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Month: November 2020

Intense win for Roca team against Dijon

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/11/2020

Despite Head Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic’s absence and a nearly three week break, the Roca Team were on the top of their game on the weekend, beating Dijon in a hard-fought match at home 70-62.

AS Monaco Basketball hit the court at Gaston Medecin for a Saturday night fight against Dijon, with new arrival Rob Gray scoring 17 points for his first game with the squad.

“We responded very well in defence and on the rebound,” Gray said after the game. “We behaved as a team. The Roca Team has great potential. I am very happy for this premiere. I feel very good with my new team.”

Assistant Coach Ocokoljic had positive things to say about the new addition, adding, “Rob Gray? I think he will help us a lot. He also defended very well on (Dijon player Chase) Simon.”

But Gray wasn’t the only star of the game. Marcos Knight also scored 17 points, whilst JJ O’Brien had 12 and Captain Dee Bost scored 10.

The team played well, making 22 shots out of 60 and converting nine out of 23 three-pointers. They picked up 11 stray balls, collected 40 rebounds, with O’Brien having eight alone, made 11 steals and had 13 assists.

Dijon powerhouse Jaron Johnson was high-scorer of the game with 19 points.

“Dijon is a very good team, which plays the best basketball in the championship in my eyes,” said Ocokoljic. “So, there is something to be very satisfied with. The context was however special, with new players, no match for 20 days, the coach absent … But the guys responded very well, in defence and on the rebound in particular. All the credit goes to them.”

The win puts the Roca Team in fourth place in the Jeep Elite standings, just behind Dijon. Their next Jeep Elite game will be against Limoges on 21st November in Monaco and for more action, they also play Antwerp Telenet Giants in the Euro Cup 7 on 17th November.

 
Photo by AS Monaco
 
 

Covid situation “contained” to less than 10%

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/11/2020

The rapid increase in Covid cases in Monaco is primarily a result of increased testing, says the government, and only 7% of people screened for the virus are returning positive results.
The Prince’s Government and the National Council met on Friday for the latest Covid-19 Monitoring Committee meeting, discussing recent decisions to keep Monaco out of lockdown, tighten health measures and controls, and go over the latest screening figures.
“Even if contaminations are on the rise, Monaco’s incidence rate remains lower than that of neighbouring regions for the moment,” said the government in a statement. “It should be noted that the number of positive cases is increasing in particular because of the increase in the number of tests. It also emerges that the positivity rate of screenings carried out in Monaco remains relatively contained, around 7%, an index much lower than that of France.”
According to the latest figures from the French government, the positivity rate in the neighbouring territory is 17.3%.
In a further boost to Monaco’s screening capacity, rapid antigenic tests will be available this week in some pharmacies and later from health professionals.
Meanwhile, the committee noted that the public is increasingly complying with stricter measures introduced on 1st November.
“This is particularly the case for the wearing of masks on public roads, which has been the subject of increased checks carried out by the Public Security,” said the government.
However, the National Council is calling for the younger population of Monaco to be more vigilant in wearing masks in public places, and for carpooling workers to maintain their masks inside vehicles.
 
Related stories:

New restrictions explained

 
Photo by Monaco Life, all rights reserved
 
 

Monaco backs nuclear technologies

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/11/2020

Monaco has reaffirmed its support for the peaceful use of nuclear technologies, particularly for cancer treatment and other medical equipment.
Monaco recently took part in the General Assembly of the 64th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in New York, confirming its support for the development of peaceful nuclear technologies as defined in Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
“Peaceful use of the atom benefits the entire international community,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in his keynote address.
The Monegasque delegation focused on nuclear uses in the fields of health and the environment, highlighting the fact that the Principality is a historic supporter of the Agency’s Action Program for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and is at the cutting edge of nuclear medicine technologies, as evidenced by the opening of a nuclear cardiology unit equipped with advanced equipment in September.
Meanwhile, Monaco hosts the environmental laboratories of the IAEA, allowing for the collection of crucial data for understanding the challenges and developing sustainable strategies.
 
Related stories:

Nuclear technology to boost early cancer detection

 
Photo: Cédric Braquetti, Counselor for Monaco to the UN in New York, during his speech © DR
 
 

Watch auction to benefit environment

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/11/2020

Stunning timepieces donated by high-profile personalities including Prince Albert and Bono will form part of the upcoming ‘Time Counts’ charitable auction, raising funds for the Prince Albert II Foundation and One Drop.
The two have joined forces with Phillips Auction House for the charity auction that will be integrated within Phillip’s Racing Pulse New York Watch Auction on 12th December.
The Time Counts initiative will be comprised of 12 exceptional lots dedicated specifically to the Prince’s Foundation and One Drop missions of providing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and working towards improving climate resilience for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Directed by Aurel Bacs and Paul Boutros – two of the world’s leading watch experts – admirers, collectors and philanthropists can be part of the Time Counts event and bid through an innovative live and online auction platform, no matter where they are in the world.
Included will be four incredible Audemars Piguet timepieces donated by Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil, One Drop and Lune Rouge.
“The impact of Covid-19 on the population of the emerging and developing countries will have deep and durable consequences. That’s why we called this joint initiative Time Counts,” said Guy Laliberté. “We have to act now and raise money for this critical cause and show that we care, and we won’t accept any setback for the most vulnerable communities in the world.”
Other standout lots include a rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ in stainless steel with the Prince’s name engraved on its case offered by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and two timepieces donated directly by Prince Albert II. These include a Montre Rebellion Predator 2.0, and a unique Urwerk in black titanium featuring a three-dimensional satellite hour display.
“Let us unite to ensure that water, a vital and common resource for humanity, will no longer be a global health issue but a duly respected right,” said Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Activist and U2 lead singer Bono is supporting Time Counts by donating a vintage, 18 karat pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece along with a framed drawing of U2 lyrics, ‘The First Time,’ by Bono, dated 2020. Bono originally gifted this particular watch to his father, who he credits with giving him his voice.
Fellow philanthropist and businessman Kevin O’Leary is donating his iconic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with signature red band. This highly sought after Daytona is a favourite of the Shark Tank wardrobe department because of its ‘camera appeal’ and has appeared in more episodes across Shark Tank’s seasons 10, 11 and 12 than any other watch O’Leary owns.
British Formula One racing legend David Coulthard is donating an IWC Big Pilot collection timepiece, Le Petite Prince, from his personal collection. Le Petite Prince model was released in 2016 and features a stunning, vintage-inspired blue dial designed for aviators.
Rounding out the list of star-studded donations is musician and media businessman Rory Kaplan who is showing his support with the donation of his vintage, Porsche Design Orfina Chronograph that he has worn for years as his good-luck charm.
The Phillips auction house currently holds numerous world records, including the highest price ever obtained for a vintage wristwatch sold at auction.
To see the One Drop catalogue, click here.
 
Photo taken from the One Drop catalogue
 
 

Bella's seasonal shopping guide for Monaco

by: Isabella Marino
13/11/2020

Grimaldi Forum obtains 5th green certification

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/11/2020

Certified for the first time in 2008, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) was one of the very first European convention centres at the time to obtain the precious certification. Twelve years later, and a long road travelled, the Principality’s largest congress and culture centre just successfully passed the 5th annual environmental audit in its history with flying colours.
The fundamental objective of the Grimaldi Forum has not changed since 2008 – to reduce the impact of the building maintenance and events activity taking place there that has an impact on the environment. As a result, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco is constantly optimising its environmental management system, focusing on optimised and sustainable water management, energy management, the sorting and recycling of its waste, an ecologically responsible purchasing policy, good risk management and active communications.
“Every audit enables us to go even further and this one, which covers the period 2017-2020, is confirmation that the Grimaldi Forum is more efficient than ever, despite years of constant growth with absolutely record-breaking activity in 2018 and 2019, and despite the health crisis and the slowdown in event activity which is disrupting 2020,” said Sylvie Biancheri, Managing Director of the GFM.

Solar instalments on top of the congress and culture centre © Grimaldi Forum Monaco

The audit recognises several notable achievements, including further improvement in critical areas like water, electricity, sorting of waste, and paper consumption. It also takes into consideration the creation of new like hybrid events mixing face-to-face and virtual participation.
There is also the inauguration in 2019 at the GFM of the largest and most efficient urban solar power plant in the Principality, allowing the centre to consume 100% green energy.
Since its first certification in 2008, the Grimaldi Forum, which has established its green policy as a strong link in its corporate strategy, has succeeded in improving its energy efficiency by 35%, multiplying its waste sorting rate by 2.5, and more than halving its water consumption per visitor. The Grimaldi Forum also actively participates in the National Energy Transition Pact which it has adhered to since 2018.
The next ISO 14001 re-certification is scheduled for the end of October 2023.
 
Top photo © Grimaldi Forum Monaco / Olivia Marocco