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Month: August 2021

Spain receives its share of EU RRF funding

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/08/2021

Spain is among the first countries to receive its share of a €723.8 billion pandemic recovery fund, taking control of €9 billion in pre-financing.
Like all Member States receiving the first tranche of money, the funding issued by the European Commission is equivalent to 13% of the country’s financial allocation under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The pre-financing payment will help to kick-start the implementation of the investment and reform measures outlined in Spain’s recovery and resilience plan.
In all, the country is set to receive €69.5 billion over the lifetime of its plan.
“Today’s disbursement is a decisive moment for Spain and its people, kicking off the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan,” President Ursula von der Leyen said. “This plan was ‘made in Spain’ to emerge stronger from the crisis and invest in a sustainable and more digital recovery. I am convinced that Spain’s ambitious plan will provide a crucial push for the European Green Deal to become a reality, it will further digitalise the economy and it will make Spain more resilient than ever. We stand ready to support you in each step of the way.”
The money will finance, in part, an ambitious law on climate change and energy transition, enshrining the renewable targets for 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, including a 100% renewable electricity system. The plan will also support innovative renewable energy sources with €3.9 billion and includes €3.4 billion to support more than half a million energy efficiency renovations in residential buildings.
Spain’s plan contributes to the digitalisation of SMEs and the self-employed with €3 billion. Measures worth €3.6 billion will improve the level of digital skills of the population and the digital transformation of education. €3.2 billion will be invested in the digitalisation of the public administration.
Meanwhile, €2.4 billion will be invested in reducing the use of temporary contracts in the labour market, improving individual support to jobseekers, as well as training opportunities and better hiring incentives. Nearly €2.8 billion will be invested in reducing youth unemployment and improving vocational training by creating at least 135,000 new places in vocational education. Additional measures will strengthen the effectiveness of public policies and modernise the tax system.
 
 
 

Monaco Red Cross sending aid to Haiti

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/08/2021

The Monaco Red Cross has offered €50,000 to support the International Federation of the Red Cross to assist in aiding the Haitian population who suffered a massive earthquake on 14th August.
The Monegasque Red Cross, headed up by Prince Albert II, has released funds to the tune of €50,000 for relief efforts in Haiti. The Caribbean nation suffered a violent earthquake, measuring 7.2 in magnitude, on Saturday 14th August.
The money will go to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) who will distribute the funds.
The earthquake caused immense damage with Haiti’s Civil Protection reporting 2,207 deaths, more than 12,000 injuries and some 344 people still missing. In all, the quake affected nearly 600,000 people.
Early reports from the volunteers of the Haiti Red Cross and the IFRC on the scene tell of severe infrastructure damage, including hospitals, notably in Jérémie and Aux Cayes in the northern part of the country’s south peninsula.
Rescue operations continue despite the danger of anticipated aftershocks, which could further destabilise already precarious structures.
An emergency appeal for 10 million Swiss francs (€9,275,500) to the Haitian Red Cross has been launched. This money would go to provide shelter, basic needs, food, water and health care.
Individual donations are welcome and those wishing to give can go directly to  www.croix-rouge.mc/faire-un-don/
 
 
 

Princess’ Foundation details 2020 achievements in annual report

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/08/2021

Despite the pandemic and all the restrictions that it brought, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation was able to move forward with several key projects and programmes centred on water safety and drowning prevention, as well as putting on events, assisting in Covid prevention missions and welcoming a new ambassador.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation this week released its 2020 activity report, highlighting the programmes, projects and key moments from the previous year, notably several key missions in 17 countries, a mask distribution scheme during the height of the first wave of the pandemic, the Le Mans virtual race, the Monaco Water Bike Challenge and the welcoming of a new ambassador, Peter Sagan.
The main focus of the Princess’ Foundation has always been on water safety, and whilst the majority of the activities were geared for this, the pandemic gave them a chance to offer help in other ways as well.
“2020 was a strange year for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, as it was for many humanitarian associations and NGOs around the world,” said Gareth Wittstock, the foundation’s General Secretary.“Fortunes changed and swayed, initial disappointments gave way to hope, and missed opportunities quickly turned into brand new ideas for the future. They were trying times for everyone.
“Throughout 2020, we remained strongly committed to fighting for the health and development of all children. We remained strongly committed to the fight against drowning, and we chose to commit to the fight against Covid-19.”
Princess Charlene herself reiterated her goals for the Foundation but acknowledged the limitations that 2020 brought.
“The primary mission of my foundation is to save lives by fighting against drowning, which results in an increasing number of deaths every year,” said the Princess. “Drowning rates continued to be of concern in many countries in 2020. Children had even more restricted access to pools and facilities enabling them to learn how to swim and to protect themselves against water hazards.”
The year in numbers
The Foundation, which was created in 2012, has since sponsored 398 projects in 38 countries around the world benefitting 864,465 individuals as of the end of last year.
In 2020 alone, the Foundation was instrumental in teaching 12,172 people to swim, gave 121,541 water safety skills, and educated 6,915 in the values of sport. The Foundation’s total investment in the projects came to €531,258.
The Foundation increased social media presence and had 7,000 Instagram followers, 21,000 Facebook followers and 19,327 YouTube hits.
Projects
The Foundation hosted drowning prevention and learn to swim missions in several countries, including in Burkino Faso, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, France, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Greece, Sudan, South Africa, Cambodia and the USA. This was enhanced by the online drowning awareness programme launched in summer 2020, which reminded people of water hazards throughout the summer season and got 34,000 views.
Additionally, The Foundation supported projects centred on Sport and Education to promote well-being and good childhood development. To this end, they hosted ‘Education through the values of sport’ missions in South Africa, Georgia, Madagascar and Monaco.
The Foundation took a different route when the pandemic hit, and distributed masks to institutions and organisations who were in desperate need of PPE in the early days of the first lockdown. Additionally, the Foundation took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans virtual race with their own team on the roster with team members Francesco Castellacci, Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa as well as a sim racer, Tony Mella.
The Calvi-Monaco Water Bike Challenge also returned despite the health restrictions, which pitted the Princess Charlene-led Team Serenity against Team Notorious, headed up by Gareth Wittstock.
Finally, the Foundation welcomed a new ambassador in the form of Serbian cyclist Peter Sagan. The three-time road race world champion joined the foundation as a face of the organisation and said at the time of his appointment that it was “an honour and a privilege for me to become an Ambassador of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and to contribute to its important mission.

Princess Charlene “thrilled” to reunite with Prince and children

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/08/2021

Prince Albert and six-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have joined Princess Charlene in South Africa as she recovers from her recent surgery.
The princess, who has been in her homeland since earlier this year, took to Instagram to share the long-awaited reunion of her family.
The Palace recently announced that Prince Albert would be joining the princess as she recovers from a four-hour surgery undertaken on Friday 13th August.
Princess Charlene shared pictures on social media with the caption, “I am so thrilled to have my family back with me ❤️. (Gabriella decided to give herself a haircut!!!) Sorry my Bella I tried my best to fix it”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CS_VuctjIN1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
 
The photos indeed appear to show that the young princess attempted to give herself the same trendy haircut as her mother. The shots were taken by photographer Christian Sperka, the same photographer who captured Princess Charlene’s rhino conservation work in May.
The last time Prince Albert and their children were in South Africa was in early June, when the princess shared snaps of the family together on a safari.
Speaking to local media South Africa Radio 702 earlier this month, Princess Charlene revealed that she is not due to return to the Principality of Monaco until October when she is expected to be fully recovered from a severe ETN (ear, throat, nose) infection.
 
 
Photo: Instagram @hshprincesscharlene
 
 

YCM’s Miani wins Palermo-Monaco race for fourth time

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/08/2021

Guido Miani and the 19-person crew of the Arca SGR took the top spot at the Palermo-Monaco sailing race finishing in 59 hours, three minutes and eight seconds.
The Arca SGR crossed the finish line of the Palermo-Montecarlo sailing competition at 11:03pm on 23rd August, giving skipper Guido Miani his fourth title on this classic Mediterranean race.
Sailing with his son Daniel and his nephew Francesco Vauban as part of the 19-strong crew, it was certainly a family affair that paid off. The 30 metre, 28 tonne vessel was built for speed and agility, and the crew showed themselves to be up to handling her earlier this year when they came away victorious from the 68th Rolex Giraglia and now at the Palermo-Montecarlo.
“Conditions were tough, but it all went very well. We had light winds on three-quarters of the ascent of Sardinia then almost 30 knots in the Strait of Bonifacio before light winds again. But we were able to really test the boat’s performance,” said Guido Miani upon his arrival in Monaco. “The Rolex Giraglia was the first objective, the Palermo-Montecarlo the second, now we’re preparing for the Worlds that take place 6th to 11th September in Porto Cervo and will bring together in one place, for the first time, eight 100-foot boats – it’s historic.”
The battle for second place was hugely suspenseful as Pengradon VI and Aragon vied for position. In the end, it was the Pendragon VI, captained by Laurie Davidson, who overtook the Aragon in the final few metres.
Many other big names competed in the race, including Kito de Pavant and Gwen Gbick on board their Class 40 HBF-Reforest’Action. Also participating was Yacht Club (YCM) of Monaco’s Neil Cheston on the Eupraxia. He had several members of the YCM’s adult sailing division with him, giving them the opportunity to experience their first offshore race.
The Palermo-Montecarlo is the last official competition before the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, it’s become a major event on the calendar since its launch in 2005. The official announcement of the winners will be given on Thursday 26th August at the prize-giving ceremony.
 
 
 
Monaco Life with YCM press release, photo by Francesco Ferri
 
 
 

Monaco to enter into NFT market

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/08/2021

AS Monaco has unveiled a two-season partnership with fantasy football platform Sorare, which will allow the club to enter the world of NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens) for the first time.
With partnerships already with Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Liverpool, Sorare has cards from more than 155 football clubs and over 450,000 registered users on the platform, of which 100,000 are active every month.
The deal with Monaco will allow fans, collectors and fantasy football players to trade and play freely with digital cards of Monaco players. Each of these cards will be verified by blockchain technology, allowing it to be certified and therefore non-fungible.
“It is an original and innovative way of connecting AS Monaco fans with the club and the players on an increasingly renowned platform, which fits perfectly with our digital development,” said Oleg Petrov, Vice-President and CEO of AS Monaco. “This arrival in the NFT world will also give the club exposure to a fast-growing market and an opening to a new audience. We are looking forward to the start of this collaboration.”
Sorare was founded in 2018, focussing on blockchain digital collectibles and its global fantasy football. The platform has had a card sales volume of over $80 million since January 2021 across 150 countries.
“NFTs are the future of global sports fandom because they allow fans to come together and to feel ownership of the sports they love,” said Nicolas Julia, CEO and co-founder of Sorare. “This partnership isn’t just a sign of Sorare’s growing leadership in the NFT sports space, it is a major signal of intent by the sporting world that it sees Sorare’s unique ability to connect fans with sports through NFTs a crucial part of their plans for the future. AS Monaco is one of the best club in the world, home to some of the most exciting clubs and footballers on earth. We are looking forward to working together in the years ahead.”
 
 
Image courtesy AS Monaco