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Month: March 2023

Tennis: Monte-Carlo Masters next up for USA-barred Novak Djokovic

by: Luke Entwistle
10/03/2023

Novak Djokovic won’t feature again before the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, after the world number one withdrew from the Indian Wells Masters due to his vaccination status.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner had difficulties prior to last year’s Monte-Carlo Masters. He was ultimately denied the chance of competing in the first Grand Slam of the calendar year in Australia, and arrived at the prestigious clay-court event at the Monte-Carlo Country Club short of competitive action.

Djokovic out of Indian Wells and Miami Open

This time around, Djokovic was allowed to compete in the Australian Open, a tournament that he ultimately won, but he won’t be allowed to compete in the United States later this month.

Djokovic remains unvaccinated against Covid-19 and the US requires all visitors to be vaccinated; at least up until 10th April. The Indian Wells event, one of the most prestigious tournaments outside of the traditional Grand Slams, has therefore started without the Serbian international.

With Djokovic failing to be granted special permission to compete in Indian Wells, the Monaco resident has also pulled out of the Miami Open, which is due to take place between 20th and 27th March.

Djokovic to make his return on Monaco clay

Following his exit from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships earlier in March, Djokovic said that, should he be refused access to the US, he would take time off and prepare for the Monte-Carlo Masters, which take place between 8th and 16th April.

“If there’s no America, I guess I’ll play clay. Monte-Carlo is probably the next tournament. If that’s the case, I’ll take some time off and prepare,” said Djokovic.

The tournament represents a home event for the Serbian tennis player, who lives year-round in the Principality. Djokovic has won the competition twice, but hasn’t lifted the trophy since 2015. Last year, he was knocked out by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round. Djokovic will be hoping to go much deeper into the tournament this time around, with the full list of players set to be released on 13th March.

 

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Photo by Carine06

Monaco drops systematic isolation for Covid-positive population

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/03/2023

As part of its “Covid-exit strategy”, the government is scrapping compulsory self-isolation for people who test positive for the virus as well as mandatory vaccination for caregivers.

The circulation of Covid-19 in Monaco has dropped dramatically since the start of the year, with only six new cases detected in the week ending 5th March and an incidence rate of just 15.

As a result, the Prince’s Government announced on Thursday 9th March that it would scrap the last of its Covid measures, four weeks after the French Government did the same.

“As of Saturday 11th March, the systematic isolation of people who test positive for Covid-19 will end. On this same date, the contact cases of a positive case will no longer be followed by the epidemiological investigation unit and will no longer have to carry out a PCR or antigen test on D+2 of the last contact,” said the government in a statement.

In addition, mandatory vaccination for caregivers, as written in law n° 1.509 of 20th September 2021, will be lifted, allowing the reinstatement of suspended personnel from Monday 27th March.

“As part of this exit from the crisis, the Prince’s Government encourages people who show signs of respiratory infection, whether due to covid, influenza or any other virus likely to be transmitted by air, to wear a mask, to respect barrier gestures and to get contact their attending physician,” added the government.

One of the last remaining Covid measures in Monaco is mandatory mask wearing in health establishments.

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

 

Where to watch Les Gardiennes de la Planète in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/03/2023
Les Gardiennes de la Planète

Les Gardiennes de la Planète, a project supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation and that premiered in Monaco last month, is now on screens across the Principality.  

Humpback whales are a wonder of nature. Weighing up to 40 metric tonnes and reaching lengths of 17 metres, these amazing creatures were once hunted almost to the brink of extinction. Today, their populations are slowly recovering, but they still face dangers from humans, such as noise pollution, net entanglements and collisions with ships, which are keeping their numbers low.  

A new film, Les Gardiennes de la Planète, or Whale Nation in English, directed by Jean-Albert Lièvre and supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation, hopes to enlighten people to the humpback whale and show it for the sensitive and intelligent animal it is.  

The premise is of a humpback whale who is beached on a remote shore. During the fight to save its life by a group of rescuers, the story of these extraordinary creatures who have roamed our planet for more than 50 million years unfolds, with actor Jean Dujardin “voicing” the whale’s story, as if the whale were telling the tale itself.  

The Cinema des Beaux-Arts in Monaco will be screening this heart-warming, poignant and thought-provoking movie at 2.pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at 4.15pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  

READ MORE:

The Guardians of the Planet premieres in Monaco

  

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Photo source: Les Gardiennes de la Planète

FPA2 heralds the Treaty of the High Seas as “a historic step forward in safeguarding international waters”

by: Elsa Carpenter
09/03/2023
treaty of the high seas

The Prince Albert II Foundation has voiced its support for the recent agreement on the Treaty of the High Seas, which will provide legal protections to 60% of the world’s oceans.  

“This historic deal, known as the High Seas Treaty, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding international waters and in respecting the 30×30 pledge called for by the GBF agreed in December 2022 (to protect a third of the sea and land by 2030),” said the foundation via an official communiqué. 

The treaty, which is the culmination of nearly two decades of talks between United Nations members, is essentially a legal framework created to protect parts of the world’s oceans that fall outside of national jurisdictions. 

“The Principality has played an instrumental role in promoting the importance of protecting marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and has been a strong advocate for the inclusion of robust area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building,” continues the statement.  

Monaco and its ruler, Prince Albert II, have a well-established history of action on the topic of ocean protections. 

In 2020, Prince Albert participated, alongside a select group of heads of government and state, in the High Seas Treaty Dialogue in Monaco. The event was co-organised by his eponymous foundation and the Norwegian Nobel Institute.  

The Principality also joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in early 2022. This is a global initiative that seeks to protect and restore the ocean, with the goal of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. Currently only 1% of the world’s oceans hold a protected status.  

“This treaty gives hope for the future of our planet,” summarised the FPA2.  

   

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Photo source: Thierry Meier for Unsplash

Free plants and flowers handed out at Princess Antoinette Park ahead of spring clean

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/03/2023
Princess Antoinette Park

About 300 plants and flowers will be handed out for free at the Princess Antoinette Park as part of a spring clean sponsored by the Monaco Mairie.  

As the grip of winter slowly gives way to spring, people are looking for ways to brighten up their lives and what better way to cheer up a space than with blooms.

In collaboration with the Principality’s Environmental Services, Deputy Mayor in charge of the Living Environment, Environment and Sustainable Development Marjorie Crovetto has come up with a way to re-home the plants being dug up and replaced that would otherwise have ended up going to waste.  

Around 300 seasonal plants such as cyclamen, primrose, geranium and phormium will be shared on 15th March at 1.30pm to anyone who would like to take one home.  

The Princess Antoinette Park distribution centre will be in front of the A Fàbrica hall, and a group of Monaco’s gardeners will be on hand to give advice and re-planting tips to those who ask.

Only one plant will be given per person in order to allow as many as possible to benefit from this scheme.  

For more information, please click here.   

  

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Photo source: Rebecca Niver for Unsplash

Prince Albert II to attend launch of Kate Powers Foundation at end of March

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/03/2023

The eponymous Kate Powers Foundation, created in memory of the beloved co-owner of the Stars’N’Bars restaurant who passed away last year, will be inaugurated with a special event attended by Prince Albert II, its honorary president, on 28th March.  

Kate Powers, the co-proprietor of the legendary Monaco restaurant Stars’N’Bars, which recently closed after 30 years, is being posthumously honoured with the launch of a foundation, The Kate Powers Foundation. 

Created in 2022, but yet to be officially launched, the foundation will continue a legacy that focused on building a “sustainable community that works together for the benefit of everyone”.  

Kate’s smiling presence made her a staple on the local scene. She was American-born but became a Monegasque citizen in 2009, and was later awarded the Order of Saint Charles, the highest honour to be given by the Principality.  

She was also an eco-warrior who was given the role as Ambassador to the Monaco Energy Transition Mission, whose goal is to make the Principality as green as possible, notably by reducing its carbon footprint by half by 2030 and achieving neutrality by 2050. Additionally, she was part of the teams that created Monaco Green Team, Eco-Angels and Monacology. 

The launch, which will be attended by Prince Albert in his role as Honorary President, will take place at Twiga Restaurant at 7pm on 28th March. For more information or to buy tickets to the event, please click here. 

READ MORE:

Kate Powers work to continue through Foundation

 

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Photo source: Kate Powers Foundation