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Month: March 2024

Road to Isola 2000 finally reopens after storm

by: Elsa Carpenter
05/03/2024

After two days of closure due to the heavy snowfall experienced in the Mercantour mountain range over the weekend, the RM97 road to Isola 2000 was finally reopened to the public on Tuesday 5th. 

The road was initially closed to all traffic at around 11am on Sunday 3rd March.

Some 80cm of snow fell in the resort over the course of that day, forcing local authorities unable to keep up with clearing the road and mitigate the risk of an avalanche to shut down access to the RM97. 

See more: ‘Mediterranean episode’: what happened when Sunday’s storm hit?

Hundreds of holidaymakers were reportedly trapped in the resort overnight, unable to leave and travel back to their homes after their ski trips.  

The road was temporarily reopened from 5.15pm to 9pm on Monday 4th March, but additional steps were taken overnight to reduce the risk of avalanches and it wasn’t until 8.30am on Tuesday 5th March that the sole access route to the resort was fully operational.  

Further snowfall is expected in the region this coming weekend.  

Read related:

Bountiful snowfall has ski resorts in the Southern Alps rejoicing

 

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Photo via Isola 2000, Facebook

Nearly 300 jobs at SBM on offer at employment event

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/03/2024

From restaurant staff to hotel workers and beach attendants, close to 300 positions within the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) universe will be up for grabs at an upcoming job fair hosted by Monaco’s largest employer. 

Between 9.30am and 6.30pm on Wednesday 6th March, the One Monte-Carlo conference centre will be welcoming in jobseekers who are looking to find a new role at SBM.  

Potential employees will get the chance to meet managers and decision-makers from the group, and possibly walk away with a new job at the award-winning hospitality company.   

There are postings for restaurant and kitchen staff as well as hotel workers, beach attendants, customer service agents, security guards and Kids Club managers, all ready to be snapped up by the right people ahead of summer 2024.  

For those unable to make it to the La Journée des Talents event in person, SBM is also accepting CVs via email. Contact recrutement@sbm.mc for more information. 

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

‘Mediterranean episode’: what happened when Sunday’s storm hit?

by: Niki Borisova
04/03/2024

A severe storm that hit the south of France and Monaco over the weekend caused mass damage, death and disruptions to travel in the region.

Sunday 3rd March saw the most extreme weather of the ‘Mediterranean episode’, which is a period of intense storms and incredibly heavy rains that causes extensive flooding. It brought down trees, ripped through powerlines and caused landslides in vulnerable areas of the south of France. As the rain came down, one tragic incident on the A8 motorway led to the death of an Escota worker who had been trying to help relocate a broken down vehicle.

See more: Further details revealed about deadly motorway accident in La Turbie

The worst of the storm occurred between 9am and 3pm, with as much as 100mm of rainfall recorded in the Pre-Alpes-de-Grasse zone and the Mercantour valleys.

The storm led to the closure of several roads, including the RD91 or Route de Casterino due to an elevated avalanche risk and the RM97 to Isola 2000, which was impacted by the heavy snowfall experienced in the more mountainous parts of the region.

See more: Bountiful snowfall has ski resorts in the Southern Alps rejoicing

Coastal roads in Nice and Menton were also temporarily shut for public safety.

Winds from the storm reached 90km/h and caused trees to fall on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, blocking three lanes out of four. In Antibes, six massive trees came down near Port Vauban, causing considerable damage to the road and leading to a complicated clean-up operation. Elsewhere, coastal areas saw parking lots flooded and roads become impassable due to the conditions.

As the storm’s shadows recede, there has been a break in the clouds, with Monday 4th March seeing a return of sunshine. Further rain is, however, forecast for the coming weekend.

 

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Photo credit: Météo Cote d’Azur, Facebook

 

 

Nice Airport: easyJet offers new summer destinations from €30

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/03/2024

Low-cost carrier easyJet has unveiled three new destinations to and from Nice for the summer of 2024, promising sun-soaked adventures along the Mediterranean.

Fresh off the heels of the winter season, easyJet is expanding its offerings this summer with an array of affordable destinations, especially towards the sun-kissed shores and vibrant cities dotting the Mediterranean coastline.

Alicante: April to August

Alicante leads the charge, making its debut in Nice starting from Friday 5th April 2024. The Spanish gem will be accessible once a week throughout April, before ramping up to twice weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays) from May until 30th August.

On the easyJet website, one-way tickets from Nice to Alicante are currently available from €32. However, with the summer season approaching, prices are expected to rise slightly, ranging between €45 and €70 if booked now.

Malaga: from €31

Following closely behind is another Spanish delight, Malaga, with new flights operating from Sunday 2nd June. Travelers can enjoy the sunny charms of Malaga with three weekly flights until Sunday 1st September.

Early birds can secure seats on the Malaga-bound flights starting from €31.

Malaga was in fact part of the summer lineup in 2023, served twice weekly by the airline Iberia.

A glimpse of Greece: Kefalonia

Rounding off the trio is the picturesque Greek island of Kefalonia, nestled in the serene Ionian Sea. Commencing from 30th June, travelers can pick up a weekly flight departing on Sundays until 1st September.

Ticket prices for this scenic retreat tend to be slightly higher, starting at €90 on 30th June. During the peak summer months, prices soar, ranging between €120 and €185 euros for a one-way ticket.

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SEE ALSO:

Nice Airport to receive €4.1 million in EU funding for emission-cutting project

Photo of Nerja Beach, credit Martijn Vonk on Unsplash

 

 

K2MATCH Investor Lounge: an event connecting startups with investors

by: Niki Borisova
04/03/2024

The upcoming K2MATCH Investor Lounge event, part of a platform that specialises in boosting B2B and B2B2C startups, will be seeking to connect innovative startups with investors based here in the Principality.

The K2MATCH Investor Lounge is preparing for its second edition in Monaco, which will be held on 7th March 2024. The event is being organised with the intent of bringing together startups and investors by offering a platform for businesses to pitch directly to a select group of potential backers.

Based in Paphos, Cyprus, K2MATCH specialises in supporting the growth of B2B and B2B2C startups and scaleups, aiming to elevate them to leadership positions within their industries. The event in Monaco is part of the organisation’s broader strategy to provide startups with access to capital, expertise and networking opportunities in a wider geographical area. Besides Monaco, K2MATCH Investor Lounges have also been hosted in Düsseldorf, Germany, and there are upcoming events planned for Dubai.

Alexandros Dohn and Badr Moudden, the co-founders of K2MATCH, have harnessed their expertise in entrepreneurship and investment to drive startup success around Europe. Dohn, from Paphos, specialises in building ecosystems for startups, focusing on strategic partnerships and investor relations to help founders scale and secure funding. Moudden, who is based in Düsseldorf, brings experience in strategic development and sales growth across various sectors, including his role as a startup mentor and “business angel”.

Alexandros Dohn, who is pictured left, and Badr Moudden. Photo credit: K2MATCH, LinkedIn

The agenda for the upcoming Investors Lounge includes startup pitches, a Q&A session and networking opportunities, with the goal of fostering connections between participants.

The startups set to attend the event cover a variety of sectors, including technology, recycling, artificial intelligence and health. Companies like Aera, Recyclium AG, AlignCoach.ai and Decomplex.ch are among those scheduled to present their solutions to challenges in their respective fields.

The event will be held at the Columbus Hotel in Fontvieille from 6pm to 10.30pm. For more information about the event and to register, click here.

 

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Photo credit: K2MATCH LinkedIn

Further details revealed about deadly motorway accident in La Turbie

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/03/2024

A driver who killed one man and injured four others, including two police officers, is being investigated for involuntary manslaughter and involuntarily causing injury after a tragic car accident near Monaco on Sunday.

The accident occurred on Sunday 3rd March at 12.47pm, amid heavy rains brought on by the ‘Mediterranean episode’ that had struck the region. Two patrol officers from Vinci Autoroutes, the parent company of Escota, were moving a car to safety after a minor incident on the A8 motorway.

After setting up markings to secure the area, they were hit by a car which is believed to have been driven at excessive speed in the dangerous conditions.

Tony Nellec, aged 54, was killed instantly. Four other people who responded to the initial scene were also injured – another Escota worker, two police officers and a tow-truck driver.

Two were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

On Monday, the Nice public prosecutor’s office confirmed to Nice-Matin that an investigation had been opened for “involuntary manslaughter by deliberate breach of an obligation of safety or prudence” and “unintentional injuries”.

Toxicology tests are being conducted to determine if the driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or narcotics.

Vinci Autoroutes changed its social media image to black in mourning after the tragedy, saying that they were “angry and in immense pain”.

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SEE ALSO:

Drunk driver charged in Monaco tunnel death

 

Photo credit: Clay LeConey on Unsplash