The jobless rate in mainland France has fallen to 8.9 percent, down 0.7 points in the fourth quarter of 2017, having increased by 0.2 points in the third quarter of 2017 to 9.3 percent. Year-on-year, the decline was 1.1 percentage points.
Particularly satisfying for the French government is the fact that, according to INSEE, the French state statistics agency, all age groups are affected by the drop. The biggest overall fall in the jobless rate was for young people, 15-24 years old, for whom the unemployment rate fell by 2.8 points over one year to 20.7 percent.
Unemployment is now at its lowest level since early 2009, with an average 2.5 million unemployed in mainland France, 205,000 unemployed fewer.
INSEE announced on Wednesday, February 14, that 253,500 jobs were created in the private sector over the whole of 2017, an increase of 1.3 percent over one year. The French growth rate was 1.9 percent for the whole of 2017, its highest level in six years.
This year’s Top Marques super car show, being held from April 19 to 22 at Grimaldi Forum, will mark the important milestone of its 15th anniversary edition with a stunning showcase of some of the world’s most exclusive cars, including an unprecedented number of test drives in Monaco.
Organisers of the annual supercar show are keen to keep some elements under wraps until the opening day, but have revealed that more than supercars will be available for test drives on the F1 circuit including the brand new Zenvo, drivable for the first time during the show and high performance tuners by Moldavian customising company Alandi Performance.
Visitors will also be able to get up close to the Missile, by Corbellati, being touted as the world’s fastest supercar with an estimated top speed of 500 km/h. The show boasts four world premieres, including an ultra lightweight hybrid hypercar with top speeds of 380 km/h by Slovenia supercar specialist Tushek and bespoke supercar from British newcomers BDI.
The 2018 edition will also welcome the largest ever display of “green” vehicles including a special edition electric sports car designed for Prince Albert, the show’s patron.
Photo: Facebook Top Marques Monaco
Manoj Bairstow, managing director of Top Marques Monaco, said: “The concept behind Top Marques was to create an exhibition which went beyond the static events of Paris, Frankfurt and Geneva, where visitors could actually test drive the vehicles that caught their eye. And Monaco, which hosts probably the most famous Grand Prix in the world, was the obvious venue for a live auto show with test drives taking place on the F1 circuit.
“It’s fitting therefore that for our 15th anniversary show we will have more test drive cars available than ever before – the pit lanes will be lined with cars available for test drives including the new Zenvo, which can be seen in motion for the first time at the show.”
This year visitor’s can take advantage of a new VIP pass, which offers test drive pit access as well as the chance to benefit from multiple refuelling pit-stops in the VIP Lounge. There will also be a new Top Marques Restaurant, open to all, which will offer first class dining in a discrete setting within the exhibition.
Albert Croesi, Head of Mission to the Minister of State in Operation Apolline, announced Monday morning the installation of the construction site to begin work at Jardins d’Apolline.
Starting this week, fences have begun to be put up behind the buildings. In a few days, a crane will be placed on the forecourt between the AS Monaco Football Store and Snowflake bookstore, and the pedestrian path will be built.
“The duration of the works is estimated at 36 months with a reinstatement date of all residents in their apartment set at the end of 2020. But everything will be done to reduce this delay,” said Mr Croesi, recalling that the state has made every effort to ensure that residents have been relocated in the best possible conditions and without impacting Engelin apartments.
The Monaco Red Cross and AMADE Mondiale have announced the opening of a “mother-child space” at Camporoya, the Ventimiglia migrants’ reception camp.
Every day several hundred people in transit are fed, housed and treated here. For young children accompanied by their parents, or minors without families, the long journey as migrants is a real trauma, and moments of refuge and relaxation are rare.
The project consists in offering to the Ventimiglia migrant camp a space entirely dedicated to children in which they have access to fun and recreational activities. The Camporoya project will allow mothers to meet and socialise in peace and share childcare responsibilities.
Camporoya, the Ventimiglia migrant reception camp. Photo: Monaco Red Cross
“They will find a place dedicated to enlightenment and learning, where different creative workshops, games and various activities, adapted to the little hands of the youngest, will be held, including a junior library and a toy library,” said Corinne Clerc, in charge of the work of the Monaco Red Cross with migrants in Ventimiglia. She has been working with the team for several months on this project, which is the result of a partnership between AMADE Mondiale in its commitment to unaccompanied minors, alongside Terre des Hommes Italy and the Monaco Red Cross.
The child-friendly space has been made with the unwavering support of Italian Red Cross staff working in the camp every day.
Indrek Vimberg, representative of the Estonian Technology Information and Communication Association. Photo: Manuel Vitali/DC
A conference on e-Estonia, a model for e-government and e-services, was held on Friday, February 16, at MonacoTech’s premises in the presence of the Ministers of Finance and Economy, Interior, Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Administration and member companies of the Monaco Economic Board.
At the invitation of the MEB, Indrek Vimberg, representative of the Estonian Association of Information and Communication Technologies, and Rein Lang, former Minister and consultant for Nortal, the company that designed most of the e-services and information systems in Estonia, gave those present an overview of the implementation of e-government.
Both have been involved in the groundbreaking digitisation of the Estonian administration and its applicability to other countries. Estonia, the smallest of the three Baltic States and a pioneer in administrative digitalisation, spoke about its early development, its implementation and the situation today.
A cooperation agreement between Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG) and the Monaco Institute of Sports Medicine (IM2S) was signed on Monday, February 19.
This rapprochement between the two institutions, which already collaborate closely, takes into account the need to develop partnerships between the health institutions in the Principality, bearing in mind their close geographical proximity and the related nature of their activities.
Closer cooperation will be developed in order to find further synergies that will further integrate the activities of IM2S into the new Princess Grace Hospital Centre of Orthopaedics.
Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, praised the constructive nature of the exchanges between the doctors and those responsible for these high-level healthcare facilities in the Principality.
The agreement took place under the aegis of Minister Gamerdinger, CHPG Chairman of the Board, André Garin, and Director, Patrick Bini, along with IM2S President Delegate, Céline Caron-Dagioni, and Director General Gérard Luccio.
