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Month: December 2021

Members of Princely family pay tribute to Desmond Tutu

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/12/2021

Princess Charlene and Princess Stephanie have both publicly shared their grief over the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African civil rights activist and theologian who passed away the day after Christmas.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who spent his life fighting against apartheid and fighting for human rights, died on 26th December at the age of 90.
As Bishop of Johannesburg and then Archbishop of Cape Town, he was the first black person to hold either position in his native South Africa and was a vocal opponent of the racial segregation that divided his country. For his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
His passing elicited many messages of condolence from leaders around the world, including Queen Elizabeth II who described Tutu as “a man who tirelessly championed human rights in South Africa and across the world”, former and current US Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Pope Francis, and Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s President.
Fight AIDS Monaco, the charity headed by Princess Stephanie, took to social media to honour him, saying, “Fight Aids Monaco would like to pay a final tribute to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who died yesterday at the age of 90. Desmond Tutu has spent his life celebrating love and fighting for equality. Fight Aids Monaco sends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this unforgettable man.”
The post described Princess Stephanie’s meetings with the Archbishop, both in Monaco and in South Africa.

Princess Stephanie and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, photo source Fight Aids Monaco

“HSH Princess Stephanie met him in 2012 in South Africa during a visit to the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation. Invited in 2014 to the Monte-Carlo Television Festival by the PeaceJam association after his Nobel Peace Prize, Princess Stephanie welcomed him to the association in the company of a group of affiliates for a period of ‘exchanges and sharing’ time. Monsignor Desmond Tutu was a #light for this world and it is with infinite sadness that we say goodbye to him.”
Princess Charlene also published a heartfelt message on her Instagram page, expressing her sadness at the news. She said, “My dear friend, you will be missed. I know that you are at our father’s side. I will always have fond memories of us. And your laughter will remain in my heart forever. Rest In Peace.”
The Archbishop remained active throughout his life, only retiring from public duties in 2010. Despite no longer officially working, he continued to speak out about causes he believed in such as the right to die. He also gave his blessing to the marriage of his daughter to another woman, despite the Anglican church’s opposition to same-sex unions. He was outspoken on climate change, calling for “an apartheid-style boycott [of corporations financing the injustice of climate change] to save the planet”.
Archbishop Tutu died from prostate cancer at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town on 26th December.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9AHGasUNb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
 
Photo source: Prince’s Palace
 
 

Monaco Artist Jane Gemayel exhibiting in Dubai

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/12/2021

Monaco-based Jane Gemayel is taking a selection of her works on the road to exhibit at the Monaco Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo in January.

Artist Jane Gemayel has lived and worked in the Principality for three decades. Her unique approach uses the written word or artistic masters as inspiration, and in the case of her new upcoming exhibition at the World Expo in Dubai, she gets her creative bursts from unexpected quarters.

In her tribute to the poet Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet published in 1923, she weaves her art together in a meditative dance with the canvas. Using black boxes, she has meticulously collected all the substance of his work in quotes, press clippings, notes, associations of ideas and colour.

Gemayel’s next series is called ‘Woman, Heart, Innocence’ and brings forth a theme dear to her. The pieces have been created through her aesthetic research of the human form, particularly that of the female. Imbued with a classical heritage that she shares with masters who have inspired her, such as Matisse and Klimt, the artist shows the movement of a body in black ink in a spontaneous outline. Within the design, the dynamic is conveyed by arabesque motifs and dense lines executed in black ink, like a calligrapher. Sometimes the colour comes in the solid areas of acrylic paint in bold tones: red, gold or deep blue. Sacred and refined, these figures nonetheless exude a fragile beauty.

The artist’s ‘News as Muse’ series from 2016 uses images and writing as jumping off points. She captures the essence of today’s fast-paced, chaotic news media, asking people to question relationships to power and politics, as well as to the future of humankind and the planet. She explores topics such as love, tolerance, peace and freedom. What was a celebration in her Gibran works turns to pain and condemnation in these pieces. 

The Monaco Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo will be transformed into an art gallery to house her collection on 12th and 13th January 2022. In its capacity as cultural operator, the Grimaldi Forum is organising this 90 m2 exhibition space for public viewings.

 

 

 

Opinion: AS Monaco mid-season review

by: Luke Entwistle
29/12/2021

Monaco’s victory against Rennes meant that Nico Kovac’s men went into the Christmas break on a high. Despite a difficult start to the campaign, they are still fighting on all fronts, and the second act holds much promise.
The forlorn figure of Ruben Aguilar lying on the turf in Kiev, having scored the fatal own goal that destroyed Monaco’s Champions League hopes, was a visualisation of Monaco’s start to the season. The injury-time loss in August’s Champions League qualifier, which came in such cruel circumstances, coupled with a disastrous start to their domestic division, had the potential to derail Monaco’s campaign before it had even started.
Images of that night in Kiev have since dissipated, replaced by much fonder, more recent memories of a Monaco side that has shrugged off that difficult start and reasserted itself as a force both domestically and in Europe.
Monaco’s journey back into domestic contention has at times been arduous and riddled with setbacks along the way. But now finding themselves back within striking distance of the European places, Monaco will be hoping to convert their comeback into a Champions League spot. Their impeccable Europa League campaign thus far and progression in the Coupe de France also leaves open the tantalising possibility of silverware, meaning that Kovac’s men have everything to play for going into the new year.
The early season slump undoubtedly marked the lowest point of Monaco’s season, and in fact of their calendar year. Falling out of the Champions League at the first hurdle, having fought so gallantly to get there the year before, and having registered only one victory in the opening five Ligue 1 matches, Monaco fans may have felt that they’d have to buckle in for a hard season.
There may well have even been a sense of deja vu for supporters, having experienced for years the boom-and-bust nature of the club. Monaco of course won the league in 2017, yet just two years later the club were flirting with relegation back into Ligue 2. This erraticness, however, now seems to be a characteristic of the past, and the relatively recent restructuring of the club that saw the appointment of Paul Mitchell as sporting director has brought some much needed stability.
A dire August gave way to a more positive September. Wins against Clermont Foot and Saint Etienne, as well as a draw against local rivals Nice, saw Kovac’s men climb the table. A win against Sturm Graz and a draw away in Sociedad, also got their Europa League campaign off to the ideal start.
Pivotal in many of these performances were Benoit Badiashile and Caio Henrique. The former has continued to excel throughout the campaign, becoming an integral part of Kovac’s defence be it in a three or as a two. Henrique’s form, however, has fluctuated. After a brilliant start to the season in which he quickly notched up seven assists, his form has tailed off somewhat in November and December, and has recently found himself in a rotation with summer signing Ismail Jakobs.
Jakobs, as well as fellow signings Myron Boadu, Aleksandr Nubel and Jean Lucas, have all needed time to be bedded in, though many are now showing promising signs.
Nubel, in particular, had a nervy start to life at the Stade Louis II. The German goalkeeper, on loan from Bayern Munich, has since gone on to make some crucial saves, improved with the ball at his feet, and in doing so repaid the faith that Kovac kept in him during his difficult spell.
Jean Lucas has had bright sparks, notably a great half against Strasbourg in November, but has lacked the consistency to convince. His tendency to lose the ball in dangerous areas, rather than his undoubted dribbling ability and passing range, have often caught the eye.
Perhaps the most divisive of the summer signings amongst the fan base has been Boadu. His off-the-ball work, pressing and link up play have rightfully earned him plaudits in recent weeks, but it is his finishing that leaves a little to be desired. This was most evident in the pre-Christmas game against Rennes when, just six yards out, unmarked, he unsuccessfully attempted to cushion the ball for a teammate when it seemed easier to score himself.
Confidence is clearly an issue for the Dutch striker, but he is still young and trying to find his feet in a new league and a new country. Kovac’s trust in the player, as well as a set of attributes that complement his strike partner Wissam Ben Yedder, means that he is likely to feature prominently in the second half of the season.
Ben Yedder, having started the season slowly, has recently refound his prolific touch. The French international striker has now notched 10 league goals, the second most in Ligue 1. His two goals against Red Star in the Coupe de France were also enough to see Monaco progress to the next round.
The French striker, however, is yet to score in the Europa League, where his side have arguably registered their best performances. Kovac often described their Europa group as being of Champions League quality, but his side wrapped up top spot with a game to spare. Coming out group winners, Monaco automatically progress to the round of 16 and, on current form, you would back them to go even deeper in the competition.
Monaco recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dmitry Rybolovlev’s presidency of the club, a decade in which the Principality side has reached new heights. As Monaco go into the new year fighting on all fronts, fans can continue to dream that they could add to that success in 2022 and, just maybe, bring home some silverware.
 
 
Photo source: AS Monaco
 
 
 

Local entrepreneur offers natural alternative to botox

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/12/2021

Businesswoman and former Bolshoi ballerina Natalia Mamciur is offering a unique way to maintain a youthful appearance, without the use of needles or surgery, through her unique Lifting Gym programme.

Looking for a natural alternative to costly trips to the dermatologist or plastic surgeon to smooth out wrinkles or lift sagging facial muscles? This may just be the solution.

Natalia Mamciur, a former soloist ballerina for the Bolshoi Opera in Moscow, then principal actress at the legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris, has created and developed a series of exercises for the face, which she calls Lifting Gym, intended to strengthen muscles and improve the look of ageing skin.

Her methods became popular with those looking to stay away from needles and the knife, and she slowly gained a reputation as a go-to person on the subject. This led to her leading conferences, lectures, consultations, seminars, and educational experiences at medical, aesthetic, sport and theatrical centres in Paris, Nice, Rome, Milan, Munich and Monte-Carlo. Among her clients are actresses, politicians, and celebrities as well as regular people who prefer a holistic approach to aging. She is now looking at franchising her business.

Her programme includes a series of more than 50 exercises. The method consists of movements of contraction, relaxation, and stretching lasting for various intervals of time.

Though others have used similar ways to obtain results, she claims the ingenuity of her method lies in the way the hands are positioned to manipulate the face in order to prevent new wrinkles forming. This, she says, “guarantees that the method is not only effective, but safe and makes Lifting Gym incomparable to any other”.

Monaco Life speaks to her about her unique approach to beauty.

Can you tell us more about your philosophy?

Today, people’s demands are to go more and more natural. Whether it concerns food habits or their beauty care, face fitness Lifting Gym is the way to naturally rejuvenate the face to keep a younger appearance with your unique personality without any facial mutations.

How does your system work?

We exercise our faces just the same as we do our bodies. We have 57 facial muscles, 15 of which are mimical. These are the ones that form the wrinkles and those are where aesthetical medicine is injected, like Botox, with the well-acknowledged side effects. Instead of this, Lifting Gym is in an unprecedented alternative technique that creates new and correct muscle memory.

This consists of well-planned controlled, and alternate movements of contraction, relaxation, and stretching. The longest exercise lasts two minutes and the shortest just 15 seconds. Each exercise starts with a yoga phase, followed by more dynamic face fitness. After that is the “lifting fixation”, which is a muscular vibration to eliminate the excess of lactic acid.

This fills in the lips, cheekbones and nasal labial folds with a new developed muscle mass, just like in bodybuilding. Bear in mind that, as with any sport, the results depend upon a client’s effort.

Can you explain the theory behind this method?

The skin is attached to the muscles and because of this, when the muscles become more tonic, the skin naturally gets a lifting effect. You can see the ingenuity of the method in the way the hands are positioned on the face (during the exercises). This guarantees that the method is not only effective, but 100% safe.

What type of liftings do your centres offer?

We offer individual or group lessons. Each client is given a massage table to practice lying or sitting exercises. There are three levels: basic, advanced, and master class. The master class includes face training, body training as well as cosmetic peptides for slimming and toning. Results with the master class are visibly different, and obviously, this is the ideal choice, especially for the busiest clients.

How is it done?

We have to use our fingertips to help keep the skin in place. Muscle movement resistance will result in avoiding wrinkle formation. Most people don’t know that they can train their face muscles. Being thin, these muscles react quickly to exercise and visible results come quickly.

Can men do this too?

A lot of men already do Lifting Gym. Everyone has the same 57 facial muscles.

Do you use a range of topical products as part of your process?

Of course. Some of these specially formulated products help to get quicker and more efficient results. Using the latest generation of nano-research, these are incredibly efficient products.

 

 

Monaco boosts testing capacity at schools and workplaces

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/12/2021

As part of renewed efforts to limit the spread of Covid in Monaco, the government is equipping every student with a free self-test upon their return to school on Monday, while employers will also be able to purchase cheap tests for their employees.  
The government made the announcement on Monday while revealing the latest round of measures to curb the spread of Covid in the Principality.
As of Monday 3rd January, each student will find on their desk a Covid test which can be self-administered.
By the start of the school year, each parent will receive a message from the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports informing them of how to use the test, which is free, voluntary and easy to use.
The rapid nasal test is recommended by pediatricians and utilises a small sponge that is inserted at the entrance of the nostrils.
Teachers will also be informed of how to use the tests.
The government is also making 50,000 self-tests available to business owners who wish to order them, at a subsidised rate, for their employers.
The aim is to detect and treat Covid-positive people as quickly as possible to break the chain of contamination.
Meanwhile, from 10th January, the mandatory health pass will be extended to a number of other sectors that involve close contact with the public, including hairdressers, tattoo parlours and sports halls. Staff and customers of these activities must provide a valid health pass.
 
 
Photo source: Manuel Vitali, Communication Department
 
 
 

New rules for electric scooter users in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/12/2021

As electric scooters gain in popularity throughout the Principality, the government will from late January enforce a new law requiring the wearing of helmets for all ages.

Electric scooters are an eco-friendly and convenient way to get around and since February 2020, they’ve been free to circulate on the roads, bike and bus lanes of the Principality.

But experience has shown they are not always the safest.

Scooters are not widely visible to other vehicles, despite the various precautionary equipment used. Retro-reflective clothing and equipment, horns, lights and reflective devices only work so well, and leave e-scooter users vulnerable if they are not seen by drivers of other modes of transport.

A 2020 study by the Journal of American Medicine Surgery found that nearly one-third of all electric scooter riders not wearing helmets suffered from head injuries, double that of cyclists. Injuries that sent riders to hospital went up 365% from 2014 to 2018, with the last year seeing the most dramatic rise.

Initially, it was required in Monaco that those under the age of 18 wear a helmet, whilst adults could decide for themselves.

Now, the government has put in place a new rule from 24th January that requires all e-scooter users, regardless of age, to wear a helmet.

In conjunction, Monaco has also launched an information campaign to remind people of the rules for a variety of alternative transport modes, including bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, single wheeled devices, traditional scooters, hoverboards, Segways and electric scooters.

 
 
Photo by Gotrax on Unsplash