure, and digital addiction as their primary concerns.

“We thought they would talk about the ice rink,” Vinci explained during the back-to-school conference on September 3rd. “Instead, they spoke to us about academic pressure, mental health, and mobile phones.”

This consultation process, combined with evidence from school psychologists and the ESPAD Monaco survey, informed the government’s comprehensive response to what Vinci describes as a “general anxiety” affecting students across all age groups.

The most visible intervention is the ‘NoPhone’ system, magnetic pouches that keep phones physically present but completely inaccessible during school hours. “It’s not about fighting against screens in general,” Vinci explained. “We’re targeting addiction, the inability to resist taking out one’s phone.”

However, beyond digital restrictions, Monaco is restructuring education itself. College students now have reduced weekly hours to improve work-life balance while maintaining educational standards.

Practical Interdisciplinary Teaching programmes have been eliminated except for those preparing students for national diploma oral exams. Language classes have also been reorganised, students in the English Plus programme now receive one hour of conversation time instead of 1.5 hours for Years 8 and 9, but in smaller, more effective groups.

For ambitious students, voluntary advanced mathematics programmers prepare students for Concours Général and Olympiads. “We’re comfortable with English and humanities but in mathematics, we can go even further,” Vinci noted. 

Meanwhile, a new vocational preparation track, 3ème prépa-métiers, opened at College Charles III. Students spend five hours weekly exploring careers through partnerships with Lycée Rainier III teachers and complete workplace immersions. 

Building identity and belonging

Monaco is also strengthening cultural identity through systematic programmes. Universal music education launched in nursery schools through partnerships with Academy Rainier III, exposing young children to instruments, rhythm, and voice work.

Meanwhile, the Principality completed its three-volume ‘Monaco, mon histoire’ curriculum this year, with the final textbook for Year 6 students covering contemporary history, civic education, and geography.

Lastly, a ‘standard dress code’ will also be introduced for college students in early 2026. Standardised upper garments will be implemented while allowing freedom for lower clothing choices. The aim is to create a collective identity and belonging.

Mental health takes centre stage

Mental health support is being systematically embedded throughout the education system. All students now receive formal introduction to school psychologists at the start of each academic year, an effort to normalise health conversations.

Comprehensive programmes will also be set it place to address various forms of addiction, from screen dependency to substance abuse. Additionally, educational continuity will be provided for hospitalised children in paediatric and psychiatric services, ensuring no student falls behind due to health challenges.

Staff across all nursery schools are now receiving practical training in supporting students with neurodevelopment disorders and behavioural challenges.

Lastly, elite athlete Joris Bretagnolles, a top- 10 world BMX Freestyle Flatland competitor, will visit schools to discuss social media impact and addiction risks with students, bringing real-world perspective to the conversations.

Practical changes

School meal services have also been redesigned around educational concepts with new providers offering themed dining experiences like ‘Chez Toki’, ‘La Cantine de Toki’, ‘Stop au Gaspi’, and ‘Le Good Spot’ without increasing family costs.

Elite athlete students are also set to receive enhanced support through two programmes: intensive sport classes for those training 8+ hours weekly, and Sport Elite for lycée students training 20+ hours weekly, accommodating 258 students across 35 disciplines.

Lastly, digital education will include AI literacy training for teachers and students, covering both general awareness and technical skills like effective prompting, preparing students for a digital future while teaching healthy boundaries.

This systematic approach addresses what Vinci describes as widespread anxiety among young people, driven by factors including uncertainty for the future, intensive screen use, social media exposure, and substance addition risks.

“The time for learning is not scrolling time,” Vinci stated. “School time means being face-to-face with the teacher with dedicated attention to what’s being taught”.

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Main photo credit: Directorate of Communication-Stéphane Danna

 

Entries open for Environmental Photography Award 2026

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
04/09/2025

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has launched its call for entries for the 2026 Environmental Photography Award, giving photographers worldwide the chance to showcase urgent environmental stories through their art.

Registrations opened on September 2nd for the competition, which celebrates photographers working to advance conservation and raise environmental awareness. The award features five categories: Ocean, Forests, Polar Regions, Changemakers, and Humanity vs Nature.

Established in 2011 as part of the Foundation’s Green Shift Initiative, the award welcomes both professional and amateur photographers. Participation is free, with submissions accepted until November 2nd 2025.

Prize details

Winners in each category will receive €1,000, while the overall Grand Prize winner will earn an additional €5,000 plus a trip to Monaco to collect their award. Two additional awards are also available: The Public Award and Student’s Choice Award, each worth €500, with the Public Award winner also receiving the opportunity to visit SEK International University’s research station in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.

The official selection of 36 photographs will be announced mid-April 2026, followed by a summer exhibition in Monaco before the show tours internationally. Publisher Skira Paris will produce a coffee table book featuring all selected images.

The jury panel

Leading the 2026 jury is Dutch photographer Jasper Doest, a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and WWF ambassador. Doest previously won the Foundation’s 2023 Grand Prize and holds four World Press Photo Awards alongside National Geographic’s prestigious Photographer’s Photographer Award.

The international panel includes marine science specialist Angel Fitor from Spain, Nature Picture Library’s Tom Gilks from the UK, National Geographic Explorer Sharon Guynup from the USA, Arctic cinematographer Florian Ledoux from France, big cat specialist Steve Winter from the USA, and natural history filmmaker Christian Ziegler from Germany. Conservation photographer Sergio Pitamitz also returns as Contest Chairman.

Foundation’s environmental mission

“Photographers have a unique ability to translate the urgency of today’s environmental challenges into a universal language that touches hearts and inspires action,” explains Olivier Wenden, the Foundation’s Vice-Chairman and CEO. “With this Award, we aim to amplify their voices and ensure their stories resonate far beyond the conservation community.”

Photographers can submit their entries at www.fpa2photoaward.org until 2nd November 2025

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Main photo provided.

See more about last year’s Environmental Photography Award in our reel below…

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Monaco goes all out on school phone ban

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
04/09/2025

Monaco’s public schools are stepping up their fight against smartphone addiction with the introduction of ‘No phone’, a bespoke magnetic pouch system that allows students to keep their devices close but not accessible throughout the school day. 

The new measure, announced on Wednesday 3rd September during a back-to-school conference by Education Director Jean-Philippe Vinci, targets students from CM2 through to Terminale. The system is straightforward: students arrive at school with their phones, place them in a secure magnetic pouch provided by the school, seal it, and carry the now-inaccessible device throughout the day. The pouch is unlocked using a magnetic release as they leave school.

“It’s about learning to use digital tools reasonably and thoughtfully while mastering their effects,” explained Vinci, while highlighting that this is an educational rather than punitive approach. Vinci described the initiative as helping students break free from what he termed as “the digital pacifier” or “security blanket”.

The NoPhone system sees Monaco catching up with – and even improving upon – France’s own ‘portable en pause’ initiative, which went nationwide on 1st September after a successful trial across 100 schools.

While France’s initiative leaves it up to each school to decide how to enforce the measure, Monaco’s magnetic pouch offers key advantages, according to the government: no confiscation conflict, preserved student responsibility, and respect for autonomy – all while helping to restore focus.

Early data from French trials has shown promising results that Monaco aims to replicate: a 42% rise in average attention levels, three times fewer phone-related incidents, and 68% of students feeling calmer during the day. Parents appear supportive too, with 83% saying the system reassures them.

Private schools already ahead

While Monaco’s public schools will now implement the pouch technology, the International School of Monaco (ISM) tells Monaco Life that it has been operating a comprehensive phone ban for years. Their approach is quite straightforward: complete physical handover.

“Every morning, ISM students in Years 7 to 13 physically hand their phones in for the full school day,” confirmed the school administration. The devices are stored securely on campus, completely inaccessible to students until the final bell. Even senior students who leave campus for lunch must hand phones back upon return.

“We have seen the positive impact this has had on students,” ISM notes, though they’re keeping an eye on Monaco’s pouch technology as a potential addition to their existing measures.

The move comes as part of a broader campaign against what Vinci calls the “anxious generation”, a reference to increasing mental health concerns among young people. It’s a way of creating alternative spaces and resistance against the pressures of our hyper-connected world. The goal isn’t to demonise technology but rather to establish schools as “deceleration spaces where learning takes time”.

See also: 

Mobile phone ban in collèges: what parents and students need to know

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Main photo of Education Director Jean-Philippe Vinci showcasing how the magnetic pouch works, by Monaco Life.

Monaco United Women gear up for French Cup debut and historic derby

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
02/09/2025

Monaco United Women’s Football Club has wrapped up its pre-season training as it prepares for its debut in French competition, with head coach Marco Simone praising the progress of his newly assembled squad.

The new club, which only began training 10 days before their first fixture, has already made its mark with two important pre-season friendlies.

Monaco United’s first match saw them travel to Arles to face Arles-Avignon Women, where they secured a 5-1 victory. During the match, former French international Marina Makanza, who earned 15 caps for her country, scored the club’s first-ever goal from the penalty spot.

“I am very satisfied with the quality and progression of the team in such a short time,” said Simone, reflecting on his team’s early performance. “After only 10 training sessions, it’s impossible for everything to be perfectly in place, but I saw real consistency between the work done and what the players delivered on the pitch.”

However, the club’s second friendly proved more challenging, with Monaco United travelling to Milan to face AS Milan’s Under-19 women’s side at the Puma House of Football Centre. The occasion was particularly meaningful for coach Simone, who returned to his former club where he spent nine seasons as a striker.

Despite suffering a 5-1 defeat against one of Europe’s top football academies, the Italian head coach viewed the experience as invaluable for his developing squad. The team delivered a competitive first half full of intensity and commitment, but found the second period more difficult against Milan’s experience and quality.

Monaco United Women vs AS Milan’s Under-19, photo credit: Monaco United

Historic derby awaits

The football calendar has delivered a historic first for Monaco, with the Principality set to witness its first-ever women’s derby on Sunday, September 14th at 3pm. Monaco United will face AS Monaco Women’s second team (ASMFF) in the opening match day of the 2025/26 Women’s Division 5 championship.

“The great beauty of this project is that its has created true competition in Monaco between clubs dedicated to women’s football,” Simone explained. “I believe this will help us progress with greater determination, to push the game forward and make it a permanent part of our sporting culture.”

The derby comes just one week after Monaco United’s competitive debut away at FC Carros in the French Cup on Sunday, September 7th.

The club has also secured Groupe Marzocco as official sponsor for the 2025/26 campaign.

“Women’s football is still too often underestimated, but we are convinced of its importance and the following will only continue to grow,” said company head Claudio Marzocco. “By supporting this initiative, we want to contribute to the rise of women in football, through an ambitious project which, starting from the local level, is destined to develop to the highest stages.”

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Main photo of Monaco United Women credit: Athletic Club Arlésien

Football: Monaco win “rollercoaster” five-goal thriller against Strasbourg

by: Luke Entwistle
31/08/2025
Minamino celebrating Monaco's last-minute winner against Strasbourg

AS Monaco needed an injury-time goal from Takumi Minamino to come out winners in a five-goal thriller against Strasbourg (3-2) at the Stade Louis II on Sunday.

Having lost to Lille (0-1) last week, Adi Hütter was looking for a reaction from his players, and he got one. His side swarmed Strasbourg in the opening minutes and were quickly rewarded when Folarin Balogun dispossessed goalkeeper Mike Penders, allowing Maghnes Akliouche to slot into the empty net. The latter celebrated his maiden call-up to the France squad in style. “He’s got a target on his back now,” said Hütter post-match, but Strasbourg struggled to contain him throughout.

Balogun feeling “more comfortable” at Monaco

Monaco’s intensity was unsustainable, and the away side, led by Englishman Liam Rosenior, would grow into the game, and would only be denied an equaliser by the finest of margins. Joaquín Panichelli had the ball in the back of the net, but Diego Moreira was offside in the build-up. The replays showed how tight the call was, and it wasn’t the only time that Le Racing would come out the wrong side of fine margins.

Strasbourg had a golden chance to make it 1-1, with Dilane Bakwa, on at half-time, threading through fellow substitute Kendry Paez. The Chelsea loanee opted to go around Lukas Hradecky when one-on-one, however, the Finnish goalkeeper got a nick of the ball, allowing Monaco to lodge a lightning-quick counter.

Less than 30 seconds later, Monaco had their second. Lamine Camara put Balogun in on goal, and the USMNT forward got the goal that his performance deserved, chipping Penders from close range. “I feel more comfortable out there now, and hopefully my performances will continue to prove this,” said Balogun post-match.

Rosenior rages against VAR decisions

It was another millimetric offside call on Balogun’s goal, confirmed by VAR, but it left Rosenior fuming post-match. “I’m trying to understand how our goal was offside and theirs isn’t. I feel like I’m going crazy! I’m very emotional right now because my players deserved more than what they got,” said the Strasbourg manager.

Despite the “adversity” his side faced, Strasbourg did get back into the game, and it was the Englishman’s substitutes that made the difference. England youth international Samuel Amo-Ameyaw placed the ball across the goal for Bakwa to volley home excellently.

It was Bakwa again, just two minutes later, who instigated the second goal, driving at Caio Henrique and into the Monaco box, drawing the clumsy foul. Panichelli stepped up and converted the resulting penalty, sending Lukas Hradecky the wrong way. The new Monaco No.1 had clearly been struggling in the second half and was substituted off moments later. Hradecky left the Stade Louis II with a strap on his left knee; the gravity of the injury is not yet known.

Monaco, shellshocked having seen their two-goal advantage in the space of just three minutes, regained their composure, with Eric Dier seeing a header cleared off the line. However, it was Strasbourg who looked the most dangerous as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. Substitute goalkeeper Philipp Köhn had to make a good save to deny Paez, and Amo-Ameyaw continued to look dangerous.

Hütter once again “unsatisfied” with Monaco’s performance

However, it was the Principality club who would find the late winner. It was Akliouche again, who, inside the box, opted for the pass, rather than the shot, on this occasion, finding Minamino at the back-post. The Japan international’s diving header in the 96th minute secured the three points.

But in this game, described as a “rollercoaster” by Hütter, there was time for more drama, with Strasbourg’s Rabby Nzingoula sent off for violent conduct following an altercation with Jordan Teze.

“We cannot be satisfied. We showed that we are a good team, but to compete with the other top teams, we have to improve,” admitted Hütter post-match. The Monaco manager was nonetheless happy to return to winning ways, and conserve his side’s 100% win record at home this season. Monaco have six points on the board, despite Hütter’s continued frustration with the performances. He will be hoping for that to change after the international break, especially with the return of Champions League football drawing ever closer.

 

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Photo source: AS Monaco