Another young person has died following an horrific car accident in Monaco on the weekend, while two others remain in a critical condition.
Local newspaper Monaco Matin on Wednesday reported that, at its request, the Monaco Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the death of a second victim in the road accident that occurred early Sunday morning near the Millenium tunnel, at the western entrance to the Principality.
The second victim is reportedly a 20-year-old, originally from Azerbaijan, who succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday.
It follows the death of a 19-year-old woman from Kazakhstan, who died at the scene despite the quick intervention of emergency services.
Five people were in the Audi RS4 when it hit the wall at high speed at around 4.30am Sunday 17th December. All were students at the International University of Monaco.
Toxicology tests reportedly confirm that the 22-year-old driver, originally from Finland, had been drinking alcohol before the accident occurred.
A judicial investigation was opened on Tuesday on the counts of aggravated involuntary homicide and aggravated involuntary injuries, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Monaco told Monaco Matin.
Two occupants of the car reportedly remain in a critical condition.
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It has been announced that Chatsworth Schools will operate the future Borgo del Forte Campus, a key aspect in the €200 million redevelopment project of Ventimiglia.
Marina Development Corporation (MDC), an urban regeneration company that focusses on marina areas, revealed on Tuesday 19th December that it has signed a partnership with Chatsworth Schools, owner of 15 independent schools and kindergartens in the United Kingdom and manager of international schools and government consultant for education. The institution will be responsible for the management of Borgo del Forte Campus, the large international educational-sports campus that will be created in the Campasso di Nervia area of Ventimiglia, just 26 kilometres from Monaco.
The international school will open to its first students in September 2026, subject to the approval of the City Council, and will be a key feature in the transformation of the Ventimiglia seafront.
The Borgo del Forte Campus will cover 42,000 sqm.
Large enough to rival international schools in Monaco, Nice and Genoa
The Borgo del Forte Campus, in partnership with the Municipality of Ventimiglia, will be developed in the spaces of the former Campasso railway yard, behind the natural area that stands at the mouth of the Nervia river.
It will include 42,000 square metres of regenerated urban areas, and an international school for 800 students surrounded by a public park.
“We started talking to MDC a long time ago, when the campus and this announcement still seemed like a distant dream,” said Anita Gleave, CEO and founder of Chatsworth Schools. “Being one step away from the launch of this international school that will change the market and which will embrace and strengthen the local community of Ventimiglia is extremely exciting for me and for the entire Chatsworth Schools family.”
The school will be able to accommodate up to 800 students.
Facilities for all
On the sports front, the structure will host an indoor swimming pool that can be used by everyone all year round, an equipped gym, changing rooms, services and a dedicated club house, as well as a multifunction area for indoor and outdoor activities, all open to public.
To the south, the former railway warehouse building will be restored and used as a multi-purpose conference centre, with a conference room, exhibition area, laboratories and offices, all overlooking a large green park.
Meanwhile, the former guesthouse buildings will be restored and used as student accommodation with 100 beds and reception services, offices and cafeteria. The Campus will also be able to take advantage of over 3,000 square meters of parking.
The Campus will include sporting facilities available to the general population.
“Privileged access” for locals
Blenheim Schools – the international school division of Chatsworth Schools – will be responsible for designing and implementing the educational program and learning spaces of the international school, managing the activities of the entire Campus, as well as acting as a facilitator for the integration between the school and the local community, in agreement with the Municipality of Ventimiglia.
Residents of Ventimiglia will have “privileged” access through scholarships, discounts on annual fees and regulated prices for access to sports facilities.
“We are thrilled to announce together with Chatsworth the creation of the largest international school in the Liguria Region, a driver of great social, economic and employment growth for Ventimiglia,” said Giuseppe Noto, CEO of Marina Development Corporation. “After years of work with the public administration, we confidently await the adoption of the urban planning variant by the City Council by the end of the year, which is necessary for its implementation.”
Green spaces will be a key feature of the Campus.
The €200m development that is transforming a sleepy Italian town
Borgo del Forte Campus is an integral part of Marina di Ventimiglia, a large urban regeneration project promoted by MDC, aimed at creating a new tourist destination on the seafront of the city in western Liguria.
With a total investment of €200 million, Marina di Ventimiglia will develop over a total area of 57,000 square metres. It includes several aspects: the main one, Borgo del Forte, will impact the Marina San Giuseppe area, behind the new tourist port of Cala del Forte, owned by Ports of Monaco.
Here there will be a five-star hotel with 70 rooms, gym, wellness centre and restaurant, as well as 60 high-end apartments with terraces intended for sale. Each architectural element, is “built according to the highest technological and sustainability standards”, according to MDC, and will be totally immersed in greenery and “harmoniously inserted into the typical Ligurian morphological context characterised by terraces”.
The inhabitants of Borgo del Forte will also be able to take advantage of a 200 square metre swimming pool and 200 parking spaces, as well as 1,500 meters of underground public parking at marina level.
The other main features are the construction of the La Rocca panoramic restaurant, located to the west of the residential-hotel complex, which will be completed by summer 2024, and Club Italia, which involves the transformation of the former ACI building into a food and beverage “hub of excellence”.
Held at the Grimaldi Forum on Monday 18th December, the Club Eco Monaco Awards shone a spotlight on Monaco’s economic strength and innovation.
Jointly organised by the Monaco Economic Board and the Nice-Matin Group, the awards saw noteworthy enterprises from the Principality rewarded for their achievements in a diverse range of sectors.
In his opening speech, Jean-Louis Pelé, the General Director of the Nice-Matin Group, reflected on the economic vitality and uniqueness present in Monaco.
“Through the richness of their records and the excellence of the represented companies, the Eco Trophies highlight in the best way possible the economic dynamism of the Principality,” he said.
Minister of State Pierre Dartout also praised the positive roles Monegasque businesses play in the international presence of the Principality as well as their contributions to its prosperity.
“You honour the Principality, and I wish for you to continue doing so because the Principality needs its businesses,” said the statesman.
Meanwhile, real estate guru Michel Dotta shared his thoughts on the Principality’s resilience against a backdrop of economic unease in Europe and further afield.
“We will need to pull together, show solidarity, creativity, and tenacity,” he said of 2024. “Qualities in which the entrepreneurs of the Principality excel.”
2023 LAUREATES
The ceremony was led by Guillaume Rose, Executive General Director of the Monaco Economic Board, and Christian Huault, Nice-Matin Group’s Editor-in-Chief.
‘Manager of the Year Award’ went to Victoria Stevenson of Hôtel Columbus Monte-Carlo for her human-centric managerial approach.
The ‘Sustainable Development Award’ went to Azur Tech and Daniel and Cédric Cavassino, who were acknowledged for their continuous efforts in reducing environmental impact in the cleaning sector. Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, Director of the Mission for the Energy Transition in Monaco, complimented the founders at the event, saying that they had created “a model to follow”.
The ‘Innovation Award’ went to Youstock and Pierre Charvet for his Monaco-born start-up that is revolutionising storage solutions.
The ‘International Awards’ went to WES’ Thierry Cognard and Alexandre Trueba, who were congratulated on their excellence in the global transportation and customs sector.
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A volcanic eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has sparked concerns that air travel could be disrupted if the situation worsens, potentially threatening the holiday plans of thousands heading home for Christmas.
Over the last few days, the eyes of the world have been turned to the small fishing town of Grindavík, which lies on the southwest coast of Iceland.
It is sparsely populated, boasting just under 3,700 residents, but is shadowed by the Sundhnúkagígaröðin volcano that burst into life on the night of Monday 18th December after a series of earthquakes and tremors rocked the area.
The volcano is reported to have spewed lava fountains up to 100 metres high into the air, which could be seen from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, 53 kilometres away. With a fissure in the volcano about 3.5 kilometres long, and lava flowing at 100 to 200 cubic metres per second, it is the biggest eruption to have hit the area in recent times.
UNDER CONTROL
By most accounts, the Icelandic government has the situation well in hand and the danger level is low for those on the ground, though the smell of the smoke and ash is said to be apparent over large distances. The residents of Grindavík, as well as tourists visiting the famous Blue Lagoon nearby, had already been excavated prior to the eruption as a precaution.
Speaking from Iceland, Doctor Ilyinskaya, an associate professor of volcanology at Leeds University, told the BBC that locals had been “fearing and waiting for” the volcano to blow, and that authorities were preparing for the worst, whilst hoping for the best.
THREAT TO TRAVEL
Both domestically and internationally, there are concerns about the impact the volcano could have on air travel. Back in 2010, a separate eruption in Iceland led to chaos in the skies for several days as experts warned about the damage volcanic ash could have on aircraft and their engines.
As of now, no flights have been cancelled out of Iceland’s Keflavik Airport, nor are there any significant delays. Airlines are saying that they will keep in contact with passengers regarding any changes to the situation and that they are keeping a close watch on the events as they unfold. The general belief at the moment is that a 2010-style shutdown is unlikely.
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Dozens of festively decorated Fiat 500s, from the brand-new to the vintage, will be taking to the streets of Monaco this coming Friday for the annual Club des Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo’s Parade de Noël. Here are all the details.
From 6.30pm on Friday 22nd December, the Club des Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo will be driving through the streets of the Principality for the fifth edition of its annual Parade de Noël.
Appealing to both those who have an appreciation of the timeless Italian-designed car and all-round fans of the Christmas season, the parade will see dozens of the vehicles from all vintages, as well as newer models, adorned with wreaths, lights, tinsel and piles of decorations and presents. Several Topolinos are set to join the troupe too.
The parade will wind through Monaco until the cars reach the Place du Casino at roughly 7pm. Then, the drivers and a visiting Father Christmas will disembark to share out gifts with spectators. All are invited to come along and share a glass of vin chaud with the club members!
With the countdown to 2024 well and truly on, have you finalised your plans for 31st December? From famous nightclubs to the Salle des Etoiles, let this be your guide to celebrating New Year’s Eve out on the town in Monaco.
After covering all of the finest places to wine and dine with friends and family in our New Year’s restaurant guide, now it’s the turn of the top bars and nightclubs in the Principality.
It looks like Monaco is gearing up for a huge New Year’s Eve, with parties and concerts set to take place in every corner and venue of the Principality. From all-out club experiences to concerts and cocktails, here’s our pick of the best and the biggest.
NIGHTCLUBS
Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo is one of the longest standing nightclubs in Monaco, but its popularity has certainly not faded with time. If anything, the place is going from strength to strength, as shown in its massive plans for the New Year’s weekend. A line-up of renowned DJs, including Ollie Deejay, DOSH, RAWDØLFF and Siryll, will be performing from 29th through to 31st December from 11pm until the early hours. Click here for more information.
Next comes Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo, with its combination of party and in-house dining. There’s a €490 menu on offer in the restaurant and a €450 Omakase menu in the lounge bar, while DJ Papa will be serving up the tunes in the club. For more information and reservations, which are highly recommended, click here.
Buddha Bar Monte-Carlo will take you from dinner table to dancefloor. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Then there’s Twigaand its New Year’s Eve Gala featuring live music by Alessandro Ristori and The Portofinos as well as an exquisite dining experience blending Italian and “new” Asian cuisine. For reservations, click here.
MK Club down on the Route de la Piscine will be hosting a Studio 54-themed party on 31st December from 10am until 7am. Yes, 7am! It promises to be an unforgettable night. For more information, click here.
BARS
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort’s Blue Gin has been transformed into the Antarctic-inspired Blue Ice for the holidays, complete with frosted fir trees and sledges as seating. The New Year’s Eve programme features fireworks, a live DJ and one of the most inventive cocktail menus in the Principality at the moment.
There are blues of a different hue over at the Hôtel de Paris’Bar Américain, which will be pairing live jazz and soul with elegant cocktails and an à la carte dinner service. It is worth noting that there will be a minimum €750 spend on cocktails and other beverages in place here.
Another option is the Crystal Bar at the Hôtel Hermitage, with its special aperitif evening from 7pm. There are two canapé menus on offer here: a €40 package for four gourmet canapés and a cocktail or the €65 menu that offers five dishes and a drink. For more information, click here.
ICONIC VENUES
Live music in the lounge bar of the Salle Europe will provide the perfect backdrop to an evening at the games tables of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Spending the evening at this legendary Monaco address offers a different kind of thrill to a night on the dancefloor, but will provide an insight into the golden history and heritage of the Principality in a way that no other place can dream of. For the full rundown of the Casino’s scheduling over the holidays, click here.
Make memories at the Casino de Monte-Carlo this coming New Year’s Eve. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
And the final spot on the list goes to the famous Salle des Etoiles and its ABBA tribute show. The doors to ‘The Show: A Tribute to ABBA’ will open at 8pm. Tickets cost €665 and the event is suitable for all aged seven and up. Click here to find out more.
