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Month: October 2016

Monaco outlines sustainable mission at UN

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/10/2016

HE Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations in 2015/ Photo: ©DR
HE Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations in 2015. Photo:©DR

Monaco has again taken the initiative at the United Nations to promote sustainable development. HE Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations in New York, reminded the commission of the “proactive policy of Monaco for the promotion of public health and sustainable city”.
Monaco’s government is particularly active in greener transport solutions, management of water and waste through its actions to preserve the environment and campaigns such as “A bag for life”.
Ms Picco also underlined the importance that Monaco places on the education of young people to make them more aware of environmental concerns and the commitment of the Principality in promoting the role of science in the field of climate change.
The Ambassador also announced a workshop to take place next year in Monaco on the socio-economic impacts of acidification of the oceans. The event is being organised by the Monaco Scientific Centre – which last week became an official partner of WHO for its “outstanding job in the field of climate change” – in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has a research centre in Monaco.

Direct Nice-China flight possibly in the pipeline

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/10/2016

Photo: Boeing Dreamscape
Photo: Boeing Dreamscape. Featured image: Carlos Delgado

Local French daily Nice Matin is speculating that Nice will soon have a direct flight to China. A French delegation is currently visiting Shanghai, and President of the Regional Council, Christian Estrosi, on Monday met the CEO of China Eastern, a member airline of the Sky Team alliance of which Air France is a member.
Also present was Marc Bayard, Air France’s Director General. Meanwhile, the official responsible for tourism in the Nice metropolitan area, Rudy Salles, said that work has been going on for some time to establish a link between Nice and Shanghai.
“What was unthinkable ten years ago is today very likely,” he said. For his part, Mr Estrosi is doing his best to convince the Chinese – unnerved by the July 14 atrocity in Nice – that security is not an insurmountable problem.
However, if the Chinese side favours a direct link to the Riviera, it would be some time before such a flight could be inaugurated, and under the French system, the national aviation authorities would have to give approval, which given the favourable treatment for Paris airports, would not be a foregone conclusion.
 

Blood donation drive today until 5 pm

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/10/2016

bloodCoinciding with the National Blood Donor Day, the Association of Monaco blood donors (l’Amicale des donneurs de sang de Monaco) and the Blood Transfusion Centre have organised a major blood donation initiative today.
Volunteers are asked not just to give blood, but mark the day as an important event and tell family, friends, and colleagues.
More than 5,000 blood donations are needed each year for the transfusions at Monaco’s health facilities. Volunteers today and throughout the year will enable the Principality to be self-sufficient in terms of blood supplies.
Stop by the A Casa i Soci at the Maison des Associations (2, bis Promenade Honoré II ), just around the corner from Starbucks in La Condamine, until 5 pm.
 

Prince Albert guest of honour at IAEA forum

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/10/2016

HSH Prince Albert II speaking in Vienna. Photo: IAEA
HSH Prince Albert II speaking in Vienna. Photo: IAEA

HSH Prince Albert has attended the 60th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, where he was the guest of honour of the Scientific Forum, the main side event of the conference, and itself a high-level occasion where scientists and experts gather to discuss a priority topic for the agency. This year the forum’s theme was “Nuclear technology for sustainable development objectives”.
In his speech, Prince Albert II recalled his “commitment and that of the Principality in order to build a peaceful and better world through the use of nuclear applications in the service of sustainable development”. He referred in particular to environmental protection and the promotion of global health.
The Prince also mentioned the partnership between the agency and the Principality, which since 1961 has hosted the Environmental Laboratories of IAEA, located on Quai Antoine 1er. Following the Scientific Forum, HSH Prince Albert visited the laboratories in Seibersdorf, another IAEA research centre, which is the counterpart of the laboratories in Monaco.

Magical Kingdom adventures for Monaco’s young music fans

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/10/2016

OPMCconcertOn Sunday, October 16, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC) entertained some 100 children and their parents as part of the “Jeune Public” series – concerts for young audiences – at Auditorium Rainier III.
The mid-afternoon show “Adventures through the Magical Kingdom” was directed by Geoffrey Styles and narrated by Alasdair Malloy, as the orchestra played familiar music from children’s films including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Robin Hood and, to the delight of the little listeners, the recent box office hit, Frozen.
Narrator and conceptualist Alasdair Malloy appeared on stage in a King’s costume to captivate the spectators young and old, and led the children on a magical adventure to a Royal Ball. Throughout each song, Mr Malloy’s choreography allowed children to follow the sequence of movements and participate in the festivities. Other members of the symphony also dressed in costume to further enchant the audience.
ticketsTickets for the concert, which ran 75 minutes, an age-appropriate length for the Sunday afternoon crowd, were only €4 per person.
While the OPMC is acclaimed for its high-quality concerts for adults, performing for HSH Prince Albert and during important events in the Principality, the concerts for young audiences are less known to the local community and provide an opportunity to expose young minds to the music and culture that Monaco has to offer.
Across the season, OPMC hosts four “JP” shows on Wednesday at 4 pm for children and their parents at Auditorium Rainier III, as well as two “Family Concerts” (CF), the first of which, “Halloween”, is on October 30, also at Auditorium Rainier III. For more see the OPMC website.
This year, the OPMC celebrates their 160 year anniversary and celebrated with a special concert on September 23 titled “Nés à Monte-Carlo”, featuring a piece composed by the Monegasque composer Louis Abbiate.
 

New Year's Eve thieves booked into Monaco's top hotels

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/10/2016

atmTwo thieves from Marseille have been sentenced to one year in jail for robbing a man at the BNP cash machine on Boulevard Albert 1er on New Year’s Eve last year. One of the miscreants watched the code being entered while the second grabbed the card from the elderly victim, who alerted a security guard at the Christmas Fair in the port. The two men were soon arrested, Monaco’s Criminal Court was told.

The thieves had booked into one of the Principality’s top hotels for the night, apparently in the hope of executing a number of robberies during the New Year celebrations. One of the suspects had 15 convictions in France since 1998, while his companion had twenty. They were not in court last week to hear the sentences, a fact that was regretted by the prosecutor, Alexia Brianti.
Counsel for the defence argued in vain that the theft of the bankcard was simply a case of too much alcohol. Arrest warrants for the two were issued.