Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps has announced his choice of players for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers and AS Monaco striker Ben Yedder is once again on the list.
Wissam Ben Yedder, the 29-year-old star nicknamed “Benyebut”, a play on words combining his name and the French word but, meaning goal, has been called up for the fourth time since last June to play for Les Bleus, the French national team.
The matches he will be playing in will be against Moldova on 14th November and Albania on 17th November. The target is to gain entry to the stage draw for Euro 2020 on 30th November in Bucharest.
Les Bleus are currently second in Group H, on par with Turkey but below them in rankings under the head-to-head rule. In order to secure their spot at Euro 2020, France will need to beat Moldova and Turkey must lose against Iceland. If this doesn’t happen, then France needs only one point to ensure their place.
Top photo: Wissam Ben Yedder, courtesy AS Monaco Official
The Grand Medal Albert I has been awarded to Ban Ki Moon during a special ceremony at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. He was one of three recipients to receive the coveted award, which recognises those who have been particularly socially or scientifically involved in protecting the seas.
The Oceanographic Institute has been presenting this prize for over 70 years and this year’s recipients were Ban Ki Moon, Lisa A. Levin and Violaine Pellichero, who all have contributed in different yet equally important ways to the defence of our oceans through awareness and sustainable management.
Ban Ki Moon is best known for his role as Secretary General of the Union Nations, where he was a huge proponent and advocate of environmental protection. Now, as a private citizen, the South Korean is still active in several projects worldwide through his foundation. He was chosen as the recipient of the Mediation Section Laureate, reflecting those political and economic decision makers who have the highest level of commitment to guarding the sea.
The Science Section Laureate, awarded to the person who raises consciousness about the direct impact humans have on the environment through scientific means, was awarded to Professor Lisa A. Levin. As a prominent oceanographic biologist, she is studying the impact of climate change on sea beds in both deep and shallow waters to assess what effects are being felt.
Violaine Pellichero, winner of the Thesis Prize, was given this award for her seminal dissertation entitled Study of the Dynamics of the Surface Layer and Surface / Ocean Interactions in the Southern Ocean under Sea Ice.
Prince Albert I, great-grandfather of HSH Albert II and namesake of the Grand Medal, was a life-long devotee to the study of the oceans. He founded the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco to highlight his keen interest, and was the inventor of several techniques and instruments used in exploration.
Previous winners of the Grand Medal Albert I include such well-known names as Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Leonardo DiCaprio, Erick Orsenna and Paul Portier.
Top picture: Ban Ki Moon, Prince Albert, Lisa A. Levin and Violaine Pellichero
Café de Paris commits to using sustainable seafood
The Café de Paris Monte Carlo has become the latest restaurant in Monaco to join the Mr. Goodfish program and commit to the sustainable consumption of seafood. It means that, over the course of just one year, hundreds of thousands of guests will have an opportunity to help preserve marine species and contribute to the future of our oceans.
The Café de Paris Monte Carlo is the fourth establishment of the Société des Bains de Mer to sign up to the Mr. Goodfish partnership agreement, following the Hermitage Monte Carlo Hotel in 2015, and the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and the Thermes Marins Monte Carlo in 2016.
On Thursday 7th November, Café de Paris Director Stefano Brancato formalised the commitment alongside Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden.
Café de Paris Director Stefano Brancato and Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden
Launched in 2010 by three of Europe’s leading aquariums, the Mr. Goodfish program was born from a simple observation: today, there are too many species that are overfished and threatened with extinction, while many others are unknown, abundant and, moreover, delicious.
“The Mr. Goodfish list is also about selecting a species that you can eat at the right time of the year in terms of stock levels, the size of the fish, and the season,” Mr. Wenden told Monaco Life at the signing. “This is all very important in sustainable fishing.”
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has been coordinating the Mr. Goodfish program throughout the south eastern region of France and Monaco since 2013, in line with its commitment to the preservation of marine species.
By joining the Mr. Goodfish program, members, restaurant owners and fishmongers commit to suggesting a minimum of two species on their menus and five species at their stalls.
Head Chef Franck Lafon and his team will offer new dish suggestions at the Café de Paris and daily specials using species from the seasonal Mr. Goodfish list. “It is motivating to have to find new ways of cooking with different seafood and exploring their accompaniments,” said Chef Lafon. “It will be easier to offer the more unknown species as a ‘plat du jour’ as we may receive limited amounts, but if successful we will expand these dishes to the a la carte menu.”
Restaurant director Mr. Brancato envisages up to six dishes on the menu being sourced from the Mr. Goodfish list. And, considering that the Café de Paris handles around 1,000 lunch and dinner guests every day of the year, the impact that this agreement will have is incredibly significant.
It comes on the heels of a highly successful campaign to save the Mediterranean bluefin tuna, which proved that the Principality is not afraid to make big changes when faced with the alternative.
“A few years ago, we realised that there were only two years left of stock of Mediterranean bluefin tuna before it was extinct,” Mr. Wendon said. “Prince Albert took action and all the restaurants in Monaco spontaneously, without regulation, decided to remove Mediterranean bluefin tuna from their menu. Within five years, thanks to better discussions with fishermen and better monitoring of quotas, the species has been saved. You can fish it once again, but now sustainably.”
There are currently 13 restaurants in Monaco who have signed up to the Mr. Goodfish programme. Many more are expected to come on board.
“Membership in the program symbolises our awareness of marine species preservation,” said Mr. Brancato. “Today, we owe our international clientele a cuisine that is both tasty and responsible.”
Top picture: Café de Paris Director Stefano Brancato, Head Chef Franck Lafon and Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden
With quarterly earnings season coming to an end, investors will be examining the heavy load of key macro data that is expected next week.
Inflation readings from major developed markets are likely to tell a similar story. Inflation continues to remain muted in the US, UK and eurozone, as global growth weakens and monetary easing seems to be losing its effectiveness. At the same time, cost-push pressures remain negligible despite steady wage growth. October’s consumer price index (CPI) in both the US and UK is expected to come in slightly below the central banks’ 2% target rate. Meanwhile, October’s eurozone harmonised index of consumer prices may be even more subdued and below 1%.
Investors will also await quarterly growth readings, with the third-quarter (Q3) gross domestic product (GDP) flash estimate and Q3 GDP preliminary readings out in the eurozone and the UK respectively. Both regions are expected to report relatively tepid growth, however the UK is likely to avoid a technical recession, after contracting in Q2.
A weakening UK corporate sector has driven sluggish growth, amid persistent Brexit uncertainty over the summer, while the eurozone has been mainly hit by reduced trade activity given its export-oriented economy. However, both geographies were kept afloat by their strong reliance on their domestic sectors, which have shrugged off mounting headwinds to the global economy as they profited from steady real wage growth.
Finally, investors will be on the look-out for any signs of distress from the UK labour market following the decline in employment and vacancies in August. Brexit’s negative impact on productivity is starting to spill over into the jobs’ market. We wouldn’t be surprised to see further deterioration in October’s unemployment claims and September’s International Labour Organisation unemployment rate.
Monetary easing here to stay
In August, we noted that the US Federal Reserve’s first cut since 2008’s financial crisis, on 31 July, appeared to have shifted global central bank policy with it. Rates were then cut by the same amount at the central bank’s policy meetings in September and October, meaning 75 basis points of cuts in 2019 thus far. Emerging markets such as Brazil, Turkey, India and Russia have followed suit, lowering interest rates in October.
In developed markets, central banks in Australia and the eurozone trimmed interest rates in October and September respectively. Indeed, the European Central Bank is likely to ease policy further in 2020. Recent speeches from prominent figures at the Bank of England have suggested that, even in the event of a Brexit deal, the next move in rates could be down rather than up.
The chart looks at 29 of the largest central banks globally and, for each month, shows the number of central banks that cut rates and the number that hiked rates. The chart signals a solid move to easing since July as central banks have gradually started to acknowledge increasing headwinds to the macroeconomic backdrop.
In the current environment, yields will likely remain depressed, anchored by easy monetary policy. As such, the “search for yield” is set to persist, especially with higher downside risks to global economic growth. Therefore, strategies aimed at enhancing income generation should remain attractive to investors.
The employers of Monaco have signed a charter to show their support for the promotion of equality between men and women in the workplace.
The Charter of the Responsibility of Women and Men, put together by the Department of Social Affairs and Health, was given the green light by seven signatories responsible for the employees of the Principality, each of whom had compelling reasons for agreeing to be part.
“This is the Town Hall of Monaco. […] If women’s equality is more respected at the Monaco City Hall, this is unfortunately not the case everywhere and we must be as much as the Institution to show an example and to remain vigilant on what is happening around us,” said Mayor Georges Marsan.
Serge Telle, the Minister of State for Civil Servants, one of the largest employers in Monaco, added: “This is a major issue, for the women of Monaco, of course, but more broadly for the Principality as a whole. Because women’s rights are for the most fundamental values that divide us and define us. Promoting women’s rights means working for justice, freedom and universality.”
President of the Hotel Industry Association of Monaco Alberte Escande, President of the Federation of Monegasque Enterprises Philippe Ortelli, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Princess Grace Hospital André Garino, President of the Chamber of Master Builders Fabien Deplanche, and President of the Monegasque Association of Financial Activities Etienne Franzi, all echoed these sentiments with statements in their own words.
The charter’s aim is to create a more balanced and fair work environment for women and men and to call for an elimination of discrimination against women in the workplace.
Top photo: Left to right Philippe Ortelli, Fabien Deplanche, Georges Marsan, Serge Telle, Alberte Escande, André Garino, Etienne Franzi. Communication Department- Manuel Vitali
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