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Day: 14 July 2021

Monaco native to make pro boxing debut

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2021

Monaco’s Hugo Micallef has signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank and will be making his professional boxing debut in September at a match in Paris.
The boxing world has dubbed him the Fresh Prince of Monaco, and with more than a hundred amateur victories under his belt, there’s good reason to think he may one day be king.
Hugo Micallef, who is accredited for breaking the glass ceiling in Monegasque boxing, once aspired to be the Principality’s first Olympic boxer but now has set the bar higher looking to become the first to win a world title for his country.
He has just been signed on professionally with Top Rank as a junior welterweight and will be fighting in his first pro match on 10th September in Paris. He is on the same bill as heavyweight contender Tony Yoka who is going toe-to-toe with unbeaten Petar Milas.
“Hugo has everything it takes to be a superstar in the sport,” said Bob Arum, Top Rank’s chairman. “His amateur pedigree is extensive, and I believe he’ll usher in a generation of pro boxing in the Principality of Monaco.”
Micallef, for his part, thinks he is a good fit with the agency, saying, “It’s a tremendous honour to be signed by the best promotional company in the business. I have dreamed of this moment. I’m ready for the start of my professional journey, and I hope to one day bring a world title back home to Monaco.”
He caught the world’s attention last autumn at the Boxam Elite International Boxing Tournament in Spain, taking down America’s amateur star Delante Johnson. His last fight was at the European Olympic Boxing qualifiers in Paris, where he fell in the 16th round to Brit gold medallist Pat McCormack.
Carlos Formento has been called up to be Micallef’s trainer. He has worked successfully with former welterweight world champ Keil Brook and junior welterweight contender Anthony Yigit.
Natural talent coupled with a solid trainer have put him front and centre on the boxing world stage, making the 23-year-old the one to beat.
 
 
 

100% graduation success rate in Principality

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2021

Monaco’s students have much to be proud of this 2020-21 school year, despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, achieving perfect success rates in the Baccalaurate and the National Diploma.

Monaco’s middle and high schools have just received word back on end of school year exams and the results were literally flawless.

The government has revealed that every single student passed the Baccalaureate exams, with 88.9% of students receiving mentions, while the National Diploma rate was equally as impressive, with a 100% success rate and 88.92% mentions. Additionally, all the students who took the Brevet de Technicien Superieur course passed as well, as did the pupils who took the BTS Hotel and Catering at the Technical and Hotel Lycée de Monaco courses.

These figures are an attestation to the dedication and quality of support offered throughout this rough and tumble school year marred by restrictions and uncertainties.

The Prince’s government was highly impressed by this year’s graduates and offered congratulations to them on their hard work and achievements. The government is also quick to recognise the commitment made by the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports and all of its staff to keep the wheels running smoothly.  

The government decision during the height of the pandemic to allow face-to-face lessons to continue is likely to have played a large role in the successes being seen today. Allowing pupils to have the necessary personal interactions whilst still maintaining strict safety measures was a luxury many students around the globe were unable to share. Despite the abnormal circumstances, the students flourished, a testament to each of them.

 
 
Photo of Isabelle Bonnal, Commissioner General in charge of the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports and Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, by Stéphane Danna, Government Communication Department
 
 
 

Marking 15 years of diplomatic relations between Monaco and Russia

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/07/2021

The government of Monaco has sent a message to Russia acknowledging 15 years of diplomatic relations and committing to further strengthen ties in the years ahead.
To mark the 15th anniversary this month, Monaco’s Minister of External Relations and Cooperation Laurent Anselmi addressed a message to Sergeï Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, commending the “relations of trust and friendship which unite these two countries.”
“Since 11th July 2006, intense and constructive cooperation as well as numerous exchanges in the economic, scientific and environmental fields have emerged, thanks to the constant impetus of the Heads of State of the two countries,” said the government in a statement. “A desire to continue strengthening this cooperation has been expressed, in particular through cultural diplomacy, a vector of peace and rapprochement between peoples.”
The government added that despite the difficulties caused by the international health situation, this celebration is an opportunity for Monaco to reaffirm its intention to work to deepen the ties forged over the past 15 years.
 
 
 

Window into the history of Belarus through art

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/07/2021

Get a glimpse into one of Europe’s most tumultuous and least explored treasures with the exhibition ‘Belarus: History Through Art’ at the Espace 22 Gallery this summer.
The Eastern European nation of Belarus has a long tradition of music, dance, literature, and art, though it has been mostly overshadowed by its western neighbours. The country that gave the world Marc Chagall has much to offer on the cultural front, and with the new exhibit coming to Espace 22, ‘Belarus: History Through Art’, they are definitely ready to show the world the wonders of this centrally located European country.
Running from 30th July to 9th August, the show will feature paintings, sculpture and photos which present striking architectural features of the country’s buildings, interesting cultural snippets and the general beauty of the landlocked nation that has only existed in its current form since after World War II, when it became one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations.

Belarusian folklore through proverbs collection

The free event will see 20 exhibitors, some native Belarusian and others who have adopted the country, including Paris-based award-winning photojournalist Paul Dza who travelled recently to Belarus to cover recent events in the country. His photo of soldiers posted in front of a government building is particularly haunting and shows a stark contrast with the lovely, welcoming modern building in the background. He will be displaying a collection of his photos from his time in the country.
The event’s organisers, Pavel and Natalia Bairstow of Bairstow Monaco Consulting, are gearing it toward not only introducing the public to the art of the country, but also to raising awareness about what life is currently like there.
The country has been under sanctions due to human rights violations and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists, as well as to the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk on 23rd May 2021 and the resulting detention of journalists Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega.

Mr Bairstow has told Monaco Life that as a result, “several artists and photographers had to send in their art from Belarus because they physically could not travel as Belarus is under travel sanctions from the EU because of the elections and the grounding of the Ryanair plane.” The artists specifically asked to remain anonymous out of fear of government retaliation.
Amongst those who are able to freely exhibit are Olga Yakubouskaya, whose works are symbols for the return of peace, and Ekaterina Zagorodniaya, whose pieces contain traditional proverbs and outfits.
 
Top photo by award-winning photojournalist Paul Dza 
 
 

Consuls reconnect in Belgium

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/07/2021

On 9th July, the Embassy of Monaco in Belgium organised a working meeting attended by the Honorary Consuls of Monaco in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
An update on the Covid-19 pandemic was made, followed by a presentation of the news and priorities of the Prince’s Government as well as the actions planned by the Embassy for the coming months.
Particular emphasis was placed on the Principality’s mobilisation in favour of the environment, by highlighting the revised objectives of reducing greenhouse gases by 55% come the year 2030.
Monaco’s desire to perpetuate and to amplify its digital model was also a hot topic, as well as major public projects such as the Mareterra project, the renovation of the Larvotto beach complex and the development of the new Princess Grace Hospital Centre.
Discussions also took place on the progress of negotiations for an association agreement with the European Union.
The meeting was an opportunity for Isabelle Berro-Amadei to welcome Johannes Leenders, the Honorary Consul of Monaco in Amsterdam, who participated for the first time in the meeting since his appointment in March 2021.
 
 
 
Photo: Ambassade de Belgique – Consuls – L’Ambassade de Monaco en Belgique réunit ses Consuls ©DR