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 

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 

2024 is looking promising for Monaco’s top mainstream sports teams of AS Monaco FC and AS Monaco Basket. The Principality’s football side is currently fourth in the hotly contested French Ligue 1 standings while the Roca Team is holding on tightly to its Number 1 ranking in the Betclic Elite and simultaneously matching challenge for challenge in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

Here are all the dates and times local football and basketball fans need to know about with regards to home games out on the pitch of the Stade Louis II and on the court of the Salle Gaston Médecin.

Football: Ligue 1 

Just two home turf matches are on the cards for AS Monaco in February and both are in the top-flight French league, which is being led at the moment by Paris Saint Germain. 

The first, against Le Havre AC, will take place on Sunday 4th February at 1pm and tickets start at €8 for AS Monaco supporters. Click here to see the seats still available. 

The second game will welcome Toulouse FC to the Stade Louis II on Sunday 18th February at 3pm. Click here to explore the range of seats, including a VIP box, that are still up for grabs. 

A full guide to accessing the stadium and the various car parking options can be found here. 

Basketball: Betclic Elite and French league games

The first Betclic Elite game of the month will see the Roca Team go head-to-head with Lyon’s ASVEL Basket on Tuesday 6th February at 8pm. The Monaco side will play the same team again a week later in the Coupe de France at 8pm on Tuesday 13th February. 

In-between these matches, AS Monaco Basket will play Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 on Sunday 11th February at 2.30pm.  

On Friday 16th February at 6.30pm, the Roca Team will take on Le Mans in the LNB Pro A Leaders Cup, the national league cup for top-tied French teams.  

Basketball: International ties 

There is still one EuroLeague game to be played in January: a home fixture against Serbia’s Partizan Mozzart Bet on Wednesday 31st January at 7pm. Click here for tickets. 

February is looking considerably calmer for the Roca Team than January and there is just one home game on the books. On Friday 2nd February at 8.30pm, the home side will welcome Fenerbahce Istanbul to the Principality.  

To reserve tickets for any of the upcoming basketball games scheduled for next month, click here.  

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Photo source: Mat Helot, Unsplash

Monaco has nurtured relations with China through a festive Chinese New Year celebration held in the Principality, which brought together a number of dignitaries from both nations.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, which will begin on 10th February, the Monaco-China Association, with the support of the Monaco Embassy in China, organised a ‘Dragon Evening’ on 29th January at the Fairmont Hotel.

Symbolising strength and fortune in Chinese astrology, the legends connected to the Wood Dragon predict that 2024 will be a dynamic year of abundance, success and prosperity.

Monday evening blended Chinese culture with Mediterranean gastronomy and brought together guests from Monaco and China’s diplomatic, economic and cultural spheres. Among the dignitaries present were Christophe Steiner, Director of the Office of Prince Albert II, Ambassador of Monaco to China Marie-Pascale Boisson, and Dong Guangli, Consul General of China in Marseille.

The Tianjin Theater and Opera Troupe showcased an ancient and multidisciplinary Chinese art performance at the event, incorporating storytelling, dance, music and acrobatics in stunning traditional costumes.

Various aspects of Chinese culture also adorned the evening, including the Lion Dance, tai chi demonstrations, Chinese calligraphy, a guzheng concert of traditional Chinese music and contemporary Chinese pop songs.

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Photo: Marie-Pascale Boisson, Ambassador of Monaco to China, source: Government Communication Department 

Authorities have signed a new ‘health-police-justice’ agreement, designed to improve how police officers and the justice system deal with incidents at Monaco’s health clinics.

On Friday 26th January, Monaco’s Secretary of State for Justice Sylvie Petit-Leclair, Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Christophe Robino signed the agreement which aims to improve the response of judicial authorities and police services to multiple situations that may arise in a health establishment. These can include medical care for victims of violence or sexual assault, the mistreatment of a minor, admission of detainees or people in police custody, possession of narcotics, and theft and damage within the health establishment.

“This institutional partnership, which will be supplemented by operational technical sheets, will thus strengthen the coordination of services, the standardisation of practices and, consequently, the effectiveness of interventions,” said the government in a statement.

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Photo left to right: Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario, Secretary of State for Justice Sylvie Petit-Leclair, and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Christophe Robino, source: Government Communication Department

Earlier this month, more than 200 members and friends of the Hellenic Community of Monaco gathered at the Yacht Club de Monaco to welcome in the association’s new Board of Directors and to celebrate Vasilopita.  

Monaco’s Greek community united at the central venue on Sunday 14th January to witness a number of important transitions within the club’s structure.  

Firstly, Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis formally concluded her second term as President, receiving a warm round of applause for her efforts, and handed the baton on to Ekaterini Lanara, a fellow businesswoman who has lived in the Principality of Monaco for more than 15 years.  

Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis’ final official task in her capacity as President was to honour certain members of the community for their efforts over the last year. These included: Michael Seliniotakis for his humanitarian efforts; John Christodoulou for his philanthropic endeavours; George Vafiadis for his contributions to yacht design; and the island of Kastellorizo and its residents for their cultural and societal contributions. 

The Hellenic Community of Monaco’s new Board of Directors was also presented at the event. Grigorios Stassinopoulos, Gerasimos Marinis and Dimitrios Anastasakos will serve as Vice-Presidents while Anastasakos will hold a secondary role as Treasurer alongside Dr. Panagiotis Kyriazis. Vasileios Kasimatis is taking on the position of Secretary, Athanasios Kourniotis will manage the Public Relations responsibilities of the community and Leonidas Kampanis will serve as Event Manager. 

For more information about the Hellenic Community of Monaco and its various activities and events, click here.

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Photo credit: Hellenic Community of Monaco 

Local ministers and councillors have signed off on the latest addition to Monaco’s National Housing Scheme: 14 new state-owned apartments in the renovated Les Mélèzes residence building on rue Plati next to the Grand Ida construction site.

Members of the Monaco government, including Finance and Economy Minister Marco Piccinini and Equipment, Environment, and Urbanism Minister Céline Caron-Dagioni joined National Council President Brigitte Boccone-Pages, and other councillors for a visit to the government-owned building Les Mélèzes on 25^th January.

The building underwent significant renovation in 2021 and 2022, as well as an extension, allowing for the building of an extra 14 apartments designated exclusively for Monegasque nationals.

The tour was an opportunity for the delegation to inspect the quality of the renovation of the entrance hall and common areas, and to visit the recently delivered apartments.

Initially, the building underwent renovation with the aim of improving its energy balance and fire safety systems, as well as providing better comfort for its occupants. The implementation of external thermal insulation combined with window replacement was accompanied by a transition in heating methods, initially from fuel to gas and then to the urban hot and cold network.

The building is now less energy-consuming and the apartments are better insulated thermally and acoustically.

Meanwhile, practical improvements were made in the standardising of mailboxes, the installation of an elevator from the entrance of the building, access to a garbage room compliant with sorting requirements, the installation of a videophone, and balcony lighting.

In a second phase, two floors were added to the building, providing an additional 14 apartments.

“It constitutes an innovative and unprecedented solution for a government operation in that the housing units are composed of factory prefabricated modules, unlike traditional methods, transported and assembled directly on-site,” said the government in a statement.

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Photo source: Government Communication Department

Sophie Thevenoux, Monaco’s Ambassador and Special Advisor for European Economic and Financial Affairs, has been appointed head of the Monaco Financial Activities Supervisory Authority (AMSF).

Thevenoux assumed her duties on 29th January, leading this newly established independent administrative authority, which replaces SICCFIN, to continue the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and corruption.

Bringing her recognised expertise and extensive experience in economic and financial domains, Thevenoux will contribute significantly to the launch phase of the AMSF. A new director, currently being recruited, will succeed her in the upcoming spring.

Sophie Thevenoux previously held significant positions within the Monegasque Administration, serving at the Budget and Treasury Directorate from 1995 to 2005, and later at the Department of Finance and the Economy. In 2009, she became the Minister of Finance and the Economy of the Principality.

Since 2011, Madame Thevenoux has held various Ambassadorial roles, notably in France and with the European Union.

“Her knowledge of international organisations and mastery of diplomatic relations will be invaluable assets in her new responsibilities,” said the government in a statement.

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Photo source: Monaco Government

Years of poor snowfall have forced local officials to rethink the future of the family-friendly ski resort of Gréolières les Neiges, which is set to rebrand as Gréolières 1400. 

Found just 20 kilometres inland as the bird flies from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, Gréolières les Neiges has long been a favourite with French Riviera families looking for a fun day out of skiing and sledging, but the essential snow cover that provides the base for these activities is far from guaranteed these days.  

Just five of 20 pistes are open in Gréolières les Neiges at the moment – four greens and one red run – and all have been 100% supplemented by artificially produced snow. The entire Nordic skiing section of the resort, which had proved popular earlier in the season, has been shut to the public and it appears that sledging is off the cards too after the unusually warm temperatures of last week melted away almost all of the snow in the resort’s vicinity.  

During colder – and snowier – times, there have been as many as 30 kilometres of skiing pistes at Gréolières les Neiges, but that is certainly not looking likely at any point this winter.  

This realisation led the local council to vote in favour of a name change and rebrand last August. According to France 3, Gréolières les Neiges is to soon become Gréolières 1400 in a nod to the resort’s location at 1,400 metres above sea level. 

“Snow alone will not be enough to maintain the economic dynamics of the municipality,” Marc Malfatto, the mayor of Gréolières, told the news outlet, “but, at 1,400 metres, you can do more than just ski or sledge.” 

As temperatures edged close to 20°C over the weekend, a post on the Gréolières les Neiges Facebook page advertised the various “non-ski” activities available at the resort, from a treetops experience and Explor Game® to hiking, snow scootering and even a giant bowling alley on the lower piste. Some of these will be able to continue throughout the season, but there are others that will have to be pulled if the resort continues to suffer from a sustained lack of snowfall. 

There is no snow on the horizon yet, with clear skies and temperatures climbing up to 17°C predicted for the next 10 days, but there will be many at the resort and across the region who will be hoping for a change in the forecast.  

To view the live webcame footage of Gréolières les Neiges, click here. 

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Photo source: Gréolières les Neiges, Facebook