Plastic pollution is one of the most serious ecological problems affecting the seas and oceans. Every minute the equivalent of a plastic garbage truck is dumped into it, threatening marine life and our health. The Mediterranean Sea, due to its semi-enclosed nature, is particularly impacted by this pollution. It is now considered to be the most polluted sea in the world. Faced with this more than alarming observation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Europe, the Tara Expeditions Foundation, the MAVA Foundation and IUCN have decided to act together within the Task Force "Beyond Plastic Med" (BeMed), in order to raise awareness and mobilise civil society and stakeholders around concrete actions. Now an association, BeMed has been working in this way since 2015 to support and encourage the networking of Mediterranean actors committed to fighting plastic pollution, to implement effective and sustainable solutions, to contribute to the search for new alternatives but also to encourage the sharing of good practices. Each year, BeMed supports effective field actions, encouraging the sharing of experience within its network. 38 micro-initiatives have already been supported in the Mediterranean basin. In 2020, 16 new projects in 11 different countries will expand the network: · Involvement of Nile fishermen for the collection of plastic before its arrival at sea and awareness raising of the populations. VeryNile Association - Egypt · Establishment of a low-tech recycling workshop to manufacture spare parts from plastics recovered from the environment on the Elba island. Blu Oltremare Association - Italy · Reducing the use of single-use plastics on cruise ships. Isotech Ltd Environmental Research and Consultancy - Cyprus · Use of a low-tech plastic recycling workshop to raise awareness and encourage people to rethink their consumption patterns. Human Environmental Association for Development (HEAD) - Lebano · Creation of a platform bringing together actions against plastic pollution in the agri-food sector. Wise Greece Association - Greece · Commitment of the industrial sector to think and implement concrete solutions in Sfax. Association de la continuité des Générations - Tunisia · Raising awareness among the population, working with tourism stakeholders to reduce plastic pollution on Farwa Island. Bado Environmental Association Lybia - Libya · Creation of a resource bank for teachers to integrate plastic issues into their teaching program. Nature Trust Malta - Malta · Revival of Albanian traditions as an alternative to plastic. Doctor Vet in Community Association - Albania · Recovery at sea and recycling of fishing nets to raise awareness of the impact of this pollution on the marine environment. Zibel Association - Malta · Research of alternatives to the food packaging of products derived from palm trees in collaboration with the municipalities of the oases of the Gabès region. Association Citoyenneté et Développement Durable (ACDD) Gabès - Tunisia · Development of a citizen dynamic and implementation of a local action plan with civil society actors. Association pour la protection de l’Environnement et le Développement durable de Bizerte (APEDDUB) - Tunisia · Replication of the Clean up the Med protocol and accompaniment of the actors of the Euro-Mediterranean network in the implementation of targeted awareness campaigns. Centre de découverte Mer et Montagne (CDMM) - France · Working with municipalities in 13 coastal governorates and the Ministry of the Environment to prevent uncontrolled deposition in watercourses. Tunisie Ecologie Association - Tunisia · Evaluation of the impact of the microplastics present on our beaches on marine turtles. SPOT Association (Society for the Protection of Turtles) - Cyprus · Engaging youth in raising public awareness. NVO Our action – Montenegro

What's your preference, a dry, light white wine or fruity red; Scottish gin or English vodka? We have dynamically re-structured our business and we are delivering our whole portfolio with a selection of discounted mixed boxes offering free DHL home delivery on the Riviera and in Monaco (plus the EU and the UK. See more at www.mittonwines.com/offers

As we face the current health crisis, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation would like to express its solidarity with the families heavily affected in their daily lives and its gratitude to the health professionals and teams committed to containing and preventing the spread of the virus. In compliance with the measures taken by the Government of the Principality of Monaco, distance working has been set up at the Foundation's headquarters. The teams can still be reached by e-mail or phone as usual to ensure the continuity of the activity. With our best thoughts of health for you and your loved ones in these difficult times.

The Principality's health authorities were informed this Thursday, March 19, that analyzes of two samples were positive for COVID-19. This brings the number of people affected by the coronavirus to 11. An epidemiological investigation is underway in order to find out the movements made by these people over the past few days and identify the contacts maintained. The first positive coronavirus case identified on February 28 has been cured.

Every day, samples are taken from people who present with symptoms in the Principality of Monaco. To date, on Wednesday 18 March at 6 p.m., all the sample analyses carried out since Monday 16 March have proved negative for COVID-19. This still brings the number of people affected in the Principality since the first positive case was announced on 28 February 2020 to nine. The Prince's Government recalls that protecting others is the shared concern of all of us, starting with our loved ones. The Prince's Government therefore appeals to the responsibility and civic sense of each and every one of us to adopt the most precautionary behaviour.

Mass for March 18 - Sacré-Coeur

Excellente initiative

The artist painter and sculptor Raffi Yedalian was awarded the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Gold Medal, in the XIIth Edition of the Florence Biennale 2019, for his painting installation “Reflection of an Enigmatic Mind”, dedicated to the fifth centenary of Leonardo Da Vinci's death. ARS ET INGENIUM: Toward Leonardo da Vinci’s Legacy of Similitude and Invention Marking the occasion of the fifth centenary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death in 2019, the XIIth Florence Biennale aims to stir some reflection on the cognitive and creative approach of the great master of the Renaissance who is regarded as an unsurpassed genius.

Pupils in the 6th and 5th class of the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monaco (LTHM) put their heart into the work to harvest the bitter oranges of a "Bigaradier" planted around rue Princesse Caroline. Organized by the Directorate of Urban Planning of Monaco (DAU), this workshop, supervised by the team of gardeners from La Condamine, is part of the “Transmission of knowledge” project aiming to introduce the flora in the Principality and its exploitation to Monegasque students.

From February 10 to 19, 2020 was held the 58 th session of the Commission for Social Development in which the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations in New York participated. For the first time, this subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council has addressed the issue of homelessness. The main theme of this session was: "Ensuring access for all to affordable social protection systems and housing in order to tackle homelessness" Cédric Braquetti, Deputy Permanent Representative, intervened during the general debate to present the health and social policy, proactive and human-centered in the Principality of Monaco. This 58 th session allowed the adoption of an important resolution on homelessness in which the theme "sport", carried by Monaco, was included. The Monegasque delegation noted the importance of sport, in particular for homeless people, as a guarantor of social ties, physical and mental health, essential for fostering a dynamic of integration *. *: Paragraph 25 of resolution E / CN.5 / 2020 / L.5: “Recognizes the importance of the practice of sport and physical activity for homeless people, including young people and students confronted with homelessness, as well as access to sports infrastructure, and stresses that sport can offer significant social benefits for homeless people as well as opportunities to overcome the challenges of homelessness, exclusion and lack of prospects. "

The Cathedral of Monaco is hosting for the first time an exhibition of orthodox embroidered icons bringing together 24 unique works executed in the technique of ornamental needle painting and hand embroidery. Meeting with Natalia Valevskaya Savoretti, curator of the exhibition, Vadim Zakrevsky, Priest of the Russian Orthodox Parish of the Royal Holy Martyrs in Monaco, and Ekaterina Semenikhina, Honorary Consul General of Russia.

The Public Security Services of Monaco have been informed of several attempted scams and of a proven scam by telephone, targeting residents of the Principality, whose number appears in the telephone directory with a first name which could suggest a advanced age. Under a false pretext (risk of big tax fine for example), the interlocutor, presenting himself as a member of the Monegasque Police or High Monegasque Institutions, tries to extract from them large sums by bank transfer. The scenario is well established: the scammer opens an account abroad in the name of the victim to whom he then explains how to answer the questions of his bank advisor. The scammer's grip on the people contacted is total. In the event of a similar appeal, it is necessary to be particularly vigilant and not to follow up. In this case, you should immediately notify Monaco Public Security (93 15 30 15) who will direct you to the specialized services.

The great circus festival is approaching and the Organizing Committee of the 44 th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo has decided this year to pay tribute to the horse whose beauty and elegance continue to seduce all audiences. - So Maicol Errani, son of Fredy Knie Jr., will present a unique carousel in the world with 30 horses trained by Fredy Knie Junior from the stables of the famous Swiss Knie circus, which is celebrating 100 th anniversary. The marquee will turn into a real horse temple and the number into a real equestrian ballet! - Sergey Nesterov will work with five white tigers of which he has known, by the quality of his training, his sweetness and the confidence established between him and his partners, to get the best. It is a real bond that reigns between the big cats and the trainer who even manages, at the end of the number, to lie down on the five white tigers lying on the track. - The red thread of the show will be assured this year by the "Prince of the clowns" Henry Ayala whose numerous gags will enamel the evenings. And this complete artist, as there are very few, will also prove his qualities as a ... tightrope walker! - Finally, the Dandys will cause a sensation at the Russian helm with a series of technical prowess: triple somersaults before and back, triple pike jumps before and back combined with pirouettes… unheard of! Come in large numbers to admire internationally renowned artists who will participate in the 44 th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo! The rest of the program in our next press releases… Reservations: * Internet: www.montecarlofestival.mc or www.France-billet.com or www.fnac.com * Telephone: +377 92 05 23 45 * Fax: +377 92 05 26 22 * On site: ticket offices at the Espace Fontvieille marquee from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. * By correspondence: order accompanied by a check in euros or the credit card number to Monte-Carlo Festival - Avenue des Ligures - MC 98000 Monaco

Alongside Christian Estrosi, President of the Côte d'Azur Metropolis, Philippe Tabarot, Vice-President of the General Council, Vice-President of the Regional Council delegated to Transport, Intermodality and Travel, and numerous Presidents of Communities of the Alpes-Maritimes agglomeration, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Government Counselor - Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning of the Principality participated on Monday December 16, at the Hôtel de Ville in Nice, to the presentation of the "Pass Transport Sud Azur" which will be launched on January 1, 2020, in the Alpes Maritimes department. This new transport pass presents itself as an interesting alternative to the use of the private car; it allows the user to travel unlimited on all public transport networks (bus, train, tram) in the Alpes-Maritimes, by means of a monthly subscription at an advantageous rate since it is lower than the sum of the various subscriptions. It will include the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco network from 1 September 2020. Marie-Pierre Gramaglia recalled that “ the Principality was aiming to reduce traffic by 2030 by around 20% of light vehicle flows. In this, it encourages multimodal transfer and the train. We are committed alongside the Region, by participating in the financing of TER through an annual contribution of € 8 million corresponding to approximately 50% of the total contribution intended for the 13,000 beneficiaries of TER tariff reductions originating or destination in Monaco ”. The Government Counselor also highlighted the bus connections: “ We also encourage the use of the CARF bus lines and the regional line 100 connecting Nice to Menton via Monaco. Important regular lines that we support through a financial contribution. Today, the Sud Azur Pass is an additional opportunity which invites everyone to use all modes of public transport with greater ease ”. The Alpes-Maritimes are divided into 7 zones, the SUD AZUR pass is a sesame which allows travelers to navigate with ease on several public transport networks. Modular, it adapts perfectly to all needs: you can therefore buy 1, 2, 3 touching areas or ... the whole of the Alpes-Maritimes department. In the selected areas, the subscriber has access to the urban network (s) and to the regional interurban networks ZOU! (buses, trains and Provence railways).

Highlight of the European Week of Waste Reduction in Monaco, which ends Saturday, November 23, the Directorate of the Environment organized Thursday, November 22, at Stars'n'Bars, a conference on the theme "Monaco Deepwater exploration ". The conference followed the clean-up of the coralligenous rocks, located at the exit of the Port of Fontvieille whose rich biodiversity is the subject of scientific monitoring by the Directorate of the Environment. This joint environmental action, carried out on September 20, brought together divers from several Monegasque institutions *. A presentation, fed by underwater photos and videos of this day, was presented to the public, revealing the impact of many macro-waste, a large proportion of which comes from recreational fishing activity (fishing line, hooks). The results of the deep-water expedition to the RAMOGE area, for which the French, Monegasque and Italian governments are cooperating in terms of integrated coastal management and the fight against marine pollution, were also exposed. The harmful effects of pollution by plastic waste in the Mediterranean, more than 2,000 meters deep, have thus been highlighted. At the end of his presentation, Ludovic Aquilina, Head of Section at the Directorate of the Environment, recalled that in order to limit this deterioration of the marine environment, the Monegasque Government decided to limit waste at its source by banning the environment. use plastic straws in the 1 st January 2019, and plastic dishes (glasses, cutlery, plates) on 1 st January 2020 with the objective zero waste plastic disposable 2030. * Corps of the Carabiniers du Prince, Fire Brigade Corps, Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Scientific Center of Monaco and the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature.

Monaco participated in the 7 th Meeting of Countries Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area, which was held from 5 to 8 November in Istanbul, Turkey. At this meeting, the 24 ACCOBAMS Member States pledged themselves, on the initiative of France and Monaco, to help fight against the erosion of marine biodiversity. They thus adopted a work program for 2020-2022 accompanied by measures for the conservation of cetaceans (underwater noise monitoring methods, reduction of incidental catches of cetaceans in fishing gear, protocols for strandings including monitoring of ingested plastics ...). The decisions were based on the results of the recent international campaign, developed and coordinated by the Permanent Secretariat of ACCOBAMS, which allowed the identification of dolphins and whales as well as plastic waste from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Permanent Secretariat of ACCOBAMS Tel: +377 9898 2078 www.accobams.org @ACCOBAMS

The Counselor of Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Laurent Anselmi, accompanied by HE Ms Yvette Lambin-Berti, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Monaco and other members of the delegation participated in the 40 th session of the Conference General Meeting of UNESCO taking place in Paris until 27 November. On Thursday, 14 November, during the general policy debate, Mr Anselmi delivered a speech to the Assembly, commending the crucial role played by UNESCO in promoting education for all, especially girls. He recalled the actions undertaken by Monaco in this area, including support for a project for schooling vulnerable children in Burundi, conducted in conjunction with UNESCO. On the cultural front, Monaco renewed its support for the "Reviving the Spirit of Mosul" initiative launched in February 2018 by the Director-General of UNESCO. This project aims to support the reconstruction of the city, decimated by the war, notably through the UNESCO Emergency Fund for Heritage, in which Monaco has participated since its inception. In addition, while recalling the Principality's commitment to science, the Government-Minister Advisor welcomed the dialogue on an open science put on the agenda of the discussions. He emphasized that the defense of the oceans remained a priority commitment for the Prince's Government, as evidenced by the hosting of the meeting of the IPCC by Monaco last September. Finally, emphasizing that Monaco aims to become a "smart city", he welcomed the adoption of a roadmap for the creation of an ethical tool in the field of artificial intelligence and encouraged the Organization to play this pioneering role in this area.

Minister of State Serge Telle closed Wednesday, November 20, the consular meeting, organized by the Department of External Relations and Cooperation. After having expressed to the diplomats present, the gratitude of the Princely Government and of the whole Principality, he declared "We are at the heart of the great movements of this world and we bring them original answers. To achieve this, we must continually strengthen our links with all the forces of this world. That's why we need you. " This event brings together each year, after the National Day, the members of the Monaco Diplomatic Corps and the Honorary Consuls of Monaco, active on all continents, to present various current issues of the Principality. Laurent Anselmi, Government Counselor-Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, emphasized the key activities of the Department. Among the various speakers, Guillaume Rose, Executive Director General of the Monaco Economic Board, presented the calendar of joint operations with the Ambassadors and Consuls, then HE Mr. Robert Fillon, Ambassador of Monaco in Italy and President of the Commemoration Committee of Prince Albert 1 er , expressed events organized by the Executive Committee. As a reminder, the Principality currently has 138 consulates in operation in 80 states.