Monaco Life

Puccini’s legacy to be honoured with gala evening at the Opéra de Nice

The centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, the lauded Italian composer, is to be commemorated later this month with a spectacular gala evening in Nice that will feature a performance by Ermonela Jaho, the Nice Opera Choir and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra.  

On 9th February at 8pm, the doors of the Nice Côte d’Azur Opera in the old town will open for a dazzling night of culture and cuisine.  

The evening is being held in commemoration of the centenary of the death of Puccini, the Italian composer renowned for revolutionising the world of the opera with works such as La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly.  

The cultural highlight of the event will be a performance by Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho, who is recognised worldwide for her spellbinding interpretations of Puccini’s heroines. In the role of conductor will be Daniele Callegari, who will lead the Nice Opera Choir and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Following the concert, guests will be invited to mix and mingle at a VIP cocktail before heading through to the Opera’s Salon for a gourmet dining experience.  

Tickets cost €350, but up to 66% is tax deductible, while a table for 10 guests can be reserved for €3,500. 

Click here for more information about the event.  

 

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Photo credit: Opéra de Nice

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Blue Coast Brewing Company launches new burger range and beer pong tournaments

Just in time for the Six Nations Championship, the Blue Coast Brewing Company in Nice has announced a brand-new burger menu to accompany its taproom beverages as well as a monthly beer pong tournament that will begin this Friday. 

The French Riviera micro-brewery, which was launched in 2017 by a collection of avid brewers, sports stars and celebrities, is branching out with a range of gourmet burgers that will be served on-site at the taproom on Chemin de Saquier in Nice. 

The kitchen will be open from Friday 2nd February, a date that marks the start of the 2024 Six Nations Championship, with a game between Ireland and France due to begin at 9pm. 

The same day, and on the first Friday of every month going forwards, the Blue Coast Brewing Company will host its first beer pong tournament. 

Beer pong, for the uninitiated, is a game where players aim to land table tennis balls in a cup of beer located on their opponent’s side of a table. If a ball makes its way into a cup, the person next to the cup must drink its contents.  

It costs €6.50 to sign up for the tournament, which will kick off at 7.30pm. The prize is a free metre of the Blue Coast Brewing Company’s award-winning artisanal beer! 

Click here for more information. 

 

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Photo source: Blue Coast Brewing Company, Facebook

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Basketball: Roca Team dominate Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade

AS Monaco Basket put on a commanding performance for their home fans in the Salle Gaston Médecin on Wednesday 31st January, overcoming Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade by a 15-point margin and improving their record against the Serbian side to 14-10. 

Despite an early points deficit, AS Monaco were on track by halftime and maintained a steady control of Partizan Belgrade and their top scorer Kevin Punter.

The third quarter solidified Monaco’s dominance; the standout moment came when Mike James hit a three-pointer and further extended the Roca Team’s lead whilst simultaneously dampening Partizan’s hopes of a comeback.

Monaco’s defence held strong, preventing any significant challenge from the opposing team in the final quarter, and the close of the game saw the Roca Team earn a comfortable victory: 85-70.

James’ contributions not only helped his side win the fixture, but also saw him claim the title of the EuroLeague’s top scorer this season with an impressive 19.2 points per game rating. He also moves up to third place in the all-time rankings, behind Nando De Colo and the legendary Vassilis Spanoulis.  

Post-game, AS Monaco’s coach Sasa Obradovic praised the team, saying, “This is a special team. All players were engaged; it’s a real pleasure to coach them.”  

Looking ahead, the Roca Team will next host Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in a EuroLeague clash on 2nd February.  

Read related:

The February schedule of home games for AS Monaco and the Roca Team

 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

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Toll price hikes on the A8 are among the highest in France

As of 1st February, Vinci Autoroutes, which manages close to half of France’s motorways, has increased the prices of tolls across its network, but the changes aren’t all equal. 

The average increase is of 2.7%, but in the south of France, some toll costs have soared by up to 4.4%. 

Not all péages have been affected by the price changes – Nice’s Saint Isidore, for example, remains at €1.50 for the Category 1 vehicle group that includes the standard family car – but the La Turbie toll near Monaco has increased by 20 centimes, making a journey between Nice Airport and the east of the Alpes-Maritimes 4.4% more expensive. 

The Antibes péage has also increased by 10 centimes, from €3.40 to €3.50, on the back on last year’s increase, which saw the toll rise by 20 centimes from €3.20.  

Read related:

New ‘Monaco Est’ motorway exit finally inaugurated

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

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Air France announces Los Angeles-Nice flight plans for Cannes Film Festival and Monaco GP

Air France, an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival, will supplement its flight schedule during May with a direct connection between LAX and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport that will appeal to fans of both the cinema and the Monaco Grand Prix. 

The outbound route will depart Los Angeles’ main airport at 1.15pm on 13th May, the day before the Cannes Film Festival begins, with a scheduled arrival in the French Riviera the following morning at 9.35am.  

Depending on the configuration of the A350-900 plane used, there could be between 292 and 324 seats available, including premium economy and business class seating.  

The return journey will leave Nice at 1.55pm on 27th May, the day after the Monaco Grand Prix and two days after the close of the film festival. It is scheduled to land back on the West Coast at 5.05pm later that same day.  

NYC CONNECTION FOR CANNES LIONS 

Come June, and coinciding with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Air France will also run a special connection between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Nice. Outbound trips will leave the East Coast on 15th and 16th June while return voyages will be possible on 20th and 21st June.

 

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Photo source: Antoine Contenseau, Unsplash 

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Choking game latest: School to hold awareness sessions and increase supervision

Four days after a 14-year student was rushed to hospital after taking part in a choking game at his school, the head of Charles III has told parents that all students will be warned of the dangers of this troubling trend.

It is a story that has sent shivers down the spines of every parent – a 14-year-old boy had to be hospitalised at the CHPG after taking part in the ‘scarf game’ in Monaco.

It also drew strong criticism from the teachers’ union, who told Monaco Matin that they wanted to see more adult surveillance at the school, where there were 23 supervisors for more than 1,100 students.

On Wednesday, the parents at Charles III college received a message from the principal, Sébastien Dassonville, detailing the actions the school will take to help prevent future incidents, according to a report in Monaco Matin.

“In addition to the prevention actions already implemented, the college will organise special awareness sessions starting this week for college students in order to make them aware again of these risks and so that they do not trivialise these practices. This prevention campaign will be carried out in such a way as not to not arouse concern or curiosity about these dangerous games.”

The principal stated that “any attempt at dangerous games will be subject to sanctions” and that supervision will be strengthened “particularly during travel, recreation and in places conducive to gatherings.”

Parents were encouraged to talk to their children about the potentially fatal game, also known as the pass-out challenge, which has actually been around for a many years but has picked up in popularity after going viral on TikTok.

According to psychology researcher Gregory Michel at the University of Bordeaux, children and adolescents who suffer from depression or behaviour problems may be more likely to play the game to achieve a euphoric high than young people who don’t have mental health issues.

SEE ALSO:

Dangerous ‘scarf game’ incident sparks concerns about pupils’ safety in Monaco school

 

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Photo credit: Scott Webb, Unsplash

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Monaco Economic Board announces plans for missions to Morocco and London

More than 300 entrepreneurs, businesspeople and local officials gathered at Le Méridien Beach Plaza on 18th January to hear about the Monaco Economic Board’s exciting plans for 2024 as well as its new membership formula for individuals and companies.  

The Monaco Economic Board’s (MEB) long-time chairperson, Michel Dotta, opened the proceedings at the annual ‘Rendezvous’ event with a tribute to Etienne Franzi, who recently handed over the presidency of the Monaco Association for Financial Activities (AMAF) to Robert Laure after 25 years in the position.  

See more: Robert Laure named new President of AMAF

Dotta called Franzi’s work “remarkable”, complimenting the outgoing president on how he had “transformed an employer union into an institution with a key role to play in our economy… that actively participates in the ongoing effort to make the Principality a benchmark and respected financial centre”.  

Next up was an inclusivity-focused speech from the Monaco Government’s Technical Advisor Lionel Galfré, who asked those gathered to show their support for the Principality’s newly implemented Handipact initiative.

See more: Monaco sets goals for an “inclusive society” with wide-reaching National Policy for Disability Inclusion

MEB CEO Guillaume Rose then took his turn at the mic, giving an overview of what’s in store for the organisation in the first half of 2024. 

Rose’s presentation also covered the new “two tier membership programme” available at the MEB, which will offer two distinct levels of involvement and participation. There will be the classic option, that will be the same as it ever was, and a premium option that will offer priority registration to events and priority invites from partners who distribute through the MEB, support from the MEB’s communication team regarding the local media and the chance to feature in a new section of the MEB website called ‘Our Premium Companies’, among other advantages.   

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS 

The MEB’s travel schedule in the first half of 2024, following on from a recent trip to Riyadh, will see representatives head to Morocco from 16th to 19th April and then to London from 10th to 13th June. The MEB will also play host to delegations from Tunisia on 22nd February and Austria on 18th April.  

 

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Photo credit: MEB

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More than 80 employers confirmed to attend Monaco Pour L’Emploi jobs forum so far

Between 9am and 6pm at the Grimaldi Forum on 16th February, thousands of jobseekers searching for their perfect role in Monaco’s dynamic jobs market will be able to gain an audience with more than 80 employers from a variety of different sectors present in the Principality. 

Designed to address the need for a growing number of workers in an already thriving jobs market – Monaco currently has around 63,000 workers on its books in both the public and private sectors – and pair up suitable candidates with employers looking to fill open positions, the ‘Monaco For Employment’ event is the second edition of a concept launched back in September 2023.  

After that successful inaugural edition, which saw some 3,650 jobseekers turn up with their CVs at the ready, the event has been revived and more than 80 employers have already signed up to have a stand. Companies wishing to attend can still apply for a space within the 3,000sqm facility by clicking here.

Representatives from Monaco’s Caisses Sociales, Cellule Emploi Jeune, Service de l’Emploi and the wider civil service will also be present to help answer any questions that prospective workers in the Principality might have about administrative and even visa requirements.  

“The Employment Forum desired by the Government, and reinforced by the success of the first edition last September, responds to an ever-increasing need for our companies to recruit qualified and quality candidates,” says Christophe Robino, Monaco’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health (pictured). “This Forum is intended to become a highlight of the year and will allow companies to develop an annual recruitment strategy and meet seasonal employment needs. Monaco Pour L’Emploi must become the unmissable meeting place for economic players in the Principality.”

The event is free to attend. More information can be found here.

 

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Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

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Monte-Carlo Country Club launches new ‘Meet Up and Play’ tennis sessions

For anyone looking to learn or improve their tennis game, as well as make new friends and potentially find a new partner to play against, the Monte-Carlo Country Club is offering the perfect opportunity to do just that.  

From now until 22nd February, the club is putting on two ‘Meet Up and Play” sessions a week for club members that will be held on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm and on Sundays from 3.30pm to 5pm.  

And after working up a sweat on the very clay courts that have welcomed the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer over the years, why not stop in at the Country Club’s Art Déco-style clubhouse? The facility will be open for a post-match snack or refreshment.

The sessions are entirely free of charge for members. For more information, opening hours and how to become a member, click here.  

Read related:

Game, set, match: Where to find the best tennis courts in and around Monaco

 

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Photo source: Moises Alex, Unsplash

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CSM to explore “the crossroads of art therapy and medical research” at upcoming event

The Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation, which raises funds for scientific research as well as backing educational and sport-based initiatives for cancer sufferers, have joined forces with the International Art & Science Institute to host a fascinating event that will explore the benefits that art and art therapy can have on patients. 

The ‘Repair the World with Art’ conference, which will take place on Thursday 1st February between 10am and 7pm at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), will cover an array of projects happening in Monaco and the south of France that are at “the crossroads of contemporary art, art therapy and medical research”.  

Personalities from the worlds of art and science are due to speak at the event, such as Professor Florence Askenazy of the Université Côte d’Azur, who is also a children’s psychiatrist at the CHU de Nice and the city’s Hôpital Pédiatrique Universitaire Lenval. Professor Askenazy will deliver a talk on the “benefits of art therapy in working with the psychological trauma of children and adolescents”. 

Taisiya Savchuk-Polishchuk, the president of the Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation, will also be speaking about art therapy and “art-care actions” as well as the ‘Going Towards the Light’ book project that the foundation has been developing, and artist Olga Kisseleva will hold a presentation on “art, science and interdisciplinary practices of the stage space”. 

“We wish to promote unique reflections, initiated as much by the arts and aesthetics as by medicine or neuroscience, in order to identify the specificities of art as a tool for repairing the world,” says Savchuk-Polishchuk of the unique event. “The artistic dimension of science as well as the contribution that an aesthetic approach to scientific data can make will also be addressed.” 

“Art is recognised as a very beneficial means of treating patients”

Doctor Vincent Picco, the head of the paediatric cancer research team at the CSM, says, “Art is recognised as a very beneficial means of treating patients, with proven effects on reducing cancer, the taking of medications and the length of hospital stays as well as the improvement of the well-being of the person treated independently of the care protocols. This approach is one of the extensions of our research action at the CSM, which aims to treat, but also to improve the conditions of therapeutic care for people undergoing treatment.” 

A cocktail reception will follow the talks.  

 

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Photo source: Tetiana Shyshkina, Unsplash

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French teachers’ unions call for national strike on 1st February

Against the backdrop of ongoing farming protests and the so-called “Siege of Paris” by members of the country’s agricultural sector, a cross-section of teachers’ unions has called for a nationwide strike to take place on Thursday 1st February. 

Around 40% of the country’s teaching staff – those represented by the Force Ouvrière, FSU, CGT Educ’Action, SE-UNSA, Sud Éducation unions – have been asked to participate in the industrial action, which is being driven by calls for higher wages for all staff, criticism of job cuts in the sector and a fight back against “the implementation of forced reforms”.

The latter reasoning is a reaction to the ‘Shock of Knowledge’ reforms announced by now-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in his former capacity as Minister for National Education and Youth back in December. 

See more: France asks students and teachers to work harder to bring up school standards and scores

Posts released by various participating unions also note “anger against the new Minister [for Education]”, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who drew public criticism earlier this month when it was revealed that she had taken her eldest son out of state school and enrolled him in a privately funded establishment. She claimed that the decision had been driven by “lots of teaching hours without a serious replacement” in the absence of a permanent teacher and said that she was “fed up… like hundreds of thousands of families”.  

Heads of schools heavily affected by the planned strike are expected to alert parents of any closures or class cancellations ahead of time. No figures are available yet for schools in the French Riviera, but around 130 establishments in Paris are likely to be shut for the day. In Nice, a protest has been organised by the local teaching unions’ members that will depart Place Garibaldi for the Gare Thiers at 10am.  

 

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Photo source: Kenny Eliason, Unsplash

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Authorities warn of new email scam doing rounds

Monaco residents are being warned about a surge in email scams flooding their inboxes. The emails, originating from various sources and often slipping past spam filters, are part of a sophisticated phishing campaign aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims.

According to authorities, the malicious emails are clumsily composed, claiming recipients are implicated in legal proceedings and urging them to open attached PDF documents. The fraudulent summons alleges involvement in “criminal charges related to sexual misconduct,” adding a sense of urgency and intimidation to the message.

Monaco’s government has issued a series of guidelines to help residents identify and avoid falling victim to these scams. Recipients are advised against responding to the sender, refraining from opening any attached documents, and promptly reporting suspicious emails to cyber@gouv.mc. Additionally, citizens are encouraged to mark such emails as spam and delete them permanently to prevent any further interaction.

Officials emphasise that no legitimate institution in Monaco communicates such matters via email. Government services exclusively use email addresses ending with @gouv.mc and recipients should verify the sender’s email address carefully for authenticity.

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Photo source: Monaco Government 

 

 

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New initiative partners Maserati MSG Racing with local youths to push urgency of change

Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing has launched an initiative called Seventeen, which combines the status of Formula E with the passion of today’s young leaders who want to put sustainability on their local agenda and make a real impact.

“Aligning with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Seventeen unites a global vision for sustainable progress with Maserati MSG Racing’s own commitment to improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in World Championship motorsport,” said the company in a press release.

As part of Seventeen, Maserati MSG Racing will connect with local teenagers impacted by climate change and innovation projects at race locations throughout the season to highlight local issues and worthy causes, while educating motorsport’s global audience about the urgency of change.

“As a team, we’re committed to advancing sustainable human progress, and as part of racing in Formula E, we have a responsibility to leave a positive legacy in each location we race,” said Scott Swid, Chairman and Managing Partner, Maserati MSG Racing. “From our perspective, it’s clear that our audience feels the same way – we’ve seen how passionate they are about the environment, our sport, and our vision, and Seventeen is another step forward in our mission to leave the world in a better state that we found it.”

It’s not the first Maserati MSG Racing, one of Formula E’s founding teams, has shown a commitment to the pursuit of a better tomorrow. In 2020, it became the first team to show support for the FIA’s Purpose Driven inclusivity campaign before breaking new ground in 2021 by becoming the first team in the series to raise awareness around LGBTQ+ inclusion in motorsport.

Season opener sees launch of Seventeen

Seventeen kicked off at Formula E’s season-opening Mexico City E-Prix, and the initiative can be followed across the Maserati MSG Racing’s website and social media channels, as the team takes the next step in its mission to generate positive, lasting change through the platform of motorsport.

“Part of our mission as a Championship is to drive action for the series to lead by example on sustainability and embark its ecosystem as well as its audiences on this race with no finish line,” said Julia Pallé, Vice President of Sustainability, Formula E. “Maserati MSG Racing has had strong form over the past five years for breaking new ground when it comes to raising awareness around social causes and human rights issues. Its new initiative Seventeen is a fantastic natural extension of this progressive work for them and one that will have real impact. We’re delighted to see a team use its unique platform and visibility to promote the UNs Sustainability Development Goals and can’t wait to support them and see the programme develop throughout the season – together we can make an even greater impact for good.”

SEE ALSO:

Formula E: Maserati MSG Racing take fourth place in season opener in Mexico City

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Photo source: Maserati MSG Racing 

 

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Dangerous ‘scarf game’ incident sparks concerns about pupils’ safety in Monaco school

Following reports of a distressing incident linked to the viral ‘scarf game’ that has become infamous on TikTok, Monaco’s teachers’ union has called for more support to be given to the Collège Charles-III on the Avenue de l’Annonciade. 

On 26th January, a 14-year-old student was reportedly found unconscious on the fifth floor of the Collège Charles-III. According to the Monaco Matin, the student has been attempting to recreate the dangerous ‘scarf game’ stunt, in which a person strangles themself until the point of passing out, that has been circulated widely on TikTok and was the cause of the death of a 16-year-old in France last year. The student was swiftly taken to the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, reports the newspaper, adding that an investigation has been launched by the Monaco Police Department. 

In the days after the worrying incident, Monaco’s teachers’ union is believed to have asked the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (DENJS) for assistance in bringing in more staff so as to ensure the better supervision of pupils at the school.  

According to the Monaco Matin, there are just 23 qualified “supervisors” working at the school, where there are more than 1,100 students enrolled. The newspaper also reports that the union had already contacted the DENJS regarding concerns about the school’s “security lapses” a year before the recent incident.  

“We are facing an increase in physical and verbal threats in colleges,” a representative for the union is quoted as saying in the newspaper, before stressing further worries about the growing issue of inadequate student safety at the school and the normalisation of violence among peers. “Teenagers insult and hit each other gratuitously, push each other, push each other down the stairs… For them, it’s a game and they absolutely do not realise the scope of their actions.”

No official comment has yet been made by the DENJS or the Monaco Government.

 

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Photo source: Solen Feyissa, Unsplash 

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‘Un Prince, Un Musée’ commemorates Prince Rainier’s passions for archaeology and Monaco’s history

Until 31st March, the Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique de Monaco is hosting an exhibition in honour of Prince Rainier III’s contributions to the museum as well as the support he gave to development of the study of the Principality’s history. 

‘Un Prince, Un Musée’ is the latest in a long line of exhibitions organised by the Prince Rainier III Commemorative Committee in the context of the centenary year of his birth in 1923, but is the first to be held at the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, which has close ties to the late sovereign. 

Although the museum was formally established by Prince Albert I in 1902, it found a home in the protected enclave of the Jardin Exotique, close to the Grotte de l’Observatoire, in 1959 thanks to Prince Rainier III. 

The exhibition honouring his role in the history of the museum and the support he gave to the study of Monaco’s fascinating history was opened in a special ceremony in the presence of Prince Rainier’s son, Prince Albert II, on 10th January and will remain open to the public until the end of March.  

It recounts the late Prince’s role in spearheading excavations and the personal contributions he and his wife, Princess Grace, made. The display also touches on their shared promotion of the Monegasque language as well as projects managed by Louis Barral, the museum’s former director. 

Entry to the museum and the exhibit is just €1, with free admission for Monegasque nationals, ICOM card holders and children under the age of five. 

It is open daily from 9am to 6pm. For a guided tour, contact mediationMAP@gouv.mc or visit the website here for more information.  

 

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Photo credit: Monaco Communications Department / Frédéric Nebinger 

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