15 ° C
Profile

Day: 6 March 2023

Basketball: Roca Team imperious in Nanterre thrashing

by: Luke Entwistle
06/03/2023
as monaco roca team

AS Monaco Basketball dazzled fans with an offensive festival over the weekend, emphatically dispatching Nanterre (108-87) in the Betclic Elite to further solidify their position at the top of the table. 

Between the visits of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos to the Salle Gaston Médecin, Monaco had to attend to domestic matters. The Roca Team are top of the Betclic Elite and qualification to the end-of-season playoffs already seems a foregone conclusion, but maintaining positive momentum is key for Sasa Obradovic’s side, who have many hurdles yet to overcome this season if they are to obtain silverware. 

Yoan Makoundou steps up

Monaco are experiencing a revival of sorts, and Sunday’s victory against Nanterre further evidenced that. It was another emphatic attacking display from the Principality side, who once again broke the 100-point mark on their way to a serene victory. 

As is often the case, the Roca Team heavily rotated for the domestic division. Yoan Makoundou (24 points, nine rebounds) has always heeded the call when needed this season, and this was no different on Sunday. The Frenchman was pivotal on both sides of the court, as was Alpha Diallo (22 points), who has become a very essential cog in the Monégasque machine. 

A “serious” victory

The same is true of Mike James (13 points, 13 assists), who sometimes takes a more back-seat role in these Betclic Elite ties, but who was crucial in allowing Monaco to flow in attack. Bar the first quarter (25-25), the Roca Team won every other, registering 30 or more points twice. 

“It was a very serious match on our part. I am happy with the victory and the performance on the court. With the Euroleague coming up, it’s a good thing,” said Obradovic post-match.

Monaco now prepare for the returns of former Roca players Paris Lee and Dwayne Bacon, who both ply their trade for Panathinaikos. Currently fifth in the Euroleague, a victory is vital for Obradovic’s side, who are looking to secure home-court advantage for the end-of-season play-offs. 

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

“The ship has reached the shore”: 52 countries agree to monumental Treaty of the High Seas

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/03/2023
treaty of the high seas

By 2030, no less than 30% of the world’s oceans will have protected status. Negotiations on the historic Treaty of the High Seas are complete and the EU has pledged €40 million to help smooth its implementation by developing nations.  

A meeting to button up the treaty took place at the UN headquarters in New York last week. Now agreed upon, the Treaty of the High Seas will ensure the sustainable use of marine areas that go beyond the scope of national jurisdictions.

Following the agreement, the president of the conference, Rena Lee, who is Singapore’s Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced, “The ship has reached the shore.” 

Her speech marked the end of nearly two decades of discussions to find solutions for this ongoing issue.  

The treaty’s coalition is a 52 country-strong group committed to pushing through solid ocean protection legislation and acts. The agreement was also helped along by the necessity to follow through on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement of December 2022 that pledged to protect no less than 30% of the ocean by 2030.  

The new treaty will work to establish marine protected areas in places that fall outside any one government’s authority, allowing for monitoring of these areas and enforcement of measures when the areas are being abused.  

The EU and other participants will now need to ratify the accord, and the EU says it intends to make haste in getting this done. The bloc also plans to help in the transitory period, assisting in preparing developing countries before implementation, and has allocated €40 million toward that end as part of the Global Ocean Programme.  

The agreement is particularly important as nearly two thirds of the world’s seas are beyond national jurisdiction and are sensitive to overexploitation, pollution, decreasing biodiversity and climate change. This treaty will make it the duty of all to protect, cooperate and preserve the marine environment for future generations.  

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo by Pexals on Pixabay