Scientists and climate experts are sounding the alarm after a new study by the Advances in Atmospheric Sciences journal revealed that global ocean temperatures were significantly higher in 2023 than in the previous year. They warn that unless action is taken quickly, the damage being done by manmade pollutants could be catastrophic.
Last year, surface temperatures reached record levels around the world, with an annual mean of 0.23ºC higher than in 2022, which climbed to an “astounding” 0.3ºC higher in the second half of 2023, according the report put out by the Advances in Atmospheric Sciences journal.
While the Mediterranean basin, a region home to 500 million people, is believed to be warming 20% faster than the global average, the Mediterranean Sea is a considerable source of concern too. Average temperatures recorded in 2023 were the highest on record since the 1950s and the hottest ever reading for the sea was taken during the summer, when a Spanish research unit noted a peak of 28.71ᵒC.
Globally, the report also noted record levels of stratification, where the warmer surface waters fail to mix with the colder waters deeper down, thus preventing proper oxygenation. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide the seas can absorb and is a hazard for marine life.
The study places the blame squarely on greenhouse gas emissions produced through human activities, which have caused “about 90% of the excess heat accumulated in the Earth system [to be] deposited in the world’s oceans”.
“The ocean is the key to telling us what’s happening to the world and the data is painting a compelling picture of warming year after year after year,” Professor John Abraham, a contributor to the study, told The Guardian. “We’re already facing the consequences and they will get far worse if we don’t take action, but we can solve this problem today with wind, solar, hydro and energy conservation. Once people realise that, it’s very empowering. We can usher in the new energy economy of the future, saving money and the environment at the same time.”
ON LAND AS AT SEA
Air temperatures also hit record levels last year: 1.48ºC higher than pre-industrial levels and perilously close to the 1.5ºC target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Although partly explained by 2023 being an El Niño year, a natural and cyclical phenomenon usually associated with warmer temperatures, damaging emissions are nevertheless a major driver and scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU’s Earth observation programme, suspect thesymbolic 1.5ºC mark will be exceded in the next 12 months.
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This weekend’s Grand Circus Parade and Open Air Circus Show promises to be a spectacular celebration, although traffic disruptions are expected. Here’s everything you need to know about both.
On Saturday 13th January, the Principality of Monaco will celebrate the 46th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival with a grand parade throughout the city. It begins at 2pm in Fontvielle and will traverse through rue du Campanin, avenue des Castelans, avenue de Fontvieille, place du Canton, boulevard Charles III, Place d’Armes, avenue de la Porte Neuve, avenue Saint Martin, and rue Bellando de Castro.
Around 2:30pm/2:45pm the parade is expected to arrive at the Place du Palais, where there will an Open Air Circus Show. The Place du Palais will be accessible by Porte Neuve following the Grande Parade, the Rampe Major and by bus lines 1 and 2, which will serve the Pêcheurs car park.
Traffic disruptions
Between 2pm and 5pm, while the parade passes and the animals return to the marquee, traffic will be temporarily suspended on avenue des Guelfes, rue du Campanin, avenue de Fontvieille, Charles III tunnel, Canton roundabout, boulevard Charles III, place d’Armes heading north, avenue de la Porte Neuve, avenue Saint Martin, rue Bellando de Castro, and the ramparts.
Bus routes will also be impacted during these hours.
Impact on public car parks
When the Parade passes, access to the following car parks will not be possible: Port car park, Saint-Nicolas, Stade Louis II, Le Triton, des Villas, de la Colle, de la Visitation, de l’Abbaye.
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A1 Padel’s CMB Monaco Master stage of the global series is to take place in front of the emblematic Casino de Monte-Carlo between Friday 15th and Sunday 24th March.
“After the victories of Julianoti-Rocafort in 2021, Barrera-Britos in 2022 and Chozas-Augsburger in 2023, all the great pairs on the circuit will be battling it out for the crown,” A1 Padel’s international circuit production manager, Léa Soares, tells Monaco Life. “The main favourites will be the circuit’s undisputed number ones, Dal Bianco-Arce, whose crushing dominance in 2023 – 10 titles in 16 tournaments – has forced all their great rivals to seek new partners for 2024. The CMB Monaco Master will be an opportunity for new pairs such as Alfonso-Aguirre or Torre-De Pascual to try and prove that they can fight for A1Padel’s reign.”
The duration of the event, which will be the fourth edition of the tournament to be held in the hometown of A1 Padel’s president and founder, Fabrice Pastor, has been extended in 2024. Soares says the shake-up to the schedule will allow fans more chances to meet their idols and watch them play as well as provide additional on-court opportunities for budding padel players.
The A1 Padel circuit, formerly known as the ATP Padel Tour, was launched by Pastor back in 2020, but the inaugural schedule had to be pushed back to 2021 in the wake of the pandemic. During the first full year of events, more than 40 tournaments were held in 11 countries around the world. Some 772 professional players, men and women, took part.
The Monaco leg of the tournament follows the opening Mexico event, which will be held in Puebla from 26th February to 3rd March.
With the festive season behind us, the director of Monaco’s tourism board, Guy Antognelli, has shared a very positive assessment of the hotel industry and how it fared during the holidays.
Announcing higher than average hotel occupancy rates for the entire month of December, Antognelli has reported that around 50% of the Principality’s hotel rooms were taken during the week of Christmas. Even better were the remarkable figures for New Year’s Eve, which saw hotel occupancy rates rise to an impressive 90% and “surpass all expectations”.
The primary visitors to Monaco’s hotels and restaurants during this period were the French and Italians, who comprised nearly half of the total clientele, a significant increase on the numbers recorded for 2019 and 2022.
There also a surge in American tourists, following on from a trend observed since the start of 2023.
Antognelli lay the success of the season at the feet of the atmosphere in the Principality during the festive period, saying, “Monaco comes alive during the holidays and offers an exceptional experience [to visitors]”. He also noted that “extremely positive feedback” had been shared with the Direction du Tourisme et des Congrès de Monaco regarding the decorations in the Place du Casino and elsewhere in the Principality, as well as on attractions such as the Christmas Village.
Predictions for 2024
Looking ahead to 2024, Antognelli said that expectations within the tourism sector are optimistic. He anticipates a strong return of Italian tourists, a resurgence of British visitors “despite economic challenges and Brexit”, and a steady presence of American travellers. Additionally, a significant recovery in business tourism is expected, which Antognelli said he hoped would exceed “pre-pandemic levels”.
However, Antognelli also stated that the focus is not on increasing the number of visitors, but on continuing to provide a quality over quantity experience for tourists in Monaco.
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To the cheers of local fans, the first home game of the year came to a successful close for Monaco’s Roca Team, who secured a decisive win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in a crucial play-off positioning match.
Tuesday 9th January saw AS Monaco Basket return to their home court in the Salle Gaston Médecin for a EuroLeague pitting against Spanish side Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
After a sorry start to their European ambitions in 2024, which saw the Monegasque side lose 75-73 to Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece last week, the team rebounded with strength once back on familiar ground in the Principality.
Mike James was instrumental for AS Monaco, contributing a robust 26 points and seven assists. His performance was complemented by Donatas Motiejunas, who added 13 points. Monaco’s defence played a pivotal role, committing a mere six turnovers while forcing Baskonia into 19.
The game commenced with both teams closely matched and the first quarter ended with Monaco trailing slightly at 21-22. Howard’s successive three-pointers initially gave Baskonia a lead, but AS Monaco responded vigorously, especially in the second quarter, by forcing turnovers and embarking on a 12-0 run.
The third quarter saw AS Monaco further consolidate their lead with an 11-1 run, ending the quarter with a 71-59 advantage. The final quarter remained tense, with Baskonia narrowing the gap to a mere three points at one point, but the Roca Team managed to maintain their lead and close out the game victoriously.
The next EuroLeague pitting will be an away game against Panathinaikos BC Aktor on Thursday 11th January. The next home game, which sees AS Monaco come up against Real Madrid, will take place on Friday 19th January.
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Rayo Withanage is an “influential financier”, the founder of a powerful UHNW fund and advisor to some of the wealthiest royal families in the world. He is also owner of Picasso’s final home in Mougins, Mas Notre Dame de Vie, and he has bold plans to turn this famous sprawling estate into a global creative powerhouse: a private estate that will re-energise the French Riviera as a source of inspiration and impact once again.
Despite a successful career in finance, Rayo Withanage disappeared from the media spotlight after the filing of his divorce in 2018. Only a select few know what happened to him since, until now.
Withanage rose to prominence as an entrepreneur and financier from New Zealand, when he founded the BMB Group and turned it into a powerful ultra-high-net-worth fund, with backing from the investment arms of family offices in Asia and the Middle East. BMB acquired pioneers in Emerging Markets Private Equity, which managed over $7.5 billion in assets under the leadership of Moeen Qureshi, the former prime minister of Pakistan. BMB was also a private advisor to royalty and government leaders, including the prime minister of Malaysia and members of the Dubai Royal Family.
Withanage is also a director of Scepter, a single-family office that has over $14 billion to back large transactions, with offices in New York, London and Brunei.
You might not guess it from his humble demeanour, but Withanage has been described by Euromoney as “one of the most influential financiers in the Middle East and Asia”.
“But that’s my past,” Rayo tells me as we meet for lunch at the new Café de Paris one sunny winter’s day. “Let’s talk about the future.”
Château de Vie today
Buying the most successful art production house in history
In 2017, Rayo Withanage purchased Pablo Picasso’s final estate in Mougins. The sale made headlines, not least because he bought it for well under the €170 million price tag being flouted by its art dealer-owner, although that did include precious works of art. In the end, Withanage still got a bargain, sans art, paying just over €20 million as the sole bidder for a property that experts had valued at anywhere between €30 and €65 million.
More than €4 billion worth of art had been created in Picasso’s château at Notre Dame de Vie, making it one of the most successful art production houses in the world.
Although completely renovated, the home retained traces of Pablo Picasso not only in legacy, but in splashes of paint, original furniture and a palpable energy that resonates from every corner of this 800sqm home.
The final home of Pablo Picasso has long been a drawcard for the rich and famous
The chateau’s rich Riviera history
In 1961, Pablo Picasso left his home in Cannes and purchased Mas Notre Dame de Vie from the Anglo-Irish Guinness brewing family as a wedding gift for his new wife Jacqueline Roque. It is where Winston Churchill spent time painting in the gardens, and where Picasso himself had enjoyed vacationing. At the age of 80, this vast estate became Picasso’s final home, and he lived there until his death at the age of 91.
It is but one, albeit very important, aspect of an estate that, throughout the 20th century and the time of Benjamin and Bridget Guinness, welcomed illustrious celebrities and some of the most important creative figures in history including Henri Matisse, Man Ray, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlie Chaplin and the Rolling Stones.
Pablo Picasso at Mas Notre Dame de Vie
During his time at the estate, Pablo Picasso was incredibly productive, drawing inspiration from the large villa, expansive Mediterranean gardens and magnificent view of the Bay of Cannes and the Estérel mountain range. He produced some of his most important works from his “later period” here, not only paintings but also sculpture, ceramics and photography, with Jacqueline as his main muse. In fact, Picasso created more portraits of his second wife than any other woman in his life at the Mougins estate.
After the Cubist master’s death in 1973, Jacqueline lived in the villa until 1986, when she committed suicide there. Her daughter Catherine Hutin-Blay, from a previous marriage, inherited the estate and it stayed abandoned for more than two decades before it was sold to a Belgian entrepreneur in 2007 for €12 million. The art lover spent over €17 million to completely restore the chateau and renamed it ‘Cavern of the Minotaur’, in honour of Picasso’s obsession with the mythical beast.
The sprawling gardens of the three-hectare property over look the Bay of Cannes and the Estérel.
A new era for ‘Château de Vie’
As we meet again at the sprawling property on another sunny yet crisp day, it is exciting to see the immense vision that Withanage has for this incredible three-hectare estate, which has been renamed Château de Vie.
He tells me he has raised over €100 million to develop new business lines here, and his goal is to transform it into a production house – a private estate reserved exclusively for the creation of art and creative content.
“There are two types of cultural preservation: you can create a museum or you can honour something by continuing to use it,” Withanage tells me. “The plans that we have are about honouring Picasso’s presence and legacy here, so the estate will remain profoundly creative and innovative.”
The entire property has been completely renovated, ready for its new chapter as a production house
No plans to turn it into a hotel
Withanage is keen to stress that Picasso’s house will remain private. “We’ve received many suggestions to build a members’ club or a hotel in the main house, but we refused. I think it would be an abomination to turn Picasso’s living room into a hotel lobby,” he says. “Today, we are working with a world leader in branding and the arts to come up with the best plans for the future of Château de Vie. Whatever we do, it will be done to make real impact.”
While he promises to reveal more details soon, one thing is clear: Withanage is excited to be writing a new chapter in the legendary story of Château de Vie. “We see ourselves as having a unique role, of someone who honours the past while enabling the future.”
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A new energy bill put forward by France’s Ministry of Energy Transition has been criticised for favouring investment in the nation’s nuclear industry while omitting similar targets for renewable sources.
France currently derives about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy. The country houses 56 reactors and one new station is currently under construction. These nuclear power stations generate enough energy to make France the largest net exporter of electricity in the world, which brings in more than €3 billion each year.
This substantial income is certainly nothing to scoff at, but neither is France’s promise to be carbon neutral by the year 2050, something many argue will only be achieved through the better integration of renewable energy sources into the national energy network.
WHAT DOES THE BILL PROPOSE?
The proposed text highlights “the sustainable choice of using nuclear energy as a competitive and carbon-free” source of electricity. It also affirms the intention to build at least six, but as many as 14, new reactors in the coming years in order to pull off the transition away from fossil fuels and meet climate change goals despite the findings of numerous studies that state France will need to give more weight to renewable sources of energy production if it is to achieve its carbon neutrality ambitions.
Another contentious aspect of the bill is that no such targets for improving France’s renewable energy capacities are included, whereas previous energy laws did. Instead, the bill makes talk of “efforts” rather than specific objectives.
Opposers to the new energy bill say the government is backtracking on its green energy pledges made in recent years in favour of ensuring the “energy sovereignty” of the nation through nuclear means.
The ministry has denied the criticisms, saying, “It is false to say that there is no renewable objective.” However, no additional explanation on what that objective is, in the context of France’s energy plans going forward, has been provided.
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A full week after Monaco launched its winter sales, France has followed suit, making now the perfect time to get some great deals on clothing, accessories, housewares and other items on the other side of the border.
France’s Soldes d’Hiver formally began on Wednesday 10th January, giving shoppers a post-Christmas chance to pick up much needed and wanted items at excellent prices. Whatsmore, markdowns and price drops will likely continue throughout the sales period, which will come to an end on Tuesday 6th February.
Like in Monaco, the French sales are set by law. Unlike in Monaco, however, French merchants online and in-store have just four weeks to sell their current stock to make way for spring collections. In the Principality, shops have been given just over six weeks.
ORIGINS
The concept of putting products on sale dates back to the early 1800s and is credited to a man by the name of Simon Mannoury. He owned a fabric and clothing shop in Paris, but wasn’t getting the footfall he hoped for. His ingenious idea was to advertise price reductions to the public to shift stock faster. His idea had the desired effect and soon Mannoury’s technique was being employed by shops everywhere.
As time went on, the French government decided to implement a series of measures that would keep competition in check. Updates continued until the most recent changes in 2020, when the sales period was shortened from six weeks to four.
The ABBA-inspired hit musical Mamma Mia! is coming to the Principality of Monaco later this year for six performances in the original English version and the ticket office has already opened.
When Swedish pop group ABBA came together in 1972, there was no way of knowing that, over 50 years later, their music would be continuing to inspire and entertain generations of fans.
Nine studio albums, two live albums, seven compilation albums, four box sets, five video albums, 50 singles and 43 music videos later, their catalogue of hits has stood the test of time and provided the base for the wildly successful Mamma Mia! musical, which premiered London’s theatre district in 1999 and is now the third longest running musical in West End history.
It has since become a cult staple on Broadway in New York too, as well as on the international touring circuit, delighting more than 65 million people in 16 different languages over the years. Now it is coming to Monaco.
On stage at the Grimaldi Forum
The sweet, comic tale of a free-spirited mother living on Greek island with her daughter, whose world gets turned upside-down when her three possible fathers reunite for her wedding, will hit the stage of the Salle des Princes at the Grimaldi Forum for a series of six performances in English with French subtitles between 9th and 13th October. Among these will be two matinee performances at 3pm on 12th and 13th October.
Tickets for the show are already on sale and will likely be snapped up quickly. Prices range from €45 to €95 in the Carré Or seating zone.
With just two weeks to go before the start of the recce for the 92nd Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, the Organising Committee revealed this Monday the Official Entry List of the 70 competitors who will be allowed to take part in the opening round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
Against all expectations, the record holder, Sébastien Ogier, is back to defend his title. Nine-times winner of the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the French native will be competing in his home territory at the wheel of the Toyota Yaris Rally1 Hybrid.
The battle for victory will be as indecisive as it is intense, with his team-mate Elfyn Evans of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team as the main opponent at the start, as well as the Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT drivers Ott Tanäk (2019 World Champion) and Thierry Neuville (2020 Winner).
The suspense is also there in the other categories, starting with WRC2. Some of the headliners include Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin, Oliver Solberg, Nicolas Ciamin, Stéphane Lefebvre and Bryan Bouffier, who won the Monte in 2011 and is making his comeback to the world circuit for the occasion.
In total, there were eight cars in the top category representing the three official manufacturers, 24 in WRC2, three in WRC3 and 35 non-priority competitors, where the Selection Committee had to make crucial choices. “We registered 112 applications, and 93 of them met the criteria set out in our Supplementary Regulations. Unfortunately, we had to reject 23 of them,” said Eric Barrabino, General Commissioner of the Automobile Club de Monaco and Director of the Rallye Monte-Carlo. “As an organiser, having to turn down participants is not something you do easily, but a multitude of criteria have been considered to ensure that, in the end, some 20 regional drivers will be able to take part against an international elite.”
The aim now, says Barrabino, is to find an area of more than 30,000m2 to increase the capacity of the Service Park and organisers the possibility to accept all entries, both professional and amateur.
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Don’t miss ‘Le Cirque en fête’ this weekend, a vibrant parade and an open-air circus show celebrating the 50th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo and the centennial of Prince Rainier III’s birth.
The festivities will commence on 13th January at 2pm with a lively parade beginning at the Chapiteau (Big Top) in Fontvielle, featuring decorated floats, costumed artists, elephants, horses, and the exuberant Festival Orchestra. The parade will wind through the city streets to the historic Place du Palais, with the ‘Clowns en Folie’ entertaining crowds with their musical antics.
Upon reaching the Place du Palais at 2:30pm, the square will transform into a stage for a unique open-air circus show. One of the highlights will be a breathtaking daring feat: a tightrope walker will traverse the square at a staggering height of 25 meters, covering 80 meters.
Meanwhile, in an exciting first for Europe, a troupe of artists from the United States will present the star act of the circus world – a flying trapeze – under the open skies of Monaco.
As a prelude to the International Circus Festival, which begins on 19th January, this free and open-to-all event promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.
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The circus is one of the best loved shows in Monaco and families return year after year to enjoy its spectacular displays. The upcoming edition of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival is set to be one of the most exciting yet as the attraction is celebrating a landmark anniversary so expect big crowds and even bolder acts.
The circus is back in town from 19th to 28th January, starting a week after the much-anticipated open-air circus parade that is being organised in the Place du Palais for 13th January.
Ticket sales are well underway and some options have almost sold out completely, but there are still some great deals to be had for all budgets. Here is a rundown of what is on offer.
COSTS
Ticket prices vary wildly, ranging from a pocket-friendly €25 for an adult spot in the bleachers to a huge €2,010 for the full gala night experience.
For those looking for a less expensive option, consider the two-hour reduced rate shows on 21st, 27th and 28th January at 10.30am. It offers bang for the buck without the hefty price tag, especially if you are willing to sit in the upper sections. The views might not be centre stage, but the same action will be happening up there as down below. Tickets here start at €12.50 for children and €25 for adults. Even the best box or loge seats for these shows are quite reasonable at €150.
If the goal is to get to the Gala Awards Evening on 23rd January, the best current prices are again in the bleacher sections, where children’s tickets go from €22.50 to €30 and adults from €45 to €60. Many seats are sold out already, but there are some regular seats nearer the stage available for €95 to €110 and box seats starting at €450 to €470.
Tickets for the competition shows, which are scheduled early on in the festival, start at €17.50 for children and €35 for adults, going up to €330 in the box sections according to current availability. The winners shows come with similar prices, but the box seating is somewhat cheaper and ranges from €120 to €165.
BIG YEAR
The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival is celebrating two very special occasions this year. Firstly, it is the 50th anniversary of the creation of the circus, which was founded by Prince Rainier III in 1974, and secondly, the 2024 edition is being touted as the grande finale of a year of commemorations organised in honour of the late Prince, who was a life-long supporter of the circus arts.
For the schedule of the different shows and access to the ticket office, click here.
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Gabriel Attal made history on Tuesday, being named as France’s youngest and first gay prime minister.
President Emmanuel Macron named Education Minister Gabriel Attal, aged 34, as prime minister in a bid to give new momentum to his presidency, the Elysée announced in a press statement.
Late Monday, following days of speculation, Macron accepted the resignation of Elisabeth Borne, 62, after serving less than two years in office, ahead of a widely expected cabinet reshuffle that seeks to breathe new life into the final three years of his mandate.
Attal is now tasked with forming a government.
While two-time President Macron cannot run again in the 2027 elections, relaunching his government is seen as crucial to helping prevent Marine Le Pen from becoming president.
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The vast urban regeneration project that is Nice’s Promenade du Paillon has reached the doors of the city’s flagship cultural establishment: the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, also known as the MAMAC.
For the next four years, renovations will be happening inside and outside of the museum, which formally shut its doors over the weekend with a closing event that was attended by thousands of patrons and supporters of the institution.
“It was truly a festive closing day at the MAMAC,” shared the MAMAC team on Facebook. “We would like to thank the 3,000 people who visited our museum before it closed for renovation work. We look forward to welcoming you again to a transformed museum in the heart of such a beautiful promenade. The building closes, but activity continues. Stay tuned to discover our off-site programming and for more information!”
It has also been confirmed that a number of the museum’s best-loved pieces will be going on the road as special exhibits at other establishments.
WHERE IS THE ART?
The museum has made plans for the artworks installed in the building, with many going on loan to other museums in France and abroad.
Some will be transferred to nearby establishments, such as the 60 pieces heading to the Musée Fernand Léger in Biot, including a few new works that had not yet been put on display at the MAMAC.
In October, the Musée Henri Matisse in Nice will take its turn in looking after some of MAMAC’s works with a “big event” worthy of two great artists.
“We are going to have a highly anticipated match between Matisse and Klein,” said Hélène Guenin, the director of the MAMAC. “As surprising as it may seem, the two great masters of Nice have never been brought together in an exhibition.”
80 pieces by Niki de Saint Phalle will be travelling a bit farther afield, to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Missouri in the United States, for a retrospective being put together there on the Franco-American artist, who was best known for her voluptuous and colourful sculptures of the female form.
Still more pieces will be taking a break from public life and will go in for restoration work.
The MAMAC officially opened to the public for the first time in 1990.
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After years of works and successive delays to the schedule, the new Bretelle de Beausoleil, which is also being called the ‘Monaco Est’ exit by the French media, will reportedly open at 6am on Wednesday 10th January.
Once up and running, it will provide a link between the A8 motorway and the RD 2564 or the Grande Corniche. The exit will only be accessible to those heading from Nice in an Italy-bound direction and it will not be possible to join the A8 motorway in this sector.
Still, the additional exit should help alleviate the considerable congestion on either side of Monaco during peak commuting hours and improve access to the Principality for the thousands who drive in each day.
Vinci Autoroutes is yet to publicly confirm the opening of the exit, which has been under construction since 2021, but the Monaco Matin reports that a ministerial decree has been granted.
The official inauguration of the new route took place in the presence of French and Monegasque officials on Monday 8th January and a soft launch is expected to take place during the course of Tuesday 9th January.
For further information on the project, click here.
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