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Day: 5 February 2020

The Sovereign Prince visits Google HQ

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/02/2020

HSH Prince Albert II and a delegation from the Principality visited executives from Google in Mountain View, California on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of collaborative projects protecting the environment.
Google and Monaco are looking at ways to work together to make headway in contributing to the environmental challenges in today’s world.
The meeting revealed some big news for Monaco, notably that Google is offering full access to the Google Play catalogue and services in the not-too-distant future. Google Play is Google’s rebranded Android Market online store for purchasing and downloading apps, music, books, movies and similar content for use on Android-powered smartphones, tablets, Google TV and similar devices, used by over two billion people worldwide.
Monaco’s Chief Digital Officer, Frédéric Genta, welcomed the stepn saying, “We are looking forward to offering Monegasques, residents and businesses the best digital solutions in the world. Access to Google Play’s full catalogue and options has been a longstanding request from both individuals and businesses. I am delighted that, today, we are able to respond positively to this request.”
 
Photo: Kent Walker, member of the Comex Alphabet, alongside H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince – © DR
 
Read more:

Interview: Georges Gambarini, Smart City Program Manager

 
 
 

CSM and Riviera university sign new collaboration

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2020

The Monaco Scientific Centre and the Côte d´Azur University have join forces to create an International Associated Laboratory for research and training purposes.
A partnership agreement was signed on Monday 4th February and will see the creation of a new laboratory that will bring together a certain number of teams from the two establishments. Titled ‘Response of organisations and populations to environmental stress’, the laboratory will allow for scientific research, innovation and training and will encourage a collaboration in areas of research attractive to future researchers. It is hoped the collaboration will also lead to findings on the impact of climate change which may lead to societal recommendations.
There are three scientific objectives to the collaboration: to consolidate existing synergies and create new ones, including transdisciplinary ones, in the fields of marine, polar and medical biology, integrating the approach of human and social sciences; to develop, in the context of climate change, programmes to study the impact of environmental changes on organisms, populations and ecosystems by integrating the human dimension into them; and to develop innovative research intended to lead to significant development in the biotechnological and clinical fields.
This is one of a number of relationships that the CSM has developed with the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, which recently became the Côte d’Azur University. In fact, several teacher-researchers of the university have worked with the CSM since the late 1960s, including Professor Raymond Vaissière and Professor Jean Jaubert. The current Scientific Director of the CSM, Professor Denis Allemand, was himself Professor of Animal Biology at the university.
Recently, several research agreements have been established between the two establishments, in particular for the Côte d’Azur University with IRCAN (Institute for Cancer and Aging Research in Nice) and the C3M laboratory (Mediterranean Centre for Molecular Medicine). It involved doctors Gilles Pagès and Jacques Pouysségur, Research Directors at IRCAN, collaborating closely with the Medical Biology teams at the CSM.
 
Photo from left to right: Professor Patrick Rampal, Patrice Cellario, Professor Denis Allemand, Jeanick Brisswalter, and Laurent Stefanini © Direction de la Communication – Michael Alesi
 
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Monaco scientist backs programme to boost women in ocean science

Bill to clarify end of life

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/02/2020

Monaco’s rules for end of life treatment are currently governed by the medical code of ethics, which states that doctors must offer proper palliative care to alleviate suffering whilst holding back on relentless therapies. Now the state is looking to codify the law to make it clear to both patients and doctors.

The end of life problem means taking on a variety pack of social questions ranging from the medical and scientific to the moral, human, and ethical, and is, as of now, dictated by the medical profession’s basic code.  

But the Monegasque National Council is looking at a bill proposed by the Department of Social Affairs and Health that encompasses several provisions and specifically lays out certain concepts, including a declaration that patients can sign when they find themselves in a situation where palliative care will need to be given in the near future.  

Didier Gamerdinger, the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, told a press conference on Tuesday that it was to be “a text about life, not death”.

“It will outline the legal framework to support the relationship between the healthcare team and the patient,” said the Minister. Effectively, it takes the moral burden off the medical staff by outlining rules that dictate how best to respect the dignity of the patient whilst allowing doctors to stay within their code of ethics.

©Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

Developed in consultation with the Directorate of Health Action Dr Ciais, the Order of Doctors and the Diocese, the government bill focuses on two concerns – respecting the dignity of the person whose life is coming to a close and to ease their suffering in any possible way. In order to reach this goal, palliative care must be provided in the advanced phases of any fatal condition, whatever the life expectancy, to ease not only physical, but mental stress, which is often underrated.

For Dr. Ciais, who followed 91 patients in his department in 2019, “the text is essentially focused on the patient to take into account their dignity, their quality of life and respect for their choices. It is a daily challenge for patients and for the support and palliative care teams of the CHPG.”

Euthanasia was not even on the table when discussing the terms of the bill. The point is not to hasten the end, but to make it as stress-free and painless as possible, affording each patient the best quality of life given the circumstances.

Circumstances do sometimes dictate use of drugs to reduce the suffering of patients who have serious, irreversible or incurable conditions and deterioration of health is inevitable. This is called palliative sedation and is often used in the terminal phase of a person’s life as a short term measure to create a certain level of comfort during what can sometimes be painful care.  

The declaration is not a pre-emptive measure. It cannot be signed by a healthy person for future use. It is designed for people who are facing the very real situation of imminent demise and is not an obligation.

The bill also provides legal stipulations for organisations who specialise in hospice care to allow volunteers to be present in health care facilities, assisting the medical staff in easing the patients path.

Finally, it makes special provisions for minors, adults under guardianship and people out of state to express their will.

The bill is now being reviewed by the National Council who will examine it before going up for public session.

 
 

Planning for family succession

by: Mark Estcourt
05/02/2020

Mark Estcourt talks about the importance of families and their professional advisors to remain focused on planning for succession. 
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Although nearly 70% of the family office community will soon undergo a generational transition, only 54% currently have a succession plan in place, according to the research from the Global Family Office Report 2019 by Campden Wealth with UBS.
Given the potential risks associated with not planning for the future, families and those who support them would benefit from getting the ball rolling now.
The high rate of failure in wealth transfers reflects the difficulty of succession. Successful leadership transitions are continuous in nature and updated routinely.
Many multi-generational legacy families say that they prepare for generational transitions decades in advance.
The most forward-thinking families have plans for both long-term (planned) succession and contingent (short-term) succession.
They also address all of the relevant issues: economic, fiscal and human, and involve key advisers, influencers, family members and colleagues.
Some tips for a successful transition are:

  • Review the overall legacy plan and specific succession needs
  • Define the future leadership model and identify critical succession issues
  • Identify the skills and attributes needed for future leadership
  • Define and implement a fair and effective selection process for leaders
  • Educate future leaders in advance of their service
  • Develop a system for leadership performance reviews
  • Prepare for and execute a clean transfer of leadership
  • Post-succession, support the new leader and begin preparing for the next succession

This is an issue we have been advising our clients to prioritise for some time, and it is not easy to get right. Succession often spans a series of complex issues involving business, investments and family relationships. Written plans are important, but they should be considered as part of a broader process of preparing future leaders to take control. The key is to start early.
 
 
Mark Estcourt is the CEO and Founder of Cavendish Family Office 
 
 
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Monte-Carlo Casino receives two awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2020

The Monte-Carlo Casino has retained its position as the world’s leading gaming venue, taking out ‘Casino of the Year 2020’ and ‘Best Gaming Operator UK & Europe 2020’ by ICE London.
After winning the title of ‘Casino of the Year 2019’, the Monte Carlo Casino has kept its crown this year, going one better by also attaining the ‘Gaming Operator UK & Europe 2020’ prize by the International Gaming Awards.
The awards were announced on 3rd February during the ICE London exhibition. Overall, 10 casinos who were in the running to win the title, which recognises a gaming operator that has made a significant difference in the industry through its vision, strategy and capacity for innovation. The winner was decided by a jury of 50 of the most respected members in the sector.

Pascal Camia – General Director of Gaming at SBM

“We are very pleased with this double recognition by our peers, which rewards our teamwork within the casinos of Monaco,” said Pascal Camia, General Director of Gaming for Société des Bains de Mer. “The new momentum launched in 2016 by President Jean-Luc Biamonti is promising in terms of image for the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group and contributes to making Monaco’s casinos the most exclusive gaming destination in Europe. Our employees can be proud.”
Monaco’s casinos have also been given ‘Responsible Gaming’ certification, issued within the framework of ICE London, by the European Casino Association. The certification has 75 criteria and guarantees a casino is committed to responsible gaming practices.
 
Top photo: Monte-Carlo Casino, courtesy SBM
 

AS Monaco back on track

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2020

AS Monaco is finding their way again, securing a brilliant victory over Angers Tuesday night at home at Stade Louis II.

At the start of the match, there was only one point separating 13th place AS Monaco from 12th place Angers as the last time the two teams met they ended in a draw. Clearly, a game between two such evenly matched teams was going to be close, but AS Monaco, with the energy of the home team advantage, came out strong.

The first quarter of play saw a lot of back and forth, including two free kicks, one by each side in the first two minutes of play. About 11 minutes in the first attempt on goal was made by Anger’s Rachid Alioui, assisted by Sada Thioub, but was knocked back. Only a minute later, AS Monaco made their first attempt with a left footer by Stevan Jovetic, which was also batted away.  

Just after the quarter hour mark, Youssouf Fofana, who is certainly proving his worth, right footed a shot from outside the box, but it was saved in the bottom left in the end.

Fast forward a minute and Fofana, who wasn’t going to let up, made a long pass to Stevan Jovetic, who offered up a surprise header that went between the posts, giving the Red and Whites the opening goal of the game.

It wasn’t until the 45 minute mark that there was another attempt on goal, this time by Angers’ Capelle, though Lecomte was on the case, making the save with ease.

In the second half, after a big foul on Fofana, Coach Moreno took Cesc Fabregas out, replacing him with Monaco’s new midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni for his debut with the club. Angers’ didn’t let up and had a couple more good shots on goal, notably by Capelle and Santamaria, whose shot passed a few centimetres from the right post.

In the 84th, the pressure was starting to show, and Pavlovic committed a massive foul on Ben Yedder, barely escaping being tossed off the field. The game ended quietly enough with a solid and decisive 1-0 win for Monaco, taking them from 13th to 9th in the blink of an eye.

Let’s see if the momentum continues when Monaco goes on the road to face Amiens at the Stade Licorne on Saturday.