Monaco move second after 2-0 win over Brest

22/04/2024

AS Monaco won 2-0 at Brest on Sunday to overtake their opponents in the Ligue 1 standings and move into second place, extending their unbeaten run to seven games despite finishing the match with nine men.

Monaco have 55 points, two ahead of Brest and with a game in hand, while Lille, who have also played a game less, are one point behind Brest in fourth after their 1-0 win over Strasbourg.

Monaco broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, when a poor clearance from Jonas Martin fell to Denis Zakaria, who took a touch to take him past the onrushing Martin and from the edge of the area curled his shot into the far top corner.

The visitors doubled their lead three minutes after the break, with Krepin Diatta’s cross from the left bundled home at the near post by Takumi Minamino.

Monaco had both Eliesse Ben Seghir and Wilfried Singo sent off in added time but it was too late for Brest to take advantage and they fell to their second consecutive defeat.

Lille overcame Strasbourg thanks to Jonathan David’s 12th minute goal, his sixth in six league games, and they have a five point advantage over fifth-placed Nice. Paris St Germain, who play Lyon later on Sunday, are top on 63 points.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

Basketball: Three victories in Betclic Elite games solidify Roca Team’s top place in league standings

by: Niki Borisova

22/04/2024

In an impressive feat of victory, AS Monaco’s Roca Team have clinched three victories in Betclic Elite games against Dijon, Roanne, and Le Portel, just in time for the Euroleague’s playoffs.

It was an intense Betclic Elite match on 13^th April in Dijon, as the Roca Team secured a victory with a score of 72-80. Roca Team’s key players Mike James and Jordan Loyd were out of action, but this didn’t stop the team from bringing home a win. The star of the game was Elie Okobo, who contributed 21 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.

“We won, that’s the most important thing… We had to win tonight to get closer to confirming first place in the standings,” said Okobo.

“It’s a great win, we manoeuvred well… This allows us to secure the top spot a little more,” added Roca Team’s coach, Sasa Obradovic.

Monaco vs Roanne

On 17^th April, the 31st match day of the Betclic Elite league took place in Roanne. In this game, too, AS Monaco brought home a win with a final score of 92-99, solidifying their position at the top of the league standings. Star player Mike James led the Roca team with 20 points, followed by Elie Okobo’s 18 points. The crucial point of the game came in the fourth quarter, where the Roca Team outscored Roanne 29 to 31.

After the victory, coach Sasa Obradovic said, “We managed to execute our game plan effectively, especially in the critical moments which helped us secure this important win.”

Home game against Le Portel

Back on home turf on 21^st April, the Roca Team faced off against Le Portel. This game showed the Roca Team’s preparedness against Fenerbahçe in a Euroleague clash on 24^th April, with the game against Le Portel ending with an impressive 101-67 victory.

Jaron Blossomgame, Roca Team’s forward, said after the game, “We wanted to use this game to build motivation and confidence, and we did. We found our rhythm and shared the ball well in this match.”

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Photo source: AS Monaco basket

Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman’s new TV series to open Monte-Carlo Television Festival

by: Stephanie Horsman

22/04/2024

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has announced that the the Civil War spy series The Gray House, from Hollywood royalty Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, will have its world premier at the event’s 63^rd edition this year.

Organisers of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival have revealed that the screening will take place after the red-carpet arrival and the opening ceremony on 14^th June, which the Festival’s Honorary President, Prince Albert II, will preside over, officially declaring the start of the five-day Festival.

Several of the leads in The Gray House will be present for the world-premier, including Marie Louise Parker and Ben Vereen, along with executive producers Leslie Greif and Lori McCreary.

THE TALE

Set during the American Civil War, The Gray House recounts the true tale of the southern women who formed an unlikely alliance and changed the course of the conflict in favour of the North by creating an “underground spy network” that infiltrated the heart of the Confederacy’s halls of power.

Their danger-filled acts helped the Union defeat the South, thus ending the bloodiest conflict ever waged on American soil.

“As a storyteller, I’ve always looked to history. The Gray House is an important American story yet is relatable to audiences around the world because it’s a true saga of sacrifice for Freedom,” said Costner. “It is an epic spy adventure that will thrill, educate and inspire viewers.”

STAR STUDDED EVENT

“The Monte-Carlo Television Festival is a unique celebration of television from all parts of the world and continues to grow year on year,” said Laurent Puons ,CEO of the Festival event manager, Monaco Mediax. “We are very proud to have such a special drama to open the 63rd edition.

Founded in 1961 by Prince Rainier II, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival has grown to become one of the small screen world’s most pre-eminent events. The 63^rd edition will be held from 14^th to 18^th June at the Grimaldi Forum.

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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Formula E: New GEN3 Evo race car to be revealed ahead of Monaco E-Prix

by: Elsa Carpenter

22/04/2024

With the promise of improved performance characteristics among the upgrades to the current GEN3 car, already hailed as the fastest, lightest, most powerful and most efficient electric race car to have ever been made, Formula E and the FIA have announced that the brand-new GEN3 Evo race car will be unveiled at an exclusive event in Monaco ahead of this weekend’s E-Prix.

The big reveal is set to take place at an exclusive evening launch event in the Principality on Thursday 25th April, just two days before the seventh edition of the Monaco E-Prix gets underway on Saturday 27th April.

Very little is known about the changes and upgrades that have been made to the GEN3 race car, but sources say, “The all-electric championship is set to raise the bar even higher with a race car that will be pushed to the limit by the series’ world-class drivers across Seasons 11 and 12.”

The GEN3 Evo race car is described as “an evolution of the current GEN3 race car… with improved performance characteristics that will highlight Formula E and the FIA’s role in pioneering technology and sustainable motorsport”.

Major changes to the bodywork, increased power capabilities and a possible four-wheel drive option are among the rumoured updates to the future car of teams that include the Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing outfit.

Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer at Formula E, says, “As we prepare to unveil the GEN3 Evo, we’re not just launching a car; we’re continuing to shape the future of racing. This next iteration not only exemplifies our dedication to innovation and pushing the limits of technology, but also enhances our commitment to delivering exhilarating, competitive racing for our fans. We are setting new standards in performance that will intensify on-track rivalries and fan engagement, keeping us at the forefront of global motorsport.”

Read related:

The countdown to the Monaco E-Prix has begun

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Photo credit: Maserati MSG Racing Media Centre

Cannes Film Festival “pushes the boundaries of storytelling” with new Immersive category

by: Elsa Carpenter

22/04/2024

Films at the cutting-edge of technology and innovation are to get their deserved moment in the spotlight at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, which has announced plans to dedicated a whole competition category to immersive productions.

The Cannes Film Festival is no stranger to exploring uncharted territory in the world of cinema.

In 2017, the prestigious festival made history by choosing Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Carne y Arena (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible) for its official selection. The groundbreaking and immersive virtual reality piece, based on real-life accounts and stories, explores the human condition of immigrants and refugees. By being selected at Cannes, Carne y Arena became the first-ever immersive piece to be presented at a major film festival.

Now Cannes is embracing this new approach to filmmaking and storytelling, and is expanding its embrace of immersive content, with the introduction of a new category: the Immersive.

The category celebrates productions that employ the use of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality to create cinematic experiences that completely surround and involve audiences in new and compelling ways.

For its inaugural selection, the Cannes Film Festival has enlisted industry experts and Festival representatives to select eight ‘In Competition’ immersive works that “utilise virtual reality, augmented reality and other cutting-edge technologies to transcend conventional storytelling and transport audiences to other worlds, narratives and eras”. Guided by the Festival’s General Delegation, these films will be joined by a selection of non-competitive movies to fully complement the overall programme.

Over the course of the festival, which will be taking place between 15th and 24th May, the films will be screened at a 1,300m2 exhibition space at the Cannes Cineum, a cinema complex located in Cannes La Bocca, and at the Georges Méliès Campus, a centre dedicated to creative writing and film that forms part of the Université Côte d’Azur.

The names of the films included in the Immersive Category are yet to be made public.

Photo source: James Yarema, Unsplash

Monte Carlo Beer’s alcohol-free blonde ale wins gold at Frankfurt International Trophy

by: Stephanie Horsman

22/04/2024

Monte Carlo Beer’s innovative alcohol-free blonde ale has been awarded the top prize at the famous Frankfurt International Trophy, a highly regarded annual international beer, wine and spirits competition.

The Principality-crafted beverage beat competition from more than 500 similar beers to claim the stellar gold award.

Judges at the 2024 Frankfurt International Trophy scored the high fermentation and alcohol-free beer a remarkable 86 out of 100.

See more: Monte Carlo Beer adds new non-alcoholic brew and a tasty IPA to its cellars

This result included a near perfect 9.5 out of 10 for colour, an 8.75 in intensity of smell, a 9 in the quality of aroma, 8.75 in body and texture, and a 15 out of 20 for the taste.

The brewery process for the ale combines “traditional know-how and high-performance technology” with a sterilising filtration system, centrifugation reaching 8,800 turns a minute to clarify, and a natural CO2 carbonation method to revive any sparkle potentially lost in the previous steps.

“This gold medal represents much more than just an award for us,” say Anthony Orengo and William Scheffer, the founders of the popular brand. “It symbolises our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality products to our customers while remaining true to our Monegasque heritage and modern identity.”

Monte Carlo Beer sources all ingredients locally and sustainably, making it a sound environmental choice as well as a tasty one.

Read related:

Brasserie de Monaco’s La Blanche beer wins top award

Day: 22 April 2024

Monaco move second after 2-0 win over Brest