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Month: October 2016

Mega-yacht, Mega-mess: ISM students clean up port

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

IUM Students with Kate Powers, owner of Stars’n’Bars
ISM Students with Kate Powers, owner of Stars’n’Bars

On Sunday, October 2, volunteers from the International School of Monaco joined forces with Stars’n’Bars to help to clean up the port following the Monaco Yacht show.
The group collected “abandoned” plastic bottles, food wrapping, metal packaging, bubble wrap and papers for disposal in the Yellow Trash Bin provided by the SMA (Société Monégasque d’Assainissement).
With its strategic port location, Stars’n’Bars initiated this operation to take effect as soon as possible after the 4-day event to keep litter from falling into the sea, creating pollution and endangering sea life.
ISM students donated their spare time as part of the school’s community service program and in support of Stars’n’Bars Eco-Hub campaign to raise awareness about recycling and to develop eco-friendly habits.
At a press conference last month, Mme Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, launched the “A bag for life” initiative stating, “There are 250 billion plastics bags in the Mediterranean sea, and each bag takes 450 years to decompose.”

China Night deepens ties with Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

Photo: HE. Mme Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador of Monaco in China with guests. ©Jean-Charles Vinaj
Photo: HE. Mme Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador of Monaco in China, with event partners. ©Jean-Charles Vinaj

More than 300 guests attended the fourth annual China Night held at the Monaco Yacht Club on the last day of September. The event, now a fixture during the Monaco Yacht Show, was help under the auspices of the Embassy of Monaco in China and Monaco’s Tourism and Convention Authority.
In his welcome address Mr Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary General of the Yacht Club of Monaco, said that Monaco and China are coming closer together to embrace the world of yachting. HE Mrs Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador of Monaco in China and Mr Alexander Heng, CEO of Blu Inc Media, then thanked the guests for their loyalty and their enthusiasm.
The “Monaco Week” held in China and the mirror event “China Night” help to build more intense relations between the two countries and deepen exchanges on the economic, tourism, environmental and cultural levels. In addition to the Tourism and Convention Authority, China Night’s partners were the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Monaco Yacht Show, Société des Bains de Mer de Monte-Carlo, Monaco Yacht Club and the Economic Board.
For the second consecutive year, Isabell Kristensen, offered a parade themed “Beauties of the Mediterranean”, with 20 models presenting a new collection in a world premiere.

France spends €600m on train order to save factory

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

Photo: Alain Stoll
Photo: Alain Stoll

The French state has ordered 15 TGV trains to run on the Bordeaux-Marseille intercity line. Although much more expensive to purchase than standard intercity trains, the TGVs will help keep open the Alstom factory at Belfort, in eastern France, which had been threatened with closure. Four hundred jobs will be saved by what the Financial Times refers to as the order of “unneeded trains”. The Government’s decision comes despite the fact that usage of long-distance train services has fallen by 20 percent over the last five years. Losses on intercity lines are expected to total €400 million in 2016.
TGV trains are designed to travel at up to 320 km/h against an intercity speed of 200 km/h. While TGV trains cost up to €30 million each, intercity trains cost considerably less to build and 30 percent less to operate.
In the face of competition from low-cost flights and in order to save money, most of France’s iconic overnight long-distance train services have been scrapped. And since fares have risen considerably over the past few years it appears that there is no room for fare increases on the SNCF network.

Minister of State discusses Monaco's EU negotiations with Euronet+

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

Photo: ©Direction de la Communication/Charly Gallo
Photo: ©Direction de la Communication/Charly Gallo

Minister of State, Serge Telle, took the opportunity to address the editorial board of Euronet+, who are meeting in Monaco this week, and talk to its members on the topic of Monaco’s ongoing negotiations with the European Union.
The 25 members of the European radio station network that was set up in 2007, with support from the European Commission as a consortium of European international and national radio stations, heard that while Monaco is seeking an association agreement with the European Union, which does not amount to becoming a member state, the Principality is in no particular hurry. “We do not want any agreement, but a good deal,” Mr Telle said.
“Monaco has 40,000 residents and only 20% are Monegasque,” he told the press. “We have 100 different nationalities. So we must preserve our identity but we must also be progressive.”
While pointing out that the EU stands for peace and prosperity, the Minister of State commented that the agreement with the EU, if negotiated under the right terms, would allow Monaco to export its businesses to other EU-member states without having to go through France.
He also reminded the roundtable, when asked several times about Monaco’s tax haven status, that in July the country signed a tax transparency agreement with the EU.
Mr Telle also explained that, unlike many European countries, Monaco has no debt, and has a budget surplus. He mentioned that while there may not be personal income tax in Monaco, there are business taxes and 50 percent of the State’s revenues comes from the Value Added Tax (VAT).
Meanwhile in New York, on September 22 the Minister of State used the opportunity of the opening of the 71st session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to remind the 131 heads of state and government present of the priorities set by the Sovereign Prince.
“Under the leadership of HSH Prince Albert II, and as part of an ancient tradition, the whole Principality is now mobilised to protect the environment. (This includes) the Government that I lead, of course, but also other institutions: the Oceanographic Institute, the Prince Albert II Foundation, the Scientific Centre of Monaco, as well as many private players.”
Mr Telle added that although oceans represent two-thirds of the surface of our planet, their bio-diversity is often overlooked. “A planet with nine billion people can not survive without the sustainable use of their resources,” he said.

Monaco runners "move for Peace"

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

peace1On Monday, October 3, some 40 running enthusiasts, including Philippe Verdier, the founder of No Finish Line, and IEFTA’s Marco Orsini laced up to for Peace and Sport’s first “I Move For Peace” run.
The 5 km collective jog was led by Monaco resident Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder for women’s marathon, with a time of 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon.
The group left from the Tennis Club in Cap-d’Ail and did an aller-retour to Mala Plage, with stretching and drinks afterwards.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to run with Paula,” one woman told Monaco Life. “And it’s for a good cause.”
Ms Radcliffe was a convivial host for what event organisers hope will be a regular fundraiser, involving other Champion for Peace ambassadors living in Monaco.
The “I Move For Peace Run” initiative has already raised €60,000 worldwide.

Paula Radcliffe with No Finish Line founder Philippe Verdier
Paula Radcliffe with No Finish Line founder Philippe Verdier

Property tax sent to grave

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/10/2016

graveThe French tax office is renowned for its persistence, even in the face of great adversity. A further example of the way the tax collector works in defiance of established facts has been provided by a recent case in the small Breton seaside town of Sarzeau.
A demand for Property Tax was sent to the occupant of “Grave 24, Row E, Cemetery Road.” However, since there was a problem with a signature from the designated recipient, the letter ended up in the hands of the town’s mayor, David Lappartient, who said he was “dumbfounded”.
His office withheld the woman’s surname but said her Christian name was Jacqueline. The head of the Sarzeau treasury, Christophe Libre, told the Ouest-France newspaper: “Unfortunately It’s not the first time we’ve had this sort of letter from the public finance centre in Vannes.”
Mr Libre added that it could be a joke by someone who registered the change of address online, or one of the heirs who didn’t want to pay the property tax.