An updated list of nearly 450 electric, hydrogen and hybrid vehicles that are eligible for state funding of up to €7,000 in some cases has been released by the government. Is your dream car on it?
To encourage the public at large to transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, the French government is offering a rather generous “eco bonus” of up to €7,000 to households who invest in greener forms of personal transport.
The programme has been around since the start of 2023, but was recently expanded to include a wider range of vehicles and the new list heavily prioritises EU-made cars, vans and motorbikes.
As of 16th December, almost 450 vehicles are eligible under the scheme. They range from popular French car brands like Citroën and Peugeot to other major European marques, such as Volkswagen, Fiat, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Škoda. You can check out the complete list here.
The amount of financial aid available is means tested and varies according to the type of vehicle purchased and its environmental score. The maximum purchase price has also been set at €47,000.
Monaco and the Stade Louis II have, for the third consecutive Olympic Games, been selected as the hosts of the Rugby Sevens ‘repechage’ tournament, which will take place in June 2024.
On 15th December, World Rugby, the governing body for the rugby union, announced that the Rugby Sevens repechage tournament, which determines the last of the teams that will head to Paris for the Olympics, will be held at Stade Louis II in Monaco.
It marks the third consecutive time that the Principality has been given this honour, having hosted the event previously in 2016 before the Rio Games and in 2020 before Tokyo.
“The Olympic Games are the biggest multi-sport event in the world and a stage like no other for rugby players to share with other incredible athletes from across the globe. The prize of being able to compete for your country for an Olympic medal is an incredibly precious one and I am sure we will see some intense and passionate world class rugby in Monaco as team’s compete for those highly coveted final qualification places to achieve their Olympic dreams,” said World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont following the announcement.
In a joint statement released by Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, the Princely couple also welcomed the news warmly, saying, “It is a great honour to be hosting the Olympic qualification tournament in Monaco for the third time in a row. Rugby sevens is playing an increasingly important part in the Principality, and we are delighted to be part of this wonderful adventure. We wish the 2024 Olympic qualification tournaments great success.”
THREE DAYS OF INTENSE RUGBY
The Monaco competitions will be held over three days, from 21st to 23rd June, and will feature 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams from around the world.
Among the contenders for the final men’s places are: South Africa, Great Britain, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Uganda.
The women’s spots are equally contested, and the list of teams set to play include: Argentina, China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Kenya, Jamaica, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Samoa and Uganda.
Right along the Riviera, dozens of towns and cities will be hosting a festive winter swim during the holidays, including the Principality of Monaco. Here’s when and where to find them.
Cold water swimming has become huge in popularity thanks to industry icons like Wim Hof and the stream of potential benefits of the icy practice can bring, from improving immunity to decreasing inflammation.
Once favoured by Victorians, the sport is now very much back in the public eye and there are plenty of opportunities to try it out for yourself between now and New Year – albeit in the slightly milder Mediterranean than the piercingly cold waters favoured by The Ice Man.
NEAR MONACO
Just down the coast, Beaulieu-sur-Mer will be hosting a swim on Saturday 23rd December at 11am on the Plage des Fourmis. There is no charge to take part and there are changing rooms available for post-swim comfort.
In Monaco, the swim will be happening on Christmas Eve at 9.30am sharp on Larvotto beach.
There are two locations to choose from on New Year’s Day in the Alpes-Maritimes, with a dip run by local Antibes association Day One on the Plage de la Salis from 11am and a second in Golfe-Juan on the Plages du Soleil, although a time for this latter event is yet to be confirmed.
ELSEWHERE IN THE RIVIERA
The Var has some great options too, starting with a “new to the calendar” event in Saint Mandrier on Saturday 23rd December from 11.30am on the Plage du Touring. Mulled wine will be served after the swim!
Sainte-Maxime is the place to be on New Year’s Eve, with a rather organised and robust-sounding event planned for 11am. Participants should arrive at 10am for a 10.30am “muscle warm-up”. Click here for more information and to register for the very popular event.
Also on Sunday 31st December is the swim off the Plage de San Peïre in Roquebrune-sur-Argens-Issambres, which will start at 9.30am. A pre-swim dance to get warmed up is on offer as well as a competition for the funniest costumes.
The Plage du Parc in Cavalaire-sur-Mer will be the scene of a swim at 11am the same day, with snacks and mulled wine available afterwards to warm up chilly bathers in a festive way.
Le Pradet’s Plage de La Garonne will host its New Year’s Eve swim at 11am.
Finally, on New Year’s Day, swims will take place in Toulon at Anse des Pins at 11am, with a warm-up beginning at 10am, and in Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Plage de Favière from 3pm.
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The AS Monaco Kids Tour stopped off at the Principality’s Christmas Village in Port Hercule over the weekend to offer a day of games, prizes and a meet-and-greet with Brazilian international Caio Henrique.
Almost 150 children turned out on Saturday 16th December to meet the popular defender, who posed for pictures and signed autographs as part of the AS Monaco Kids Tour appearance in the Christmas Village.
“It’s important to share moments like this with the children of Monaco and the surrounding area,” he said. “They are our supporters of tomorrow, the ones who will come to support us at the Stade Louis II, and we need to be close to them. It’s a real pleasure to be here today, especially in this magnificent setting with the Christmas Village right next door.”
Brazilian defender Caio Henrique posed for photographs and signed autographs for the young fans. Photo credit: AS Monaco
Those young fans were given the chance to win a raft of exciting prizes, from a signed jersey to match tickets for upcoming games featuring the Monaco side, and AS Monaco mascot Bouba was also in attendance at the event, but with an extra special festive twist to his uniform.
Engagement and entertainment
The AS Monaco Kids Tour is now in its second year. Since September, the initiative has visited 14 locations and venues in three countries and reached more than 1,300 children. Numerous players from the main team and the Academy have taken part, such as goalkeeper Philipp Köhn and defender Vanderson de Oliveira Campos.
Launched a decade ago by local Nativity scene enthusiast Fabienne Mourou, Monaco’sChemin des Crèchesis now a treasured Christmas event in the Principality that has attracted artists and creators from around the world.
From a local initiative to an event now international in its scope, the Chemin des Crèches has grown into an enchantingly diverse exhibition presenting Nativity scenes built in Monaco and further afield. Each December, it lights the way up to The Rock from the Condamine neighbourhood with scene after scene of touching handmade creations.
“When placing the first figurines made by Provençal artist Louis Del Rosso in the Place du Casino, the passionate collector Fabienne Mourou did not yet know the path that her little characters were going to take around The Rock,” says a spokesperson for the event of its origins. “The success [of the Chemin des Crèches] was indeed immediate and the years that followed welcomed an impressive number of Nativity scenes from all countries and continents.”
The Chemin des Crèches will remain in place until 8th January 2024. Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco
The Rampe Major, the pathway leading up the hill to the Rock, is the main focus of the trail, though it spans a much larger area, from Port Hercule right up to the Palais Princier de Monaco.
Among the special pieces on display this year are a selection from Monaco’s primary schools as well as a Provençal Nativity scene from the Museum of Monegasque Traditions, which was the focal point of last year’s event.
The student-made crèches will all be presented in dedicated zone located between the second gateway of the Rampe Major and the access point to the Place du Palais.
PRINCE RAINIER III DEDICATION
Another highlight, made specially to mark the centenary of Prince Rainier III, is a handmade Nativity scene constructed by the young people of the Foi Action Rayonnement (FAR), an association that teaches values to children through “play, friendship, joy and prayer”. The theme is a nod to the late Prince: the Circus of Monaco. It can be found beneath the Prince’s statue.
A guided tour from Monaco Life’s Niki Borisova
Start your journey next to the police station in the Condamine and keep an eye out for the small white Nativity scene featuring an illuminated trio of Jesus, Mary and a saint as this is where it all begins.
Follow the trail uphill, stopping to pause and admire the scenes at the top of the rock gates. All along this section of the trail are different domestic and international Nativity scenes that tell their own festive tales.
Once you reach the Place du Palais, the creativity of local schoolchildren is in full view, with a number of delightful scenes. Be sure to check out the crèche italienne to the left as well as the boat-themed scene too.
The grand finale awaits on the other side of the square in a chalet that sums up the spirit of this relatively new tradition, which has evolved over the past 10 years to become a mainstay event on Monaco’s Christmas calendar.
Georges Marsan, mayor of Monaco for 20 years, has reportedly been charged with corruption-related offenses along with four other individuals. Marsan says he is completely innocent of the charges.
On Thursday 14th December, Monaco’s six-time mayor, Georges Marsan, was among six individuals from the Principality to be arrested and taken into police custody. Five are believed to have remained in police custody until Saturday 16th December, although Councillor Georges Gambarini was released without charge and immediately resumed his official duties.
Marsan and the remaining four have since been charged with a number of corruption charges, the full details of which are yet to be publicly confirmed by the General Prosecutor of Monaco.
However, in a statement released to the French language Monaco Matin, the authority revealed that a judicial investigation has been opened “on counts of active corruption against a national public official, passive corruption by a national public official, active influence peddling and passive ‘illegal taking of interest’ by a national public official and criminal association”.
Excluding Gambarini, who is understood to have been cleared of all involved, the five accused have been placed under judicial supervision.
“The investigations are continuing,” continues the statement, according to Monaco Matin. “As it stands, it is therefore not possible to disclose further information on the investigation.”
The statement concludes by insisting that “the persons charged remain presumed innocent”.
No official statement has been made by the Mairie de Monaco or the Prince’s Government regarding Marsan’s involvement and it is unclear whether he will return to office. It is likely that the conditions of the judicial supervision order will prevent him from entering Monaco City Hall or otherwise contacting colleagues.
“I have never taken advantage of my position. I cannot wait for my innocence to be proven.”
On Saturday 16th December, Marsan released his own statement via his legal advisor Thomas Brezzo. It was published later that day by the Monaco Matin.
“My actions have always been for the benefit of [Monaco’s] citizens, and has always been motivated by the general interest and standing of the Principality of Monaco,” reads the statement, according to Monaco Matin. “The procedures in City Hall are clear and respected. As Mayor, I remind you that I do not have the power to make decisions alone. These are taken by the Municipal Ccouncil. As for public procurement, it is supervised and controlled.”
The statement reportedly continues, “I believe I am being subjected to abusive measures and real harassment. I confirm: I have never taken advantage of my position. I cannot wait for my innocence to be proven.”
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Photo source: Jakub Żerdzicki, Unsplash
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