After the announcement of Alicante, Kefalonia and Malaga, this summer it will be possible to fly to two dream cities from Nice, for less than 100 euros.
Are you more the relaxing or cultural holiday type?
From summer 2024, you’ll have the choice of flying to Faro (Portugal) or Beirut (Lebanon), directly from Nice. Following the launch of three new destinations by easyJet a few months ago, Dutch airline Transavia announced on February 15 that it will be serving these two new cities. Boasting France’s third-largest airport, the Côte d’Azur capital is continuing to expand its destination range for the summer period. It’s tempting!
Lisbon, Porto and now Faro
Riviera residents! Pack your bags and head for the south of Portugal from 18 July 2024! From its medieval fortifications to its famous 60-kilometre lagoon, plus its cliffs and unspoilt countryside, it’s well worth the trip.
Starting at just 29 euros, two flights a week will take you to the capital of the Algarve, on Thursdays and Sundays.
Explore the Lebanese capital
This is THE big news. Lebanon will now be on the list of countries you can fly to from Nice airport. On the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, Beirut is sure to enchant you with its architectural gems and impressive limestone islets, for a guaranteed change of scenery.
Although AS Monaco were far from their best in their 1-2 loss against Toulouse, they were certainly punished for their untimely mistakes by the away team in a match where Les Monegasques held the ascendancy in terms of expected goals (1.68 to 1.39), total shots (21 to 14), shots inside the box (14 to 5), possession (65% to 35%) and passes in the opposition half (291 to 96).
AS Monaco’s average positions map
Monaco’s Shot Map
Fresh from recording a smashing derby triumph over rivals OGC Nice last weekend, this result was obviously a disappointing setback, which was made all the more unsatisfying given it was in front of the home fans inside the Stade Louis II.
With this in mind, here’s three tactical takeaways from their clash with Toulouse.
Camara’s injury
Losing midfield ace Mohamed Camara inside 25 minutes to injury following a heavy collison wasn’t ideal for ASM considering they were missing many key players courtesy of injury or suspension for this one.
Obviously after the match, the focus came back to his condition, and Adi Hutter gave a brief statement regarding the Malian star, stating: “He has a hematoma, but we don’t know more, he has to have tests tomorrow. We’ll know more after that. There are a lot of players missing at the moment due to injury and suspensions. But I want to congratulate Mamadou Coulibaly who had a very good debut in Ligue 1 after the exit of Mo.”
All associated with the Les Rouge et Blanc will be anxiously awaiting the results of those aforementioned tests and hoping that he gets given the all-clear for their huge upcoming road clash with RC Lens.
Home record a major issue
Les Monegasques’ terrible home record continues, as they’ve now only obtained just one point from the last 12 available, which has cost them dearly of late.
Incredibly, Monaco haven’t reigned supreme at the Stade Louis II since December 3 when they defeated Montpellier 3-0, which notably was their fourth home win in a row at the time.
Equally worrying is the fact they now only have won two of their last seven Ligue 1 matches, a run that’s massively hindering their Champions League qualification hopes.
Having picked up the same amount of points both at home and on the road (where they have the second best away record behind only PSG), they’ll be eager to return to winning ways with two crunch games on the horizon against Lens (away) and Paris Saint-Germain (home).
AS Monaco’s Ligue 1 form table from WhoScored
“Just one point out of twelve at home in our last four matches is not satisfactory. It’s a shame, especially since we are performing well away from home. Sometimes it is difficult to know how we can win a very difficult match in Nice, and then lose against Toulouse,” Hutter explained.
“We are very disappointed for our supporters who pushed us until the end to encourage the team to come back. What is certain is that our performances at home are not good enough at the moment.”
Minamino Monaco’s best
There was no doubting Takumi Minamino was Monaco’s best performer in this encounter, with the Japanese international causing constant headaches for the away team.
So effective at connecting attacks with his clever movement both wide and centrally and combining with his teammates, he was a great source of offensive impetus for Monaco.
Intelligent, awake to vacant spaces and knowing where opponents were situated due to his scanning, the Japanese frequently found room in the final third to get dangerous and keep Toulouse’s defenders on their toes.
Minamino’s Heat Map
Relishing the freedom Hutter grants him, this, in combination with his dribbling wizardry and creative passing, further ensured what a formidable foe he was for Les Violets to face off with.
Always trying to make something happen for his side, his seven touches inside the box, six dribbles, six crosses, four accurate passes into the final third, three shots and one shot assist underlined his admirable impact even though it wasn’t enough to propel his team to victory.
AS Monaco failed to take their chance to move up to second in the standings by losing 1-2 to Toulouse at the Stade Louis II.
The Match
Having recorded a superb victory over OGC Nice in their previous fixture, expectations were high that ASM could make it two straight wins, as Adi Hutter picked a side littered with quality all over the pitch despite Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin being unavailable due to suspension.
@ASM
Making a fast start to the match, Folarin Balogun fired off an early sighter as Les Monegasques dominated possession and looked in store for a positive game.
Toulouse then unleashed their first attempt through Yann Gboho, but Philipp Kohn was up to the task to make a tidy stop.
Monaco suffered a major blow when Mohamed Camara went off injured, as Toulouse gained in confidence as the half progressed.
Ramping up their efforts to race into the lead, Vincent Sierro was on hand to propel Toulouse ahead just prior to the interval with a brilliant free-kick.
Coming out of the sheds with renewed focus, Hutter’s team talk appeared to have done the trick, for they rapidly levelled the ledger through exciting talent Maghnes Akliouche.
ASM then nearly edged in front when Balogun came close, with this setting in motion a phase of the match where both teams traded some promising openings.
Logan Costa would be next to strike from a corner, however, to power Toulouse back into the lead.
Needing an immediate response, Eliesse Ben Seghir looked the most likely, for his dangerous 72nd minute hit wasn’t far from putting ASM back on level terms before he had a goal disallowed.
Even though they kept trying and mustered some late opportunities, it just wasn’t to be for Monaco, who ultimately suffered another frustrating home loss.
Hutter’s Debrief
“We had a lot of chances to open the scoring, we created and missed a lot of situations. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to score more, and it’s impossible to win in these conditions. Toulouse showed efficiency,” he insisted.
“We made mistakes, everyone knows that. We have to let the game pass to think about the match and analyse it tomorrow. We put a lot of energy into the second half to regain control of the match, but we conceded a goal at the worst time. The only thing we lacked is efficiency, I repeat.
“We have had too many ups and downs this season. When we look at this match and the one against Le Havre, we have 39 shots in total, for only two goals scored. We cannot lack realism at this point, and on the other hand concede easy goals from set pieces. It’s very hard to analyse what’s happening. We can talk about tactics, but when there is this result, it is because we are not competitive enough.”
Key Stats
By the numbers, the fact ASM held the the ascendancy in terms of expected goals (1.68 to 1.39), total shots (22 to 14), shots inside the box (14 to 5), possession (65% to 35%) and passes in the opposition half (291 to 96) only adds to their frustration regarding the outcome.
Up Next
Following this latest setback, all eyes will centre on their colossal upcoming away clash with RC Lens, where Hutter and his team will be desperate to produce an improved showing and pick up a crucial victory.
“I hope to find a Monaco which creates chances, but which transforms them this time. At the top of the rankings, all the teams are very close, and obviously Lens is a direct opponent. We are very disappointed to have missed the opportunity to move up to second place today. In any case, Lens is a very big team, and it will be a great match,” explained the Austrian tactician.
Business sentiment in the manufacturing sector rose by 11 points in December 2023.
This year’s survey of the manufacturing industry provides a modest assessment of the economic situation. The study, carried out by Monaco Statistics (IMSEE), covers all the Principality’s manufacturing and craft businesses. These include companies such as Société Monégasque du Caoutchouc and PG Plastic.
The study is compiled from a monthly questionnaire of about a dozen questions that is sent to company directors. The questionnaire illustrates the business climate as seen through the eyes of business leaders in the sector. It is made up of multiple-choice questions. As a result, respondents are asked not for quantitative data, but qualitative responses (up, down or stable) compared with a ‘normal’ month.
Despite an upturn in the business climate at the end of the year, the indicator fell from 114 to 95 between January and December 2023, a drop of 19 points. This standardised overall business climate indicator summarises the results of the survey. The higher it is, the more favourably manufacturers view the economic situation.
According to the study, the year-end upturn of 11 points between November and December 2023 is mainly due to an improvement in past and forecast production. In November, 72 more business leaders out of 100 answered “down” than “up” concerning output over the previous three months. The following month, there were 20 more downs than ups.
In terms of order books, opinions remain well below par.
As for prices, the balance of opinion shows an increase in past prices, but a significant fall in forecast prices.
In terms of employment, the results were below the average for the year. Past employment in industry stabilised at the end of the year, but forecast employment is slightly weaker. Manufacturing jobs account for only a small proportion of the Monegasque market, however. In fact, industry employs just 172 Principality residents, the lowest number apart from information and communication (118).
For more details, the results of the study can be found on the IMSEE website
At the annual conference of the Monegasque Red Cross (MRC), its Secretary General spoke of the difficulties faced by charities given the fight against money laundering and the funding of terrorism.
“Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are often targeted, because we are seen as an entry point for money laundering,” said Frédéric Platini. Moneyval is monitoring the Principality’s efforts to apply strict regulations “concerning investigation and prosecution of money laundering” (Moneyval Report 2023). However, speaking on behalf of Monaco’s different humanitarian organisations, the MRC’s Secretary General told attendees that the problem is widespread beyond the Principality’s borders, that charities are currently experiencing difficulties in receiving donations, and in carrying out their activities in certain countries around the world.
“Today, for any donations of over €200, the donor must also provide their ID,” he said, adding, “some clearly refuse. People who want to donate anonymously and not provide their place of residence. The Monegasque Red Cross is a big organisation compared to other charities, but I know that the others are suffering.”
“We put these procedures in place, but that costs money”
In 2023, the MRC carried out actions in Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan, which are all blacklisted countries. As such, financial payments from Monegasque banks to these countries are blocked. “In terms of transparency, we are ahead of the game, with all the procedures in place. However, if there is an earthquake in Syria, we need to be able to send funds to the Syrian Red Cross to help beneficiaries on the ground,” explains the Secretary General, while acknowledging that the organisation is usually able to transfer the funds, since the Red Cross movement is recognised worldwide. But this is not the case for every organisation. “I was talking to Mission Enfance recently, and they operate in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s complicated for them,” said the Secretary General of the MRC, speaking of the Franco-Monegasque charity, which assists children from all over the world.
“Yes to transparency, no to funding terrorism, that’s very clear. No to money laundering, that’s very clear too, but we have to give NGOs the means of helping people in the countries where they operate,” Frédéric Platini continued. “Making a distinction between the financial circuit and the beneficiary is beginning to pose major problems for these organisations.”
Alongside him, Claude Fabbretti, Operational Director of Relief and International Actions at the MRC, also talked about the “colossal” administrative burden of running humanitarian operations in the countries that were mentioned. “At the Red Cross, we’re lucky to be structured and to have the staff, but that’s not always the case for smaller organisations.” He cited the example of Syria, where the victims of the recent earthquakes required the MRC’s help. “We are duty-bound. We put these procedures in place, but that costs money, and it costs even more money when we go into countries where security and the political regime are complicated,” he said.
At present, the MRC ensures that it keeps detailed records, whether it is regarding its beneficiaries in Burkina Faso or the identity of its donors during the donation campaigns it organises on a regular basis. However the concern felt by those in charge of the Monegasque branch of the worldwide movement raises questions about future funding for international humanitarian actions.
In our second article reviewing the Monegasque Red Cross’ year in 2023 and looking ahead to future projects, Monaco Tribune looks at the humanitarian actions carried out by the organisation within the Principality.
At the beginning of each year, the Monegasque Red Cross (MRC) reviews the actions carried out the previous year, on Monegasque soil and beyond. With a record 700 volunteers, the MRC is omnipresent in Monaco and, in 2023, a large share of its budget, about €8M, was allocated to its local operations.
Starting with the welfare aspect, “one of the MRC’s flagship activities,” as its Secretary General, Frédéric Platini, pointed out. In Monaco, Beausoleil and Cap d’Ail, the charity helps 500 households each year through Ticket Service, cheques that can be given out to people in financial difficulties and used as payment vouchers in many stores. “The number one request from these households is food aid,” said Frédéric Platini, adding, “then help with housing expenses such as electricity bills.” In 2023, a third of this aid was distributed in the Principality and the remaining two-thirds in neighbouring municipalities.
“We aren’t seeing a significant increase in the amount of aid, it’s pretty much stable. The only issue we have is that it is always for the same people, who aren’t managing to break the poverty cycle.” It’s a bleak assessment, and the question of how to get out of a precarious situation “given the current system” remains unanswered for now.
Record number of first aiders trained in the Principality
Another core activity of the MRC is the introduction to and training in life-saving skills. And 2023 was a very positive year on that front. “Some 5,000 people attended an introduction or a training course in first aid. It’s a record,” said Claude Fabbretti, Operational Director of Relief and International Action. In proportion to the Monegasque territory and its 40,000 inhabitants, this is a “huge” figure.
The Director mentioned the teams of MRC trainers, both volunteers and employees, but also Monaco’s schools’ participation in the training sessions, with the recent addition of the International School of Monaco. “All the youngsters aged around 12, who attend school in Monaco, follow the PSC1 course,” said Claude Fabbretti. This is a 12-hour basic first aid course. Which was supplemented in September 2023 by the launch of an online e-learning platform and an application, called “Premiers Soins”, with reminders of the right actions to take in case of an emergency.
As well as the courses in schools, the MRC carried out “mass introductions”, of which there were many in 2023. The No Finish Line, the Monaco Trott’N’Roll and the drowning prevention operation organised by the Princess Charlene Foundation in November are the kinds of events where the MRC can initiate and train up to “300 people”.
While the figures are encouraging, the Operational Director wanted to point out that the MRC “needs financial support” in order to continue its training activities as effectively as possible. “Many of these introductory sessions take place on weekdays, during school time, and many of our volunteer trainers work. We need to deploy employees or hire temps,” he said.
Among the 6,000 local beneficiaries of the MRC in 2023, some are helped by the first-aid stations that the organisation mans during Monegasque events. The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, the different Grand Prix… It is not unusual to see volunteers, in small groups, watching over the often large numbers of spectators at these events. And there will be two new challenges this year. In July, the Principality will host the last stage of the Tour de France and the MRC will be there, as well as in Paris at the same time. “Our colleagues in the French Red Cross asked us to help out at the Olympic Games,” said Claude Fabbretti, pleased to be able to provide some of the 700 MRC volunteers with the opportunity.
A collaborative effort that can also be seen locally and that the Director of Operations illustrated by the recent incident at Charles III College, where the MRC, firefighters, police and Monegasque Carabinieri “worked together”.
“Mad gamble” paid off
Another aspect of the actions carried out by the Monegasque branch of the Red Cross last year, is the health and prevention section, which continued its efforts in the fields of health education, prevention of drugs, alcohol and HIV, and even the weight of school bags for younger children. Along with certain initiatives, such as the distribution of anti-spike lids for glasses in Monaco’s bars and clubs, the CRM also worked on new projects and in particular on an escape game. “It was a mad gamble,” said Yann Bertrand, the MRC’s Administrative Director, about a project carried out jointly with Fight Aids Monaco and the Women’s Rights Committee. “We trod carefully with the target audience, but it was a huge success.” 180 people came to the event at the Louis-II Stadium in October 2023. The good news is that the MRC, in partnership with the two Monegasque organisations, will be running it again this year.
Another recent success that should be repeated is the two-day blood drive at the MRC’s headquarters on boulevard de Suisse, in partnership with the Princess Grace Hospital Centre and the Blood Donors’ Association. “Over the two days, we received 60 donors, 26 of which were first-timers. It was a great challenge, and we are delighted with the result,” concluded Yann Bertrand.
With just a few weeks to go before the most prestigious clay-court tournament after Roland Garros, David Massey, Director of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, outlined the plans for the 2024 event.
The Monaco tournament’s management team, in the presence of ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi, invited partners and journalists to the Columbia Room at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort for an update, less than two months before the start of the tournament, which this year will take place from 6 to 14 April.
After a record year in terms of attendance in 2023, with over 140,000 visitors over the course of the week, a first in the history of the prestigious tournament, the 2024 edition looks to be heading the same way, with ticket sales already 30% higher than at this time last year.
“We can’t do better than that, it’s our maximum capacity,” smiled David Massey, Tournament Director. “We are ready for everyone, and we hope that all the spectators will really enjoy the tournament, which will feature the best players in the world.”
Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz are all expected in the Principality in early April. One question mark hangs over Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament eleven times and made his comeback at the start of the year in Brisbane before withdrawing from the Australian Open.
Greater visibility and new broadcasting
“Rafael Nadal wants to come, he wants to play in all the tournaments that have meant so much to him. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’ll be fit,” said David Massey. “I’ve spoken to his team and he wants to play here after the Indian Wells tournament (6-17 March). He has already won the tournament eleven times. Perhaps this will be his twelfth.” The official list of participants for the 116th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will be revealed on March 14.
Among the main new features announced this year, and one that had been the subject of debate, is court visibility. As a result, the Tribune de la Mer grandstand will be two metres taller, and 26 boxes have been added to ensure better visibility for spectators, as well as improved TV coverage.
This year, the tournament will continue to be broadcast on Eurosport, but also on FranceTV, which will be back with one match broadcast per day and the final, unencrypted, on France 4. Another new feature is the creation of a new food and beverage area, the Break Point, to complement an already well-stocked range.
As in previous editions, while online tickets will no doubt have sold out before the first weekend of competition, a handful of tickets will be available each morning during the competition at the Monte-Carlo Country Club ticket offices. This is the wish of the tournament management and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, so that everyone can attend the tournament.
For the fifth year running, Monaco Telecom is pledging to help sustain organic vegetable gardens in Monegasque schools.
€11,075. This was the total sum donated by Monaco Telecom to the Prince Albert II Foundation on Tuesday 13 February. The aim is to ensure the long-term future of the vegetable gardens at Fontvieille School. That is where the meeting took place, with the Directorate of National Education, Youth and Sport (DENJS) and the Terrae Foundation in attendance. “We would like to thank Monaco Telecom for supporting our initiatives for many years,” said Olivier Wenden, Vice-President of the Foundation.
This sum is collected through the paper invoices printed by the operator, which wants to reduce its carbon footprint, while helping to maintain vegetable-growing activities in schools. With €66,000 already been donated over the last five years, Martin Peronnet, the company’s managing director, says he is “particularly delighted that the company is contributing to the educational vegetable garden project, which will raise awareness among the youngest members of society.”
Passing on environmental values to new generations
“Our vegetable gardens and Terrae classes give children a greater understanding of biodiversity, vegetables, seasonality, seeds, plants, herbs, compost and insects,” said Jessica Sbaraglia, founder of Terrae. Over the last four years, seven schools have benefitted from its urban school vegetable garden programme, enabling more than 2,000 pupils to grow and harvest their own produce each year.
In 2024, maintenance of the vegetable garden at Fontvieille school and 30 hours of lessons for pupils will be funded thanks to the donation from Monaco Telecom.
The Principality’s club is launching a major football tournament aimed at 14- and 15-year-olds from AS Monaco’s partner towns.
The competition will take place on 29 April at the La Turbie stadium. Cap-d’Ail, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Beausoleil, Eze, Peille, La Turbie, Menton and Dolceacqua (Italy) will all compete for the trophy.
The winners will have the opportunity to experience a unique moment at the Performance Centre, meeting the AS Monaco players.
In the spirit of the Munegu Cup
After the Munegu Cup, open to the Principality’s 8 and 9 year-old schoolchildren (the second edition is scheduled for 28 May), AS Monaco is launching a second sporting event for the Principality’s youngsters.
Players aged 14 or 15 who wish to represent their town in the 1st edition of the ÜNSEME Cup can register before 15 March by clicking here.
His arrogant behaviour irritated the judge on the day of the hearing, on 13 February.
After the deaths of two pupils at the school just a few weeks ago, the magistrates are at a loss to explain to the defendants who appear before them every Tuesday that they should not get behind the wheel if they have been drinking or taking drugs.
The young Frenchman in the dock on Tuesday 13 February had tested positive for both. Police offiers spotted his erratic driving at around 3.30 am on October 19, 2023, and immediately arrested him. “You had the nerve to dispute the use of narcotics,” the court president reminded him as he read the defendant’s statement. In it, he swore that his positive test for cannabis was due to passive smoke he had allegedly inhaled during a trip to Spain.
On the evening in question, the student had gone to the Sass Café and was driving to a friend’s house.“I wanted to call a taxi but there was no answer, so I took the car,” he said, stating that he had drunk shots, champagne, and cocktails. “Did you know the young people who died recently?” asked the president. “Yes.”
Suspended prison sentence
Stress-related? The 19-year-old’s attitude at the hearing was described by the prosecutor as “obnoxious.”“Two people from his school recently lost their lives in a car accident in Monaco because of drink driving, but apparently that is not enough. On top of that, the gentleman was carrying three passengers and driving at 90 kph instead of 50.” The Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded 15 days in prison with a suspended sentence, a €500 fine and a one-year suspension of his driving licence.
A sentence that defence lawyer Campana considered “tough”. “My client should not shoulder blame for past deaths. His casual behaviour is due to anxiety about being here today. You will have noticed that he has shown more respect as the hearing has gone on. He pleaded guilty, but it is possible to test positive for cannabis because of passive smoke,” the lawyer claimed, citing a study. “He won’t do it again, he’s not a bad person, being in custody was very hard on him. In fact he lost his delivery job because he did not show up for work. May the court note that he does not come from a wealthy family and that his mother has sacrificed a lot to pay for his studies so that he can realise his dream of making it big in finance in Monaco. I would ask for your decision not to jeopardize his future career, and that this conviction is not entered into his criminal record.”
In our first article reviewing the Monegasque Red Cross’ year in 2023 and its future projects, Monaco Tribune looks back at the humanitarian actions carried out by the organisation last year beyond the Principality’s borders.
The Monegasque Red Cross (MRC) held its traditional start-of-year press conference on Wednesday. With 2024 already underway, let’s take a look back at what the Monegasque branch of the global humanitarian network did last year. In 2023, the number of volunteers reached a record high. “We now have 700, representing 52 nationalities,” says Frédéric Platini, the MRC’s General Secretary.
With a budget of €8m in 2023, as it will be in 2024, the MRC has continued its activities at a local level, which we will cover in an article to be published this weekend, but also internationally, whether a few kilometres from Monaco or on the other side of the globe.
Migration: more than 10,000 beneficiaries in France and Italy
“We continued our work at the Sainte-Agnès centre for unaccompanied minors.” Claude Fabbretti, Operational Director of Rescue and International Action at the CRM, recalls two ‘spikes’ in May and September 2023, “when the reception centres in the Alpes-Maritimes were completely overwhelmed.” The CRM runs weekly ‘edutainment'(educational but fun) activities at the Orméa Centre in Sainte-Agnès.
The organisation also responded to a number of emergencies, for example by making the charity’s volunteer doctors available for health visits to sites such as Fort de la Drète, where around fifty minors were temporarily housed in April and May 2023.
A total of 3,300 young people have been assisted by the MRC, which is also delighted with its partnership with the Princess Grace Hospital since April 2023, enabling unaccompanied minors to receive dental care. “They have no health cover and can sometimes have several dental cavities but, without cover, this isn’t considered a medical emergency,” explains Claude Fabbretti.
“It has been a great help to us because these are issues where we find it hard to engage donors.”
In collaboration with the Pasteur Avenir Jeunesse (P@JE) non-profit in Nice, the MRC continued to provide assistance, hot meals and clothing at the Italian border, in Ventimiglia, for almost 12,000 people. This was made possible by agreements with the Italian Red Cross and, since November 2020, by working together with Caritas Intemelia in Ventimiglia, the only day centre open to migrants.
The MRC also worked with P@JE at a hostel for young migrant girls who are minors, pregnant or mothers. “In response to the charity’s appeal for help, we organised the supply of baby formula and childcare items, and we also organised educational sessions for the young mothers,” explained the head of operations, also mentioning “emergency financial aid” from the Prince’s Government. “It has been a great help to us because these are issues where we find it hard to engage donors.”
International emergency response
Last year, €2.5M of the Monegasque branch’s budget, most of which is allocated by the State, went to international aid. “There is a trend towards increasing the funds allocated to international action,” says Frédéric Platini. The MRC responded to 24 appeals launched by the International Red Cross Committee and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2023. “The biggest ones for us were Morocco, Syria and Turkey,” said the Secretary General, referring to the three countries that experienced deadly earthquakes in 2023. These disasters prompted several appeals for donations from the Monegasque population, with a satisfactory response: €300,000 was raised to help victims in Turkey and Syria, and 100,000 for the people of Morocco.
12 projects in 10 countries
As well as these initiatives, the MRC carries out a number of projects aimed at improving the living conditions of vulnerable people and communities, on aspects such as protection, education and health, as well as water sanitation, first aid and migration. In Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, the MRC focuses on protecting children, and in particular young girls, who are subjected to “work, exploitation or trafficking,” a project that now has 6,500 beneficiaries. A few thousand kilometres from there, in Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, almost 1,500 elderly and isolated people were able to benefit from care and home help services.
On a different theme, in West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal, Niger and Burkina Faso), and in collaboration with the French Red Cross and the IFRC’s World Reference Centre for First Aid, the MRC has been running a project to develop first aid in the workplace. This year, 3,189 first-aiders were trained and 80 companies were supported in the 4 countries.
“Restoring people’s confidence”
Claude Fabbretti also made a general observation. “We are sadly ‘celebrating’ two years of conflict in Ukraine and, since the beginning of October, renewed tensions in the Middle East, at a time when the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is running at a deficit.” Times are hard for the Committee, which announced 1,800 redundancies in 2023 and the outlook for 2024 does not look any brighter.
“People find it difficult today to understand the role of an organisation like the ICRC, which is neutral and impartial. When there is a conflict, it has to be accepted that an organisation such as ours may visit each side in the conflict,” says Claude Fabbretti. He has been a member of the MRC since 1995, and appeals strongly for donations, the driving force behind humanitarian aid and necessary at both local and, above all, international level. “We need to restore people’s confidence in organisations such as the Red Cross and remind them that our role is to come to the aid of people in difficulty, regardless of their status or the side they are on in a conflict,” concludes the Operational Director of Relief and International Action.
Donations to the Monegasque Red Cross can be made via this page.
The Foundation’s Sport and Education programme is crossing borders thanks to a new partnership.
The Princess Charlene Foundation will now be working with the Al Oerter Foundation and the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association. The aim is to jointly expand educational and sporting initiatives for children in Europe and the United States. According to Princess Charlene, this alliance is “an ideal opportunity to develop one of the priority objectives of My Foundation to promote well-being, and help children develop through educational projects and sports activities.” An initiative to inspire and unite thousands of children through sport.
Already partners, the two other institutions have been organising programmes and events around the world for the last three years. Joining the movement is therefore a significant opportunity for Princess Charlene, who is also a former swimming champion. “Sport inspires us and gives us hope; it can unite people and nations,” says Princess Charlene. Future projects are already in the pipeline and activities are set to take place ahead of the Summer Olympic Games in 2024.
Since its creation, over 500 educational programmes have been organised by the Princess Charlene Foundation, reaching 1.2 million children across 43 countries. Examples include raising awareness of concussion and the Sospel Natation Azur project aimed at improving water safety, in 2022.
The Ferrari SF-24 was officially presented by the Italian stable on Tuesday, less than a month before the start of the season.
Matte red paintwork, pronounced carbon accessories and yellow and white lines, in hommage to the livery of the 499P, winner of the last 24 Hours at Le Mans.
The new single-seater designed in Maranello is a little gem, and already seems to have gone down well with the Italian tifosis, but also with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who attended the presentation on the Fiorano circuit and who will race in it for the first time on March 2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ready to play a leading role?
“I really like the look of the car, especially the white and yellow touches in the bodywork. But what I’m really interested in is how it behaves on the track, because that’s the most important thing,” said Charles Leclerc as he got to know his brand-new car.
“The SF-24 should be less sensitive and easier to drive, and for us, the drivers, that’s what we need if we are to perform well. I expect the car to be an improvement in a number of areas and from the impression I got in the simulator, I think we’re where we want to be. This season, the aim is to always be at the forefront and I want to give our fans some race victories to cheer about.”
The 70th car to be built by the Italian firm has big ambitions for this season, as it awaits the arrival of Lewis Hamilton next year. “This year, we have to start where we left off at the end of last season, when we were regularly in front, with the aim of constantly improving in all areas,” said Frédéric Vasseur.
“We have the longest Formula 1 season ahead of us and Charles, Carlos and I all agree that we need to be more efficient in our race management, making bold choices, to get the best possible result at each Grand Prix.”
After a five-month transformation, the Blue Bay Marcel Ravin at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resortis open in time for Saint Valentine’s Day.
The new Blue Bay Marcel Ravin sees itself as “an ode to life, nature and the bounty of the Caribbean.” The inauguration of the new incarnation of the Blue Bay Monte Carlo took place in the presence of Prince Albert II, Stéphane Valeri, CEO of Monte-Carlo Société des bains de Mer, Frédéric Darnet, General Manager of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Chef Marcel Ravin on February 10.
“I feel proud to welcome the Sovereign, who will be opening the restaurant at the inauguration,” Marcel Ravin told Monaco Info. Prince Albert II discovered the Blue Bay’s new look. The decor, which was dreamt up by the double Michelin-starred chef, recently awarded the “Grandes tables du monde” label , brings together all the elements of a unique identity. Both in his cuisine and in his setting, Marcel Ravin combines “his Caribbean roots, his Mediterranean home, and his travels on the five continents.”
He describes a setting with “lots of materials.” The restaurant seeks to include “life’s five elements … water, earth, fire, metal and wood.”
As for the menu, the dishes will vary according to the chef’s vegetable garden. In addition, the chef’s diverse and multicultural inspirations are reflected in his signature and new dishes. Among them, we find: abeautiful raviole of lobster, coconut water curry, Zēbāfē oil,sweet potato with cocoa butter, ginger, trout roe; a Buckler Sorrel Lacté served in a gourd, or:
New food & wine and non-alcoholic food & flavour pairings are available to complete the experience. Created by the Chef and his Sommelier, these pairings “create surprising and tasty combinations.”
Marcel Ravin worked with Maison Clément to create a Signatures rum that combines “notes of cocoa, leather and vanilla, with a herbaceous side and a distinct taste.”
The culinary experience can be discovered from 14 February.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – 40 Av. Princesse Grace, 98000 Monaco Wednesday to Saturday, from 7.30 pm
Menus:
Solstice – 195 euros, Agoulou – 320 euros and
Inspirations Légumières et de nos Jardins (Garden vegetable inspirations) – 175 euros.
Bookings: +377.98.06.03.60
Monaco Tribune has compiled a list of the key events you shouldn’t miss in the Principality this month, as well as some ideas for outings.
Forum Monaco pour l’Emploi
This Friday, 16 February, the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco will be hosting the first official edition of the Monegasque Employment Forum. 13 business sectors will be represented by over 80 employers. The Human Resources Department that deals with training in the civil service will also be on hand, as will the Labour Department with its Employment service, its cellule Emploi Jeune (Youth Employment Unit) and cellule Insertion des Dipômés (Graduate Integration Unit). Don’t forget your CV!
Monaco pour l’Emploi: 16 February 2024
9 am to 6 pm
Grimaldi Forum Monaco
Free admission for all
Monacollecte
The event returns to Port Hercule on 16 and 17 February. During the third edition you can drop off everything you want to get rid of. The Monacollecte team hopes to engage as many people as possible in the charity event, which will enable items to be reused and waste to be recycled. Virtual reality, escape game… Free activities, exhibitions and information stands focusing on the collection, sorting, recycling and reuse of rubbish will be on offer throughout both days. The Mùnegu Repair Café will also be on site on Saturday.
Dates: 16 and 17 February 2024, 10 am to 7 pm
Venue: quai Antoine 1er
Contact: If you have any questions about the waste or items that will be accepted and the drop-off procedure, call: +377 92 05 75 16
« Un Prince, un Musée » exhibition
This is one of the last exhibitions about Prince Rainier III, as part of the centenary celebrations marking the birth of the “Builder Prince.” From the creation of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, where the exhibition can be seen, to the excavations carried out under the reign of Prince Rainier III, via dozens of skeletons and archive objects, you can visit seven areas dedicated to the history of the Museum. And it only costs a euro to visit!
“After the success of the ‘Let’s Play, Halloween’ event, which attracted over 850 families to Larvotto in October 2023, we were keen to celebrate Carnival in the Principality. We’re expecting children of all ages, parents and whole families in fancy dress.” The Entreparents Network, Monaco’s leading network of parents and parents-to-be, is inviting Monegasque families to the first ‘Let’s Play, Carnival’. The programme includes creative workshops, face painting, tattoos, fancy dress competitions, crêpes and a candy bar!
On Wednesday 21 February 2024 , from 11.15 am to 2 pm, at La Condamine and Monte-Carlo markets, Monaco Town Council will be providing entertainment for all ages to celebrate the Winter Carnival. After school, children will be able to take part in a free festive event that is open to all. Stilt-walkers, balloon artists, face-painting workshops, giant bubbles and parades will bring the event to life, much to the delight of the children. Don’t forget to dress up!
Wednesday 21 February from 11.15 am to 2pm
More information: +377 93 15 29 33
Ideas for evenings out
Wednesday 14 February: Theatre – « Sur la tête des enfants ! – Salomé Lelouch » / Théâtre Princesse Grace at 8 pm
Friday 16 February: Show – « Héliogabale, l’empereur fou »/ Théâtre des Variétés at 8 pm
Sunday 18 February: Ligue 1 – AS Monaco vs Toulouse FC / Stade Louis-II at 3 pm
Tuesday 20 February: Theatre – « Les poupées persanes – Aïda Asgharzadeh » / Théâtre Princesse Grace at 8 pm
Tuesday 20 February: The art of cinema – « Louise en hiver » / Théâtre des Variétés at 20h
Check out our Agenda des Sorties section so you don’t miss anything on the Riviera!
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