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Month: February 2020

Famous Aussie comedy to hit the stage

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/02/2020

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical, adapted from the 1994 Australian sleeper hit film, is coming to the Grimaldi Forum for four days this June.

Priscilla tells the tale of three unique friends, two drag queens and a transsexual who travel across the Australian outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a rickety old bus they have named Priscilla.

The trio had been invited to perform at a resort owned by the ex-wife of one of the friends, hence the reason for the journey. On their travels, they encounter an interesting array of outback locals who, whilst not always approving of their lifestyle, are often as quirky as the “girls” in their own special ways. 

The three performers face adversity and emotional challenges, and through it all strengthen their bonds of friendship and pay tribute to freedom and tolerance.

The musical is top-loaded with fantastic disco and pop hits from Tina Turner, Gloria Gaynor, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and others. Whilst the music is sing-along worthy, it is the costumes that steal the show. Huge coloured wigs, brightly hued corset dresses, shaggy boots, sky high heels, bead, bangles and sparkles of all description are on display, making this a visual feast as well as a musical one.

The show runs from 4th to 7th June in the Salle des Princes. Tickets and information are available on www.grimaldiforum.com.

 
 

Digital career coaching for Monaco’s teens

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/02/2020

Thousands of teenage students in Monaco are benefiting from a new webchat coaching scheme offering free and personalised career guidance. CAESO was launched in November 2019 and is an initiative of the Smart City programme.
CAESO (Coach d’Aide aux Études Supérieures et à l’Orientation) is a 100% digital webchat service that is currently being offered to middle and high school students in Monaco, in conjunction with existing support such as guidance counsellors.
As part of Smart Principality, an Extended Monaco program, CAESO was created by the government and is being deployed by the local start-up Ovvy.
The programme is designed to answer common questions among teens, like: “How do I become a physiotherapist, lawyer, electrician or salesperson?”, “Which industry should I work in?”, and “What are the BAC reforms and why is it changing?”

According to the government, from 9th Grade (3ème), students and their parents begin to ask themselves many questions about their educational and professional future.
“Orientation is a major concern for students and families who need benchmarks in the face of increasingly extensive training options, the reform of the baccalaureate and changes to access to higher education,” explained Nicolas Rodier, technical advisor to the Directorate of National Education for Youth and Sports.
CAESO is available for students from 3ème to Terminale (12th Grade) in both public and private institutions. It provides students with information on more than 850 trades and 100,000 training courses.
“At the end of exchanges with CAESO, the student has career ideas, information on training, Parcoursup (the French national admissions platform) and BAC reform, as well as recommendations for post-baccalaureate studies adapted to their professional aims,” said Mr Rodier, adding that “this device aims to make students more involved in their orientation and strengthen their self-confidence.”
The free webchat is accessible via the website www.caeso.mc. With their personal access code – distributed by OVVY in the classroom – students, with parental authorisation, connect to the webchat from their personal phone or from the computers and tablets provided by the school. The data is completely confidential.
Since its introduction, more than 1,900 middle and high school students in the Principality have used CAESO, and 64% of students in grades 9 to 12 – a total of 1,200 students – completed their profiles and received advice from CAESO.
 
 

Fighting homelessness at the grassroots level

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/02/2020

Monaco has highlighted the importance of sport in tackling homelessness and building a sense of belonging at a recent United Nations meeting.
Monaco participated in the UN Economic and Social Council in New York City that adopted a resolution asking nations to develop comprehensive, intersectoral national strategies and specific policy interventions to address homelessness.
Themed ‘Ensuring access for all to affordable social protection systems and housing in order to tackle homelessness’, this was the very first of its kind to tackle the thorny issue for the committee.
Cédric Braquetti, the Principality’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, intervened during the general debate to present the health and proactive, human-centred social policy of Monaco.
Monaco also was involved with the portion of the session that included sport as part of the solution. The Monegasques noted that sport was of fundamental importance for homeless people, as it gives them a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. The teamwork aspect lifts confidence, builds social ties and fosters integration leading to improved mental and emotional health.
The resolution also urged governments at both national and local levels to improve access to more affordable housing in communities. This, they suggested, can be done through targeted social measures and formal policies on the building and distribution of reasonably priced, safe housing choices for those without means to access such options on the open market.
The declaration also called for an end to discrimination and negative stereotyping of homelessness by proposing that laws, advocacy and awareness campaigns be implemented at grassroots levels.
The decree was passed by the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development, the advisory team that looks after the social development arm of global development.
 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Monaco Red Cross joins call for donations

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/02/2020

As the International Federation of Red Cross makes a 32 million Swiss franc global emergency appeal, the Monaco Red Cross has responded by contributing €70,000 to the call. But it is hoping to raise much more and donations are being sought at the local branch.
With the novel coronavirus steadily spreading beyond China and a rising death toll, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is expanding its coronavirus disease (Covid-19) response and preparedness programmes.
A 32 million Swiss franc global emergency appeal will support community-based health activities, access to basic services, and the management of misinformation and stigma – all equally crucial to control the spread of the virus. In the past two weeks the IFRC has been on the ground, supporting National Societies in countries where the outbreak is spreading, mainly in the Asia Pacific region. Through this emergency appeal, the IFRC hopes to invest in preparedness activities in other countries, with a focus on those whose health systems are already under pressure.
“We recognise the gravity of the global threat posed by this novel coronavirus,” said IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain. “National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are playing an important role in battling this outbreak, and we must now step up our support to them.  Right now, millions of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in 192 countries are connected to their local communities, playing an important role in efforts against this outbreak, or ready to act in case of an outbreak.”
Assistance will be tailored to each country depending on its epidemic preparedness and response, as well as the vulnerability of particular groups of people in the community.
“Online and offline, volunteers are already at work, educating the public about this virus, helping prevent misinformation and reducing rumours and panic,” said IFRC’s Director of Health and Care, Emanuele Capobianco. “We know from past outbreaks that fear and mistrust contribute to the spread of disease and hampers all response efforts. We need solidarity, not stigma, to support communities and people affected by this outbreak.”
Donations can be made to the Monaco Red Cross, specifying ‘coronavirus’:
– By bank cheque or cash, to the Monaco Red Cross – 27 bd from Switzerland, Monaco
– Via the website www.croix-rouge.mc, by selecting ‘coronavirus’ on the online donation interface
– By bank transfer (RIB available on the website)
 
Photo: IFRC Facebook page
 

Cancer research boost thanks to new microscope

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/02/2020

The Monaco Scientific Centre’s medical biology department has announced the acquisition of a state-of-the-art microscope that allows researchers to study cancer cells to better assist in finding cures.

This holotomographic microscope, which cost €24,000, gives scientists the opportunity to make daily tests on different cancer cells extracted directly from patient’s tumours. They can ascertain the cell’s migrations and proliferation capacity using this microscope, as well as methodically see how the cells interact or react with certain drugs. 

This type of study gives them a better idea of the behaviour of different cancers, paving the way for more specific treatments depending on which type a patient suffers from. Normally an extraordinarily tedious and time-consuming process, the microscope allows researchers to leave the cells in an incubator in controlled conditions mimicking the human body. They then film them as they proliferate.

This microscope also can test the density and thickness of the cells. This can help determine their proliferation according to size and the rates in which they multiply. 

Currently, the microscope is being used to study paediatric brain cancers. Clearly, time is of the essence when dealing with a child facing terminal illness, so the ability to get results in days rather than months is nothing short of miraculous. Researchers and doctors hope that by studying these cancers as they metastasise, they can figure out ways to halt and even reverse their progress, saving lives and giving hope where once there was little.

 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Revving up for Formula One 2020 season

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/02/2020

The new F1 season doesn’t start for another month, but pre-season action in Barcelona is in full swing.
As new Formula One test cars have been slowly rolled out for the public to “ooh and ahh” over this past week, the pilots have been psyching themselves up for the start of a whole new season where anything is possible.
Each team got to use only one of their cars during testing, so strategies are varied as to how time is split. Ferrari, AlphaTauri, McLaren, Haas and Red Bull have opted to give a single pilot the whole day. This put Sebastian Vettel, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz, Kevin Magnussen and Max Verstappen respectively in the driver’s seat for Day One of testing, though Vettel withdrew last minute due to illness leaving Ferrari conspicuously missing.
Alfa Romeo, Mercedes and Renault took different tacts. Alfa split the day between Robert Kubica and Antonio Giovinazzi. Their regular test pilot, Kimi Raikkonen, had his chance already last week in Fiorano. Mercedes gave equal time to Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Renault allocated time for both Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo. Racing Point and Williams are doing the same with the day partitioned up by Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll for Racing Point and George Russell and Nicholas Latifi for Williams.
At the end of the first day, Team Mercedes showed they still have what it takes. Lewis Hamilton came in fastest, though the times are fairly unreliable, as these tests are more for measuring laps to determine the reliability and success of each vehicle.
No red flags were thrown during the day, a notable feat, and every team covered at least 100 laps. Daniel Ricciardo made the fewest laps with 56, whilst Max Verstappen clocked up the most at 168.
Verstappen may have opted to drive so many laps to get a better feel for his Red Bull RB16, which he spun out in twice. Pushing the boundaries is all part of the testing process, and it seems Verstappen did just that. Fortunately, no damage was done and both pilot and car came out unscathed.
This first round of testing concludes Friday with three additional days happening next week.
The season officially opens on 15th March in Melbourne and hits Monaco on Sunday 24th May.