Monaco resident Nico Rosberg has become a shareholder in Formula E, according to its organisers.
“Since my retirement, I’ve become very interested in the e-mobility movement and its potential to positively impact our society and our planet,” the retired 2016 Formula One world champion said in a Formula E statement.
“I’ve therefore also long believed in the potential of Formula E and came on board as an investor some time ago.” Neither Rosberg nor the series gave details of the amount of his investment, but German media have suggested that the 32-year-old might take a management role.
Last year Rosberg said he was interested in becoming more involved in Formula E, but not as a driver. The new global Ambassador for Rolex is expected to give the season’s new Gen2 car its first public demonstration outing at the Berlin ePrix on May 19.
Thierry Poyet. Photo: Facebook World of Blockchains Monaco
ML: In your own words, what is a blockchain and why are people overly-excited or overly-concerned about its future? TP: Although blockchain was used to create Bitcoin and is known for that, there is actually much more to it. Blockchain is a peer-to-peer technology to transfer information with maximum security so that each computer holds an identical copy of a digital ledger. However, it’s confusing because not all blockchains have an associated cryptocurrency and not all are recorded publicly.
With all these components, blockchain is a new way to invent some services, in our day-to-day life, such a universal real-time health record for patients, trade finance, and preventing data security breaches. There is also a lot of discussion about how blockchain will decentralise data and AI.
As for the good and the bad, just look at Warren Buffet who said bitcoin is “a farce” but then his railroad subsidiary BNSF Railway Co – the second largest railway in North America – officially joined the “Blockchain in Transport Alliance” recently.
ML: You are hosting a conference tonight at Monte Carlo Bay called “Monaco and Challenges of the Blockchain Revolution”. Who decided to create the association World of Blockchains Monaco (WBM), and what is its mission? TP: At the end of 2016, after several months of exchange on uses and advantages of blockchain technology for citizens and states, Jean Philippe Claret, Marc Lipskier, Yannick Quentel and myself agreed to open a World of Blockchains entity in Monaco.
In France, the association was created earlier, in September 2016, and its president Marc Lipskier wants to promote synergies with Monaco.
Indeed, the Principality has great assets to deploy through blockchains: smartgrid, health, events, and sustainability.
The Monegasque association World of Blockchains Monaco was thus created in April 2017, with the founding members: Bettina Raggazzoni, Yannick Quentel, Jean Philippe Claret, David Pariente, Marc Lipskier, Jean Leonard Taubert and me.
The purpose of the Association is to promote the adoption of blockchains in all sectors of activity of the Principality and to animate a community of developers, innovators and entrepreneurs to enhance the attractiveness of Monaco.
ML: You held your first meeting on January 9, 2018. What was discussed? TP: With just a single post on social network four days before the meeting we managed to assemble 80 people. It was incredible. We met companies in IT solutions working in Monaco and developing services in blockchain, startups from in or around Monaco trying to take their ideas live, and international companies wondering if the law proposal 237 could help them to install and develop services from Monaco. This is why we are hosting the “Monaco and challenges of the Blockchain Revolution” conference tonight, with Edmond de Rothschild Private Banking, because there is so much interest in the subject. The event is sold out.
ML: At the end of January, Bill 237 was approved by Monaco’s elected National Council in order to promote the activity of blockchains in the Principality. The bill’s text also created the Monaco Authority of Blockchains (MBA). What is the significance of this bill and will you work together with MBA? TP: The creation of a Monaco Blockchains Authority will refer experts to evaluate the projects presented to ensure they are adequately inline with Monaco’s strategy and the values promoted by the Principality. Additionally, MBA will provide technological, regulatory and competitive intelligence.
The objective is to create a new economic activity in Monaco, a “Blockchain Valley” so to speak by offering a regulatory framework adapted to attract to Monaco the actors of this sector.
ML: It was announced in January that Chinese authorities plan to block domestic access to Chinese and offshore crypto-currency platforms that allow centralised trading. Is this a blow to the future of blockchains? TP: Crypto-currency is a nightmare for some governments because it’s impossible to introduce legislative control. The question today is not about crypto-currency but what kind of crypto: based on official currency like the Euro or Dollar, or totally new, such as digital bearer instruments like Bitcoin or Ether.
As Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said on March 15, “A challenge for central banks and regulators is how to harness the potentially transformative benefits of blockchain technology and crypto tokens while containing some of their risks.”
The first edition on Monaco International Blockchain takes place on May 16 and May 17 at Grimaldi Forum. Article first published on April 9, 2018.
Many flights to and from Nice Airport were cancelled on Tuesday, April 10, and many more subject to substantial delays as a result of industrial action by Air France pilots and public service workers in Germany.
Most of the cancelled flights were Air France services to Paris. Across Europe, Lufthansa cancelled 800 of its 1,600 scheduled flights, at Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne and Bremen airports, as the Verdi union put pressure on employers ahead of pay talks.
Air France said it had cancelled one in four flights, as pilots pursue a six percent pay claim. The strike is due to continue on Wednesday, April 11 and again later this month when four days of strikes are planned.
Delays of up to 90 minutes were reported at Nice Airport on BA flights to London.
A reminder that SNCF has designated Friday, April 13, as a strike day.
Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Etienne Franzi, Chairman of CMB bank, and, for the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC), Jean-Charles Curau, Director of Cultural Affairs of Monaco, signed the renewal of the partnership of CMB with the OPMC for the sixth consecutive year.
The contract was signed on April 5 in Auditorium Rainier III in the presence of both CEOs, Werner Peyer of CMB and Sylvain Charnay of the OPMC.
The two institutions both have deep roots in the Principality and are recognised each in their own field for their level of excellence.
“The active policy of patronage of CMB confirms its will to contribute to the image of Monaco,” said CMB Chairman, Etienne Franzi. “We are very keen to associate ourselves with partners who value the image of CMB and the Principality” he added.
The Government has acted swiftly after discovering that products on sale at the Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing congress held at the Grimaldi Forum last week contained human placenta extracts.
Having been alerted to the fact, a Government inspector was sent on Thursday, April 5, the first day of the congress and succeeded in having the offending products removed from sale, local French daily Monaco-Matin reports. However, the Japanese company selling the medicines and food products had hidden supplies, and after the inspector left these were again offered for sale to the public.
On Friday, April 6, authorities visited again and re-removed the products from sale, despite attempts at physical obstruction. In total, more then 2,300 boxes were seized by the Monaco authorities.
Monaco’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs is anticipating legal procedures against the company involved, but not against the organisers of the Congress, which include the University of Nice.
One of the Riviera’s most colourful annual charity events, of particular interest to everyone with a nautical disposition, the Antibes Raft Race takes place on Saturday, April 14. The Raft Race Association said it excited to be working with Bluewater, Mover Shaker International and Port Vauban to deliver this historic and “totally bonkers” event.
The organisers say they need donations for the charities the entirely not-for-profit community event is supporting: SNSM Lifeboat and Restos du Coeur.
Many big names have signed up as rafters, sponsors, service providers, volunteers and generous donators, such as Worth Avenue, Edmiston, Bluewater, YPI, Hill Robinson, Frasers, Ocean Independence, Sturge Taylor, Sunseeker, Riviera Yacht Support, Heineken, Colgans, The Blue Lady, Banana Bar, Port Vauban, Monaco Marine and many more.
Participants are building their own rafts, which cannot be motorised, and they must sail them round the port with activities to be completed en route. They will be vying for the 10 awards up for grabs including Biggest Cheat, “Raft we’d least like to insure”,and Most Entertaining Crew.
The port will open at 11 am to the public and the 1-hour race will commence at 1 pm. There will be a prize giving ceremony for all the rafters from 7 pm at the port, and then the party will start with live music, pop-up bars from The Banana Bar and The Blue Lady sponsored by Heineken, and there will be food stands too.
Wristbands can be purchased from Bluewater or the Blue Lady at €10 each.
For more details contact: Gary Morton, Raft Race Committee (06 09 52 30 55) or Dawn Morton, Sponsorships for evening party and raft race organisation plus volunteers (06 19 02 46 89).
The first Antibes Raft Race was organised by Julian Mills in 1981.