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Day: 1 October 2021

Sovereign cloud is launched in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
01/10/2021

Frederic Genta, the Interministerial Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition, has announced the long-awaited arrival of a sovereign cloud to the Principality.
In keeping with the times and in order to maintain the privacy and security of end users, the government of Monaco has constructed its very own cloud for the use of people living and working in the country.
“A sovereign cloud is a solution for businesses on all computer subjects,” Frederic Genta, Delegate in charge of Digital Transition, told Monaco Info in a recent interview.  “A cloud allows them to access together a digital service without having the need to house the servers on site. It’s a structure that is very secure… but above all it is economical for Monaco because it is an offer that is more secure, has better service and costs less.”
Public clouds, which are used by most people for their personal files, are usually perfectly secure options, but in the case of certain sensitive data, sometimes the level of privacy or legal protection is not sufficient. In these cases, a private, or sovereign, cloud is a better solution.
Public clouds are mostly decentralised, hosted on infrastructures distributed across multiple geographic locations. Data in a public cloud can potentially be subject to several different jurisdictions and regulatory environments, as well. This not only comprises the sovereign protection afforded to the data, but also makes it open to regulatory issues that allow third parties to access it.
A sovereign cloud provides the necessary boundaries to store sensitive or official data on the public cloud. Data on this type of cloud will be located on Monegaque soil, will only be accessible by those with high-level, vetted security clearance, and usually only to those who reside in the Principality.
“Monaco today is the first State to launch a sovereign cloud,” Genta declared. “We are the first European country anywhere to finish our digital infrastructure in advance, with regard to 5G, fibre, digital and electronic transition. The cloud came after three years of construction of infrastructure and three years of preparation…Today Monaco and the Monegasque community are ready for the digital world.”
 
Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life
 
 

BeMed launches new call for projects

by: Stephanie Horsman
01/10/2021

BeMed, the joint venture between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Tara Ocean Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Europe and the MAVA Foundation to clean up plastic waste clogging the Mediterranean, has launched its sixth call for micro-initiatives to aid in the endeavour.
Coinciding with World Maritime Day, BeMed has put out a call for new field projects led by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), scientific institutions, businesses, municipalities, and local authorities who have creative solutions to the increasing problem of plastic pollution in the sea.
The Mediterranean, considered the most polluted sea in the world despite representing only 0.7% of the total global ocean surfaces, is at particular risk due to its semi-enclosed geography, large number of maritime transports, fishing pressures and tourist activities. There is an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of plastic floating around, suffocating or strangling sea animals as well as breaking down into micro-plastics which can cause harm to animals and humans in the long term.
In response, BeMed has spent the past five years working with interested parties to reduce plastic pollution and protect the Med.
To date, there has been a total of 69 projects, emanating from 14 Mediterranean countries that have had the support of BeMed.
Now they are asking for those with great ideas on how to help to come forward.
The open period for applications will run from 30th September to 2nd January 2022 and can be downloaded from the website. Those selected can receive up to €10,000, with a required minimum of 25% co-financing from other sources. The projects should start no sooner than June 2022, to be implemented over 12 to 18 months.
 
 
Photo source: Unsplash
 
 
 

Roca team wins first Euroleague home game

by: Stephanie Horsman
01/10/2021

AS Monaco Basketball were on fire in their first Euroleague home match at Salle Gaston Médecin against the men of Panathinaikos, whom they dominated 75 to 63.

A better start to the Euroleague season could not be imagined for the Roca team. They were on their home turf on Thursday with fans in attendance and a roster of top-flight talent on the court.

This translated well for the team, who started off the match with the first points being scored by American sensation Mike James in a dunk followed by a massive three-pointer. By the end of the first quarter, Monaco were in the lead 22 to 15.

The second quarter started off just as well with a beautiful three-pointer from Will Thomas followed by Danilo Andjusic, earning two more points on free throws. The quarter ended with a Mike James rebound ending the first half with a Monaco lead of 38 to 28.

The second half saw some amazing basketball played, including a cooperative alley oop between Andjusic and Donta Hall, successful free throws by Léo Westermann, and more Andjusic three-pointers. The final minutes saw the crowds on their feet cheering on their team who handily win the match 75 to 63.

“There was a lot of excitement before the game,” said Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic. “It was Panathinaikos, a legendary team. My players responded in the best possible way. My staff had done a lot of work up front to analyse the Pana game. Defensively, the work has been really good. The key word is that we never panicked. We have to continue like this, the season is going to be very long.”

Monaco made 27 shots out of 63 attempts, going nine for 21 in three-point range. They captured 39 rebounds, with Mike James having six of his own, stole the ball seven times, had 18 assists and recovered seven stray balls.

Andjusic was high scorer with 17 points, James was next up with 11 and Paris Lee, Donatas Motiejūnas and Donta Hall all scored ten apiece.

The team returns on 2nd October when they play Chorale Roanne in Betclic Elite action away.  

 
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release, photo: Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali
 
 

Youthful Monaco side survive late barrage in Spain

by: Luke Entwistle
01/10/2021

AS Monaco ground out a well-earned draw against Real Sociedad in their second Europa League fixture of the season. Despite taking an early lead, ASM had to survive a second-half onslaught in order to take away a point from the Reale Arena in San Sebastian.
ASM came into this crucial fixture on the back of a fine run of form, which has seen them go unbeaten in their last four competitive matches. If they were to continue this trend, they would have to do so without numerous key senior players, including captain Ben Yedder and influential playmaker Golovin, with Nico Kovac opting for an inexperienced, youthful Monaco side.
ASM, however, got off to a dream start, taking the first meaningful chance of the match. The captain for the night, Axel Disasi, rose highest at a corner to power in a header, with the ball making its way into the bottom corner via the left-hand post.
Neither side managed to muster any clear-cut opportunities before the break, with both sides reluctant to over-commit in attack.
A tentative, tight first-half gave way to a much more exciting encounter in the second-half. A previously cautious Real Sociedad started to commit more players forward, and a more direct style of play threatened the ASM defence, whilst simultaneously giving Monaco more space to counter-attack.
Sociedad were vindicated, almost instantly, for their attacking approach. Similar to ASM’s opener in the first-half, Merino headed Sociedad level early-on in the second half – expertly guiding in a glancing header from a corner.
Buoyed by their home fans, Sociedad proceeded to launch a full-blown assault on the Monaco goal, registering a string of high-quality chances in quick succession. Most notably, Sociedad midfielder Portu should have done better when he found himself one-on-one against ASM ‘keeper Nübel, but could only shoot straight at the Bayern Munich loanee.
Monaco, in contrast, struggled to create any chance of note in the second-half, and will be the happier of the two sides as the game finished 1-1.
Nico Kovac alluded to this in his post-match conference, stating that, “We carried out a very good match defensively. It is a good result this evening.”
Also questioned on the wholesale changes to line-up, Kovac was quick to back his young stars. “There was a need to bring in fresh blood. I have confidence in all of my players, and that is why I made many changes.”
The point takes Monaco to second place in their Europa League group, behind leaders PSV Eindhoven only on goal-difference.
AS Monaco next host Bordeaux on Sunday afternoon at the Stade Louis II, and Kovac’s side will be keen to go into the upcoming international break with a win.
 
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco press release, photo source AS Monaco