One dead and six injured in tragic accident on A8 motorway near Monaco

A traffic accident on the motorway in La Turbie has claimed the life of one person, and seriously injured six others. It occurred during Sunday’s heavy rainfall.

Tragedy struck in the early afternoon on Sunday when a tow truck, being monitored by highway police, was called to assist with a vehicle that had been involved in an initial accident, when a second car collided with the scene.

One person was killed, an Escota worker, while six people were injured, including two police officers.

40 firefighters and emergency services were sent to the motorway at around 2pm as heavy rainfall continued to impact driving conditions.

The driver of the car involved in the major collision is believed to have been placed into police custody.

Among the victims, three are seriously injured while three suffered minor injuries.

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Photo credit: Vladimír Sládek on Pexels

 

F1: Charles Leclerc takes fourth at a frustrating opening race in Bahrain

The opening race of the 2024 Formula One World Championship in Bahrain saw Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc achieve a fourth-placed finish behind his Scuderia Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in third and a Red Bull first and second. 

Despite starting from a sixth consecutive front row position, 26-year-old Leclerc struggled with brakes issues throughout the race and ultimately ended his run on the Sakhir Circuit on 2nd March in fourth. 

His teammate Sainz, however, had better luck and moved up from a P4 to achieve a podium place behind the ever-dominant Maz Verstappen and Sergio Pérez of Red Bull. His fluidity on track and passes saw him clinch the season’s first ‘Driver of the Day’ as voted for by the watching public.  

Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, took third and won ‘Driver of the Day’. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

“It was a disappointing race from my side,” said Leclerc post-race. “There was an issue with the brakes, so I struggled to stay on track, especially in turns nine and 10. We would have had the pace in the car to put up a good fight so I can’t wait to get back in the car in Jeddah.” 

While he was clearly frustrated, having performed exceptionally well during practice and qualifying, the combined efforts of Leclerc and Sainz have earned Ferrari a solid points start to the year – 27 for Ferrari compared to Red Bull’s 44 – and they were able to close the gap on the Red Bulls in front when compared to the 2023 Bahrain race. 

“This weekend, our flying lap performance matched our expectations, but we have a clear step to make in terms of our race pace as we were not in the fight with Red Bull,” said Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur. “That said I consider today’s race a good baseline… We will continue with our development and I’m confident we will be able to take the fight to them [Red Bull] more often.” 

His words echoed Leclerc’s admission prior to the race that “Red Bull still seem to be a step ahead of the rest of the pack”. 

The season continues at pace, with the next race set to take place in Saudi Arabia next Saturday on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.  

 

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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

A guide to the 2024 public holidays in Monaco

From religious occasions to celebrations of national identity, here’s a guide to all of the public holidays set to take place in Monaco during 2024.

The way in which public holidays – or jours fériés in French – work in Monaco reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring worker welfare across all sectors. These designated rest days ensure that employees are granted time off, with fair compensation provided for those required to work either through equivalent pay or a compensatory day off. Whatsmore, holidays that occur during an employee’s paid leave do not impact their total leave entitlement.

The first bank holiday following New Year’s Day will happen on Easter Monday on Monday 1st April. The holiday prolongs the celebrations of Easter Sunday, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here in Monaco, families often gather for a special lunch and participate in community events, such egg hunts and parades. To read about last Easter’s celebrations in Monaco, click here.

Then comes Labour Day on Wednesday 1st May, a worldwide observance recognising workers’ rights.

Ascension Day, observed on Thursday 9th May, and Corpus Christi, on Thursday 30th May, offer some employers and employees the chance to faire le pont and bridge their day off with the weekend by adding an extra day, while Whit Monday on Monday 20th May will further break up the most generous month on the calendar for public holidays.

During the summer, Assumption Day will be celebrated on Thursday 15th August. This significant day is marked by special church services, often attended by the Princely family, that showcase the cultural and religious traditions of the Principality.

As autumn unfolds, All Saints’ Day on Friday 1st November offers a moment for people to pay tribute to the departed. Additionally, the end of October tends to heralds the return of the funfair in Port Hercule, giving locals another excuse to enjoy some precious time off.

The National Day of Monaco, which will be celebrated on Tuesday 19th November, is a vibrant celebration of Monegasque identity that features fireworks, a Te Deum mass, public concerts, appearances by the Princely family and military parades that highlight the nation’s heritage. To read more about National Day, click here.

See more: In pictures: A look back at the 2023 Fête Nationale de Monaco

The 2024 calendar also features the Immaculate Conception on Sunday 8th December, a day devoted to honouring the Virgin Mary’s role in Christianity through church services, mass attendance and prayer sessions. As this holiday falls on a weekend, no additional day off will be granted.

Concluding the 2024 public holiday calendar, Christmas Day will be celebrated on Wednesday 25th December, ushering in a festive close to the year before welcoming the arrival of 2025.

 

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Photo credit: Mairie de Monaco, Facebook