During a fascinating weekend Simon Delestre secured his third consecutive victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco. Meanwhile, Antoine Ermann claimed the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.
The world number eight delivered an outstanding performance in the jump-off on Saturday evening, riding Cayman Jolly Jumper to finish in 32.05 seconds and win the €1.5 million prize. He beat Britain’s Harry Charles on Sherlock by a strong 1.84 seconds, showing the skill and speed that have made him a three-time Monaco champion.
The victory marks Delestre’s fourth five-star Grand Prix triumph of the season, following earlier wins ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Saut Hermès in Paris. The partnership has now won four of the seven top-level competitions they have contested since January 1st – a remarkable strike rate.
French double delight
France’s successful weekend completed when Antoine Ermann guided Odin vt Hanegoor to victory in the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.
Twelve combinations made it through to the jump-off from the first round, with Delestre third to compete in the deciding phase. “It’s difficult to find the words,” Delestre said after his victory. “Winning here is incredible. I had made it an objective but to actually succeed…I was third to go in the jump-off. I knew I had to do something incredible to hope to win.”
The Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 described his tactical approach: “I took all the risks and couldn’t do any more anyway. At the finish, even though you can always be beaten, I knew that the podium, was assured and that we would be hard to beat.”
Delestre’s victory strengthens his position in the overall Longines Global Champions Tour standings and secures his place at November’s Super Final in Prague, when Grand Prix winners compete for the ultimate prize.
The Monaco Yacht Club welcomed a remarkable vessel to its marina during the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge—the Energy Observer, the world’s first vessel to complete a round-the-world voyage in total energy autonomy. After seven years at sea, covering 68,000 nautical miles, it arrived in Monaco to demonstrate the possibilities of maritime decarbonisation.
Speaking to Monaco Life, Nolwenn Guenan, the vessel’s 360 Communication Manager, explained the groundbreaking technology that powers the boat. “Energy Observer is a boat operating with a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen on board,” she said.
The technology that powered the global voyage
The boat stands as an example in marine propulsion, operating entirely on a low-carbon energy mix combining solar panels, wind turbines, hydropower, and crucially, hydrogen produced on board from seawater electrolysis.
The Energy Observer’s seven year voyage has taken it to more than 50 countries, making 101 stopovers across the globe. “The objective is to experiment, decrypt, and raise awareness about energy transition.” Guenan explained.
Solar panels on top of the Energy observer, photo by Monaco Life.
Next-generation vessel to push boundaries even further
The success of the original Energy Observer has paved the way for an even more ambitious successor. EO3, currently under development, represents the next generation of low carbon vessels, designed from the outset as a commercial ship meeting international standards.
This new vessel will feature an innovative energy system integrating multiple complementary technologies: a 180-square-metre solar array, four wing sails for propulsion assistance, and a revolutionary ammonia-based fuel system.
The Energy Observer’s presence at the Monaco Boat Energy Challenge gave visitors and contestants a glimpse into the future of zero-emission maritime transport.
Paul Pogba, Eric Dier, and Ansu Fati were unveiled as new AS Monaco players on Thursday. The return of Pogba, a 2018 World Champion, was highly anticipated as the eyes of the footballing world fixed on the Principality club.
Around 50 journalists from France, England, and Italy descended on the Principality club’s performance centre in La Turbie on Thursday to catch a glimpse of Pogba, very much the headline act of the highly-anticipated presentation day.
Everyone would have to wait to get a glimpse of the Frenchman, who was not involved in first-team training in the morning. Dier, meanwhile, trained individually, whilst Fati was involved with the first-team, albeit not for the entirety of the session.
AS Monaco’s Eric Dier in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
Dier kicked-off procedings in the early afternoon. “It is a new experience for me. I have made the best decision for myself,” began the former Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich man. He added, “I am very excited by the offer and what they have been doing here. That was everything that I needed and I made a decision that I was very happy with.”
Dier sets sights on England return
The Englishman, who hasn’t represented the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup, announced another ambition in the wake of his move to Les Monégasques. “It is always my objective to be in the national team. I have 49 caps, it would be nice to have 50. This annoys me a little bit (laughs). It is an objective of mine but you just need to play well for your club,” he said.
Simply playing is the objective for Fati, whose loan move from Barcelona was officialised on 1st July. The Spaniard was touted as the next big thing when he broke through at Barça, however, his progress has stalled in recent seasons.
A difficult loan spell at Brighton in 2023/24 failed to get his career back on-track and injuries limited him to just 11 games last season. “I am fighting to get back to my best level and I am here to try to do that,” said Fati.
AS Monaco’s Ansu Fati in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
“I think that change is good! I want to thank the club where I grew up, Barça. It was a great experience at Brighton, too, even if others think differently. I had an injury and I couldn’t be consistent. I want to bring that [consistency] here,” he added.
Monaco have option to make Fati move permanent
His loan move includes the option to make the deal permanent for a reported €11m, as Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro dismissed any suggestions that this was a “risky” transfer. “I don’t see any bigger risk than any other signing,” said the Brazilian.
Then came the headline act, Pogba. The auditorium at Monaco’s performance centre fell deafly silent as he entered the room and until, in his first words to the press since returning to the professsional game, he evoked the emotional scenes that marked the signing of his contract.
“As you saw, there were a lot of emotions. It is very rare to see me cry like that so I hope you enjoyed it,” he joked, referencing a viral video in which he cried while putting pen-to-paper on a two-year deal. “There were so many images that came into my mind. We know the doping story, my injury… eveything came back to me during the signing and I couldn’t hold back. It was a moment of joy!”
Pogba returns following doping ban
Pogba has been allowed to return to football since March and the expiry of his doping ban, which came into effect in September 2023. The initial four-year ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal.
But in the past three years, the Frenchman has had to contend with plenty of other issues on and off the pitch. His return to Juventus back in 2022 was scuppered by injuries. He played just over 200 minutes in his first season back at the club.
There was also the kidnapping in March 2022 as part of an organised extortion attempt, involving his own brother, Mathias.
It was Mathias who then attempted to defame his brother just months later, claiming that La Pioche had used a marabout to cast a spell on Kylian Mbappé ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League encounter against PSG back in 2019. The marabout in question and Pogba have both denied the claim, although the latter did admit to consulting the former in order to help with his continued injury issues.
‘I hope to be even better than before’ – Pogba
Pogba is now looking forward. “I’ve spoken to people who advised me to live in the moment, live day by day and not think about things that have already happened,” said the Frenchman.
He is now desperate to return. “I feel like a kid that has signed his first professional contract,” added Pogba. The 32-year-old is looking to turn back the clock. “I hope to be even better than before because I have more desire. Here, I have everything to become a big player again,” he said.
AS Monaco’s Paul Pogba at his presentation. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
“We are pretty confident that Paul can bring a lot,” said Scuro. However, not in the short-term, as he later revealed.
Monaco unveil roadmap for Pogba return
Pogba said that he was “motivated” to play against his formative club, Le Havre, on the opening day of the Ligue 1 season. However, that will not become a reality. “I can guarantee you that he won’t be on the pitch against Le Havre […] I am here to be realistic and to be honest. We expect a three-month process,” said Scuro. A return around the end of September/ start of October is therefore envisaged, all being well.
With three signings secured, Scuro added that focus would now turn towards sales. “We haven’t spent for the moment. Targeting elite players who could come without too much investment was an objective, but to invest more, we will also need to sell and generate more money,” said the Monaco CEO.
Monaco target goalkeeper signing
Maghnes Akliouche, present at first-team training on Thursday, is one of the players linked with a move away from the Principality club. The likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, and Bayer Leverkusen have been linked with the France youth international.
AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
“It is normal that Maghnes is on the lists of the top clubs. We have our conditions, though. When this is the game, we are here to protect ourselves. He can stay or they can go – that is relevant to all players,” said Scuro.
Should there be outgoings, it would provide funds for Monaco to secure one of their major objectives – a new goalkeeper. “We are working on it,” confirmed Scuro.
Monaco have already made some big moves during the current window, however, ones which will certainly bolster the profile of the club both in France and abroad, but ones which, it is hoped will also raise the standard of the squad as they look to secure another podium finish next season.
Monaco’s marina has once again transformed into a testing ground for next-generation marine technologies, with the 12th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The event brought together innovators, researchers and young engineers from across the globe.
The three-day challenge, organised by Yacht Club de Monaco with support from the Prince Albert II Foundation, UBS, BMW and SBM Offshore, has attracted 42 teams from 20 countries, all focused on developing real-world solutions for cleaner yachting.
“There’s a feeling that the projects are of a maturity that we’ve not seen before,” Bernard d’Alessandri, General Director of Yacht Club de Monaco said. “Schools, universities and the industry are really committed. It’s an excellent sign for the sector and future of young people embarking on these career paths.”
Electric revolution transforms Formula 4 racing
Among the most striking innovations on display was a fully electric Formula 4 racing boat, the result of collaboration between Team Tech Out Racing, Molabo, Kaiser Bootsmanufaktur, and Protenergies. The project represents a shift for the traditionally noisy world of powerboat racing.
“Team Tech Out reached out to us. They are a Formula 4 racing team, and they wanted to electrify the boat because they saw that there was less attention in Formula 4 because it’s loud, and because there’s a lot of pollution,” explained Lena Honsberg, Molabo’s marketing manager, during an exclusive interview with Monaco Life.
The electric F4 boat, powered by Molabo’s ARIES 50 kW low-voltage drive system, offers revolutionary possibilities beyond clean propulsion. “One advantage of electric power is that there’s no pollution and no noise,” Honsberg noted. “But we can also reduce the power output, which makes it suitable for training younger drivers. Additionally, in racing, we can implement power reduction penalties for mistakes—something not easily done with traditional combustion engines.”
The boat features modular batteries totalling 12 kilowatt-hours across eight modules, each weighing approximately 10 kilograms. “You can easily take it out and just switch it, or charge it, so it’s very easy and handy,” Honsberg demonstrated, showcasing the practical advantages of the design.
A key breakthrough is the use of 48-volt “safe to touch” technology, eliminating dangerous high-voltage systems. “This motor is very special because it is the world’s most powerful electric drive at safe-to-touch voltages,” Honsberg said. “You don’t have any high voltage safety measures or qualified personnel to work on the boat if they need some adaption or to maintain or integrate it.”
The electric Formula 4 racing boat, photo credit: Adrian Knauf
Major technological developments
This year’s competition has revealed three major technological developments among teams in the Energy Class. Notably, 50% of teams have developed toroidal propellers, which not only boost efficiency but significantly reduce underwater noice.
Artificial intelligence integration in battery management systems has emerged as another game-changer, with teams using AI to optimise individual cell performance, maximising both power output and energy autonomy at sea.
Hydrogen solutions continue to advance, with once prototype featuring an internal hydrogen-powered combustion engine.
The competition culminates with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award worth €25,000. It will recognise the team with the most significant quantifiable impact in energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
The Fusion Art Gallery’s ‘Elevated: The Art of Prestige’ exhibition has transformed Espace 22 into a global showcase, bringing together 33 artists from across continents.
Running through to 6th July, the exhibition explores how modern creators are redefining prestige through bold innovation, with each artists offering its distinct perspective.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is Thomas Bambini’s approach to oil painting. The French artist spent 50 hours creating a Medusa that merges Caravaggio’s legendary shield painting with Bernini’s sculptural mastery—two Renaissance giants who never collaborated in life but find unity on his canvas.
The result carries unexpected emotional weight. While classical depictions of Medusa highlight a mix of fear and sadness, Bambini’s interpretation leans even more into vulnerability. “I think my Medusa is sadder because of the way I drew the eyes. It looks like he’s about to cry,” he told Monaco Life.
His second piece presents an even bolder cultural collision: a Renaissance princess bearing a traditional Japanese yakuza tattoo. “My aim was to blend the visual language of the Japanese Mafia with the image of a classical princess,” says Bambini. The work creates a deliberate visual trick—viewers first admire the elegant period dress before discovering the hidden tattoos underneath.
Thomas Bambini and his artwork, photo by Monaco Life.
Formula 1’s fallen champion
Canadian artist ML Sund created what may be the exhibition’s most touching tribute. His paintings honour Jules Bianchi, whose death nearly a decade ago has left an undeniable mark in Formula 1’s history.
“This painting honours Jules Bianchi, depicting his race in Monaco back in 2014.” The work gains particular resonance in Monaco, since “the only points he ever scored were in this race in Monaco,” ML Sund told Monaco Life.
His separate painting of the 1964 Le Mans race also captures Bianchi’s grandfather, who competed that year.
ML Sund artist and his Jules Bianchi art, photo by Monaco Life.
Stones as spiritual metaphors
Aydin Aghababazadeh, the Persian-Iranian artist, also stands out for transforming geological formations into profound meditations on personal growth.
His featured work, ‘Soul depth’, uses colour as emotional cartography.
“The deep blue is the inner self and the white is the limit of our life,” Aghababazadeh explains. “And when you reach the connection between these two, you will see how bright your life would be.”
Drawing inspiration from “geodes, stones, and natural orificies,” his art philosophy centres on bridging internal and external worlds.
Aydin Aghababazadeh and his artwork, photo by Monaco Life.
‘Elevated’ challenges traditional notions of artistic prestige by celebrating innovation over imitation. The exhibition demonstrates how artists are forging new territories while maintaining respect for their predecessors.
The six day programme continues with events designed to showcase different facets of modern artistic expression, each reinforcing the exhibition’s thesis that true prestige emerges from fearless creativity.
The stunning Équivoque bar overlooking Port Hercules provided the perfect location for the official inauguration of Monaco’s newest cultural organisation on Monday. ACLI – The Association Chrétienne des Travailleurs Italiens – Principauté de Monaco, aims to strengthen ties within the Italian community while promoting sustainable development in the Principality.
The association celebrated its launch on 1st July with champagne, gourmet canapés, and ambitious plans for the Italian community. President Ginevra de Masi welcomed guests to the elegant venue, outlining the organisation’s mission to promote Italian heritage.
ACLI, which received official government recognition on 18th March 2025, operates under the umbrella of ACLI Terra (Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani), with national President Nicola Tavoletta of ACLI Terra attending the inaugural ceremony.
Made in Italy focus
De Masi highlighted the organisation’s track record in promoting Italian excellence across multiple territories.
“Since 2023, we have been organising events to promote Made in Italy agro-food products,” she explained to Monaco Life. “The success of these events has made us more collaborative and active, leading to this expanded programme.”
The Monaco association has already secured an exciting collaboration for November with the Italian Embassy, coinciding with the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.
Unique positioning
De Masi also highlighted the Principality’s special significance. “Nobody has thought to create something like this before. We had established presence in France, in Marseille, and throughout Italy, but Monaco represents something special for our community.”
The association’s headquarters at Les Mélèzes, 9 rue Plati, will serve as a hub for cultural activities, environmental education, and professional networking.
ACLI Monaco aims to promote work culture, social integration and environmental sustainability, particularly in territories with significant Italian communities.
The organisation plans to offer seminars, conferences, forums, and cultural performances. After the official presentations wrapped up, guests continued networking over cocktails whilst enjoying spectacular views of Monaco.
