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Month: February 2019

Finance taskforce week comes to a close

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/02/2019
FATF assembly

A taskforce charged with combatting money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system has wound up its work in Paris. Monaco’s Jean-Marc Gualandi served as a delegate and worked on a number of solutions for the global problem.

FATF assembly
FATF was established in 1989

A representative of the Control Information Service on Financial Circuits (SICCFIN), Jean-Marc Gualandi participated in the Plenary Assembly of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which took place in the French capital from 17th to 22th February.

The main objective of the FATF, established in 1989, is to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system, including through the development of regulatory standards.

It also monitors the progress made by its members in implementing the required measures, examines money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and measures to combat such phenomena, and encourages the adoption and implementation of adequate measures at the global level. In collaboration with other international actors, the FATF also identifies vulnerabilities at the country level to protect the international financial sector against its use for illicit purposes.

At this plenary meeting, delegates worked on many topics such as virtual asset risk mitigation, the approval of several guidance documents related to the application of the risk-based approach to certain professions, the reviewed the China and Finland Mutual Evaluation Reports and updated the list of countries with strategic AML / CFT deficiencies.

During his stay in Paris, Jean-Marc Gualandi was also received at the Monaco Embassy by HE Christophe Steiner, Ambassador of Monaco in France.

‘Grace Kelly, from Hollywood to Monaco’ … and now Macau.

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/02/2019
Grimaldi Macau deal

The Grimaldi Forum Monaco is continuing its policy of roaming exhibitions abroad, this time signing a new partnership with Macau. The deal will see the new ‘Grace Kelly, from Hollywood to Monaco’ exhibition displayed at the heart of a resort dedicated to high-end leisure tourism.

Grimaldi Macau deal
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Patrice Cellario, Government Counselor-Minister of the Interior, of David Tomatis, Advisor at the Sovereign Prince’s Cabinet and of Jean-Louis Masurel, Managing Director of the Société des Bains de Mer

On 22nd February, at the Hermitage Hotel, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) and Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) joined hands in their first ever art and cultural collaboration.

The Galaxy Entertainment Group Foundation unveiled its ambition to become engaged in the promotion of art and culture by producing, for the first time, a cultural exhibition detailing the life story of Grace Kelly, from being an actress to becoming the Princess of Monaco, and includes a special exhibit dedicated to the Grimaldi dynasty and artists’ tributes with their work inspired by Grace Kelly. For its part, the GFM formalised a new step in its policy of roaming exhibitions abroad.

The ‘Grace Kelly, from Hollywood to Monaco’ exhibition, which was made possible with loans from the collections of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, will be hosted from 15th May to 28th August 2019 in an exhibition gallery specially created for this purpose and located in the heart of the Galaxy Macau™ complex.

‘Grace Kelly, from Hollywood to Monaco’ combines two previous productions: ‘The Grace Kelly Years’, created in 2007, whose tour raised Monaco’s profile around the world for over 10 years and, ‘Princes and Princesses of Monaco. A European Dynasty’, presented in Beijing’s Forbidden City in 2018. Its curator, Thomas Fouilleron, Director of the Archives and Library of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, takes up this new challenge. The GFM is responsible for its scenographic design and logistical implementation.

The cultural memorandum of understanding was signed jointly by Henri Fissore, President and Sylvie Biancheri, Chief Executive Officer of the Grimaldi Forum on the one hand, and Francis Lui, Vice Chairman of GEG and its Foundation, and Michael Mecca, Non-Executive Director and Senior Advisor of GEG , on the other.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Patrice Cellario, Government Counselor-Minister of the Interior, of David Tomatis, Advisor at the Sovereign Prince’s Cabinet and of Jean-Louis Masurel, Managing Director of the Société des Bains de Mer, of which the GEG is a shareholder since July 2015.

 

AS Monaco win 2-0 against Lyon

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/02/2019
Gelson Martins AS Monaco

Monaco edged further away from relegation trouble in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 win against Lyon on Sunday.

Winger Gelson Martins and midfielder Rony Lopes put Monaco in control early in the game, while Lyon striker  Memphis Depay’s second-half penalty was saved. Martins is the first Monaco player this season to score a goal in three consecutive games in Ligue 1.

Gelson Martins AS Monaco
Winger Gelson Martins was in top form on Sunday. Photo: AS Monaco Twitter

Monaco, who began the day two points above the bottom three, have leapfrogged Amiens into 16th place.

They have won three and drawn one of their last four league games under Leonardo Jardim, who was reappointed boss after  Thierry Henry was sacked in January after just three months in charge.

Jardim called the win an “important victory”.

“The performance sometimes varies but the quality of my players remains the same,” said Jardim. “Today we performed better but we can not rest. We are already thinking about the next match… Our goal is to be at the same level as the best teams in France. For the moment, that’s the case.”

One Monte Carlo luxury complex inaugurated

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/02/2019
Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the inauguration

Monaco’s elaborate new complex One Monte Carlo has been inaugurated, four years after the controversial demolition of the Sporting d’Hiver. Overlooking the world-famous Casino Square and boasting no less than 23 luxury stores, the residential complex lines a brand new promenade dedicated to Princess Charlene.

Prince Albert, together with Princess Charlene and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, officially opened One Monte Carlo on Friday. Also present were a host of dignitaries and personalities including Pierre Casiraghi and Michael Wittstock.

Among big name brands to reside in the 60,000 square metre development are Louis Vuitton, Celine, Akris, Fendi, Chanel, Prada, Fred, Lanvin, Dior and Yves Saint-Laurent. They all line the new Princess Charlene Promenade, which the South African native proudly unveiled during the inauguration. There are seven buildings in total housing 37 luxury apartments, ranging from two rooms to a six room penthouse with rooftop terrace and private pool, all with stunning views of Place du Casino, gardens, sea, port and the Prince’s Palace. Offices and a new congress centre complete Monaco’s newest neighbourhood.

Promenade Princess Charlene runs perpendicular to Avenue des Beaux Arts, forming a pedestrian only zone that is lined with palm trees.

There are 7 buildings that make up One Monte Carlo
There are 7 buildings that make up One Monte Carlo

In 2008, Prince Albert authorised SBM to demolish the Sporting d’Hiver, a 1930’s building designed in the Beaux Arts architectural style, and erect postmodern buildings instead. It was a very controversial decision that was protested by many Monegasque subjects and residents. In June 2015, the building came down despite the discontent.

With 23 luxury brands concentrated within the complex, combined with other prestigious stores that already exist in the square, SBM has strengthened its position as one of the most unique shopping experiences in the world.

 

It’s playtime with MAGIC Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/02/2019
MAGIC is now in its 5th edition

Cosplayers and gaming fans will converge on the Principality in early March for the annual Monaco Anime Game International Conference, otherwise known as ‘MAGIC’.

MAGIC is now in its 5th edition
MAGIC is now in its 5th edition

The one-day event is dedicated to several worlds – manga, comics, animation, video games and pop culture. There arevarious conferences and round-table debates with famous international game designers, producers, screenwriters and illustrators interacting with the audience.

A highlight will be the cosplay contest, featuring some of the world’s greatest performers – the Magic International Cosplay Masters. MAGIC is also organising a unique video game contest, awarding the winner with a 100,000 euro prize investment toward their project.

There will also be a manga contest in partnership with Shueisha and in collaboration with Shibuya International.

The 5thedition of MAGIC will be held at the Grimaldi Forum on the 9 th March. Entrance is free but prior registration is needed at: www.magic-ip.com

Monaco’s Confidentia brings face recognition to Nice Carnival

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/02/2019
Confidentia is a cybersecurity company that was founded and is based in Monaco.

Monegasque cybersecurity company Confidentia is behind a pioneering new facial recognition system that was trialled during Nice’s largest public event of the year. In what’s believed to be a first for France, the company’s advanced security software was tested in public at the Nice Carnival, with 1,000 people taking part in the experiment.

Confidentia is a cybersecurity company that was founded and is based in Monaco.
Confidentia is a cybersecurity company that was founded and is based in Monaco.

The city of Nice received authorisation from the Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) to test the facial recognition system in public. For two days on the 19thand 20thFebruary, the software ‘Any Vision’ was installed at the grounds of the Nice Carnival. Six video surveillance cameras were positioned around the test perimeter and different scenarios were enacted, including a lost child in a crowd, a vulnerable old person who was also lost, and a person “of interest”.

According to Jean-Philippe Claret, CEO of Confidentia, ‘Any Vision’ can recognise a person from a photo that is 30 years old, or can recognise the passing side profile of a person, even if the picture provided is front view.

Supervised by the CNIL, the experiment required 1,000 carnival attendees to agree to play the role of “guinea pig”. Video surveillance operators were given their photo and, using the advanced technology, searched for them among the crowd. People who refused to take part had their faces blurred and were not recognisable on the images. It was also mandatory that information panels be displayed during the experiment.

At a recent press conference, Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi said that it was the first time facial recognition software had been allowed to be used in the public domain in France. He has been trying to change legislation on the use of facial recognition since 2016.

Results of this experiment will be submitted to the CNIL within two months. If successful, the software could be rolled out across the country.

Confidentia is a cybersecurity company that was founded and is based in Monaco.