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Day: 16 October 2024

Schools across Alpes-Maritimes to close on Thursday due to severe weather warnings

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2024

The Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes has announced the closure of all schools and nurseries on Thursday 17th October, in response to an orange weather warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms. Schools in Monaco will remain open. 

The decision in the nearby French department is aimed at minimising movement and traffic during what is expected to be the most intense period of the weather event, which coincides with school leaving hours.

All nurseries, except hospital nurseries, as well as primary schools, secondary schools, and high schools (including BTS classes) will remain closed for the entire day. Universities have been left to decide independently about closures. The authorities have stressed that the move is necessary to ensure public safety as the risk of flash floods and overflowing rivers is high, particularly in the afternoon when the storm is expected to peak.

There are also concerns that certain roads in the department could become impassable due to flooding, further complicating travel in the region.

The Prince’s Government has decided to keep the Principality’s daycare centers and schools open, while recommending that parents of students and anyone residing outside Monaco follow the recommendations by the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture regarding travel. Any absence on Thursday will not be penalised.

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Photo by Monaco Life 

 

La Brasca: Monaco launches process to construct another huge ‘park and ride’ facility

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/10/2024
la brasca

The Monaco government is officially looking for developers to build a vast transport infrastructure project that will include the construction of a 3,500-place ‘Park and Ride’ facility and an express underground link connecting the Principality to the La Brasca site between Eze and La Turbie. 

This ambitious project, one of several solutions put forward by the government as it tries to address mobility and environmental concerns in and around the Principality, will see a huge car park with travel links to Monaco built on the La Brasca site, which is located near the A500 tunnel between Eze and La Turbie. The ‘Park and Ride’ facility will be connected to the Principality via an express underground transportation service.

The main car park, large enough to house 3,500 vehicles, will provide ample capacity for both local commuters and visitors. Alongside this, the project will feature facilities for cargo and maintenance, as well as a distribution and storage space.

See more: Monaco addresses its transport issues: More than 5,000 new ‘Park and Ride’ carparking spaces in the works

The subterranean travel network is integral to the project. It is expected to have at least one underground passenger station, likely between the Îlot Charles III and Place d’Armes, and will be a rapid service allowing up to 2,400 people to travel to and from Monaco per hour. The planners say that it will offer a quick and efficient way of travel to commuters and tourists. There is a possibility that a second line for freight transportation could be added.

Constructors submitting a tender for the project are also encouraged to propose extensions to the line or additional stations within Monaco as part of the negotiation process. Additionally, they must ensure that the infrastructure and equipment have the capacity for future extensions, both within Monaco and across the border in France. This forward-thinking approach is vital for accommodating potential growth in travel demand, according to the Department of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, as well as ensuring that the system remains relevant and effective in the long term.

As ever in Monaco, environmental integration is a priority for the project. Care must be taken to minimise the impact on local neighbourhoods, natural sites and landscapes. The government has emphasised the need for sustainable energy and waste management practices throughout both the construction and operational phases.

To bring this project to fruition, a bilateral agreement between France and Monaco will be required, reflecting the cross-border nature of the endeavour. The overall cost of the project has been estimated at €1.2 billion; how this financial outlay will be shared between the two nations is yet to be confirmed.

Application submissions are due by midday on 28th February.

Read related:

Monaco unveils new ‘park and ride’ facility, Parking Salines

 

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

New lunar rover by Venturi and Astrolab promises breakthrough in Moon exploration

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2024

Venturi Space, renowned for its cutting-edge mobility solutions for extreme environments, and Astrolab, Inc., a leader in multi-purpose lunar and Mars rovers, have announced a collaboration to develop a new lunar rover. This vehicle, known internally as FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform), is designed to meet the growing demand for small payload transport to the Moon. A prototype of the rover was unveiled at the 75th International Astronautical Congress.

The FLIP rover, designed for use on the lunar South Pole, builds on the same technology as Astrolab’s FLEX rover. Astrolab is responsible for its design and production, while Venturi Space is contributing its proprietary materials and technology developed in Monaco, Switzerland, France, and the United States. These include cryogenic-resistant materials, hyper-deformable wheels, and specialized batteries.

See also: Video – From Monaco to the Moon, Venturi FLEX Rover joins SpaceX mission

“For 25 years, we have been pioneers in the field of high-performance electric terrestrial vehicles,” said Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi Space and Venturi. “This expertise now allows us to offer viable and efficient solutions, in the long term, to face ‘the hell’ of the lunar South Pole. Our batteries and hyper-deformable wheels can withstand temperature variations of more than 300°C, aggressive solar radiation, and 180 hours of nights under -180°C. To say that I am proud of my team is an understatement!”

With a half-ton mass and a 30kg payload capacity, the FLIP rover is compatible with medium-class lunar landers, offering commercial customers opportunities for technology demonstrations and scientific exploration. The rover will remain on display until the end of the congress on October 18th.

Related article: 

Gildo Pastor: “My dream is to take Radio Monaco to the moon”

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Elf The Musical set to bring Christmas magic to Monaco this November

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2024

Tickets are selling fast after the Grimaldi Forum this week announced that it will be hosting the heartwarming ‘Elf The Musical’ late November. 

The musical is an adaptation of the beloved film and will be held from 27th to 29th November.

‘Elf The Musical’ tells the story of Buddy Hobbs, a young boy who, one fateful Christmas Eve, accidentally sneaks into Santa’s sack and finds himself at the North Pole. Raised as one of Santa’s elves, Buddy eventually embarks on a journey to New York City to discover the truth about his origins. Filled with memorable characters and holiday magic, this family-friendly musical promises to enchant both children and adults alike.

The show will take place in the Salle des Princes, with several performances across the three-day run. Audiences can expect a festive atmosphere with a special twist: children who come in costume will have the chance to win a Christmas family treat at Le Petit Café Robuchon through a prize draw.

The performances will be delivered in English, with French subtitles. Tickets start at €31 for children under 12, but they are selling fast.

For more information, visit the Grimaldi Forum website or contact the box office directly.

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Photo source: Grimaldi Forum Monaco

 

Basketball: Obradovic critical of team despite solid win over La Rochelle

by: Niki Borisova
16/10/2024

AS Monaco Basket may have claimed a strong 20-point win over La Rochelle at the weekend, but Coach Sasa Obradovic appeared less than impressed with his players in his post-game comments.

Playing at home in the Salle Gaston Médecin on Saturday 12th October, the Roca Team secured their second win of the season in the Betclic Elite league, this time against La Rochelle.

The game started with the Roca Team establishing an early lead, taking control in the first quarter and ending it 20-11. Juhann Begarin and Mam Jaiteh were key contributors, with Begarin delivering success from three-point range.

Despite La Rochelle narrowing the gap at points, particularly in the second half when they cut the lead to six points, Monaco held firm. Contributions from Jaron Blossomgame and Vitto Brown helped secure the victory in the final quarter. The scorecard read 82-62 when the final whistle blew.

But despite the win, Coach Sasa Obradovic had some choice words for the players, saying post-game, “Overall, it was a match to forget. In the second half, my team didn’t live up to the standards I expected. There were a lot of situations and behaviours to avoid, especially in communication with the referees and several dry spells… There’s still much to improve.”

AS Monaco Basket will now turn their attention to a demanding EuroLeague schedule, with a trip to Barcelona scheduled for Wednesday 16th October and a home game against Virtus Bologna lined up for Friday 18th October.

Read related:

Basketball: Roca Team rise to top of the EuroLeague with win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

EES launch delayed, France “not ready” to implement new travel system

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/10/2024

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System, initially scheduled for launch in 2022, has encountered yet another delay after officials in France, Germany and the Netherlands admitted that they are not yet prepared to roll out the new digital passport control system.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is meant to streamline border controls for non-EU citizens by using fingerprint and facial recognition techniques for visitors not required to have visas. It has been designed so that information on travellers entering or leaving the bloc is digitally documented, alleviating the need for stamps and improving checks on overstayers.

“With the EES, we will know exactly who enters the Schengen area with a foreign passport,” says EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. “We will know if people stay too long, countering irregular migration, and the EES will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports thanks to biometric identification, photos and fingerprints.”

REPEATED DELAYS

The launch of the EES is already two years overdue, and there have been multiple delays to the implementation schedule since the initial date in 2022. The EU recently announced 11th November, with a 19th November contingency, as the date on which the system would come into force in the bloc, but France, Germany and the Netherlands have all stated they will not be ready by then. The main reasons cited are infrastructural issues and the fact that the EES has not been “live tested” to prevent serious logjams at major points of entry if it does not initially work as planned.

The concerns have been heard by EU officials, who are now saying they are looking to roll out the system gradually.

“It’s clear that we’re not going to be ready for 10th November,” says Johansson, adding, “we will be going for a phased approach, step by step.”

What this means exactly is still not clear, but meetings between the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Councils are due to take place next week to discuss the matter.

When operational, the EES will apply to road borders, airports, ports, train stations and all other external EU borders. Personal data will need to be updated every three years, and the soft launch will likely lead to some delays at airports and borders, but the system should otherwise speed up controls.

Read related:

EU Entry/Exit System expected to be operational by November 2024

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo source: Maeva Vigier, Unsplash