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Month: March 2023

Photos: Prince Albert of Monaco celebrates 65th birthday

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/03/2023
prince albert monaco 65 birthday

Monaco’s Prince Albert II turned 65 on 14th March and was treated to a heart-warming rendition of Happy Birthday by the Carabinieri Orchestra as he looked on from the balcony with his family.  

Prince Albert II was not too fussed about turning 65. In an interview with People, the Prince downplayed the significance of the day, calling it “just another day”.  

But those around him were keener to make a big deal out of this special date, and had a packed schedule planned for him, which included a few surprises along the way.  

A day shared with family 

At 11.55am, the changing of the Palace Guard was taking place as usual, when Prince Albert, alongside his eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, appeared at a window to the delight of the tourists watching the event.  

At the end of the ceremony, the Carabinieri Orchestra struck up a rendition of Happy Birthday, which brought a smile to the Prince’s face as he waved to the assembled crowd.  

Afterwards, the family had lunch together and the children returned to school, but not before alerting their father he was to be prepared for another surprise at 5.30pm sharp.   

“It’s a secret. The kids want to kidnap me,” Prince Albert told local press with a smile. “They want to take me to a play at a theatre, but actually, I’ve been warned I’m going to be kidnapped.” 

In the interim, Prince Albert headed to a Saint Patrick’s Day concert with award-winning Irish musician Fintan Vallely that had been organised by the Princess Grace Irish Library.  

“65 is the new 45!” 

Though 65 is significant for many, Prince Albert isn’t like everyone else. With retirement on the minds of many at this age, that clearly isn’t on the cards for him as the sovereign of a nation.  

“It’s only really important in that I see friends, who are the same age, retiring now. I can’t do that,” he said. “I mean, 65 is important, but it isn’t. I prefer decimals, so 60 was important, 70 will be important. And hopefully, I’ll reach 80 and 90 and beyond. 65 has some resonance, I suppose, but for me, it’s just another birthday. It’s not a milestone. I’ve said before that 60 was the new 40. And so it continues incrementally — 65 is the new 45!” 

 

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All photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco

  

Basketball: Mike James suspended by Roca Team

by: Luke Entwistle
15/03/2023

AS Monaco Basketball’s star player, Mike James, has been suspended by the club after the American point guard “broke internal rules”.

The news was announced in a short press release from the club late on Tuesday and didn’t divulge the nature of the rule break nor his duration of absence from the Roca Team.

James, who arrived at the start of last season, has been absent from the club’s last two games, both of which Monaco have won, with a sprained index finger. Prior to that, there had been signs of tension between the player and coach Sasa Obradovic.

The pair had a very public disagreement during the Roca Team’s defeat against Barcelona in the Euroleague in late February. James was seen arguing with the Serbian coach with the game still in progress and then threw the ball into the advertising hoardings out of frustration.

“Mike is still the biggest talent in this team.”

Despite a complete squad overhaul in the summer, which notably saw the arrivals of Elie Okobo and Jordan Loyd, James remains the man with the keys to the Monégasque project, despite a cold relationship with head coach Obradovic.

“We don’t have to like each other to advance together. We have the same objective. Mike is still the biggest talent in this team,” said Obradovic not long after his arrival at the Salle Gaston Médecin.

He may be the most talented player in the squad, but they’ll now have to live without him, as the team looks to consolidate their Euroleague playoff place without him. Naturally, there are now real doubts regarding the longevity of James’ and Monaco’s collaboration.

 

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Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Annual tax declaration deadlines announced for France

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/03/2023
tax france

The French government has announced the tax schedule for 2023 and non-resident taxpayers join others in the south of France in the first zone to declare.  

As the old saying goes: the only things one can’t avoid are death and taxes.  

True to that adage, the French government has announced the dates when each department’s filings are due for 2022 returns.  

People living in Zone 1, which encompasses departments 01 to 19, thus including the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur departments of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06) and Bouches-du-Rhône (13) must have their taxes sent in by midnight on 25th May. This group also includes non-resident taxpayers in France.  

Zone 2’s filing dates, for departments 20 through to 54, is before midnight on 1st June.

Other PACA areas, the Var (83) and Vaucluse (84), fall into Zone 3, with a cut-off date before midnight on 8th June.  

Income tax simulator available via France’s Ministry of Finance 

For those wanting to financially prepare in advance, an income tax simulator is available from the government’s Ministry of Finance website. Click here for access. 

Two models can be used to calculate. The first is a simplified model for those declaring salaries, pensions, retirement, property income, gains from the sale of securities, social rights and similar securities. This model can also be used for those with expenses such as alimony, childcare and charitable donations.  

The second is the complete model, and it is for those who declare income from commercial, liberal professions, agricultural activity, income from partners and managers, and investments in the DOM-COM, amongst criteria.  

For more information, to learn how to declare or to download forms, visit the government website here.

 

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Photo source: Scott Graham for Unsplash

Forbes Monaco folds five years after launch in the Principality

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/03/2023

Forbes Monaco is no longer in publication, with all references to the media, which carries the global Forbes brand, being removed from print and platforms online.

The bi-monthly printed magazine and website forbes.mc was launched in October 2018 in partnership with Vizio Publishing of Luxembourg, and spearheaded by Editor-in-Chief Paul Trustfull. Local businessman Luiz Macambira then took on the role of Chief Executive Oficer and Publishing Editor.

The launch of Forbes Monaco came 101 years after the first copy of the original American version was sold.

Monaco Life has learned that Forbes Monaco halted publication at the start of 2023 due to financial reasons. The website forbes.mc is no longer accessible, and social media sites including the official Forbes Monaco Instagram page have been renamed Monaco Globe.

In addition to the printed magazine and online news site, Forbes Monaco hosted events in the Principality including the Forbes Monaco Art and Crypto Gala in 2021 and the Metaverse and Technology Gala in 2022.

The Forbes franchise currently has over 40 local language editions.

 

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France aims to cut food waste by 50% in two years with new initiative for retailers

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/03/2023
food waste france

A new label from the French government hopes to encourage caterers, retailers and wholesalers to actively work to reduce food waste, with the goal of halving waste in some sectors by 2025. 

Launched on 1st March during the 2023 Agricultural Show, France’s new national anti-food waste label has been created to make those working in sectors of the food industry think harder about – and in turn lessen –  the amount of binned products. 

France wastes almost nine million tonnes of food each year. According to the government, this new label will “encourage players in the food chain to save our planet’s resources, such as arable land or water, and to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gas”.  

A co-venture by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Ademe and AFNOR Normalisation, the attack on food waste is two pronged.  

Retailers and wholesalers are the primary focus 

The first sector to be targeted are the country’s large and medium-sized stores, wholesalers and catering trades such as butchers, bakers, greengrocers and the like. The aim here is to get them to halve their waste by 2025.   

Those who are making good progress can apply for a label. The labels can be placed in shop fronts and will be graded on a star system: one star means commitment, two means mastery and three will go to those showing exemplary practices.   

The second wave will affect the distribution and collective catering sectors, who will have until 2030 to cut excesses in half in terms of consumption, production, processing and catering.  

More information can be found here. 

 

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Photo source: Markus Spiske for Unsplash

 

 

Basketball: Roca Team make it three wins in five days against Roanne

by: Luke Entwistle
14/03/2023

AS Monaco Basketball have capped a brilliant week with one final victory. After consecutive wins in the Euroleague in the space of mere hours, the Roca Team beat Roanne (74-85) over the weekend.

Monaco’s recent form has proven that February was merely a blip. Amidst rising tensions, Sasa Obradovic has managed to steady the ship, and it feels once again as though everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Monaco rally late against Baskonia

Only 48 hours separated the Roca Team’s Euroleague ties against Panathinaikos and Baskonia. The odds were stacked against Monaco. As well as a tight turnaround, the side would be without Mike James due to an index finger injury, and they would face a Baskonia side last Friday night that are imperious on their imposing home court, which was filled with a 15,000-strong crowd on the night.

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

In the absence of James, this was truly a collective victory with five players scoring 14 points or more. Jordan Loyd (19 points), Elie Okobo (18 points) and Alpha Diallo (17 points) have been consistent and crucial for Monaco this season, and it was no different against Baskonia.

Loyd, Okobo and Chima Moneke (14 points, 13 rebounds) were all key in particular in the final quarter, as Monaco overturned a deficit to make the break and once again register over 100 points. The victory (93-102) consolidates the Roca Team’s position in the top four of the Euroleague.

“We have sent out a message to the world of basketball.”

“We’re nearing the playoffs. To do it again for a second year would be a formidable accomplishment, not just for Monaco, but for France. We have sent out a message to the world of basketball,” said Obradovic post-match.

A third victory in five days

Monaco then looked to complete their week with a victory in the Betclic Elite. The club are comfortably perched atop the French division, and they were hoping to keep it that way when they made the difficult trip to Roanne.

However, the Roca Team made light work of their French rivals. Jaron Blossomgame (18 points) has always turned up when called upon this season, and it was no different on Sunday.

Monaco made the break in the first quarter (17-25) and Roanne never managed to restore parity. Despite launching a comeback of sorts in the second quarter, the Monegasque team managed the tie well, coming home comfortable winners (74-85). Second-placed Boulogne-Levallois are now two wins behind Monaco.

After a perfect week, Monaco next welcome Virtus Bologna to the Salle Gaston Médecin on Thursday.

 

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Photo by AS Monaco Basket