Monaco and Foundation Turquois renew agreement to support young Mexican talent

22/01/2025

The Foundation Turquois and Monaco’s Department of Education, Youth, and Sports (DENJS) have reaffirmed their commitment to training young Mexican students in hospitality and culinary arts with the renewal of their partnership agreement. The signing ceremony took place on Monday 20th January, at Lycée Rainier III, following a Mexican lunch prepared by students from the foundation’s current cohort.

The collaboration, which has been in place for many years, offers students hands-on training and education in Monaco, helping them build careers in high-demand sectors. The program focuses on fostering excellence, cultural exchange, and professional development.

Lycée Rainier III, a key partner in the initiative, provides the educational foundation for the program, offering specialised courses in hospitality and culinary arts. This year’s cohort includes 10 students—seven women and three men—who began their training in September 2024. Divided between culinary and pastry disciplines, the students showcased their skills by preparing a lunch that featured traditional Mexican dishes under the supervision of their instructors.

According to a statement by the government, the renewal of the agreement highlights Monaco’s dedication to global collaboration and its role in providing students with the tools needed to succeed on an international stage. The program’s emphasis on mentorship and excellence ensures that participants leave with valuable skills and experience.

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Photo credit: Ibrahim Boran, Unsplash

France: 15% electricity price drop set to ease financial strain on households

by: Niki Borisova

22/01/2025

Starting from 1st February 2025, electricity prices for households on France’s regulated tariff will decrease by 15%, marking the first reduction in over a decade. This adjustment follows nearly 40% increases in electricity costs over the past three years.

The reduction, confirmed by the Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE), will impact around 24 million households, representing approximately 70% of those subscribed to EDF’s tarif bleu. Those on market-based tariffs may still benefit from the change in prices, but likely not to the same extent.

The savings for consumers will vary based on their usage. For example, a family of four using electricity for heating, cooking and charging an electric vehicle could save up to €650 annually, while couples with lower consumption rates may see savings of around €107 per year.

The price drop has been attributed to several factors, including increased global energy production and improved nuclear capacity within France. Nuclear energy availability has risen significantly in the past year, easing the strain on electricity supply and contributing to favourable market conditions enabling this reduction.

In June 2024, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire projected a 10% to 15% decrease in electricity bills by early 2025. The CRE’s finalised calculations confirmed the 15% reduction, slightly exceeding initial expectations and providing significant financial relief to households struggling with rising living costs.

This adjustment follows the government’s efforts to shield consumers from volatile energy prices during the recent energy crisis, through measures such as temporary price caps and subsidies.

While this reduction is a positive development for consumers, experts caution that electricity prices remain subject to fluctuations due to global and domestic factors.

Read related:

Energy bills to get cheaper for four out of five French households from January 2025

Photo credit: Blake Wheeler, Unsplash

New mental health reforms in France offer greater access to care

by: Niki Borisova

22/01/2025

Since the start of 2025, France has expanded its mental health services by increasing the number of fully reimbursed psychological support sessions from eight to 12 per year. Individuals can now access these sessions without needing a referral from a general practitioner or other healthcare professional, as part of the Mon Soutien Psy programme, which aims to address mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and psychological distress in individuals aged three and above.

Appointments can be booked directly with participating psychologists through the official Mon Soutien Psy platform, which provides a directory of approved practitioners across France.

Each session is priced at €50, with 60% covered by Assurance Maladie and the remaining 40% by supplementary mutuelle insurance. The first session serves as an evaluation and counts toward the 12 reimbursed sessions. Mutuelles may cover additional costs beyond the 12 sessions, depending on the policy.

Despite these positive changes, challenges remain regarding mental health in France. A report by Euronews, published in January 2025, noted a worsening mental health crisis among French youth, with demand for services now significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The study indicates that young people are seeking mental health services at an increased rate, reflecting the growing need for accessible care in the country.

In addition, the healthcare system is battling resource constraints, including a shortage of mental health professionals, which could lead to waiting lists in some regions.

For more information regarding the programme, click here.

Mental health in Monaco

Mental health care is also being prioritised in Monaco. The government introduced a five-year mental health plan in March 2022 that features 53 specific actions to promote well-being, improve care coordination, and support the reintegration of individuals recovering from mental illness.

As part of this initiative, residents can easily book appointments by contacting healthcare providers directly or through the Monaco health portal, Monaco Santé, which provides detailed information on available services and specialists.

For younger populations, support has been improved with the opening of a psychiatric centre for children and adolescents in Beausoleil, which offers dedicated care and tailored programmes.

Read related:

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene tour new children’s mental health facility

Photo source: Cottonbro, Pexels

First-of-its-kind drone show to illuminate the skies for Sainte Dévote celebrations

by: Stephanie Horsman

22/01/2025

As excitement builds for Monaco’s Sainte Dévote celebrations this coming weekend, the Mairie de Monaco has unveiled its plans for a spectacular drone show in place of the traditional fireworks display. Featuring around 400 drones, the light show will mark the first time this technology has been used at the annual event, which commemorates the life and legacy of the Principality’s patron saint.

On Sunday 26th January, from 8.15pm, the sky above Port Hercule will be lit up by a dazzling display of 400 drones.

The crowds on Quai Albert Ier, which will offer a dedicated viewing space for the public, will be treated to a stunning eight-minute sound and light show that will honour key events linked to Sainte Dévote, a young Christian woman from 4th-century Corsica who was persecuted, tortured, and martyred for her faith. The performance will conclude with a stunning Louange Sanctus tribute, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

For those eager to join the broader Sainte Dévote Day celebrations, the festivities will begin earlier in the day, with a traditional mass in Monegasque at the Église de Sainte-Dévote at 10.30am. Later, at around 6.30pm, a procession carrying the relics of Sainte Dévote will depart from the Grand Prix chicane and make its way to the chapel. At 7pm, a Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament will take place, followed by the ceremonial burning of the boat at approximately 7.45pm on Quai Albert Ier, a tradition presided over by the Princely family.

Read related:

Ritual, tradition and heritage: Monaco’s plans for 2025 Sainte Dévote celebrations

Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

Reports of sexual violence, including rape, rose in Monaco in 2024

by: Stephanie Horsman

22/01/2025

Monaco’s 2024 report on violence against women, compiled by IMSEE, paints a troubling picture. While the number of cases reported to the police and other authorities declined compared to the previous year, there was a rise in women citing sexual abuse, hospitalisations, and requests for support from the Victims of Criminal Offences Help Association (AVIP).

Data collected by IMSEE, the Principality’s statistics agency, throughout 2024 highlights a worrying increase in reported sexual attacks on women in Monaco.

Of the 60 reports of violence recorded by the Monaco Police Department last year—a decrease from the 68 recorded in 2023—sexual violence, including rape, accounted for over a quarter of all cases, marking a considerable rise from the previous year. Physical violence, meanwhile, made up half of all reported cases.

Police reports indicate that more than three-quarters of perpetrators were known to the victims, with nearly a third involving spouses or ex-spouses. The average age of victims was 35, while perpetrators averaged 44.

See more: Domestic violence surges in France in 2023: PACA among hardest-hit regions

The Prosecutor General’s Office opened 32 legal proceedings in assault cases, primarily involving physical violence (58%), sexual violence (26%), and harassment (16%). Four convictions have been handed down thus far, while six cases were dismissed. According to the IMSEE report, “Of 35 cases opened in 2023, eight convictions have been handed down, and 13 cases have been dismissed.”

Further concerning statistics were recorded at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, which admitted 150 women who reported suffering acts of violence in 2024, an increase from 146 in 2023. Most incidents involved physical violence (74%), followed by psychological (25%) and sexual violence (6%). 39 of these women were Monaco residents.

An essential support system

The Association for Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses (AVIP) was contacted by 45 female victims, with 38 reporting incidents that occurred in 2024, up from 41 and 27 in 2023.

Psychological violence was the most reported (51%) form of abuse, followed by physical violence (44%) and harassment (33%). Incidents of economic (31%) and sexual violence (18%) were also noted. Most victims were Monaco residents, with an average age of 43.

The Social Action and Assistance Directorate reported six cases of violence in 2024, including five involving spouses or ex-spouses. Psychological and economic violence, as well as harassment, were prevalent.

In 2024, three men came forward to report abuses by their partner or ex-partner during the year.

Read related:

From Shadows to Light: Monaco Women’s Rights Committee launches new campaign to end violence against women

Photo source: Mart Productions, Pexels

Mayor of Nice calls for ban on cruise ships from this summer

by: Stephanie Horsman

22/01/2025

The towering holiday cruise liners that dominate the Côte d’Azur’s ports and bays every summer are no longer welcome, according to Nice’s longtime mayor, Christian Estrosi, who has revealed plans to issue a decree banning these massive vessels from docking along the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur’s coastline. The measure, which Estrosi aims to implement by the start of July, seeks to protect the environment and address concerns about overtourism in the region.

Cruise ships’ presence in local ports has long been a controversial issue, and Estrosi has now taken a firm stand against these floating hotels, with plans to ban them from docking starting on 1st July.

The announcement, made on 20th January, marks a decisive step toward concrete action on a subject he has previously expressed concern over, referring to the massive vessels as “monsters of the seas.”

“Monsters of the seas”

The decree will prohibit ships carrying more than 900 passengers from docking in ports along the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur’s coastline, which encompasses major tourism destinations such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the city of Nice itself.

Estrosi is said to have taken inspiration for the decree from Venice, where similar restrictions have helped bring better balance to the picturesque city and greater peace to the famous lagoon.

“Venice has regained its beauty and its landscape by having a mayor who definitively refuses cruises. We intend to go in this direction, too,” said Estrosi in comments to the local French press.

Estrosi added that he doesn’t “want floating hotels to anchor in front of Nice,” before emphasising the negative impact of large cruise ships.

He criticised their contribution to pollution and their minimal economic benefit, noting, “Cruises that pollute, that dump their low-cost clientele who consume nothing but leave their waste behind… These cruises have no place here.”

A controversial policy

The proposed decree will require collaboration with officials from neighbouring municipalities as Estrosi works to finalise the details of a policy focused on responsible tourism.

His announcement has been met with praise from environmentalists but has scandalised some local stakeholders in the cruise industry.

Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, President of the Environmental Group at the Metropolitan Council, has welcomed the plans, calling Estrosi’s concept “proof that perseverance bears fruit.”

In Villefranche-sur-Mer, however, where cruise ship tourism is a significant economic driver, some traders and tourism professionals have expressed their concerns and opposition to the proposal, arguing that they fear the ban will harm their livelihoods.

As Nice moves forward with drafting the decree, the debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing environmental concerns with the economic interests of coastal communities.

Read related:

Nice Airport set new record for passenger numbers in 2024 while slashing emissions

Photo credit: Will Varasteh, Pexels

Day: 22 January 2025

Monaco and Foundation Turquois renew agreement to support young Mexican talent

France: 15% electricity price drop set to ease financial strain on households