Luxe Pack to test out eco-friendly transport option from Paris to Monaco

19/07/2023

The upcoming Luxe Pack trade event is looking to reduce its carbon footprint by drastically reducing the emissions produced by its exhibitors and guests. So what’s the plan?

Rail over air and road, essentially. The idea is to run a chartered train service from Paris to Monaco ahead of the event that will allow incoming exhibitors and visitors to the premium packaging trade show to travel in style while cutting right back on the massive emissions that would have been otherwise produced by private transportation.

Since 1988, Luxe Pack has been attracting the world’s most innovative manufacturers to the Principality for a showcase of their high-end designs in terms of sustainability and creativity.

Upward of 9,000 visitors pass through the show, which will take place from 2nd to 4th October at the Grimaldi Forum, alongside more than 450 exhibitors from nearly 100 countries around the globe. In addition to the stands, there’s also a rich programme of conferences and networking opportunities.

According to its organisers, Luxe Pack is the world’s largest packaging event.

SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-AWARE

In recent years, a focus of the show has been on how to make packaging less harmful to the environment, as well as how to make the event more eco-responsible. As such, organisers have worked to lessen their impact and have received an ISO 14001 Certificate, which shows the organisers have met certain environmental standards, for five years running.

Now, Luxe Pack is adding to its eco-credentials by chartering a six-hour long train ride from Paris to Monaco to bring guests to the show. For €60, including breakfast, lunch and entertainment, visitors and exhibitors can feel good knowing they are travelling by a mode of transport that has 26 times less carbon impact than air travel.

This initiative is supported by the Monegasque Government’s Mission for Energy Transition and the Principality’s Tourist and Convention Authority, who will also lead onboard awareness-raising workshops on social and environmental responsibility.

LOOKING AHEAD

Monaco hosts multiple large trade events each year. This experiment by Luxe Pack could lead to others following in its low carbon footsteps and making rail travel the “new norm” for B2B travel, not just in Monaco, but around the world.

As for Luxe Pack’s organisers, if this trial run is a success, they will consider it for the 2024 edition and beyond.

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Photo source: Luxe Pack Monaco

Record sea temperature recorded in Nice’s Baie des Anges amid Charon heatwave

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/07/2023

So much for a refreshing dip! The waters off the coast of Nice have never been warmer and the temperature is likely to rise further in the coming days.

The phrase “like bath water” has never been more true. On Tuesday 18th July, as the Charon heatwave took hold in the French Riviera, a marine buoy off the coast of Nice registered a record sea temperature for the area of 29.2°C.

Experts have warned that these high sea temperatures could go up even more, perhaps reaching 30°C, in the coming days as weather forecasts predict a protracted hot spell in the Mediterranean.

LAND NO BETTER

The orange alert for much of the region remains in effect on Wednesday 19th July following a record-buster of a day and will continue until midnight Thursday 20th July.

On Tuesday 18th July, the town of Puget-Théniers saw the thermometer rise to 41.8°C, higher than any other day since record keeping began in 1947. The previous record stood at 41.1°C.

The Alpes-Maritimes town of Caussols above Grasse also broke a record, hitting 30.6°, while temperatures in Aups in the Var climbed to 38.6°C. Both of these temperatures are about 8°C above seasonal norms for the respective towns.

Since 2000, heat waves have been five times more frequent in France and experts predict that they will be twice as frequent as today within the next three decades, with climate change being the direct cause.

It is estimated that over 60,000 people died in Europe in last summer’s heat waves.

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Photo source: Tristan Miment, Pixabay

France announces tougher punishments for drivers under the influence

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/07/2023

In an effort to bring down the tragic number of road accident-related deaths in France, the government has brought in a raft of new rules that includes tougher punishments for speeders and those driving under the influence.

In 2022, 3,260 people lost their lives in road-related accidents in France. To try and cut those figures down, the French government’s Interministerial Committee for Road Safety, chaired by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, has announced 38 new measures to make the country’s roadways safer.

TOUGH ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

Amongst the new rules are harsh fines for motorists driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Drivers caught driving on narcotics will also face an automatic suspension of their licence for a mandatory time period of six months to a year, and offenders will lose eight points from their licence – it will now be the same for those caught drink driving – up from the current six.

For anyone driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, the government has said they will impound the driver’s vehicle as a matter of course.

EXCESSIVE SPEEDING

Any driver caught going 50 kilometres or more above the autorised speed limit will now face two months’ imprisonment, a fine of €3,750 and a six-point withdrawal from their licence.

WHAT ELSE?

Some of the new legislation is somewhat gentler on drivers who break the law, such as the removal of the point-docking system for those caught going less than five kilometres above the speed limit from 1st January 2024. Though no points will be taken, a fine will still have to be paid.

From 1st April 2024, in conjunction with the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, the government will no longer require a green insurance sticker to be put on vehicles.

Registration procedures will also be simplified and the start of a dematerialisation of driving licences will come into effect. The goal here is not to fully replace a physical licence, but to complement it with a digital option available on mobile phones.

Additionally, Prime Minister Borne announced that the age for obtaining a driver’s licence will be lowered to 17 from 18, making it easier for younger people to get to and from school or work, as well as give them freedom, notably to those living in rural areas.

The government will also be allocating more funding to associations who advocate for road safety.

Click here for the full run-down of the changes.

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Photo source: Max Fleischmann, Unsplash

Grimaldi Forum hosts Monet-inspired art classes for children

by: Elsa Carpenter

19/07/2023

Until the end of July, the Grimaldi Forum is organising art classes for children inspired by its grand summer exhibition, Monet: en pleine lumière.

The classes are running each day until Friday 28th July, with a morning class between 10am and noon suitable for young artists aged five to eight, and another in the afternoon from 2pm till 4pm for those aged nine to 12.

The focus of Monday classes is colour theory, giving children a special insight into building a successful palette with primary, secondary and complementary colours.

On Tuesdays, students will experiment with brushes and sponges to achieve the signature Monet look.

Wednesdays will teach budding artists how to compose an impressionist landscape of their own making, drawing from any source of inspiration.

Pattern and abstraction will be the theme on Thursdays, with a focus on observation and understanding the art of perspective.

Fridays will see children take on the classic Monet motif of the water lily to create a water landscape using the techniques learned over the course of the week.

The art classes cost €25 each or €110 for a week of tuition.

To reserve a spot for your child, please email ticket@grimaldiforum.com with the words “ateliers enfants” and the child’s name in the subject line.

The main exhibition: Monet: en pleine lumière

The 2,500sqm exhibition space at the Grimaldi Forum has been transformed into a homage to Claude Monet’s time on the French Riviera and in Monaco, and features almost 100 paintings and artworks from this time, including many masterpieces never seen before in this context and one unpublished work.

The exhibition is on every day until 3rd September. Adult admission is €14, but those under 18 can enter for free.

Read more about the exhibition in the Monaco Life article below:

On now: the Grimaldi Forum presents its summer exhibition ‘Monet: en pleine lumière’

Photo source: Kseniya Lapteva, Unsplash

Summer fireworks: two evening shows in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti

19/07/2023

Two spectacular fireworks shows are being organised by the Mairie over the next weeks and, this being Monaco, they’ll be accompanied by some additional entertainment for the family.

The Mairie de Monaco is once again keen to “liven up the city in the evening” by illuminating the sky above Port Hercule with a fireworks display, followed by themed entertainment.

The first fireworks on Saturday 22nd July will commence at 10pm when the sun is well and truly set. At the end of the show, at 10.20pm, a DJ party will be organised next to the swimming pool stairs.

The second fireworks show, on Saturday 5^th August, will also start at 10pm, and will be followed at 10.20om by a cabaret show in the same location.

For some pre-show entertainment, jumping castles for the kids will be positioned on the port near the trampoline, from 6pm to 9.30pm on both evenings.

Summer activities at the port

To keep families busy this summer, several activities are set up on the Quai Albert Ier every day until 20^thAugust, from 4:30pm to 10:30pm: carousel, karting, basketball courts, trampoline and duck fishing.

New this year is the addition of gourmet and sales stands labelled ‘Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco’, which are open until 15^th August, from 6pm to 11pm.

Photo source: Monte-Carlo SBM

Can’t miss highlights of this Friday’s Herculis athletics meeting

by: Cassandra Tanti

19/07/2023

On Friday 21st July, no fewer than 21 World and Olympic champions will be present in Monaco at the Stade Louis II for the Herculis International Athletics Meeting. Here are the highlights you won’t want to miss.

18:40hrs – W Long Jump: An explosive competition

The long jump event will be reminiscent of a final with the very best the discipline has to offer. One side of the line-up will comprise experienced athletes in the person of Malaika Mihambo, World and Olympic champion, Ivana Vuleta, World indoor champion and Jazmin Sawyers, European Indoor champion. The other will feature the ambitious new generation led by Ackelia Smith, who has been dominating the jumping pit this season (7m08, +1.9). Alongside her will be the sensation that is Hilary Kpatcha, who’s proven she’s a force to be reckoned with this summer with 6m86, and Italian Larissa Iapichino, who bagged European Indoor silver this winter and has cleared 6m83 this season.

19:10hrs – M Pole vault: Duplantis of course

Every one of his performances comes under intense scrutiny so all eyes are bound to be on him. Mondo Duplantis will be the real star of the pole vault competition in Monaco. The world record holder soars above his rivals season after season and has already jumped 6m12 this year. Accompanying him will be all the big names: Ernest Obiena, a newcomer to the 6m club, Kurtis Marschall (5m95) and Christopher Nilsen (5m92)… KC Lightfoot, US record holder (6m07) will also be worth watching, with Sam Kendricks (5m91), who will be keen to put the disappointment of the Trials behind him. Thibaut Collet and Renaud Lavillenie will be representing France so they will naturally be keen to rank highly. With these world final vibes, surely the meeting record will be smashed…

19:15hrs – M Javelin: Vadlejch, to drive the point home

In the javelin, summer leader Jakub Vadlejch will be the favourite. Indeed, the Czech has thrown 89m51 this season. To push him to his limits, he can count on Belgian Timothy Herman, who’s secured a personal best this year (87m35), 2022 European Champion Julian Weber and double world champion Anderson Peters, who will be chasing down a top performance in the run-up to Budapest.

19:58hrs – W High Jump: Final vibes

Monaco’s jumping pit will be worthy of a world final with the likes of Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh (2m01 this season), Nicola Olyslagers (2m02) and Iryna Gerashchenko (2m00) currently a cut above the rest. Behind them, a slew of athletes are hoping to join the fray: Morgan Lake and Angelina Topić (both have jumped 1m97) and also Eleanor Patterson, the reigning world champion, who’s yet to jump this season. Of note too is the presence of Nafissatou Thiam, a formidable opponent, focused on honing her skills for Budapest (2m02 her personal best).

20:04hrs – M 400m hurdles: The shock

The 400m hurdles will doubtless be one of the most eagerly awaited races of the night. The focus will be on Karsten Warholm, who is dominating the field with a comeback performance of 46”42, trouncing his closest rival by over a second. What is more, he’ll have some stiff competition to drive him on, with world champion Alison Dos Santos, Olympic silver medallist Rai Benjamin, who ran 46”62 in the Trials, plus compatriot CJ Allen, who’s posting a consistent performance this season. Running for the Blues, all hopes will be on Wilfried Happio, European number two last year, whose season’s best is 48”13.

20:15hrs – W 400m: McLaughlin for the win

Victory seems like a given for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has controlled the world 400m this season. Vying for glory behind her will likely be Britton Wilson and Rhasidat Adeleke, respectively third and fourth in the global ranking (49”13 compared with 49”20). However, it’ll be important to keep an eye on the Pole Natalia Kaczmarek, reigning European number two and Kenyan Mary Moraa, bronze medallist in last year’s 800m in Eugene. Also of note is the presence of hurdles specialist Shamier Little, who’s been successfully working on her speed (50”61 this year).

20:25hrs – M 800m: Eugene, the revenge match

At the start of the 800m will be the three medallists in Eugene, each of them gearing up for a revenge match. Emmanuel Kipkurui Koriris the man to beat and he performs brilliantly at championships. Hot on his heels, Djamel Sedjati (1’43”40) and Marco Arop (1’43”30) have already gone fast this season. There are more stellar performers in the race too: Emmanuel Wanyonyi, season leader with 1’43”27, Slimane Moula, fourth in the ranking with 1’43”38, Frenchman Benjamin Robert (1’43”48) in tip-top condition and Wyclife Kinyamal (1’43”56). Boasting 6 of the season’s top performers… this race is not to be missed!

20:35hrs – W Mile: Kipyegon the rocket

Faith Kipyegon is on home soil in Monaco. Last year, she missed out on the world 1,500m record by three tenths of a second, the entire stadium behind her. Since then, she’s shifted things up another gear to secure the world record in the 1,500m and 5,000m. This year, the Kenyan is returning to the mile, a distance which saw a new world record being set in Monaco in 2019 (4’12”33). Up against her is a strong armada: Briton Laura Muir, Olympic silver medallist in the 1,500m, Freweyni Hailu, fourth at the last worlds over 1,500m and Konstanze Klosterhalfen, European 5,000m champion.

20:40hrs – M Triple jump: The movers and shakers

The jumping pit will be the theatre for a top-ranking triple jump competition. Hitting the runway will be Portuguese athlete Pedro Pichardo, who has already won it all with a jump of 17m91 albeit in slightly too much breeze. He’ll have to watch out for Andy Díaz, who landed 17m75 this year in Doha (17m80 too windy). Also vying for the podium will be Jamaican Jaydon Hibbert (17m87, +1.3) who has excelled in the summer competitions. Note the presence of Christian Taylor who has held the meeting record since 2019 (17m82, +0.2).

20:50hrs – W 100m hurdles: Camacho-Quinn vs Harrison

The 100m hurdles will be an opportunity to see the world’s best duo facing off. On the one side, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, reigning Olympic champion, who is leading the way this year (12”31). On the other, Kendra Harrison, Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder in the sport (12”35 this year).

21:00hrs – M 5,000m: Battle of the best

The 5,000m will be reminscent of a dress rehearsal with four of the top ten performers of all time on the start line. It’ll be a tough battle for the world record holder over the distance, Berihu Aregawi with 12’40”45 and Jacob Kiplimo, who ran 12’41”73 in Oslo. Jacob Krop will also be one to watch after running the ninth fastest in the event’s history and Spaniard Mo Katir, who has posted 12’52”09 this year. Hot on their heels will be Frenchmen Jimmy Gressier (13’08”75) and Yann Schrub, bronze 10,000m medallist in Munich, with a new personal best of 13’11”44 this season.

21:20hrs – W 200m: Jackson leaves his rivals standing

The 200m promises to be explosive. In the starting blocks will be reigning world champion Shericka Jackson, who continues to take the world by storm. The Jamaican boasts a world leading performance over 100 m (10”65, +1.0), with the fifth fastest performance of all time and a new personal best set in Monaco last year. However, she will have to outpace Gabrielle Thomas, who cut an impressive dash by running 21”60 (-0.4) at the Trials. Also vying for the top spots will be Julien Alfred (21”91), American Abby Steiner (22”07), as well as English sprinters Dina Asher-Smith, bronze medallist in Eugene and Daryll Neita, who has just improved on her personal best (22”23).

21:30hrs – M 3,000m steeplechase: El Bakkali hoping to confirm

Soufiane El Bakkali has enjoyed an excellent start to the season by winning the meeting in Rabat, on home soil, resulting in a new national record (7’56”68). In Monaco, the World champion will want to continue onwards and upwards and score some extra points in his remote duel with Lamecha Girma, the recent world record holder… Pitted against him will be, Abraham Kibiwot and Getnet Wale, third and fourth in the 2023 ranking.

21:52hrs – M 100m: Omanyala vs Blake

The 100m will likely round off the show in style with a fierce duel between Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala and Jamaican Ackeem Blake. The former is the African record holder with 9’’77, the second is continuing to up the ante, posting a time of 9”89 (+1.0) this season. Akani Simbine always knows how to bring his A game too. Finally, Letsile Tebogo, world junior record holder (9’’91 in 2022) will be eager to prove himself among the 100m elite.

By Monaco Life with press release. Photo source: Herculis

Month: July 2023