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Day: 28 April 2022

Measles cases are on the rise

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2022

As part of European Immunisation Week, the Monaco government is reminding parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, a painful and sometimes life-threatening childhood disease that can be managed with a simple vaccine.

Measles cases have surged by 80% worldwide, the United Nations announced this week. The cause is likely the interruption of regular vaccination programmes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and they warn that this revival of measles may only be the start of a bigger outbreak of several other preventable diseases.

“Almost 17,338 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9,665 during the first two months of 2021,” the UN said, adding that increased cases of the infectious measles virus tend to show up quickly when vaccination levels fall.

In response to this, Monaco’s Department of Social Affairs and Health is taking the opportunity during European Immunisation Week to remind parents of the importance of getting their children vaccinated against this highly-transmissible disease.

Measles symptoms start with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, before tiny white spots appear inside the mouth. After a few more days, a red rash breaks out on the body, including the face, and fever generally spikes, reaching dangerously high temperatures.

One in six people experience complications, with the most serious being pneumonia and an inflammation of the brain called encephalitis, which can lead to neurological damage or even death.

Unvaccinated young children are most at risk of measles and potentially fatal complications. Pregnant women who are not vaccinated are also at risk. All people who are not immune, meaning those who have never been vaccinated or who have never contracted the disease, are susceptible to infection.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to eliminate measles in Europe. To eradicate this disease, at least 95% of the population, aged two years and over, would need to be vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine. 

The jab is 97% effective and is usually given as a cocktail with serums against rubella and mumps. It is recommended children get their first dose at 12 months with a booster between 16 to 18 months.

This vaccine is covered 100% by insurance if prescribed by a doctor to any child under 17-years-old, and can be dispensed by the child’s physician.

 

 

Photo by Dave Haygarth on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

Hôtel de Paris, Hôtel Hermitage recognised as world-class hotels

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/04/2022

As travellers return to their favorite properties, or seek out new ones, Forbes Travel Guide has announced its 2022 Star Awards for the world’s most outstanding hotels, restaurants and spas. Among them are the Hôtel de Paris and the Hôtel Hermitage.

For the 64th annual list, Forbes Travel Guide ventured into new destinations, such as the Canary Islands, Greece, Ibiza and Malta. The winners include 323 Five-Star hotels, 558 Four-Star properties and 401 Recommended hotels. There are also 74 Five-Star restaurants this year, 112 Four-Star eateries and 67 Recommended restaurants, as well as 102 Five-Star and 193 Four-Star spas worldwide.

To find the best of the best, Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito inspectors stay at each hotel for three days and two nights, posing as ordinary guests. They test up to 900 objective, rigorous standards, from modern-day luxuries, such as whether a room is set up to enhance sleep or whether the food-and-beverage choices are health-conscious, to more traditional amenities, such as the quality of the décor and the courtesy of the staff. Seventy-five percent of a hotel’s rating relies on service, while the remaining 25 percent is determined by the quality of its facilities.

The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was awarded a Five-Star Hotel, while the Hôtel Hermitage was the Star Award Winner for 2022.

See the full list of 2022 Star Awards winners here.

 

Photos by Monte-Carlo SBM

 

 

 

 

Princess Antoinette Park party room reopens

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2022

The party room at Princess Antoinette Park has reopened after being shuttered during the worst of the Covid crisis, offering a great spot to celebrate a birthday or other event for kids. 

After a long absence, the party room at Princess Antoinette Park is open again on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for birthdays and other events for children aged one to 12.

The Mairie, in conjunction with the Animation Service, has furnished the site with a preparation area and furniture for up to 19 guests. There is a terrace adjoining the party room that is accessible, giving extra space on nice days for children to run and play in a safe environment under parental supervision. Additionally, use of the playground facilities, which include swings, slides and roundabouts, is also on offer.

The park itself is an attraction, with a mini farm, home to sheep, goats, ducks, chickens and rabbits, as well as the “Zen Space” and beautifully maintained gardens. For bigger kids, an 18-hole mini golf course is a draw.

To book a slot or for more information, call +377 93 15 06 02 or email them at ppa@mairie.mc oranimation@mairie.mc

 

 

Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

 

 

 

New Climate Accord announced in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2022

The iMason Climate Accord was formally unveiled at the Datacloud Global Congress at the Grimaldi Forum this week, uniting digital giants like Meta, Google and Microsoft in reducing carbon emissions from their digital infrastructure.

The largest cloud computing providers will join a new data centre industry initiative to slash the carbon output of the infrastructure powering the internet via the iMason Climate Accord (ICA).

In all, over 70 companies have agreed to be part of the agreement, which will include taking additional steps to track and reduce the less eco-friendly aspects of data centres and create accountability for carbon levels emitted.

Amongst some of the heavy hitters who have joined the cause are Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta and Microsoft. In addition to top cloud platforms, more than 40 major data centre space providers have come on board, led by Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT Global Data Centers and CyrusOne. Also joining in are Schneider Electric and Vertiv, the largest supplies of power and cooling equipment for data centres.

“We established iMasons to unite the builders of the digital age,” said Dean Nelson, Chairman and Founder of Infrastructure Masons. “The ICA represents an unprecedented collaboration between leading digital infrastructure companies to accelerate our journey to carbon neutrality. Today, we are combining forces to compound the efforts of these firms to make meaningful and sustained progress toward that goal.”

The iMasons Advisory Council met on 2nd February 2022 to decide what they could do as an industry to battle climate change. The ICA was the brainchild of that meeting.

“AWS is committed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and we are on a path to power our operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 – five years ahead of our original target,” said Eric Wilcox, Vice President of Data Centre Design Engineering at Amazon Web Services. “We cannot do this alone and look forward to working with other forward-thinking companies to decarbonise. We are excited to join iMasons to reduce carbon emissions from digital infrastructure.”

In 2021, digital infrastructure included seven million data centres worldwide representing 105GW of power capacity consuming 594TWhs of energy. This equates to 2.4% of global energy consumption.

Until now, there has been no industry standard in relation to carbon data reporting, so this accord is a big step in the right direction. The next step is to create a governing body to oversee the adoption of methodologies to standardise carbon measuring in digital infrastructure as well as to ensure transparency amongst the accord’s adherents.

The ICA hopes to become a major influencer in market-based buying decisions to drive the industry to a carbon neutral status as an initial step to achieving global net zero.

“One of the biggest topics of discussion at COP26 was how a lack of reliable and consistent measurement hampers progress on the path to net zero. We also know that while many companies are making valiant efforts to improve their carbon footprints, Scope 3 emissions continue to be the most difficult to control and reduce,” said Christian Belady, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer of Datacentre Advanced Development at Microsoft. “We’re delighted to support such a valuable initiative to help bring both measurement and transparency to the datacentre industry.”

 

 

 

 

Euroleague play-off match 3: Revenge of the Greeks

by: Luke Entwistle
28/04/2022

A valiant Roca Team comeback wasn’t enough to prevent them trailing in their Euroleague playoff tie against Olympiacos (83-87) on Wednesday, leaving Sasa Obradovic’s men with an uphill struggle to reverse the deficit.

AS Monaco Basketball must now win both legs, starting with Friday’s match at the Salle Gaston Medecin, if they are to avoid a premature end to a series that Olympiacos manager Georgios Bartzokas described as “a difficult series, maybe the most difficult in Euroleague right now.”

Having blown Olympiacos away in the last leg at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Monaco could have expected a reaction from historically one of the most prolific European sides. Defences reigned supreme in the opening quarter, with Monaco only managing one, unsuccessful attempt from outside the key.

Indiscipline from Olympiacos allowed Monaco to stay within touch, as Mike James’ 100% accuracy from eight free-throws gave the home side a slender lead. Experience began to count in the second-quarter. The much-decorated Kostas Sloukas took the reins and began to orchestrate the match as Olympiacos went into the break with a slender lead (41-45).

The game looked to have definitively got away from the Roca Team in the third-quarter. Having managed to reign in their opponents throughout the night, Olympiacos’ 15-point advantage looked impossible to overcome. Experience, but also defensive solidity looked amiss, and Obradovic told Monaco Life, “For a lot of guys, this is the first time experiencing this, the first time they are playing such an important game in such pressure…Second thing, what who missed a lot today from my side is Alpha Diallo, a defensive stopper, who we needed in some moments.”

But the Roca Team can never be written off. An 11-2 streak at the beginning of the fourth-quarter ignited the Salle Gaston Medecin, who once again believed in the exploit. Back from the brink, Paris Lee restored parity with a magnificent three-pointer, before another just moments later handed his side a slender lead (80-79).

However, in moments of hardship, Olympiacos managed to find that extra gear, and they did so again in the dying stages here. Far from a flashy performance, a clinical Olympiacos prevailed on the night (83-87), leaving Obradoivc’s men with plenty of work to do.

Post-match, Olympiacos manager Bartzokas complimented Monaco’s fighting spirit. “I respect Monaco who deserve to be here, who never give up,” he said. Those words will be of little consolation to Obradovic, who told Monaco Life that he is already moving past this defeat. “Everything is secondary now. Let’s think about how to regenerate now and take the next match.”

It may be an uphill battle, but Monaco’s astonishing run to the play-offs is indicative of a team capable of climbing the highest peaks, and they will have to do so again if they are to prolong their European adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life