Christmas at the Palace

Be Safe, the drink-driving awareness association initiated by Princess Stephanie’s daughter Camille Gottlieb, has been gifted with a shuttle car by the National Council.

Much of France has been put on a weather alert as cold weather continues to cover many areas. On Sunday, three departments were placed under an orange alert: Loiret, Seine-et-Marne, and Essonne. More snowfall is expected in Paris, the Loire valley and Limousin. Two elderly people died when their car slid off the road and fell into a river at Noes, in the Loire, central France, on Sunday morning during a snowstorm. Closer to the Principality, there is a high risk of avalanches in Ariege, Haute-Garone, Pyrenees-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrenees. In Corsica, almost 4,000 homes were without electricity on Sunday afternoon due to snow. The French government has put in place a daily emergency programme to meet extraordinary situations due to the icy weather, which could result in some areas receiving additional emergency funding. By Tuesday, the body in charge of France’s national grid, RTE, will be prepared to bring in “exceptional measures” to deal with a surge in demand for electrical power resulting from the cold spell. Peak hours are between 8 am and 1 pm and 6 pm and 8 pm. The forecast for Monaco for the coming week is for morning temperatures near 2°C and daytime highs ranging between 10°C to 13°C, with mainly settled conditions apart from gusty winds on Monday, January 16. Meanwhile Monaco’s Department of Health and Social Services has issued recommendations that should be followed during the current flu epidemic. Contact with those already infected should be avoided, especially by pregnant women and those over the age of 65. Hands should be washed regularly, with soap, or disinfectant solution. It is also important to cover the mouth when sneezing and to use paper tissues only once before throwing them away. The Department points out that influenza is particularly dangerous for people who are already suffering from another ailment and for the elderly. Those with symptoms such as fever, coughing, aches and fatigue should consult a doctor. READ MORE: Fresh warnings on deadly flu outbreak READ ALSO: Monaco’s weather a major draw