In a display of skill and strategy, Tolito Aguirre and Gonza Alfonso took their second season title after defeating Maxi Arce and Franco Dal Bianco at the A1 Padel Monaco Master tournament over the weekend.
Aguirre-Alfonso, in a stunning turn of events, outplayed the world Number One ranked Padel duo of Arce and Dal Bianco on the courts of the Principality’s A1 Padel Monaco Master tournament, which concluded on 24th March.
Prevailing in straight sets – 6/4 and 6/3 – the win means that ‘Los Magicos’, as they have been nicknamed by fans, have also earned their second consecutive win of the season to further extend their dominance on the 2024 A1 Padel circuit.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was there in person to witness the final, presented the winners with their award.
With the circuit now moving to Santiago, Chile, for the next tournament in mid-April, the spotlight remains on Aguirre and Alfonso as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
In a weekend of high stakes games, the Roca Team clinched two important victories on home turf to extend their unbeaten run at the Salle Gaston Médecin.
It all began with a closely contested EuroLeague game against Valencia on Friday 22nd March, which came down to just one point: 79-78.
The win was a crucial one after the team’s previous defeat at the hands of Milan, and Coach Sasa Obradovic reflected on the importance of their narrow success post-game, saying, “I can’t explain the stress there was tonight. To win, we were able to show character despite an obvious accumulated fatigue.”
The Roca Team’s relentless spirit was on full display again as they hosted SIG Strasbourg in the Betclic Elite on Sunday 24th March. It was a game that ended in victory again for the Rouges et Blancs: 92-78.
This win was particularly sweet, avenging a recent defeat in the Coupe de France semi-finals.
Obradovic praised his team’s execution, saying, “We got the job done. This match was very physical, with both teams often on the verge of fouling on several plays.”
Yakuba Ouattara, Captain of the Roca Team, said, “We were a little more mentally prepared than last time. And this revenge side was indeed there, against Strasbourg who deprived us of a second final in the Coupe de France a week ago.”
After securing back-to-back wins, the Roca Team has re-established itself as a strong competitor in both the EuroLeague and the domestic Betclic Elite.
Coming up are games against LDLC Asvel, a EuroLeague fixture, on 28th March, and a Betclic Elite challenge with Saint-Quentin on 30th March.
Ahead of the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress that will be taking place in Monaco later this month, Monaco Life met with Dr. Philippe Berros to learn more about this prestigious event, new trends in aesthetic medicine and the quest to age gracefully.
The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco will welcome the 22nd edition of the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress (AMWC) from 27th to 29th March. Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the congress is hosted by the World Society of Interdisciplinary Anti-Aging Medicine, an association created for and by physicians to promote safe and evidence-based anti-aging treatments.
To learn more about the AMWC and the latest advances in aesthetic anti-aging, Monaco Life spoke with Dr. Philippe Berros, an oculoplastic surgeon and ophthalmic consultant who specialises in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.
Alongside this, Dr. Berros is an Associate Professor who travels internationally to give lectures abroad, and he has received an award in the USA for his work on PRS. Dr. Berros and his associate, Dr. Enrica Segond, are also the co-founders of La Clinique Monte-Carlo, Monaco’s first plastic surgery centre.
As Dr. Berros tells Monaco Life, the huge success of the AMWC is, first and foremost, due to its location in Monaco.
“The AMWC has existed for over 25 years, since the beginning of the history of cosmetic medicine and plastic surgery,” he shares. “The quality of the organisation and the international scientific programme make this conference one of the most important in the world today. This is the meeting place of the scientific aesthetic world.”
The AMWC 2023 session at the Grimaldi Forum. Photo source: AMWC Press
The AMWC covers all aesthetic and anti-aging disciplines, incorporating subjects from dermatology to minimally invasive aesthetic treatments, body sculpting and rejuvenation.
Those who can’t attend in person can participate online and, in fact, over 20,000 professionals regularly take part in this manner. They join more than 15,000 participants and 300 exhibitors from over 140 countries who travel to the Principality specifically for the event.
“Every doctor has a responsibility to continue their education.”
According to Dr. Berros, belonging to medical associations is a must for professionals keen to keep abreast of the latest advances.
“Together with my associate, Dr. Segond, I have been a member of the Association Monegasque of Anti-Aging Medicine (AMMA) since its inception [as well as] EuroMediCom and the Aesthetic Multispecialty Society (AMS),” Dr. Berros tells Monaco Life. Membership allows us to belong to a scientific community and to be able to exchange with colleagues from all over the world, which is essential for our continuous training and advancement.”
He adds, “There are multiple ways to keep ahead of the latest progress in our field, such as participating in the AMWC, where there are clinical conferences and presentations on the latest and most innovative techniques and treatments based on proven scientific research. I have also joined specialised social networks, consulted scientific journals and exchanged with colleagues. Every doctor has a responsibility to continue their education.”
Top-of-the-line scientific programme
The AMWC is well known for producing a top-tier scientific programme led by key opinion leaders and experienced speakers. Additionally, the AMWC is the world’s leading scientific conference that specialises in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine while simultaneously shining a light on the continuing education of physicians. Fostering new and valuable professional connections is another mission of the globally recognised event.
The AMWC 2023 exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum. Photo source: AMWC Press
“The speakers at the AMWC come from five continents,” explains Dr. Berros. “During this conference, the most accomplished and experienced doctors and surgeons are present in Monaco, plus all the largest pharmaceutical laboratories exhibit at the AMWC. It is a forum of permanent scientific exchange over three days.”
Cosmetic plastic surgery is a growing specialty
Dr. Berros goes on to say how training for doctors has evolved over the last 15 years thanks to organisations such as the AMWC and other innovative platforms.
“The internet has revolutionised teaching with the posting of videos of surgical or medical techniques online,” he says. “Everything has become more accessible, so surgeons have access to cutting-edge training. Teaching requires a lot of research and work, and patients should put their trust in qualified health professionals who are Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons.”
Dr. Berros’ career has also evolved, moving from ophthalmology to the field of aesthetic medicine.
“When training at university, I began to treat pathologies such as blepharospasm with botulinum toxin (Botox), and then very quickly this medication became the star treatment in aesthetic medicine. The same goes for hyaluronic acid, which is used in cataracts and subsequently became the perfect treatment for wrinkles. In 25 years of my career, this has continued to evolve. A true passion was born.”
Testing creams at the AMWC 2023 at Grimaldi Forum. Photo source: AMWC Press
Aging gracefully
For many women, and increasingly men, their looks and appearance are very important, and there seems to be an interrelationship between inner beauty and outer confidence; those who see themselves as attractive exude more confidence. With that, they believe they increase their chances of success socially and in business.
“Cosmetic medicine helps patients feel better about themselves,” says Dr. Berros. “It increases their self-esteem and inner harmony. It is not about transforming people, but improving their quality of life. You cannot prevent growing old, but it is possible to age gracefully. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, spending time outdoors with protection according to your skin, and no tobacco and less alcohol are good strategies. You can get regular aesthetic treatments like Botox, hyaluronic acid, peeling and laser… The rule is regularity.”
With regards to aesthetic treatments that have longer-term results, Dr. Barros explains: “No aesthetic treatment is definitive, even surgery. The secret to well-being and good results is maintenance. You must treat yourself two to three times a year. Plus, there is no specific age at which to start aesthetic treatment.”
The sizeable market of eternal youth
The quest for eternal youth is a fact. There is a reason why the global aesthetic medicine market was valued at USD $127.11 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.9% from 2024 to 2030.
Furthermore, the cosmetic industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, projected to grow from USD $393.71 billion in 2024 to a staggering USD $758.05 billion by 2032.
From the water cycle and the world’s oceans to the compost loop, five environmental themes have been chosen for the artworks that will be painted by participants at the Fresco Marathon event organised by the Mairie de Monaco in early April.
Between 3pm and 6pm on Saturday 6th April, the A Casa d’i Soci – La Maison des Associations venue on Promenade Honoré II will be hosting budding artists and environmentalists at a Fresco Marathon initiative – the first of its kind in Monaco – put on by the Mairie.
The Mairie has long been committed to the Principality’s environmental code, which is enshrined in law and vows to “sustainably manage and protect the environment against all forms of pollution, contribute to climate change mitigation efforts and an energy transition, as well other environmental and health related purposes”.
This dedication to the cause will be given a creative spin at the upcoming event, which will invite locals aged 10 to 100 to join in with the painting of five separate frescoes.
The goal of the painting project is to help people understand “the mechanics, scale and complexity of the challenges posed by climate change in order to collectively explore possible solutions”.
Themes include: the compost loop, with a focus on waste reduction; the oceans and their ecosystems; the water cycle; the climate; and the circular economy.
The event is free to attend, but spaces are limited so the team at the Mairie is asking interested parties to register ahead of time via environnement@mairie.mc.
The French government has raised the national security alert system to its highest emergency level following an attack on a concert hall in Moscow that has left at least 137 dead and many more injured. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the deadly event.
France’s Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, has confirmed that the French government has escalated the national security alert system, known as Vigipirate, to its highest level in the wake of the attack on the Crocus Concert Hall in the Russian capital on 22nd March.
Increases such as this occur only when the state feels there is imminent danger following a terrorist threat or act at home or abroad.
“Following the attack in Moscow, a Defence and National Security Council was convened this evening [24th March] at the Elysée by the President of the Republic,” Attal announced on social media. “Given the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the attack and the threats weighing on our country, we have decided to raise the Vigipirate posture to its highest level: attack emergency.”
PRE-OLYMPIC CAUTION
The news comes just two months after the government lowered the threat level to ‘reinforced security’, the second of the three-tier system.
Security measures under the recently elevated alert level include more frequent patrols by armed forces agents in public places such as religious sites, train stations and airports.
Concerns over public security are running high in France at the moment, with the nation counting down the start of the 2024 Olympic Games. The opening ceremony on 26th July, which will see a parade of boats sail down the Seine, is likely to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators.
France has good reason to be cautious, having suffered a series of major terror attacks in recent years, including at the Bataclan concert hall in 2015 and on the Promenade des Anglais on Bastille Day in 2016.
LATEST FROM RUSSIA
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Russia and four suspects are believed to be in custody.
The men, who are reported to all be from Tajikistan, a former Soviet protectorate, are understood to have entered the venue and opened fire on the crowd. Reports of stabbings have also been included in the media coverage of the attack. Later, the suspects, who face charges of committing a terrorist act, set the concert hall on fire.
The attack is the deadliest to have occurred on Russian soil in two decades. According to the latest reports, 137 people have died, while another 187 were injured.
Monaco’s citizen population rose by 1.1% over the course to 2023, according to a new report by IMSEE. Monegasques now number 9,790.
On 14th March, the Mairie de Monaco held a special ceremony formally announcing the 68 people who had acquired Monegasque citizenship in 2023.
But they weren’t the only newcomers to the population, which is now nearing the 10,000-mark.
104 new babies holding Monegasque citizenship at birth, by virtue of one or both of their parents, were born in 2023. The 54 girls and 50 boys were born to mothers of an average age of 32.
The Principality sadly lost 71 nationals during those 12 months: 37 women and 34 men.
The report from IMSEE, Monaco’s official statistical agency, acknowledged the typically long lives led by its citizens. The average life expectancy is close to 87 years, which rises to 90 for the Principality’s female nationals.
DEMOGRAPHICS
There were slightly more women with Monegasque nationality recorded in 2023 than men; the split is 5,319 to 4,471, equating to a 54.3% share for women and a 45.7% share for men.
The average age of a Monegasque citizen is 45 years old, with men being notably younger than women. The average age for Monegasque men is 41.9, while for women, it is 47.6 years of age.
19% of the population is under 16, with the same percentage falling into the 17 to 34 age group. Those aged 35 to 49 make up 15% of the total population, while 50 to 64-year-olds make up 20%. The largest group of citizens is those aged 65 and over, who make up a full 27%.
While the Monegasque population grew in 2023, the overall population living in the Principality fell to 36,297.
MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES
Just 69 marriages involving at least one Monegasque citizen were celebrated in 2023, compared to 100 in 2022. The ages of the newly espoused were similar between men and women, with men being 33.6 years old on average and women being slightly younger at 30.7.
There were 20 divorces last year; the Principality’s overall divorce rate is a low 2.1%.
HOW TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP
Monegasque citizenship is primarily achieved by being born to a Monegasque parent, which offers the benefit regardless of where the individual is born, but it can also be obtained through marriage.
The law is clear on how this works, with the Mon Service Publique website stating, “The spouse of a Monegasque national can acquire Monegasque nationality by declaration 10 years after the date of the marriage provided that: at the time of their application, they continue to live together with their Monegasque spouse, except in cases of widowhood where the individual has not remarried.”
Finally, in rare cases, people can become citizens by appealing directly to the Palais Princier de Monaco. The naturalisation process follows a strict set of criteria and even if a person fulfils all requirements, the Prince and his government are not obliged to grant the request.
