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Day: 6 November 2023

How Monaco is tackling bad parking and inconsiderate drivers in its public carparks

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/11/2023

It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a brand new sportscar or a beaten-up old banger, the warning from Monaco’s Public Parking Service to those inconsiderate drivers who park poorly or use public carpark as personal garages is the same: impounding has begun.  

Monaco’s government is tired of people taking advantage of the public carparks in the Principality. So tired, in fact, that two ministerial decrees and a Sovereign Ordinance intended to ensure “better use of the spaces available” and punish those out flout basic rules have been issued.  

NOW IN EFFECT 

The new rules, which went into effect on 1st November, take aim at the people who misuse public parking lots through behaviours and actions such as parking for extended periods, taking up more than one space or, incredibly, using a parking space as a private storage facility by leaving large and cumbersome items on spots that could otherwise be used for parking.  

In a statement made on the tenuous situation, the government said, “Public car parks are not immune to various incivilities, ranging from the abandonment of vehicles to the storage of bulky items, which penalise those who have no parking space… These vehicles prevent the rotation of parking spaces and sometimes present a security risk, particularly if [the vehicle] is in poor condition, and thus constitute a danger for users and public parking facilities.” 

CONSEQUENCES 

The Public Parking Service and its agents have now been given freer rein and increased authority to deal with any parking-related problems that may arise or be reported.  

For example, from now on, vehicles parked improperly or abandoned for a long period of time in the same space, without a subscription, can be impounded “more efficiently”, giving real consequences to rulebreakers.  

 

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Photo source: Troy T, Unsplash

Magic workshop at A FĂ brica

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/11/2023

On Saturday 11th November, a magic workshop will be held for kids living and attending school in Monaco.

Organised by the Mairie’s City Entertainment Department, the free event is open to children from the age of six.

The workshop will be led by Magie 4 You and held in the salle A FĂ brica, starting with a magic show followed by a magic creation workshop.

There will be two time slots: from 2 pm to 3:15 pm for six to seven-year-olds and from 3:30 pm to 5pm for ages eight to 11.

A FĂ brica can be found at the upper entrance to Princess Antoinette Park.

 

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Photo credit: Dollar Gill, Unsplash

New Ambassadors accredited: Japan, Finland, Sudan and Brunei

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/11/2023

In diplomacy news, Monaco has welcomed a series of new Ambassadors who will play an important role in the Principality’s international relations.

On 6th November, Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, received during a lunch organised at the Hermitage Hotel, Ambassador of Japan Makita Shimokawa, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland Matti Anttonen, Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan Dr. Khalid Mohamed Farah Elfahal, and Datin Paduka Hajah Rakiah Abdul Lamit, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam.

Earlier, the diplomats presented their Letters of Credence to Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Who are Monaco’s newest ambassadors?

Makita Shimokawa is a law graduate from the University of Tokyo and enarque (Fernand Braudel promotion), and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1984. After holding various positions at the Bureau of Economic Affairs, he was appointed Ambassador of Japan in Indonesia in 2011 then Director General of Cultural Affairs in 2016. From 2019 to 2022 he was Ambassador of Japan to Belgium and to NATO.

In office since September 2022 as Ambassador of Finland to France, Matti Anttonen, holder of a master’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in political science, began his career in 1986 in foreign affairs and served in Paris, Stockholm, Moscow, Washington and Geneva. Finnish Ambassador to Stockholm and Moscow, he was also State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022.

Dr. Khalid Mohamed Farah Elfahal holds a bachelor’s degree in letters from the University of Khartoum as well as a master’s degree in diplomacy and international studies from Washington International University. From 1986 to 2006, he was a diplomatic agent in several departments at the headquarters of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently, he was Ambassador to many African countries (Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Angola and Sao Tome and Principe). Since September 2023, he has been the non-resident Ambassador of Sudan to Portugal.

Finally, Datin Paduka Hajah Rakiah Abdul Lamit holds a degree in social anthropology from the University of Kent, UK. Joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei in 1985, she held several positions before being appointed Ambassador of Brunei to Brazil and Argentina and subsequently to Europe.

 

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Photo from left to right: Makita SHIMOKAWA, Datin Paduka Hajah Rakiah ABDUL LAMIT, Marie-Catherine CARUSO-RAVERA, Matti ANTTONEN, and Dr. Khalid Mohamed Farah ELFAHAL. Credit Manuel Vitali – Communications Department

 

 

Basketball: Highs and lows for the Roca Team after games on both fronts

by: Niki Borisova
06/11/2023

AS Monaco Basket players and fans have had a busy few days, with games in the EuroLeague and the French Betclic Elite that have seen them travel to Milan and then northern France.  

It began with a promising win against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on 2nd November at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, where the Roca Team claimed their fourth straight win in the EuroLeague.

It was a tough game and both teams struggling offensively. Milan took an early 8-0 lead, leading to AS Monaco’s coach, Sasa Obradovic, calling for a timeout to regroup.

Monaco gradually found their rhythm, with Alpha Diallo’s mid-range jumper marking their first points, and by halftime, it was almost equal at 35-37.

The third quarter saw both teams dealing with trouble, but AS Monaco surged ahead, taking a 39-37 lead. Mike James, who had a slow start, reached a career milestone with 250 steals, and sealed the game with a vital three-pointer, securing a 72-66 victory for AS Monaco.

AS Monaco looks to rebound after stumbling in Betclic Elite

AS Monaco’s previously stellar record in the Betclic Elite faced a formidable challenge when they clashed with SLUC Nancy Basket on 4th November in a second away fixture.

Despite their resilience, the game saw the Roca Team’s unbeaten streak come to a halt with a final score of 86-94 and Nancy as victors.

Again, Mike James was perhaps the most prolific player on the court for AS Monaco, while John Brown, Élie Okobo, Matthew Strazel, Jordan Loyd, Jaron Blossomgame, Yakuba Ouattara, Donta Hall and Petr Cornelie all played vital roles.

But AS Monaco’s 31 field goals out of 68 attempts and eight three-pointers out of 27 clearly showed their offensive struggle in the face of Nancy’s strong defence, and it simply wasn’t enough for a win.

AS Monaco’s winning streak in the Betclic Elite came unstuck against Nancy. Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Despite a lapse, AS Monaco remains a strong contender in the Betclic Elite, and the team will be ready to bounce back and deliver thrilling performances as the Betclic Elite season continues on 12th November against Nanterre.

The next fixture in the Euroleague will be on 10th November against ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne.

 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Cordina victorious in IBF Super Featherweight clash at Monte-Carlo Boxing Showdown

by: Niki Borisova
06/11/2023
cordina monte-carlo

In an electrifying contest at the Casino de Monte-Carlo over the weekend, Joe Cordina triumphed against Edward Vazquez to retain his IBF Super Featherweight title.  

The Casino de Monte-Carlo provided a spell-binding setting for Eddie Hearn’s Monte-Carlo Boxing Showdown on Saturday 4th November, which had as its centrepiece a highly anticipated fight between Welshman Joe Cordina, 31, and the USA’s Edward Vazquez, 28.

Cordina’s journey to victory

Cordina’s path to victory was marked by consistent success in prior fights.

In his most recent fight, he secured a crucial split decision win against a formidable opponent, Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, in their IBF World Junior Lightweight championship clash. Cordina’s previous wins have also included a knockout against Kenichi Ogawa and a unanimous decision over Miko Khatchatryan, which have both helped solidified his status as a top-class Super Featherweight and place him as the favourite going into Saturday’s meet with Vazquez.

His opponent of Vazquez, the ninth-ranked fighter in the IBF Super Featherweight division, failed to take the win, but commentators have nevertheless complimented his performance, saying it highlighted his potential in the division.

Cordina won by majority decision, but it was slim, going 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114.

“He’s tricky and he’s clever,” Cordina told the media afterwards. “I had to track him down and work him out. Going into the 10th, my trainer told me it was level. I didn’t box to my best, but I still think I did enough to win. There are no marks on my face, but there are marks on his. I didn’t perform to my best, and he couldn’t beat me on my worst night, and he’s a sore loser.”

Tensions were clearly still high as the pair exited the ring.

Undercard showdowns: thrilling fights before the main event

The fight between Cordina and Vazquez might have been the main event, but it wasn’t the only exciting match-up of the night as the undercard featured a series of compelling fights.

Adrian Curiel delivered a significant win when he knocked out Sivenathi Nontshinga in the second round, claiming the IBF World Junior Flyweight championship. Souleymane Cissokho demonstrated his dominance by defeating Isaias Lucero, and Ramla Ali emerged victorious against Julissa Alejandra Guzman II.

 Read more:

Monte-Carlo Boxing Showdown: a knockout night of boxing set to return to Monaco

 

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Photo source: Joe Cordina, Instagram

Qantas announces epic “ultra-long-haul” flight from Perth to Paris from next year

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/11/2023

Taking over 17 hours and with tickets starting at €1,120 for the roundtrip, Qantas Airlines’ new non-stop flight from Perth to Paris will get going just before the 2024 Olympics.  

Qantas’ Perth to London Gatwick flight has been going strong since it was introduced in 2018, but soon passengers on the continent will be able to access a route that’s even closer to home. 

Starting 12th July 2024, the award-winning carrier will launch an “ultra-long-haul” direct flight from the Australian west coast city of Perth to the Charles de Gaulle Airport just outside of Paris.  

OLYMPICS IN MIND 

The new connection will thus be available just in time for the many sportsmen and women and their fans heading to the French capital from the other side of the world for the Olympic Games, which are set to begin on 26th July 2024.  

“Some of the first customers on these flights will be Australian athletes heading to Paris to compete at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” says Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson of the new route. 

The Olympics may have been the catalyst, but the airline plans to make this a regular thing, with year-round flights as often as four times per week during peak travel times.  

AN EPIC JOURNEY 

Taking a massive 17 hours and 20 minutes one way and just over 16 and a half hours the other, the flight path will cover an incredible 14,264 kilometres without stopping. 

The flights will be on Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliners, which feature 236 seats: 166 in economy, 28 premium economy and 42 in the business class cabin. 

Last summer, Qantas added a seasonal flight from Rome Fiumicino to Perth, but Hudson says, “Paris is the next most-requested destination, so we know the demand for this service will be strong as well.” 

When the route begins next year, it will mark the return of Qantas to the Paris airport after nearly 20 years.  

MORE SEATS AND CONVENIENCE 

In all, the airline’s new route will add over 75,000 more seats to aviation connections between Australia and Europe per year.  

Interestingly, the carrier plans on being flexible with returns; the ‘circle fares’ mean that passengers can fly to Paris and return via London or Rome on the same ticket.  

Qantas hopes this will entice more Europeans to visit Perth, with the airline’s CEO saying, “We’ll be working with Tourism Western Australia to help make the most of the opportunity to bring tourists here, knowing that direct flights are a big factor in people deciding where to travel.”  

Ticket prices start at €1,120 (A$1,899) for a roundtrip and are available now.  

 

Read related:

Project Sunrise: Qantas sets the bar high for stylish “ultra long-haul” travel

 

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Photo via Qantas