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Day: 30 January 2020

Roca team domination continues

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/01/2020

Rytas Vilnius didn’t stand a chance against the whirlwind that was AS Monaco Basketball on Wednesday night at Salle Gaston Medecin.

With a huge 86-61 victory over their EuroCup opponents Rytas Vilnius, the Red and Whites crushed it on Wednesday when they took on the Lithuanian team at home. This was clearly payback for the 22nd January beating they inflicted on Monaco on their home turf in the Top 16 Round 3.

From the outset, Monaco was on fire and by halftime, the score proved just how much. An unbelievable 53-15 span between the teams had the Red and Whites heading into the locker room with a swagger only winners can pull off.

The second half was no different, though by the 4th quarter, the astonishing lead had closed marginally thanks to three for three 3-pointers by Vilnius’s Bickauskis. 

In the end, coach Sasa Obradovic’s boys gave him a 51st birthday present to remember, and the first he’s been able to enjoy, having never won on his birthday before.  

“We played in a really intense way, everyone was involved in a practically perfect first quarter,” he said after the match. “We lost energy in Paris, but we had a good reaction. We expect even more challenges in the upcoming matches. It was a good it was on my birthday, it makes me smile even more.”  

The President of ASM Basketball, Sergey Dyadechko, stated publicly that it’s the fans and their unconditional support that have made this team what it is. “Dear supporters, dear friends, I can only tell you how proud I am of the support you have shown for the Roca Team. Thank you for this wonderful atmosphere,” said Dyadechko in a statement issued at the end of the unforgettable night.

But Roca Team can’t rest on their laurels. They are in an incredibly tough EuroCup pool, with all four teams sitting at 2 wins and 2 losses. Monaco currently has the lead, sitting at the top with the highest basket ration and goal average.

 
 

Slimani wants to leave AS Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/01/2020

AS Monaco’s Vice-President Oleg Petrov has reportedly made it clear that the team is not intending to let Islam Slimani leave this transfer period, despite his asking to do so.

Islam Slimani is not a happy camper. After having begun the season paired with Wisam Ben Yedder and being consistently part of the starting line-up, life under new head coach Robert Moreno is not so good. His 4-3-3 approach has left Slimani’s time on the pitch significantly slashed, playing only one game since Moreno’s arrival.

The 31-year-old Leicester City loan has found the new set up to be less than desirable, going so far as to say he feels Monaco has been “ungrateful” toward him, according to some reports. He has requested to leave his contract sixth months early to pursue other options, notably offers from the Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United.

Man U has been searching desperately for a striker, whilst the Spurs are in need of a replacement for the injured Harry Kane until at least April.

But Monaco is reportedly reluctant to let him go, so far not agreeing to release the Algerian striker under the terms of their loan agreement, which also disallows him to be recalled by Leicester City. The Red and Whites could ask for compensation to cancel his loan if he is snapped up by another team, but there’s been no word if this is even an option has been floated thus far.

With only a couple of days left in the transfer window, it’s still unclear if Slimani will stay or be free to go. Hang on to your hats, folks. Looks like this one is going to go down to the wire. 

 
Top photo: Source AS Monaco
 
Read also: 

AS Monaco out of French Cup


 
 

Boosting train services to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/01/2020

Monaco is pushing for France and Italy to increase their train services for workers travelling in to and out of Monaco each day.
Monaco’s Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning Marie-Pierre Gramaglia welcomed a delegation from the European Commission to the Monaco train station on Thursday 30th January as part of its two-day mission in the southern region of the Mediterranean Corridor – a railway infrastructure project that crosses six countries and covers close to 10,000 kilometres.
Iveta Radicova, EU Coordinator of the Mediterranean Corridor, was accompanied by Vice Delegate for Transport, Intermodality and Travel in the PACA Region Philippe Tabarot, and officials from the Nice Metropolis, Liguria and Piedmont regions.

© Direction de la Communication / Michael Alesi

The objective of the meeting was to present cross-border issues on the Nice-Monaco-Ventimiglia-Genoa axis. “As an economic player at the heart of this vast regional area, our country welcomes nearly 45,000 French and Italian employees every day who access their workplace by road or rail,” said Ms Gramaglia. “We are promoting a modal shift to public transport with the objective of reducing the flow of light vehicles by around 20% by 2030. This represents nearly 13,000 incoming and outgoing vehicles and 10,000 internal vehicles. This is why developing access to Monaco by rail is one of the priorities of our mobility policy.”
The train, and more specifically the TER, represents an essential alternative to cars in accessing Monaco, with 6.4 million journeys made by TER trains to and from Monaco in 2018.
“We are campaigning to improve and intensify the current offer of rail services in the Principality, with an increase in supply during morning and evening peak hours,” said the minister.
 
 

Hollywood rallies behind Prince Albert

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/01/2020

Academy Award nominated actress Uma Thurman will be presenting HSH Prince Albert with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hollywood for the Global Ocean Gala in February, recognising his leadership and commitment to the planet and ocean conservation. 
The gala, to be held on Thursday 6th February, is being hosted by philanthropist Milutin Gatsby and supported by Chopard, who designed and crafted the exclusive Lifetime Achievement Award.
Uma Therman, who is also a dedicated conservationist and civil rights activist, said she was honoured to be presenting Prince Albert with the award. “I’m delighted to be part of the ongoing projects associated with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in helping to take necessary action on climate change and the protection of our planet,” she said.
Meanwhile, Golden Globe winning actress and Hollywood icon Sharon Stone will present and announce the ‘Grand Earth Pledge’, an exclusive group of 33 ‘Advocates for the Planet’ ready to join forces with Prince Albert to face climate and ocean emergency, prevent the earth’s decline and preserve the future of humanity.
“There is a climate emergency, the earth is in decline and the fate of humanity is at stake,” said Sharron Stone. “We need to face this reality and decide to act now. I am delighted to be part of the Grand Earth Pledge, a group of amazing people that are taking the lead along HSH Prince Albert, to make a stand for our one and only planet.”
Chris Isaak and Macy Gray will perform at the exclusive gala dinner, hosted at a private estate in Beverly Hills for 250 privileged philanthropists and A-list celebrities.
“At a time of increasing natural disasters and climate threats impacting the delicate balance of our planet and the oceans of the world, this gala and its special award and pledge recognises the importance of shining a spotlight and taking action on these urgent issues,” said Milutin Gatsby.
Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden will also be present at the awards, which will acknowledge the Prince’s “outstanding commitment to the planet, its rich biodiversity and its fragile eco-system”. Through his foundation, launched in 2006, more than 575 projects have been supported to date. The projects target three main geographical regions: the Mediterranean basin, the Polar regions and the least developed countries, all of which are heavily impacted by the effects of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and urgent threats to their water resources.
Notable achievements by the foundation include saving the Bluefin tuna species from extinction, encouraging the effective development of Marine Protected Areas, fighting plastic pollution in the Mediterranean and convincing the IPCC to produce a special report on the impact of climate change on the ocean and cryosphere.
Prince Albert is one of the world’s leading advocates for the planet, succeeding in gathering philanthropists and international artists to save the ocean during The Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean, the next edition of which will take place on Thursday 24th September 2020 in Monaco.
Photo: Prince Albert II of Monaco ©Agency Sabine Brauer Photos J.Reetz
Read more:

Stars gather for Prince’s Ocean Gala

Landmark climate report warns of ‘unprecedented’ catastrophes


 
 
 

Monte-Carlo Bay penthouse goes super-luxe

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/01/2020

Dubbed ‘Suite Eleven’, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has revealed that it will debut its new ultimate luxury “retreat” in April of this year.

Encompassing the entire 11th floor of the hotel, Suite Eleven is the most opulent of the Monte-Carlo Bay’s suites to date. Covering a surface area of nearly 200m2, this two bedroom mega-suite also boasts a generously-sized living and dining area, vast enough to accommodate 10 people comfortably and stylish enough to make guests wish it was their own. The crowning jewel though is the 21m2 terrace, offering one of the Principality’s most stunning 180º sea and coastline views.

An additional suite on the 10th floor is connected to Suite Eleven if room for additional guests is required, upping the number of possible overnight guests to eight.

Exclusive services above and beyond the standard are offered and include private chefs, spa treatments, a “cocoon bed” at the edge of the lagoon in high season, airport transfers and a personalised welcome.

Designed by Olivier Antoine, who recently renovated the Thermes Marins, his focus on natural materials and sustainable living spaces gives the suite a timeless feel, whilst incorporating the hotels’ signature colours of blue and beige throughout.