Monaco Life

What’s on this weekend at the Printemps des Arts festival?

From Sophie Lacaze’s ‘The Boundless Stuff of Dreams’ to Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado’s ‘The Salt of the Earth’, this weekend’s Printemps des Arts programme will blend theatre with film and the traditional with the modern.

Following on from our coverage of the opening days of the Printemps des Arts festival, which officially began on 13th March, here are this weekend’s highlights.

See more: Printemps des Arts 2024: what to expect from the opening days of the festival

On Saturday 16th March, a series of masterclasses will be hosted by renowned cellist Henri Demarquette at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice. Later, a conference entitled ‘The Earth According to Gustav Mahler’ and led by musicologist Jean Castellini will unravel at the Auditorium Rainier III.

The concert that follows will feature musicians Lucile Richardot, Stefan Cifolelli and Het Collectief under the baton of Gregor Mayrhofer. They will present a rendition of Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ in a chamber version transcribed by Reinbert de Leeuw alongside Mahler’s ‘Quartet for Piano and Strings in A Minor’.

The evening continues at the Théâtre des Variétés with the world premiere of ‘L’Etoffe Inépuisable du Rêve’ – The Boundless Stuff of Dreams in English – by Sophie Lacaze. This chamber opera, brought to life by the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain under Bruno Mantovani’s musical direction, will delve into the dreamtime of Australian Aboriginal culture in an ode to nature and our planet’s fragility.

Transitioning into Sunday 17th March, the festival will be screening ‘The Salt of the Earth,’ a documentary directed by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. This event explores the profound work of photographer Sebastião Salgado.

The day will conclude with a concert by Henri Demarquette at the Galerie Hauser & Wirth, where the cellist will embark on a solo journey through the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Benjamin Britten.

The full programme can be found here.

Check out our reel of the Printemps des Arts’ opening night below:

 

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Photo source: L’Etoffe Inépuisable du Rêve, Facebook

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Interview: JCEM President 2024 Clément Maréchal

JCEM President Clément Maréchal speaks with Monaco Life about the “transitional and challenging” year ahead for this organisation of young leaders as well as the ambitions he strives to accomplish during his mandate.

Clément Maréchal is the elected Junior Economic Chamber of Monaco (JCEM) National President for 2024. He had previously been Vice-President of Business Development. His vision for the current year is AIM — Ambition, Impact, Members; a roadmap to expand their aspirations, influence, and members benefits.

Maréchal sees JCEM Monaco’s affiliation with the flagship JCI (Junior Chamber International) as an exceptional opportunity for members to connect to a centenary old global organisation of around 200,000 young active citizens representing more than a hundred countries worldwide.

He explains how JCEM helps develop young people’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills, helping them connect within Monaco and internationally by giving them access to a rich global network through JCI, empowering them to grow and create positive change.

Maréchal believes their program for business creation motivates members to think outside the box, challenging them to go beyond their limits and learn by association. Their active collaboration with JCEM’s sponsors and the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) further exposes members to accomplished business people from all industry sectors and nationalities.

Monaco Life: Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

Clément Maréchal: I am a 28-year-old resident, born and raised in the Principality. After spending a few years in various countries, notably France and England to pursue my studies, I moved back home to put my experience and skills to good use. After a long absence, I joined JCEM to reconnect with my country’s economic base and benefit from their local and international network.

I work in sales, rentals, and marketing as a real estate broker at a well-established family agency.

What does it mean to you to have been elected president of JCEM?

It is a great honour to represent this global movement at the Monaco level during this exciting year. I am grateful and satisfied that the members believe the program we have worked on with the team is the right move for the future of our association. This year is transitional and full of challenges, but I am confident we can tackle them all with my Board of accomplished men and women.

Prince Albert II with, from left to right, Juan Larrauri, Eloise Marshall, Pierre-Alexandre ROUSSELOT, Hanna DERRIEN, Marie-Gisèle FRINGANT PEDROZO, Clément MARECHAL, Lucas DUBOIS, Mathilde LABAUNE, Valentine BROUARD TILLIER, Cédric CAVAS. Source: JCEM

What is your ambition for JCEM during your mandate?

The goal is to raise our impact level on Monaco’s economy, plain and simple. We want to expand our aspirations, influence, and members’ benefits. To that effect, we have implemented the ‘AIM’ roadmap—Ambition-Impact-Members, with multiple specific actions and levers to reach our objectives.

Do you think a year is enough to plan and execute your goals?

I would love to have additional time to implement the program entirely. Still, we only get 12 months to accomplish our objectives and impact the future generation positively.

On the bright side, I firmly believe that our action plan is marking a new JCEM cycle and will be helpful for the next three to five years. I am also very confident that having the next leader on my Board, who shares the same ideas and values, will guarantee the program’s continuity beyond my mandate.

Who are the people on your team?

The 2024 National Board comprises 10 members responsible for managing a specific association section. I have selected them for their experience, ambition, desire to improve, and willingness to make a positive impact. The team combines experienced JCEM members working alongside new ones, blending expertise and creativity and ensuring continuity.

The Members of the Board are Valentine Brouard Tillier, General Secretary; Marion Soler, Treasurer; Marie Gisèle Fringant, Immediate Past President; Eloise Marshall, VP Personnel Development; Cedric Cavassino, VP Entrepreneurship; Hanna Derrien, VP of Economic Attractiveness; Lucas Dubois, VP International; Pierre-Alexandre Rousselot, VP Internal Strategy and Development; Mathilde Labaune, VP Communication & Media; and Juan Larrauri, Head of Sponsorships

Additionally, eleven Project Managers report to the respective board members. They are responsible for planning, organising, and managing the completion of each project while ensuring that it delivers the expected results on time and budget.

“JCEM enables access to an extended network of professionals from all sectors within the Principality.”

What are the benefits of being a JCEM member?

One of the main advantages is that it enables access to an extended network of professionals from all sectors within the Principality. At the international level, JCI allows excellent connections with like-minded young managers and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Another significant benefit is being part of a larger organisation that enriches our professional lives by participating in impactful events on the Monaco economic stage and abroad. It is all about getting out of our comfort zones to gain new experiences and skills while amplifying our network with bright individuals from diverse nationalities and horizons.

Board members and project heads 2024, from left to right: Mathilde Labaune, Sarah Assayag-Edery, Lucas Dubois, Anya Kozlova, Morgan Teissier, Camille Lopez, Pierre-Alexandre Rousselot, Valentine Brouard Tillier, Clément Marechal, Marion Soler, Cédric Cavassino, Madina Ibrahimkhel, Arnaud Pujalté, Marie-Gisèle Fringant Pedrozo, Juan Larrauri , Eloise Roux, Alex Mattelon, Clara Rosso, Audrey Trueba. Source: JCEM

Can you please tell us about the Business Creation training cycle offered to JCEM members?

One of the main events of the JCEM is the Start-Up Challenge (Concours de Creation d’Entreprise), giving access to a total cash prize of over €60.000. For candidates to reach their full potential for the Challenge, JCEM provides a cycle of training throughout the year, with diverse subjects to learn every skill needed to present a solid business plan to the jury.

These training sessions are conducted with local experts, offering insights and exclusive information to participants. We have speakers from multiple government services and our sponsoring companies.

What is JCE-Connect?

The JCE Connect is our new concept for 2024, highly inspired by our famous event, ‘Success Drink’, developed and carried out in previous years. This after-work gathering enhances networking between our members and guest participants. The goal is to organise it monthly in different exceptional locations to offer a quality networking experience.

We open it to the public, aiming to create as many connections as possible for the participants. Our next event will be organised in an exclusive undisclosed location at the end of March. Stay tuned; our website and social networks will announce more details soon.

Please explain the concept behind the new event called the Start-Up Meeting.

The idea behind our new project, ‘Start-up Meeting’, is relatively straightforward. Public speaking and pitching an idea are critical in project construction and presentation. It is one of the most essential professional skills in nearly every industry. But it is also something people commonly fear but can master.

The Start-up Challenge is the pinnacle of our year, and we want to get every candidate ready for it. Therefore, we will organise monthly meetings for participants to practice their skills and exchange ideas with their peers in an informal atmosphere to reduce unnecessary pressure.

The objective is to allow anyone to come and present an idea and then let other participants and experts challenge it. The goal is to develop new synergies and connections by offering opportunities to get instant constructive feedback from individuals going through the same experience.

“JCEM offers an extended local and international network of bright young minds wishing to impact the Principality positively.”

In which ways does JCEM assist young entrepreneurs?

The objective of the events we propose is to help young entrepreneurs is threefold: The first is personal development, achieved through our training and networking meetings, to offer the occasion to develop new skills and create valuable connections within the financial sector in Monaco.

The second is the economic attractiveness division, offering conferences to get access to exclusive information and expertise from highly ranked successful executives. The third is our entrepreneurship program, offering many opportunities to present a project, get challenged, meet with peers, get inspired by successful individuals, and finally participate in our national Start-up Challenge, supported by the Government and Athos Partners, our historical event partner.

Furthermore, JCEM offers an extended local and international network of bright young minds wishing to impact the Principality positively. 

How does JCEM collaborate with the Monaco Economic Board (MEB)?

JCEM and MEB have been collaborating closely for many years, and JCEM has a representative on the Board of the MEB, and vice versa; MEB has a representative among our members.

We collaborate often, as our vision and goals for a better Monaco align well, giving the synergies an edge for contributing to developing the Monegasque economy.

Why do you encourage young entrepreneurs to join JCEM?

I firmly believe that entrepreneurship is a collective adventure. Being part of the JCEM network opens many doors, helps develop many skills, and shares the road with our 90+ members who bring different competencies.

Our strong links with the Institutions in the Principality and the JCI affiliates worldwide, plus our exciting programs and events, constitute the perfect combination for success!

To apply for membership: https://jcemonaco.mc/devenir-membre/

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Basketball: AS Monaco secure narrow victory over Alba Berlin

AS Monaco have emerged victorious from a challenging EuroLeague game against Alba Berlin, but only just. 

During the away fixture on 14th March, Alba Berlin initially took the lead, but AS Monaco’s players staged an impressive comeback through a 12-32 second-quarter surge. This pivotal moment ensured that the Roca Team could withstand Alba’s later push and ultimately clinched their 19th season win. The game ended 82-90.

Key to AS Monaco’s triumph were standout performances from Elie Okobo and Mike James, who together contributed 41 points.

See more: Roca Team’s Mike James crowned best scorer in EuroLeague history

Following the action on court, Sasa Obradovic, the Roca Team coach, remarked, “It wasn’t an easy game, and we didn’t play the way we wanted to, with a few mistakes. We have to stay focused for the future. To use this game to realise that we can’t let our opponents come back like we did tonight.”

This latest triumph extends AS Monaco’s winning streak to eight games and elevates their position in the EuroLeague. Their next challenge in the EuroLeague will be a home game slated for 20th March against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.

 

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Photo credit: asmonaco.basketball

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How France is integrating the Singapore Method into maths teaching at school

Back in December, the French government announced that it was preparing to take a “major leap” by introducing the Singapore Method into the teaching of mathematics in schools around the country. Now, that transition has begun.  

Maths can be daunting for many students. Unlike other subjects, where shades of grey filter in, answers are either wrong or right in this field, and children who don’t fully grasp the concepts being taught often get left behind.  

The Singapore Method, which is now gradually being introduced to French classrooms, is an alternative way of teaching the subject. It teaches step-by-step processes to ensure children not only understand but also make connections between different mathematical practices in a fun and engaging way.  

HOW IT WORKS 

According to Monica Neagoy, who holds a doctorate in mathematics education and is the Director of the Singapore Method collection for the Librairie des Écoles scholastic manuals, the approach “places the child at the centre, taking into account maturity, curiosity and, above all, pleasure”. 

France has adopted a three-headed approach – manipulate, represent, abstract – to ease children into complicated concepts by using visuals to assist in learning.  

The manipulation phase allows students to physically handle objects in staged situations and emphasises the use of maths in day-to-day life. The representation phase adds in diagrams, drawings and charts that use the mathematical symbols mastered in the manipulation stage. Students then move into the abstraction phase, where they break down maths problems into easy-to-manage sections.  

Active participation is encouraged between instructor and pupils in a bid to give students the confidence to ask questions and indeed to ask for help. 

ATTITUDE COUNTS 

Perhaps the biggest departure from the old way of teaching maths is the Singapore Method’s positive spirit: mistakes are all part of the journey.  

“When mathematics becomes a litany of formulas, definitions, procedures and ‘how to do it’ without any ‘why’, then it is the beginning of the end of the love for mathematics,” says Neagoy. “That is an intellectual crime. The child has not yet even tasted real mathematics. When you understand, when you see a connection – regardless of finding the result – there is jubilation, absolute joy.” 

For more information, click here.

Read related:

Inclusivity inside and outside the classroom taught to Monaco’s schoolchildren

 

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Photo source: Luis Arias, Unsplash

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Monaco Cycling Criterium to affect road access in and around Port Hercule this weekend

Ahead of this Sunday’s Monaco Cycling Criterium, the government has announced a series of road closures and parking restrictions in and around Port Hercule for the duration of the weekend. 

The 49th edition of the Monaco Cycling Criterium is set to take place on Sunday 17th March and the layout of the course, which is just over a kilometre in length and encompasses the Route de la Piscine, Avenue J. F. Kenndey and Boulevard Albert I, will require the closure of roads in the Port Hercule area as well as limitations on street parking. 

Between 6.30am and 6.30pm on the day of the sporting event, the Quai des États-Unis, Route de la Piscine, Avenue J. F. Kenndey and the Darse Sud will be out of bounds to motorists.   

Local residents with vehicles parked between Boulevard Louis II and the Quai des Études will still have access, but a diversion towards the Carrefour du Portier will be put in place during these hours.  

From Saturday at 11pm until Sunday at 6.30pm, only the service access on Boulevard Albert I will be open to road users, while two-way traffic will be permitted between the Rocher-Noghès tunnel and the port car park. It should be noted that all traffic will be banned from turning towards Boulevard Albert I from the Quai Antoine I.  

Some bus routes will also be affected by the event. The Stade Nautique and Princesse Antoinette pick-ups and drop-offs will be roadside stops while Ligne 1 will be rerouted via Avenue d’Ostende between 6.30am and 6.30pm on the Sunday.  

Parking restrictions 

During these same hours, parking will be forbidden on the section of the Quai des États-Unis that runs from the restricted access area to the intersection with the Route de la Piscine. Vehicles will also be unable to park on the Route de la Piscine, the Louis Chiron bend, the Jules Soccal wharf, the Darse Sud, Boulevard Albert I and the Quai Antoine I between the Rocher-Noghès tunnel and the Quai Antoine I car park.

For further information, click here.  

Read related:

Tennis: the 2024 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters line-up is revealed

 

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Photo source: Union Cycliste de Monaco

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Prince Albert celebrates 66th birthday with Princess Charlene, twins and loyal Monegasques at Place du Palais

Monaco’s Place du Palais came alive with a vibrant celebration for Prince Albert II’s 66th birthday on Thursday, marking a day of unity, tradition, and national pride among the Monegasque people.

Place du Palais became the epicentre of celebration for Prince Albert II’s 66th birthday on the morning of 14th March, drawing an impressive crowd of long-term residents, visitors, and enthusiastic supporters, all unified in their admiration for the Princely family. The air was filled with chants of “Bravo notre Prince!” as Prince Albert II, alongside Princess Charlene and their twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriela, greeted the crowd of people waving Monaco flags that bore ‘Bon Aniversari!’ – a Monegasque salute to Happy Birthday.

The presence of Princess Stephanie on a Palace balcony, accompanied by her son Louis Ducruet and his wife, Marie Ducruet, alongside Princess Caroline with her children, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi, added to the day’s grandeur.

The family’s unity was obvious as they collectively waved from the Palace balcony, before Prince Albert and his family descended to the Palace square to take part in the cutting of a beautifully tiered cake adorned with Monegasque symbols and the heartfelt inscription ‘Bon aniversari munsignu’.

The event was not just about festivity, it embodied a profound expression of national pride and the deep-rooted connection between the Monegasques and their sovereign family. A local resident, unable to contain their pride, told Monaco Life, “It’s days like these that remind us how proud we are of our Prince and the family’s dedication to our country.” The sentiment was echoed by another who had taken time off work to participate in the birthday celebration.

Even those from neighbouring regions, such as a supporter from Menton, felt a sense of familial duty to partake in the event, viewing it as “honouring a family tradition”.

As the Princely family mingled with the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging greetings with well-wishers, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of unity, tradition, and a spirit of national pride. The celebration was a demonstration of the bond between the Monegasques, the residents, and the visitors with their beloved Prince.

Monaco Life was there! See more in our Instagram reel below…

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Photo credits: Monaco Life

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Pouce La Vie: Flavien Foundation to host a Tarantino-themed charity event in April

The team behind the Flavien Foundation, a paediatric cancer research charity based in Monaco, has pulled out the stops for its grand 2024 Pouce La Vie event in April. Here are all the details. 

On 23rd April at the Auditorium Rainier III, the Flavien Foundation will be holding one of its biggest – and most popular – events of the year. 

This year’s Pouce La Vie, now approaching its sixth edition, is embracing all things Quentin Tarantino with a programme featuring musical scores from his biggest films that were written by greats such as Ennio Morricone, Grammy winner Dave Grusin and Argentinian composer Luis Bacalov.  

Tribute band Call Me Winston will be performed these hits live on the night and the 11-member ensemble will be joined on stage by the foundation’s historic sponsor, the renowned pianist, producer and musical director, Yvan Cassar, who has also invited trumpet player Joël Chausse, cellist Julie Sevilla-Fraysse and harmonica player Greg Zlap to be part of the evening’s festivities. 

Hosting the musical evening will be Monegasque journalist and film producer Yann-Antony Noghès. 

The Flavien Foundation – or Fondation Flavien in French – was founded in 2014 by Denis Maccario in memory of his young son, who tragically lost his fight to cancer. 

Pouce La Vie will start at 8pm. Tickets can be found online here.

 

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Photo credit: Philip Ducap / Fine Art Photography

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Monaco Marina Management’s GCC Smart Yachting Days in Dubai a “resounding success”

With a clear focus on inspiring sustainability and innovation, Monaco Marina Management’s GCC Smart Yachting Days in Dubai last month attracted a strong turnout of key players from across the Gulf and its maritime sectors, who agreed that there was a growing need to “collaborate, communicate and educate at all levels in the region”.  

Hosted by the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina on 28th and 29th February, Monaco Marina Management was able to export its view on “smart ideas, smart yachting, smart marinas and smart ownership” to the UAE and involve a much wider audience in its discussions than has been possible at previous events.

It proved the ideal setting from which to explore the latest and greatest advances and ideas coming out of not just the Principality of Monaco, but the world of yachting as a whole.  

SUSTAINABILITY, INVESTMENT AND ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT 

Sustainability was the buzzword of the event, which placed a strong emphasis on the need to foster responsible practices across the board, from owners and crew to service providers and the ports themselves.

The advantageous involvement of environmental foundations was also presented as a method of helping marinas and their management set and achieve targets for future eco-friendly systems alongside the importance of involving local communities in proactive projects to reduce waste and environmental impacts.  

Another key topic was the need to “refocus” investors’ mindsets and convince them of the long-term financial and environmental benefits of investing in smart marinas.

Monaco Marina Management also used the event to unveil the new M3 Smart Marina certification, which has been designed to measure smart and efficient marina operations, with the ultimate goals of reducing and optimising overall sustainability at all levels of the marina, from its initial conception to its construction and real-time operations. 

AWARDS CEREMONY 

Finally, start-ups Arkhaus, BatteryCheck, Boatmate, JetCycle, Posseidon, Seares and Ship O’Hoi were among those given an opportunity to present their ideas at the event, with a chance of winning a GCC Smart Yachting Days Award.  

In the end, Expedition Zero, represented by Andrew Cowen, won the 2024 GCC Smart Yachting Days Yachting prize thanks to the company’s net-zero adventure tourism concepts. 

Camille Lopez, representing HY-Plugs, won the GCC Smart Yachting Days Marina Award. Her company is actively involved in the maritime energy transition.  

 

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Photo courtesy of Monaco Marina Management

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Yes Women gala honouring AIDS activists to welcome Princess Stéphanie

The upcoming Yes Women gala in Paris will celebrate the often overlooked achievements of women in the AIDS fight. The event is set to unite a global community of advocates and activists, including Monaco’s Princess Stéphanie, who founded Fights AIDS Monaco in 2004.

The Yes Women gala, an event co-organised by Fight AIDS Monaco and Coalition Plus, is set to take place at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris on 13th June. The goal of the gathering is to highlight the critical role of women in combating AIDS, a timely focus given that UNAIDS recently reported that 53% of all new HIV infections globally were among women and girls in 2022.

Another key element of the occasion is the honouring of six exceptional women who have made remarkable strides in the battle against AIDS through their support for projects for women living with HIV, their contributions to science and the study of the AIDS disease, and their advocacy for human rights and treatment access.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, the founder of Fight AIDS Monaco, is confirmed to be attending the event in person alongside Nicole Savard Dionne, the driving force behind the initiative.

“It struck me that men often receive accolades for their work, but what about the women and their organisations? They are equally deserving of honour,” says Savard Dionne. “I’m deeply thankful to everyone who believed in this vision. Their unwavering conviction has been pivotal in bringing this project to life.”

Champions in the AIDS fight

The six women who will be spotlighted for their efforts at the gala include: Professor Françoise Barré-Sinoussi of France, a Nobel Prize laureate for her role in the discovery of HIV; Professor Hakima Himmich of Morocco, who diagnosed the first case of AIDS in her country and later founded the Association for the Fight against AIDS; Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima from Burundi, a renowned human rights activist; Christien Roos of Namibia, the co-founder of Penduka for women’s entrepreneurship; Anushiya Karunanithy from Malaysia, for her work with the Malaysian AIDS Council and transgender rights advocacy; and Valeria Rachinska of Ukraine, who has been key in securing access to HIV treatment during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Of the event, Fight Aids Monaco coordinator Hervé Aeschbach says, “Our aim is originality and diversity, hoping this is just the start.”

The gala is currently seeking sponsors and is offering tickets starting at €1,000, with the funds going to three projects dedicated to fighting for this worthy cause.

For more information about the gala, contact gala@coalitionsplus.org.

 

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Photo credit: Edward Wright

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How the PropTech revolution is enhancing design and sustainability in the real estate sector

The real estate sector is the latest industry to embrace the potential of Artificial Intelligence, namely through property technology, which, as Monaco Life learned at the recent PropTech conference at the Yacht Club de Monaco, looks set to reshape how designers and architects integrate sustainability into their projects.

The PropTech conference, which was organised by the Monaco Economic Board on 12th March, brought together key players from the local real estate and architecture fields to showcase the significant impacts that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and PropTech are having on the real estate sector.

As put by Frédéric Genta, the man in charge of Monaco’s Attractiveness and Digital Transition Department, in his opening remarks at the conference, “AI changed the world of PropTech.”

The integration of AI into design and architecture reflects the sector’s dynamic expansion; a record-breaking $74 billion investment was made in PropTech during 2021, according to the PropTech Global Trends Barometer, in a demonstration of the industry’s willingness to embrace advancement and innovation.

Architectural innovation

During the conference, speakers from Foster + Partners, the award-winning international architecture firm founded in 1967 by Sir Norman Foster, shed light on the evolving role of technology and sustainability in their field.

Yorgos Bitsianis, an Associate Partner at Foster + Partners, stressed how sustainability is central to the company’s operations, with tools like carbon calculators enabling smarter, quicker decisions in the design process.

On the topic of digital twins, an innovative technology that generates virtual models of physical buildings for detailed simulation and analysis, Bitsianis noted the revolutionary potential of simulation in design, saying, “The opportunities presented by designing with digital twins are boundless.”

Advancements in simulation are helping architects to better integrate sustainability into their designs and projects. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

Meanwhile, comments by Martha Tsigkari, the company’s head of Applied R&D, that “AI will augment our creativity and our capacity to solve problems” underlined the tech-enhanced future of the architecture sector.

Transforming real estate

The panel discussions, which featured Monaco-based startups including Net0, YouStock and Oghji, highlighted the role AI is playing in achieving decarbonisation within the industry.

Sofia Fominova, co-founder of Net0, made a strong case for AI, stating, “AI is the only answer for decarbonisation.”

See more: New player in the sustainability market: Discloser – Monaco Life

In another discussion about PropTech investment, Gregory Dewerpe, Founding and Managing Partner at A/O, the biggest venture capital firm in Europe to focus on the construction industry, enthused on how technology can change real estate for the better.

“Our mission is to fund tech companies that will revolutionise the construction sector,” he said. “Many businesses aim to achieve net zero emissions by deadlines like 2030 or 2050, and technology is key to reaching these goals. Real estate currently lags behind in digital adoption, and we’re determined to lead the change.”

The PropTech conference also provided a platform for the Prince’s Government, in collaboration with ESCP Business School, to unveil the 4th edition of its global PropTech market barometer, which can be found here.

 

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Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

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France’s Emmanuel Macron is making plans for a state visit to Monaco later this year

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to make a state visit to the Principality “by the end of the year”, according to France’s Ambassador to Monaco, Jean d’Haussonville, who has emphasised a “desire” from both sides to make it happen.  

No president of France has made a state visit to Monaco since François Mitterrand’s trip to meet with Prince Rainier III in 1984, a full 40 years ago. Incidentally, the late French leader was the first and only leader of France to have ever made an official state visit to the Principality.  

This is likely to change in 2024 if the revelations by d’Haussonville, France’s Ambassador to Monaco, do come to pass.  

The diplomat, who was confirmed as France’s official envoy to the Principality back in September 2023, has publicly said that there should be a formalised trip by President Macron to Monaco “by the end of the year”.  

See more: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene welcome new French ambassador

There are also plans in the works for Prince Albert II to travel to the Élysée in Paris for a reciprocal visit. This would mark the first time that a Prince of Monaco has been to the City of Light on an official state visit since Prince Rainier III’s visit in 1959, which came on the back of the election of General Charles de Gaulle.  

“The Prince has made working visits, official visits to France, but never at the protocol level of a state visit with all the honours of the Republic,” explained the ambassador. “It will be an expression of full support from France to the Principality of Monaco.” 

Prince Albert’s most recent high-profile visit to France, when he met with President Macron to discuss topics such as the Paris Agreement and the rights of French citizens working in Monaco, came back in 2019.

See more: French President holds talks with Prince Albert

Though it may seem odd that two nations so intertwined have little history of these kinds of visits, it does not mean they are not friendly nor lacking in communication. French presidents and Monegasque sovereigns often meet and see each other at working events, such as conferences and the like, but these are classified in a different context.  

“It is really a desire on both sides [that] this visit should take the form of a state visit, which qualifies the highest level of protocol in terms of travel,” said d’Haussonville of the potential upcoming event.  

A state visit adds a level of formality to the proceedings and comes with certain requirements, such as a stay of at least one night as a guest in the host country and distinguished honours being bestowed on the visitor. 

 

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Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco, 2019

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Tennis: Djokovic, Nadal and Medvedev confirmed for upcoming Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters

The list of players set to take to the clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club in April for the 117th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters has been announced. Here’s who made the cut.  

Tournament Director David Massey had the honour of revealing the list of participants at the upcoming Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, which will be held from 6th to 14th April, at an exclusive luncheon at the Pré Catelan Lenôtre in Paris on 12th March.  

Included on the roster are men’s tennis’ biggest stars, such as the Top 3 seeded players of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, as well as World No.4 and notorious court rebel Daniil Medvedev.  

Other Top 10 ranked players who will also appear on the famous clay courts are Andrey Rublev, who won his first Masters 1000 title last year in Monaco, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, Caser Rudd and Alex de Minaur.  

Perennial crowd favourite Rafael Nadal is also expected to play, marking a return to the courts after more than a year on the side lines. He was forced to withdrawal from the Australian Open in January, having suffered from a muscle tear on his hip.  

Among the French players to feature are 14th ranked Ugo Humbert, 21st seeded Adrian Mannarino and Arthur Fils, who is currently in 43rd place in the ATP Rankings.  

See more: Game, set, match: Where to find the best tennis courts in and around Monaco

Following on from a new set-up introduced at the 2023 tournament, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters’ team will be offering spectators services such as a click-and-collect fast food catering option as well as deluxe dinners in the new covered dining area for fans seeking a more elegant alternative. On the day of the finals, Michelin-starred Chef Frédéric Anton of Le Jules Vernes in Paris will be in charge of the menu. 

The Masters, which officially start the annual clay court tennis season, was founded in 1897, and has been played at the Monte-Carlo Country Club since 1928. It is now under the Presidency of Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, who took over the position after the death of her mother, Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, in 2020.  

 

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Photo source: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Facebook

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Who is on the prestigious jury for the 77th Cannes Film Festival?

Greta Gerwig will be the first American female director to take on the role of Jury President when the Cannes Film Festival takes over the French Riviera this May.

Following a year in which she beat every record with her film ‘Barbie’, the American director, screenwriter, and actress Greta Gerwig is to preside over the feature film Competition Jury of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which takes place 14th to 25th May.

She will be the first American female director to take on the role of Jury President at the Festival de Cannes and, at the age of 40, adds another record to her considerable list of awards: that of becoming the youngest person to take on the task since Sofia Loren only aged 31 in 1966, the second female director since Jane Campion in 2014, and the second American woman after Olivia de Haviland in 1965.

Gerwig is a movie fan

A heroine of our modern times, Greta Gerwig shakes up the status quo between a highly codified cinema industry and an era demanding great expansiveness. And she’s a cinephile.

“I love films – I love making them, going to them, talking about them,” said Gerwig in a statement. “As a cinephile, Cannes has always been the pinnacle of what the universal language of movies can be. Being vulnerable in a dark theater filled with strangers and watching a brand-new film is my favorite place to be. I am stunned, thrilled, and humbled to serve as the Cannes Film Festival Jury president. I cannot wait to see what journeys are in store for all of us!”

Greta Gerwig, photo credit: Ben Rayner

Greta Gerwig has gained recognition in American and worldwide cinema in less than 15 years. Originally from Sacramento, California, but a New Yorker by adoption, she dreamed of being a playwright and crafted her path toward the heights of brilliance with both consistency and a taste for risk.

Yesterday, ambassador of independent American cinema, today at the summit of worldwide box-office success, Greta Gerwig manages to combine what was previously judged incompatible: delivering arthouse blockbusters, narrowing the gap between art and industry, exploring contemporary feminist issues with deft as well as depth, and declaring her demanding artistic ambition from within an economic model that she embraces to put to better use.

She can do it all: acting, writing, and directing

Whether acting, writing, or directing, her artistic endeavors have recurrent leitmotifs, such as family upheaval, adolescent rites of passage, fear of loss of social status, or the emergence of artistic vocation via free characters, sometimes fragile and marginal, but also fierce.

Starting as an actress, Greta Gerwig became a screenwriter working on various projects. She co-wrote ‘Hannah Takes the Stairs’ (2007) and ‘Nights and Weekends’ (2008), which she also co-directed, then Frances Ha (2012), ‘Mistress America’ (2015), and, of course, Barbie with Noah Baumbach, her accomplice in art.

Her first solo work, ‘Lady Bird’ (2017) – a striking, tender, and melancholy portrait of adolescence’s torments, was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Director.

For her second film, Greta Gerwig ambitiously took hold of the American literature classic from 1868 by Louisa May Alcott, ‘Little Women’, again to take a fresh look at all the story’s female protagonists, to better examine their emancipation in a world dominated by men. In a double reading, the director also subtly discusses her place within the cinema system and the compromises required for commercial success to appeal to a mass audience.

Finally, her most recent feature film was released in July 2023, the tornado ‘Barbie’ plows the same furrow in even more spectacular fashion by facing up to that ambivalent idol of small girls, a symbol of the female-as-object, but also of woman-emancipated. In this fierce satire about the human condition, Great Gerwig nails everyday sexism and stereotypes with joyful intent. An international cultural phenomenon, ‘Barbie’ is the most significant success of the year and has made Greta Gerwig the most lucrative female film director in history.

Xavier Dolan, photo credit: Shayne Laverdiere

Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan is back

“Let’s hold on to our dreams because together, we can change the world. Anything is possible for those who dare, work, and never give up.” With this statement, filmmaker Xavier Dolan received the Jury Prize for Mommy at the 67th Festival de Cannes in 2014. At the helm of the Un Certain Regard Jury, he will celebrate the thirst for discovery and passion for other’s talent.

It was an obvious choice: Xavier Dolan’s filmmaking found its maturity in his extreme youth and boldness, of the kind that opens a world of possibilities, believing more in dreams than reality, and finding a way to rise to their creative ambitions.

“I am humbled and delighted to return to Cannes as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury,” said Xavier Dolanin a statemen. “Even more than making films myself, discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys. In this responsibility, I can focus with the Un Certain Regard Jury members on an essential aspect of the art of film: stories told truthfully.”

Nolan is an Autodidact

Self-taught, he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in his first feature film, ‘I Killed My Mother’, at 19. Adapted from a short story he had written a few years earlier, this trial stroke was a master one and was chosen to represent Canada for the Academy Awards. In 2010, he revealed his multifaceted talent by being responsible for his second film’s art direction, costumes, and editing. With ‘Heartbeats’, he first entered Un Certain Regard when he was just 21.

Two years later, ‘Laurence Anyways’, which premiered at Un Certain Regard, won the section’s award for Best Actress ex-aequo for Suzanne Clément. His first award in Cannes highlighted Xavier Dolan’s delicate sense for directing actors and actresses, with whom he has developed loyal, intense collaborations.

‘Mommy’ Gave new exceptional roles to Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément after the psychological thriller ‘Tom at the Farm’. This 5th feature –his first in Competition– depicts a single mother’s difficulties raising her son. With deep emotion and poetry, he received the Jury Prize tied with Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Goodbye to Language’ from the hand of New Zealand director Jane Campion. With this choice, the Jury rewarded both the oldest (84) and the youngest (25) filmmakers in Competition, proving that originality is not the prerogative of youth, nor maturity that of experience. The following year, Xavier Dolan joined the Jury chaired by the Coen brothers at the 68th Festival de Cannes.

His return to directing sounded like a new declaration of love to actors and audiences alike. ‘It’s Only the End of the World’, an adaptation of Jean-Luc Lagarce’s play, was awarded the Grand Prix at the 69th Festival de Cannes. His fascination with acting can also be found in his following two films. ‘The Death and Life of John F. Donovan’ is the story of a young boy’s correspondence with his favorite actor, and ‘Matthias & Maxime’, presented in Competition in 2019.

He played a few notable roles for other filmmakers, including Xavier Giannoli’s ‘Lost Illusions’, which earned him a nomination for the César Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2022, Xavier Dolan directed his first TV series, ‘The Night Logan Woke Up.’

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Main photo: Opening ceremony Un Certain Regard 2023, credit: Joachim Tournebize

 

 

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Beyond the dive: Former pilot Nathan Jones and his mission to destigmatise mental health

Nathan Jones’ life changed forever when the military aircraft he was piloting went into a nosedive with 190 people on board. What happened next took courage and strength, but it was nothing compared to the journey that awaited him. This is the story behind Nathan Jones and Peak State, the mental wellness movement backed by Prince Harry. 

Physical and mental performance were everything to Nathan Jones. After completing a university degree in sports psychology and science, the British national played professional rugby and served over 17 years in the military as a pilot, flying UK operational squadrons in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya.

But in 2014, Nathan suffered a devastating injury, putting his physical and mental strength to their biggest test yet.

Monaco Life: Can you tell us about the moment that changed your life?

Nathan Jones: I was flying a transport plane called a Voyager; it’s a military-adapted Airbus A330 that I’m sure you’ve travelled on for holidays many times. We were flying troops from RAF Brize Norton, which is in the Cotswolds in the middle of the UK, out to Camp Bastion, a former British Army airbase in Helmand province, Afghanistan. It was a routine flight with a mixture of military passengers, aid workers, press and UN Commonwealth troops.

We were flying at night so that we were not a visible target. At around the halfway point – flying over the Black Sea with Turkey to my right and Georgia in front – a friend of mine came in to the cockpit to say hello. I suggested we go have a cup of tea in the front galley, so I took my break, did my checks and handed over control of the plane to the captain. I was the co-pilot at the time.

We went into the kitchen at the front of the plane when, all of a sudden, everyone who wasn’t strapped in hit the roof. The plane was in a dive and heading towards the sea. I had to crawl along the roof, in through the cockpit door, which was thankfully open because it was a military flight, and I went from a brightly lit cabin to a pitch-black cockpit with flashing lights. Everything that was not strapped in was stuck on the roof, and I was just staring at a dark sea coming quickly towards us. My feet were on the roof as we regained control and I pulled the plane out of the dive. Then, my body went straight into the footwell of the seat.

The plane flew in on a mayday to an American Air Force Base on the Turkish-Syrian border. I didn’t really know what damage my body had suffered at first. I knew I’d split my head open as I’d left a smear of blood along the roof from my journey there to the controls. But later on, I found out that I’d broken the sacroiliac and lumbar part of my back.

There were 198 people onboard, so it would have been a really bad day at work if we’d gone into the sea. But thankfully we didn’t.

The Airbus A330 voyager that Nathan Jones was piloting when it went into a nosedive with 190 souls onboard.
The Airbus A330 voyager that Nathan Jones was piloting when it went into a nosedive with 190 souls onboard.

What caused the plane to go into a nosedive?

The other pilot got something jammed in the controls – a camera – without him realising, and when he moved his seat forwards it knocked the stick in full deflection forward and we went into a dive. We didn’t know what was going on, we were stuck in a dive and going pretty quickly at the same time. So yeah, there were a lot of scared people on board, including me.

But the moral of the of the story is, I was in a physically and mentally fit place beforehand. It’s amazing how you can go from hero to zero very quickly. It’s a long road back from a traumatic event: there’s the physical recovery that you’re going through, but really the most important and toughest road is the mental battle.

What kind of mental support were you receiving from the military?

The military has very good rehab centres. I spent most of my time at a place called Hedley Court, just south of London. It had everything you could wish for: hydrotherapy pools, swimming pools with retractable floors, anti-gravity runners.. the physical side was completely covered.

The mental side of recovery was covered as well, but you’re a permanent resident there – in a room, fed and watered. It’s a long road to recovery, so it’s your job, it’s all day.

My clinician was the Team GB doctor for the Invictus Games, an international competition set up by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick service men and women. I was finding the recovery a real grind, so I was encouraged to enter the games.

Nathan Jones and Prince Harry at the 2016 Invictus Games Orlando finals
Nathan Jones and Prince Harry at the 2016 Invictus Games Orlando finals

At the time, I was being told I was never going to run again, I was barely going to be able to walk, that I couldn’t do this or couldn’t do that. Every day was yet another thing that I was being told what I couldn’t do rather than what I could.

So, getting into a competitive sporting setup again was the opposite of that. You’re told all the things that you can do; you’re encouraged to strive to do things, and it’s a proactive way of looking at recovery, because doing sport is not just the physical, it’s all the different aspects of it.

The power of sport is certainly something that people underestimate, and I found it completely life changing. I’d say that everyone who has done the Invictus Games has had different but the same experiences.

So, I ended up competing in 2016 in Orlando and 2017 in Toronto. I was doing cycling and swimming – not sports that I was necessarily used to competing in – and then suddenly I was competing live on ESPN and it was being beamed all around the world. I had to make sure that I was performing at my best just for that, let alone the will to want to win and do my best. It was an amazing experience.

Once again, you pushed your body to the limits. What happened next?

The last thing that my surgeon said to me before I left for Orlando was: “Whatever you do, don’t fall off your bike!”. I was in the road race at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, and the race was about 45 minutes long. We were doing laps of the circuit and on the last lap I was feeling good, bearing in mind I didn’t have a background in cycling racing, but I was feeling pretty fit and strong so I kicked it up, went around and got into first place, weaving through the last few corners. Keep in mind, I’d been around this track for 45 minutes by then and I was going fast.

I got the last corner wrong and smashed into the fence. I was well clear at that point, I could have just unclipped and cruised over the finish line. But instead, I hit the barrier and cartwheeled down the finishing straight. I smashed my bike to pieces – I don’t know how many pieces – my back wheel bounced down the road and I was lying in a heap. I went to hospital on a spinal board and, because I was in America, the medical system presented me with a $96,000 medical bill. Thankfully, the team insurance picked that up. But my surgeon watched it on TV and one of the first messages I received was, “You’ve done exactly what I told you not to!”.

I was fine though. It knocked me out, but I did manage to compete a few days later in the swimming pool. I was probably doing zigzags down the lane, but I did manage to do OK. And then Toronto went far better and I got some medals there.

Nathan Jones serving in the UK military and flying a fighter jet
Nathan Jones served in the UK military before suffering a broken back during a nosedive

Where did the idea for Peak State come from then? You clearly had the physical fitness, but how did you manage to balance that with mental wellness?

David Wiseman, the co-founder, and I were both working at the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Sussex in London, and one of the programmes that we were looking at was the mental health provision for the UK Armed Forces. We found there was a lot of reparatory stuff: for people who were suffering from mental ill health, which is really what people think of in terms of mental health around the world. People instantly think mental ill health rather than mental health. But everyone has mental health, whether it is good or bad or indifferent, people are somewhere on that spectrum.

So, the military had a lot of reparatory stuff for people who were suffering from common mental disorders: anxiety, depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress from conflict or otherwise. But there was very little pre-emptive mental health work and treatment initiatives looking at the proactive approach to good mental health. Through the Royal Foundation in partnership with the MOD, a programme called Head Fit was created, which is still going now. It’s an annual training that all of the personnel in the UK go through, a scientific approach backed by psychology and science to look at healthy habits throughout the day and give people the tools and techniques in order to perform at their best.

We then decided that it was something that we wanted to do on a global level because we were very passionate about giving the general public the opportunity to perform at their best. Our mantra is to create a global community that understands the importance of mental fitness and the importance of attaining it.

When I say mental fitness, I am talking about your brain, your mental capacity, like a muscle. Your physical fitness and mental fitness should be discussed in the same context, looking at your mind like a muscle that you have to train.

It’s all about repetition, making things simple, easy and fun, something that you enjoy doing.

You can look at it like prehab rather than rehab. Why send someone into battle with no armour? With these tools and techniques that we’re trying to instil in people, if something bad happens to them, which it does to everyone at some point in their life, then they’ve got the foundations to mentally handle it. They can use these tools and techniques to get back to their peak state.

Nathan Jones (far right) playing for the national rugby team
Nathan Jones (far right) playing for the national rugby team

Prince Harry has been very vocal about mental health, and the struggles that he has personally had after the death of his mother Princess Diana, and the flow-on effect from that. How important is it to have the backing of such a large personality like Prince Harry?

Yes, Prince Harry has been a very passionate campaigner for mental health for over a decade now and he has achieved great things in this arena of mental health, from mental ill health and breaking down those boundaries and stigmas to the mental fitness arena of what we’re doing now. He has been championing Peak State right from the start, even the naming of it all the way through to the structure of what we’re doing.

Having someone that is so passionate about a topic like that is invaluable and he really does bring a passion and certainly a breadth of knowledge on the subject through lived and learned experiences.

But also, for obvious reasons, he is a well-respected member of the royal family.

He talks about mental health topics in his book, Spare, but having someone of his stature involved certainly breaks down barriers and opens up communities and conversations around the world for us, which is what we’re trying to do: to create a global community. So, yes, it’s fantastic having him involved.

Did you know Prince Harry in the military?

I’ve known Prince Harry for a long time, from serving with him in the UK military, through to the Invictus Games and working for him at the Royal Foundation, to now working together with Peak State. We go back a long way, as does David. He worked at the Royal Foundation for 10 years.

Can you go into more detail about Peak State and the kind of services that it provides?

We launched Peak State in Australia in 2020 with the prime minister at the time, Scott Morrison, in the aftermath of the summer bushfires. It was highlighting the amazing work of the first responders and how they’d performed at their best. We then partnered with the Greek Royal Family, Princess Tatiana of Greece, and created a platform for the Greek population. We’ve now launched a Peak State app, which is a toolkit that people can use on a daily basis. It can be scenario based, so if you are about to make a public speech or go into an important meeting or sporting event, you can dip into your pocket and quickly go through a breathwork exercise or visualisation and change the way that you’re perceiving things so that you’re firing on all cylinders.

We are also launching our online training programmes for both professionals and for schools.

Do you feel like there is finally a shift happening in society with regards to mental health, or is there still a long way to go?

There’s still a long way to go, but the conversation has changed, and over the last decade there has been a polar shift in the way that people perceive mental fitness and mental health thanks to a huge amount of work by charities and foundations around the world to de-stigmatise mental health and mental ill health.

What we’re trying to do is just change the dial again and look at it in a proactive way rather than a reactive way.

To find out more information on Peak State, visit: peakstate.org.

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Monaco strengthens its global ties with new diplomatic appointments

Monaco has welcomed four new ambassadors, from Slovakia, Venezuela, Romania and Belgium, into its circle of international diplomats.

On Tuesday 12th March, diplomats from Slovakia, Venezuela, Romania and Belgium officially began their tenure in the Principality by presenting their Letters of Credence to Prince Albert II of Monaco. This formal occasion was followed by a celebratory luncheon hosted by Isabelle Berro Amadeï, Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, at the Hôtel Hermitage.

Who are the new ambassadors?

Slovakia’s new representative in Monaco, Jan Soth, began his diplomatic career in 1984. Since then, he has held significant overseas positions in Romania and France, which led to ambassadorial duties in multiple countries. In the past, he has also worked as the Secretary-General to the President of Slovakia.

Venezuela’s contribution to the newly appointed diplomatic ensemble is Arturo Enrique Gil Pinto, whose skills combine an engineering background with diplomatic expertise. Pinto is also the current Ambassador of Venezuela to France.

Ioana Bivolaru, who will represent Romanian interests and communications in Monaco, has over 25 years of experience in the diplomatic service. She played an instrumental role in Romania’s accession to the EU.

Lastly, Belgium’s Jo Indekeu brings a wealth of experience to Monaco, having held similar roles in Jordan, Iraq and Hungary.

 

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Left to right: Jo Indekeu, Ambassador of Belgium; Ioana Bivolaru, Ambassador of Romania; Isabelle Berro Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Jan Soth, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic; Arturo Enrique Gil Pinto, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

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