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Month: February 2023

Monk Seal Alliance: Prince Albert II Foundation’s cause goes international

by: Stephanie Horsman
11/02/2023
monk seal alliance

The Monk Seal Alliance, co-created by the Prince Albert II Foundation, has held its first international forum in Athens as efforts to protect this critically endangered native creature grow.  

The Mediterranean monk seal is on the decline, with an estimated population of only 700 living in isolated sub-populations in the Mediterranean and the north-eastern Atlantic Coast.  

The dwindling numbers have raised concerns about the species’ future and in 2019 the Prince Albert II Foundation – along with the MAVA, Segré, Thalassa and Sancta Devota foundations – created the Monk Seal Alliance. 

From 31st January to 2nd February 2023, the Alliance met for its first ever forum in Athens, Greece, and stakeholders came together with the ambition of forming conservation action plans throughout the seal’s habitat and getting those involved to commit to sharing research programmes and data. 

In all, 42 participants from 14 countries spoke about the work they are currently doing as well as the ways they can collaborate to make their endeavours more efficient at a local level. The group split up into teams to work on the framework for the next call for projects, scheduled to be launch next month.  

The Alliance has raised over €2.7 million so far, committing the funds to eight programmes chosen in 2020, which have been making strides in improving tools and methods used to preserve the monk seals and their colonies. 

During the forum, more than half of those present signed a Declaration of Intent to create a data-exchange platform that will make the tracking of each project more streamlined.  

“HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco’s commitment to the monk seal is long-standing, almost as long-standing as his Foundation, but this collective initiative has given it a new dimension,” said Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II Foundation, in his opening remarks at the event. “Our ambition, from the outset, was to bring together conservation players from the main monk seal distribution areas and mobilise significant resources – financial, of course, but also technical and human – and thus promote the coherence of initiatives and the sharing of experience and data to enable this species to be managed on a relevant scale.” 

The Foundation also used the forum as an opportunity to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Natural Environment and Climate Chance Authority (NECCA), Greece’s national agency for marine protected areas.  

 

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Photo source: FPA2

Roca Team assert themselves as France’s finest

by: Luke Entwistle
11/02/2023

AS Monaco Basketball serenely breezed to victory against Lyon-Villeurbanne (87-75) in the Euroleague on Friday, their fourth against their French arch-rivals this season. 

Four games, four victories; It’s a record that reflects the Roca Team’s rise. Last season, Asvel clinched the Betclic Elite title against Monaco in a thrilling five-legged final. This season, Les Monégasques have been unchallenged and unimpeded on their way to recording a perfect record against their French rivals, in the domestic division, and also in the Euroleague. 

Not all of Monaco’s key performers turned up, but they didn’t have to. Elie Okobo (7 points), Mike James (10 points) and Jordan Loyd (19 points) have all become indispensable to this team. The former, against his old team, had a mixed performance sloppily conceding possession on numerous occasions, and lacking his usual clinicism; the same can be said of James. Both, however, grew into the game in the final minutes, in time to inflict the fatal final blows. 

It was Loyd who got the scoreboard ticking for Monaco as the home side made the break early on. Ample space was afforded by Asvel, who couldn’t stop bleeding points within the key. Their passive start would haunt them. John Brown III’s T3 gave Monaco a 10-point advantage (23-13), from which the visitors failed to recover. 

Monaco’s typical and entirely predictable third-quarter drop-off wasn’t enough for Asvel to return within striking distance. Heading into the final 10 minutes with a four-point advantage, defences asserted their control for the first time in the match. An intensity seeped into Asvel’s game, but their attempts were ultimately futile, Monaco inflicting their fourth defeat on their French rivals (87-75), and keeping within two wins of the Euroleague summit. 

Post-match, manager Sasa Obradovic was critical of the performance but grateful for the result. “The win is the most important thing. Five days of rest is never good for us. Honestly, the game wasn’t at a Euroleague level, but we won. It is important that we learn a lesson, but this is not how we want to play,” he said. 

Responding to Monaco Life, Obradovic also reflected on Asvel’s drip-off this year, which has allowed them to be the undisputed top French league side in European competition. “This is not the real Asvel. In the four games, maybe the second we played the one we wanted to play. Absences on Asvel’s side maybe made them relax, we thought maybe things would be easier,” he said. 

The Roca Team now have a break from European action, with the Euroleague returning on 24th February with a trip to Barcelona.

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Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Influenza: As cases rise in Southern France, the national health authority recommends flu jabs for children

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/02/2023
flu jabs for children

Influenza is raging in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and authorities are urging the use of flu jabs for children aged two to 17 to help reduce spread. 

The flu is back with a vengeance this year, and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is in the top most affected areas in France. The latest figures put out on 8th February by Public Health France show an incidence rate of 156 per 100,000 people nationally, a 38% rise over the previous week. Hospital admissions are up too, with 4,604 patients arriving at emergency rooms over the course of a week: a 40% rise. Two to-five-year-olds are the age group most affected this season, accounting for 23% of emergency room visits. 

Locally, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region, Public Health France has declared a flu epidemic, spurring the French High Authority for Health (HAS) to recommend the use of flu jabs for children aged two to 17 without comorbidities via one of the five vaccines available or, the preferred method, a dose administered by nasal spray. The jab will be reimbursed, so no financial burden will be incurred by parents. 

Studies have shown that children have tolerated the jabs well and their efficacy sits at around 78% for live attenuated vaccines and 64% for inactivated vaccines.  

Data for the flu vaccines given to children in France, namely Fluarix Tetra, Vaxigrip Tetra, Influvac Tetra, Flucelvax and Fluenz Tetra, have European and global data confirming the safety of these vaccines in children. Fluenz Tetra intranasal vaccine is also recommended for safety as well as ease of use.  

With this mandate, France joins several other countries battling the flu who have been immunising their children, such as the UK, Spain and Austria.  

  

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Photo source: Kelly Sikkema for Unsplash

Pension reform: dates for next round of strikes announced

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/02/2023

A fifth round of strikes are planned for next week, and more in March, as unions continue to put pressure on the French government to fall back on pension reforms.

The eight main unions announced on Wednesday that a new day of strikes and demonstrations against the pension reform will take place on Thursday 16th February.

Just hours later, they announced that March also promises to be marked by strong strike movements, starting on Tuesday 7th March.

The third day of mobilisation, Tuesday, brought together 757,000 people according to the Ministry of the Interior, or “nearly two million” according to the organisers, figures below the previous protest days on 19th and 31st January.

A fourth day of action is also scheduled for Saturday 11th February across France.

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Photo source: CGT Facebook page

 

 

The Monaco Life Ski Report

by: Luke Entwistle
09/02/2023

Fresh snowfall, low temperatures and clear skies have coincided to create some ideal skiing conditions across the region’s resorts this coming weekend. 

Isola 2000 – There are currently 43 ski slopes and 17 ski lifts open in Isola 2000, an increase on last week after snowfall on Monday. It will be sunny throughout the weekend, making for perfect skiing conditions. Temperatures are set to fall this weekend with highs of 5°C and lows of -12°C. The Col de la Lombarde road is closed until further notice. There will be a youth skicross championship, the ‘Winter Cup’, with U12, U13 and U14 categories taking place at the resort on Sunday.

Auron – There are currently 42 ski pistes and 19 ski lifts open at the resort. Consistent with the rest of the region, temperatures are expected to drop relative to last week, with lows of -8°C. In terms of access, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols and Route de la Lombarde are all closed for the winter season.

Valberg – There are 28 ski slopes and 13 ski lifts open. After the heavy snowfall towards the end of last month, there is still 60cm worth of snow at the summit, however, unlike many resorts in the region, there hasn’t been any fresh snowfall in the past week.  As it is throughout the rest of the region, it will be a sunny weekend with temperatures milder than neighbouring resorts, ranging from 9°C to -1°C.

Limone Piemonte – The Italian resort is reporting 29 open runs and 12 ski lifts. Snow levels are improving in the resort after snowfall on Tuesday. It is expected to be sunny throughout the weekend, with lows of  -6°C and a potential high of 10°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. The journey from Monaco is currently approximately three hours by car, although the train line is in operation.

Gréolières-les-Neiges – This popular family resort, which lies less than an hour from the coast, continues to struggle with poor snowfall due to its location at a lower altitude than other south of France ski stations. However, unlike last week where there were no pistes open, six will be skiable this weekend, all of which are in close proximity to the village, thanks to snowfall during the week.

Val d’Allos – Better news is to be had over in this Alpes-de-Haute-Provence ski area. Consistent with the rest of the region, there has been further snowfall this week, resulting in 160cm of soft snow. The resort, which combines Allos, Seigneus and La Foux d’Allos as well as access to Pra-Loup, is running close to complete capacity, with 28 out of its 27 lifts in operation and 59 out of 64 pistes welcoming skiers, snowboarders and the rest.

Chamonix – Deeper into the Alps and a five-and-a-half-hour drive to the north of Monaco, the resort of Chamonix has 115 pistes and 66 ski lifts are currently in operation. As it is elsewhere, it will be largely sunny over the weekend. However, temperatures will be milder, with lows of -4°C, and potential highs of 13°C.

Note: Snow tyres or other suitable equipment must be used on the roads up to the ski resorts.

 

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Photo source: Auron, Facebook page

Christian Moore: “There’s never been a better time to join the Monaco Ambassadors Club”

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/02/2023
monaco ambassadors club

In this, its 50th anniversary year, the Monaco Ambassador’s Club is hitting top gear with bold plans to open a clubhouse, partner with other associations, support sustainable solutions, and go global.

When Christian Moore took over as President of the Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC) four years ago, Covid-19 put a screaming halt to all the exciting plans he and the board of directors had to revitalise one of the Principality’s oldest social clubs.

“Those two years were a very difficult time because, as a social club, we couldn’t really do anything social,” Christian Moore tells Monaco Life. “But it was always my plan to expand on what the previous president Alexander Moghadam had done, which was to bring back to life the Monaco Ambassadors Club, Princess Grace’s personal project with Prince Rainier to make members of the community emissaries for the message of Monaco.”

The MAC Board of Directors at the Christmas Gala 2022. Photo credit: Yvan Grubski

Monaco Ambassadors Club signature events

Nonetheless, 2022 showed what the Monaco Ambassadors Club was capable of, and members were treated to a series of exceptional social events, from the signature summer party and the annual Goodwill Ambassador Gala honouring John Christodoulou to the always elegant Christmas Gala. As Honorary President, Prince Albert II supported it all.

“As we are the Prince’s club, the Sovereign attends these events, so we give that access and understanding of Monaco a little bit more than perhaps other social clubs here,” adds Moore.

This year, the Monaco Ambassadors Club hits full steam. In July, the MAC will unveil its first ever clubhouse, in what was formerly the Star Deck of the Stars n’ Bars restaurant on Quai Antoine 1er, which itself is undergoing a rebirth.

“One of the club’s challenges that was quickly identified was that we needed a place where we could deliver the message to existing members and attract more members to have a greater impact on the community,” says Luc Leleux, Treasurer and member of the MAC Board of Directors. “So, one of the immediate targets was to have a clubhouse, which will become the base where members will meet, exchange, identify topics, and find sustainable solutions which are good for the community and can be delivered outside of the community of the Principality.”

MAC Honorary President Prince Albert with MAC President Christian Moore (left). Photo credit: Yvan Grubski

Taking the Monaco Ambassadors Club global

The next part of the strategy is uniting the Monaco Ambassadors Club with similar clubs throughout the world, offering reciprocal memberships, “so we can grow our base, but at the same time open the conversation to wider subjects”, says Moore.

The club will also begin organising events outside of the Principality to build personal and business connections, like the upcoming trip to Cyprus at the end of March, where members will have an opportunity to meet with the future president of Cyprus, engage in cultural visits, experience the ‘Cyprus Has Talent’ TV show and more.

“Our aim is to get a better understanding of how other countries can tie into Monaco on many levels, bringing forward those ventures that the Principality emulates on the environmental level,” says Christian Moore, adding that there has never been a better time to join the Monaco Ambassadors Club.

Membership includes single, couple or benefactor membership, which comes with a host of benefits, including event tickets for clients and partner marketing opportunities.

For more information, visit the website: www.mac.mc.

 

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Photo above: Prince Albert II of Monaco surrounded by Christian Moore (far left), John Christodoulou, and Mike Powers during the the 2022 Goodwill Ambassador Award. Credit: Yvan Grubski