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Day: 14 July 2022

Nice Airport launches new summer destinations

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2022

From Transylvania to Iceland, Sardinia to Crete, Nice Airport welcomed a host of new airlines and new routes in July. So, where are you heading this summer?

With all the bad press surrounding air travel this summer in Europe, it’s nice to hear a bit of good news with Nice Airport adding some fantastic new flights to some very travel-worthy spots.

At the start of July, perennial low-cost favourite EasyJet added two flights a week to Alghero, Sardinia, as well as three flights per week from Nice to Brest. Both flights run out of Terminal 2, with the flight to Alghero running until 4th September and the one to Brest until 28th October. These flights feature reasonable ticket prices, even during the peak months of the summer season.

Nice Airport has added a new airline company to the line-up, as well. Amelia Airlines has been around for 40 years but this is the first time they have added a Nice flight to their itinerary. From now until 3rd September, the airline is offering a weekly flight from Nice to Brive in the enchanting southwest of France. 

Meanwhile, Wizzair has added a flight to mysterious Transylvania and the vibrant city of Cluj. The Nice to Cluj flight runs two flights each week from 1st August to 28th October.

Icelandair has added a Reykjavik routing that allows passengers to visit the natural beauty and warm people of Iceland. They will be running two flights per week in July and August, taking advantage of the short summer season the island nation has to offer.

Air France has also jumped into the fray, adding a new Nice-Crete flight. Travellers will now be able to go to the most populous of the Greek Islands and enjoy the pink sand beaches and clear waters of the coast, as well as the delights of Heraklion three times a week for all of July and August.

Finally, the latest addition at Nice Airport is an Iberia flight to Valencia three times per week in the high season months of July and August. Visit all the city’s offerings, and enjoy the futuristic buildings, planetarium, oceanarium, walks, parks and beaches.

For those looking to stay closer to home, the trains of the region have 30 stops, each one as charming as the last. Take a day trip to a new beach, enjoy one of the many different village restaurants, or just wander through the streets of a town not visited before.

The options are plentiful this summer, so take advantage of the new choices, as well as enjoying the best of the established.

 

 

 

Photo source: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

 

 

 

Monaco’s construction boom pumps sector to new highs

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2022

The construction industry is booming in Monaco, generating revenue of €2.1 billion last year, almost triple what it was last decade, a trend that even held true during the pandemic.

At the end of 2021, this major economic sector (MES) was credited with 497 active establishments bringing in revenues over €2 billion, according to the latest report by Monaco’s official statistical agency, IMSEE. This makes construction the third largest sector, representing 13.3% of all revenues generated in Monaco (not including financial and insurance), just behind wholesale trade and support service activities.

Between 2020 and 2021, the increase in construction revenues was due entirely to specialised construction activities, growing by 17.1%. Specialised construction is

composed of things like masonry works, structural works, and electrical and plumbing installations. 

Meanwhile, building construction was down by a minor -1.2%, but civil engineering took a significant hit, declining by -35.1%.

By last year’s end, there were 352 construction employers, a gain of 22 over 2021, who had 5,662 employees under their umbrellas, equalling 11% of the Principality’s total workforce. IMSEE stated that there were 1,500 more workers in this sector than in 2012, a record-breaking 35% increase in a decade. Masonry works and building structural works added 512 workers, whilst electrical, plumbing and other installation added 508 new employees.

The proportion of French employees is lower in construction than the national average, sitting at 51.3% versus 62.2% in other sectors. Portuguese and Italians fill in that gap, numbering roughly 1,500, or 20%, of the workers seen here. There are only 22 Monegasques working in construction, making it the sector with the lowest number of nationals. 

The employees don’t tend to live as local as in other jobs. Only 4.5% live in Monaco whilst only 19.6% live in neighbouring villages. The vast majority live in the Alpes-Maritimes region followed by those living in Italy, representing 58% and 16.3% respectively.

Construction relies heavily on temporary workers. In the last decade, the number of hours worked has increased by 33%, or 2.7 million hours, for employees, whilst temporary workers hours have quadrupled. In 2021, more than 16.6 million hours were spent toiling in this sector, including 5.9 million by temporary workers. These figures offset the decline seen during the pandemic.

 

 

 

Photo of the Maraterra district construction by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

 

 

 

Embolo poised for Monaco transfer, Lecomte departs on loan

by: Luke Entwistle
14/07/2022

AS Monaco are set to sign Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Breel Embolo for a reported €12.5m fee. He’s destined to join an attacking line that has already been bolstered by the arrival of Takumi Minamino, who joined-up with his team-mates last week.

Whilst there is no official confirmation from either club, the imminent arrival of Embolo on Le Rocher has been reported by multiple media, including L’Équipe. German journalist Patrick Berger confirmed that the Swiss international was in Monaco on Thursday in order to complete his medical ahead of the signing.

The transfer almost certainly rules out a move for free agent Andrea Belotti, which had been reported by multiple Italian publications, but which had been insistently denied by Foot Mercato. Monaco are now stacked in the attacking department although few players are being linked with departures.

Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland, Myron Boadu, Aleksandr Golovin, Gelson Martins, Krépin Diatta, Minamino, Sofiane Diop and now Embolo are all vying for – likely – just four starting positions should Philippe Clement set his team up in a 4-2-3-1.

At the age of just 25, Embolo has already racked up over 50 appearances for the Swiss international side, scoring nine goals. During the Bundesliga last season, he made 29 appearances and scored on nine occasions. He finished the season in scintillating form, scoring six in his final eight games of the season.

Embolo arrives on a cut-price deal as a result of his expiring contract. With only one year remaining on his current deal, Monaco have managed to snap-up the player at a price below market value.

Embolo is a versatile player, who can play anywhere across the front line. He has both the ability to hold the ball up to bring team-mates into play, as well as the ability to run in behind with his blistering pace. He will also adhere to Clement’s intense pressing system, just as he did at Mönchengladbach under Marco Rose.

After bursting onto the scene at Euro 2016, where he was the youngest – and most exciting – component of Switzerland’s squad, he struggled with injuries at Schalke, but has got his career back on track at German rival Mönchengladbach.

Having signed two players in the forward positions, Monaco are now likely to turn their attention to adding midfield and defensive reinforcements. Despite promising performances from Félix Lemarechal in pre-season, Monaco will inevitably strengthen in the defensive midfield position. Boubakary Soumaré looks like the most likely candidate to replace Aurélien Tchouaméni currently, although the club have also been linked with Amadou Onana and Danilo.

Lecomte back out the revolving door

Sporting director Paul Mitchell said at the end of last season that they “will undoubtedly have a need for another goalkeeper, but the context surrounding that means we will have to wait a bit.” We can therefore assume that any goalkeeping arrival will come towards the back end of the window, which closes on 1st September.

Thomas Didillon, goalkeeper for Monaco’s satellite club Cercle Brugge, went on the summer camp with the Principality side to Portugal and has remained at the club. It is unclear whether he is being considered as an option, but his continued presence at La Turbie and the ease at which he could be brought in certainly make him a very viable option.

That need to strengthen in goal has been exacerbated by the departure of Benjamin Lecomte. The Frenchman had barely stepped back through the door at Monaco having returned from an underwhelming loan spell at Atletico Madrid, before being loaned out once again to Spain. He will spend the upcoming season at Catalan club Espanyol. There is no option to purchase the player permanently within the deal, meaning that when he returns to Monaco next summer, he will have just one year left on his contract.

 

 

 

Photo credit: Imago Images

 

 

 

 

IPBES releases Value of Nature report

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/07/2022

The latest IPBES report has warned that a global economy focused on short-term profit is wrecking the planet and called for a drastically different approach as to how we value nature. 

Without this shift, universally accepted goals of sustainable development and greater equity will remain out-of-reach, the science advisory panel for biodiversity, known as IPBES, found.

“The way we understand economic growth is at the core of the biodiversity crisis,” Unai Pascual, an ecological economist at the University of Bern and co-chair of a 139-nation meeting in Bonn that approved the report, told AFP.

“The new assessment aims to bring different types of values into the decisions leading us to transformative change.”

Some 80 experts combed through more than 13,000 studies, looking at how market-based values have contributed to the destruction of ecosystems that sustain us, and what other values might best foster sustainability.

A 34-page Summary for Policymakers, approved over the weekend, comes as the UN steers an international process to stem species loss and protect nature.

In December, nations gather to finalise a treaty tasked with halting the decline of biodiversity and setting humanity on a path to “live in harmony with nature” by mid-century.

“Nature is what sustains us all,” commented Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme. “It gives us food, medicine, raw materials, oxygen, climate regulation and much more.”

But a five-fold increase in per-capita GDP since 1950 has maimed the natural world that made such growth possible.

A million species — including, arguably, our own — are threatened with extinction and global warming is on track to make large swathes of the planet unlivable.

‘Not going to be easy’

Two landmark UN reports — one on climate change in 2018, another on biodiversity in 2019 — concluded that only a wholesale transformation of the way we produce, distribute and consume almost everything can stave off runaway global warming and a collapse of ecosystems.

That already Herculean task becomes nigh impossible, the IPBES report warns, unless humanity also changes the way it perceives and values nature.

 

 

Monaco Life with AFP. Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

 

 

No vacation for AS Monaco in Portugal

by: Luke Entwistle
14/07/2022

AS Monaco have returned from their week-long training camp in Portugal with their unbeaten pre-season record intact, an enhanced level of fitness and a new member of the squad as the new season approaches.

Monaco will begin the new season earlier than most. Having missed out on second spot in the dying seconds against RC Lens in the final game of last season, the club, like last year, will have to earn their Champions League spot through the play-offs. Preparations are therefore in full swing.

Pre-season unbeaten record maintained

Philippe Clement’s men began their pre-season preparations with a win against Satellite club Cercle Brugge (1-0), before drawing against St Gall (1-1) just a few days later. That unbeaten run was prolonged at the club’s training camp in Faro, Portugal.

Monaco first earned a draw in an entertaining, end-to-end game against Austria Vienna, who finished last season third in the Austrian Bundesliga. After falling behind, Guillermo Maripán levelled before Gelson Martins gave them the lead. The Austrian side hit back to level before the break and neither side could break the deadlock in the second-half.

Following consecutive draws, Monaco returned to winning ways against Portimonense. Clement fielded a strong side for the final game of their training camp in Portugal, as the late-returning international players build up their fitness.

Wissam Ben Yedder opened the scoring just before the break before Yossouf Fofana added a late second to make the victory secure.

Special delivery from Japan

The squad’s ranks were also bolstered during their trip to the Iberian peninsula by the arrival of Takumi Minamino. The new €15m signing from Liverpool had “some things to sort out” in Japan before joining up with his new team-mates.

He arrived at the squad’s training camp on Thursday, but understandably didn’t feature in the side’s game versus Portimonense. He has, however, been involved in training with the club. In his first appearance on the club’s social media channels the Japanese international said, “I’m happy to be here and I’m looking forward to experiencing a beautiful season together.”

Stealing a march

Monaco now have four games under their belts. Many Ligue 1 rivals, including champions PSG haven’t even played once. The club has a difficult start to the season, as well as an earlier start than all of their Ligue 1 rivals. Whilst their opponent in the Champions League play-offs hasn’t been confirmed, the draw includes European stalwarts including Benfica and Rangers. Whoever they are pitted against, they will at least face them well prepared.

Along with their early arrival back at the La Turbie training centre, Monaco have further fixtures against Inter Milan, FC Porto and Premier League side Southampton before the start of the season in early August.

Lemarechal makes an impression

Pre-season provides a great chance for many of the youngsters and fringe players to stake their claims for a place in the first-team squad. Few have profited from the opportunity more than young Félix Lemarechal.

The young Frenchman signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2021 and last season made one Ligue 1 appearance and one Coupe de France appearance. He spent the rest of the season playing for Monaco B in the N2, which has since become the “elite group.”

During pre-season he has started three out of four of Monaco’s games and has impressed when placed in a midfield pivot. He looked comfortable alongside Youssouf Fofana, and with the departure of Aurélien Tchouaméni to Real Madrid, there is currently a spot up for grabs.

Lemarechal is currently in competition with Jean Lucas and Eliot Matazo for a starting spot, whilst the former can, and has, played higher up the field. Whilst there are significant rumours linking Monaco with midfield reinforcements such as Leicester’s Boubakary Soumaré and Lille’s Amadou Onana, Lemarechal’s performances have forced his name into the conversation.

It remains very likely that Monaco will bring in midfield reinforcements, but should Lemarechal’s form hold until the end of pre-season, there is no reason why the academy product won’t be in-and-around the first team and accrue many more appearances for the side than he did last season.

 

 

 

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

 

Artmonte-carlo: Almine Rech

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2022

A treat is in store for art lovers at the Almine Rech stand at the artmonte-carlo show, with a great mix of emerging and known talent featuring classic media forms as well as new technology.

Artmonte-carlo aims to establish an artistic platform for contemporary art, modern art and contemporary design for the art collectors and lovers on the Côte d’Azur, and its sixth edition is currently on at the Grimaldi Forum from 14th to 16th July.

As part of the show, the Almine Rech Gallery is bringing together a selection of multifaceted works from diverse backgrounds, generations and origins.

At their stand they will feature works from artists such as Jean-Baptiste Bernadet, Gordon Cheung, Johan Creten, Jorge Galindo, Mehdi Ghadyanloo, Allen Jones, Leelee Kimmel, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Alexandre Lenoir, Ryan Schneider, Thu Van Tran, Kim Tschang-Yeul, Tursic & Mille, Francesco Vezzoli and Tom Wesselmann.

Additionally, Almine Rech will showcase the work of Italian artist Gioele Amaro. Known as a “master in the art of synthesis”, he combines and blurs the lines between classic media like painting, drawing and photography, with new technologies, capturing the essentials of subjects from real life.

Artmonte-carlo is taking place from 14th to 16th July, with an opening vernissage on the 13th at the Grimaldi Forum. For more information on tickets or the event, visit the dedicated website on https://artmontecarlo.ch/Accueil/ 

 

 

 

Image: Tomokazu Matsuyama, Lift Spelling Fall Over, 2022