15 ° C
Profile

Month: December 2021

Rosberg’s Extreme E team beats Hamilton’s to take champion title

by: Luke Entwistle
20/12/2021

Nico Rosberg’s e-rally team RXR became the inaugural Extreme E champions after securing fourth place in Sunday’s race on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team took the victory on the British coast, leaving them level on points with RXR. But with more victories over the course of the season, Sunday’s fourth-place finish was enough to narrowly clinch victory.
RXR drivers Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson qualified for Sunday’s final with ease, finishing first on a rain-drenched circuit.
The pair, however, couldn’t rival the pace shown by X44, with nine-time rally champion Sebastien Loeb and Critina Gutierrez powering the team to victory. RXR began the race well, getting a good launch and finding themselves on the tail of the X44 team. But they soon began to fall down the field, ultimately finishing outside of the podium places.
The fourth-place finish meant that RXR and X44 both finished on 155 points, but having won three out of the five races this season, it was Rosberg’s team who took home the title. Hamilton and Rosberg once again proved almost inseparable during this series, just as the pair were on-track during their time as teammates at Mercedes.
The inaugural season of Extreme E has been an overwhelming success. The series has provided some exhilarating on track action and Rosberg was full of praise for his drivers, saying after the race: “We are so delighted to be crowned the inaugural Extreme E Champions and I am really proud of the entire RXR team.” The Monaco resident added, “The team has worked so hard all season and performed consistently, racing in some of the world’s most remote locations. To be champions is such an honour.”
However, as Rosberg pointed out post-race, there is an off-track race that also needs to be won: “We’re racing to save the planet.”
The high-quality on-track racing has lifted the profile of the series, in turn highlighting the importance of sustainability both in sport, and in society more widely. Extreme E has therefore succeeded in its mission to raise the profile of environmental issues in sport, a cause it will continue to fight for in the 2022 season, which is due to begin in Saudi Arabia in February.
 
 
Photo source: Extreme E
 
 

Covid death tolls reaches 37 in Principality

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/12/2021

The announcement of the passing of a 97-year-old Monaco resident on Sunday brings the total death toll in the Principality to 37. Meanwhile, the number of ICU patients is on the rise.

The relentless Covid virus continues its march, adding an additional 20 cases on Sunday to the 120 from the previous two days and clocking up another death.

A 97-year-old resident who was confirmed to have tested positive for Covid has died, bringing the total number of those who have succumbed to the disease to 37.

The government is using this time as a reminder to all to get vaccinated, as the jab offers the most effective solution to protect oneself and others from the worst effects of the virus, thus preventing hospitalisations and deaths. The vaccination centre is taking all those eligible for first or second doses and, since 9th November, those over 18 are able to get their booster as well.

As of Sunday, the total number of residents who have contracted the virus since the beginning of the pandemic stands at 4,406. There are currently 18 patients being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital for Covid. Twelve people, six residents included, are in hospital, whilst six more, including two residents are in intensive care (ICU), a high number for Monaco.

Another benchmark of the seriousness of this latest wave is the current number of patients being looked after by the Home Monitoring Centre, which medically supports those who have contracted a milder form of the virus and are able to remain at home. There are 260 people being followed by the centre.

28 more people have recovered fully, bringing that number to 4,073.

The Alpes-Maritimes region

The Omicron variant, which is quickly becoming the dominant strain of Covid in France and Monaco, is a fast spreader, but so far has shown itself to be a milder form of the disease in many, but not all, people. Thus, two doses of the jab are encouraged to prevent severe disease, with boosters playing a large role in keeping the already inoculated healthier.

Monaco’s vaccination rate stands at about 65%, with almost 50,000 doses having been administered. By contrast, the Alpes-Maritimes region has 74.6% of its population double vaxed.

According to the latest French figures, 30.4% of the population in France have also received their booster shot.

 
 
 

Monaco progresses in Coupe de France

by: Luke Entwistle
20/12/2021

AS Monaco avoided a potential banana skin as they eased to a 2-0 victory against Red Star in Paris. The result sees them progress to the round of 32, where they will face Quevilly-Rouen.
Pre-match, Nico Kovac had billed Sunday’s tie as a David and Goliath battle. Given the contrasting stature of the two clubs, the comparison was apt, although the latest instalment threw up an alternative ending.
Red Star had their chance to sling their shot and slay the great beast early on, but whereas David’s shot landed, Micheal Nilor’s attempt unmarked from five yards out couldn’t beat Radoslaw Majecki. The Polish international goalkeeper made the most of a rare start and expertly stuck out a leg to prevent his side going behind.
Minutes later, Red Star were made to pay for that glaring miss. Ironically, it was the diminutive figure of Wissam Ben Yedder, in his 100th game for the club, who put Monaco ahead. The French international capitalised on a defensive error before taking on a defender and slotting calmly past the Red star goalkeeper.
During the half-time interview, Eliot Matazo warned against complacency, stating, “We need to start the second-half well.” The rest of the team heeded his words as there was no let-up in the side’s intensity, only some poor finishing preventing Monaco from extending their lead.
Sofiane Diop, brought on for Aleksandr Golovin at half-time, chipped the Red Star goalkeeper, but his attempt bounced just wide of the post. Minutes later, Myron Boadu, who was a willing runner throughout, should have scored from close range, but couldn’t get his shot away quickly enough.
Monaco got a wake-up call mid-way through the second-half, as a looping Red Star header beat Majecki, with only the crossbar preventing the Parisian side from levelling.
The game was put beyond the minnows just minutes later as an incisive Matazo pass fed Ben Yedder, who confidently finished for his second of the day.
Both sides had the chance to add to the scoreline, but it remained 2-0, a result which sees Monaco progress to the next round of the Coupe de France, where they will face Ligue 2 side Quevilly-Rouen.
Post-match, Kovac praised his side’s mentality, saying, “My players were very serious. It is the attitude that you have to show when you face a third division side, if you want to avoid a faux pas.”
In their final match before a short Christmas break, Monaco face Rennes at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, where a victory could lift them into the European places.

 
SEE ALSO:

ASM v Red Star preview: A David and Goliath tie

 
 
Photo source: AS Monaco
 
 
 

“Migrants are real agents of social change”

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/12/2021

Cultural diplomat Prince Nereides Antonio Giamundo de Bourbon has inaugurated a new initiative called the NDB Opera project, a humanitarian endeavour aimed at educating and employing immigrants.

The tide of migrants flooding into Europe has been a hot topic all year, and one not without serious controversy. The immigration and refugee explosion has left large numbers of people alone in host countries, without financial or familial support and fear of the future. These migrants face xenophobia, stigma, racism and even violence, particularly against women.

One person, Prince Nereides Antonio Giamundo de Bourbon, has looked at the issue in a different light and rather than trying to figure out ways to send them back, live furtively under the radar of the law, or let them continue to live in horrible tent city conditions, has created a project to help bring about jobs and security for immigrants.

His plan, dubbed the NDB Opera project, is to offer education programmes and work experiences in several host countries, allowing qualified candidates to legally and safely leave their countries of origin for jobs needed in Europe. The packages are extensive and include free training before and after arriving in their host countries, accommodation, language training to a B1 level, cultural and civic education training and tailor-made vocational training aimed at obtaining or converting professional diplomas or certificates required for the exercise of specialised work abroad.

Prince Nereides believes it will lead to the “adoption of well-managed migration policies”, resulting in lower costs to hosts and increased contributions by refugees or immigrants.

The project was created and funded by Prince Nereides, who is also founder and president of the holding companies Nereides de Bourbon Group and the Nereides Club-International Cultural Diplomatic Corporation.

NDB Opera is also supported by a group of United Nations members associated with the Prince’s diplomatic club and who guarantee the compliance of all its partners with the international directives of the UN on the theme of immigration and respect for human rights including access to education, mobilisation and employment.

On 18th December the United Nations commemorated the adoption in 1990 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, but little headway has been made on this issue. Only 45 countries to date have signed on.

“For 31 years, France, its European partners and most of the most industrialised immigration countries on the planet have evaded ratification. Yet the defence of human rights has a universal scope and therefore cannot exclude migrants. In addition, migration and development are linked. In advanced and emerging economies, migration plays an essential role in the socio-economic development of host countries, including addressing labour market shortages at all skill levels,” said Prince Nereides.

“Migration has predominantly positive effects, both for the countries of origin and for the host countries,” he goes on to explain. “Migrants make investments and trade that stimulate job creation and improve the balance of payments situation. As workers, entrepreneurs, or investors they bring skills, jobs and capital. Migrants are real engines, agents of social change. Those who return home also enrich their communities with new skills and contribute, along with their networks, to economic growth. Remittances from migrants help reduce poverty and improve access to education and health care in particular. Often migrants bring more to host countries than they receive in return.”

The selection process for the first two thousand candidates has already been completed and the nominees are expected to begin training and employment as early as this month.

 
 
Photo of Prince Nereides Antonio Giamundo de Bourbon provided
 
 
 

Obradovic’s return to Salle Gaston Médecin ends in defeat

by: Luke Entwistle
19/12/2021

A dominant fourth quarter performance from Zenit Saint Petersburg condemned the Roca team to another home defeat in the Euroleague on Friday, the first of Sasa Obradovic’s second reign as coach.
For the fixture, Monaco were missing some key stars, Rob Gray and Paris Lee – the major absentees, leaving Mike James as the only point guard in their roster.
Coming into the game on a high following their overtime victory in Lithuania midweek, Monaco began the game slowly. This despite the support of the buoyant home fans, who packed the hall to welcome Obradovic back to the Principality.
The Roca team’s inferior accuracy was immediately apparent. Donatas Motiejūnas, who has been prolific in recent games, looked way off the pace, registering a meagre 33% of his two-point attempts in the first-quarter.
Jordan Loyd and Billy Baron were a thorn in Monaco’s side throughout the night, and their accuracy, outside the key in the first quarter in particular, gave the Principality side a mountain to climb.
The Roca team, however, were formidable at manufacturing space within the key all night, and by half-time that seemingly insurmountable mountain had been climbed. Dwayne Bacon was instrumental in the side’s comeback, scoring 15 points before the break.
The comeback was completed early in the third-quarter, Danilo Andjusic coming to the fore this time, chipping in with a smattering of field goals and free throws. Monaco therefore went into the final quarter with a slender 57-56 lead.
But the Roca team couldn’t hold on. St. Petersburg blew Monaco away in the final quarter, with some incredible three-point finishing that the Principality side simply couldn’t match. Loyd finished as St. Petersburg’s top scorer with 20 points, and a 100% accuracy rate outside the key.
Bacon’s individual efforts (21 points) weren’t enough to seal victory, and the game was wrapped up with time to spare, with the mass exodus of home fans from the Salle Gaston Médecin taking place before the final buzzer.
Post-match, Obradovic was full of praise for his star performer on the night. “He is a great prospect. He hasn’t even reached his maximum. I believe he is one of the best wingers in the Euroleague.”
The Serbian match also bemoaned the lack of preparation time, saying, “It isn’t easy without practice to prepare for the game. The guys fight, which is important, but you have to fight with a plan.”
Once more, Obradovic will have little to no time to prepare for their next fixture, as his side come up against Limoges at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Sunday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqU31dMHMq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Local yacht broker sells one yacht every two days in 2021

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/12/2021

Northrop and Johnson, a yacht brokerage firm with a Monaco branch specialising in luxury yacht sales, charters and staffing, has broken its own record by selling 141 yachts so far this year, an average of one every other day, an exceptional feat in the current climate.
Covid clearly hasn’t negatively impacted the luxury yacht market, if 2021 sales figures by Northrop and Johnson are an indicator.
Northrop and Johnson’s market for top-end yachts has reached unprecedented heights in a year that saw other industries suffer, boasting the sale of 141 yachts sold so far. This makes the third year in a row that the company, which has new offices in Monaco, has sold more than 100 yachts in a calendar year, with the highest transaction values ever seen by them.
The company has experienced an 84% rise in revenue growth across all their sectors, and a 56% increase in sales. The largest yacht sold by them this year was the mega-yacht Solo, a 71.9 metre ranked as the sixth most expensive ship sold in 2021. The 67.1 metre Anna 1, which was sold at the Principality’s branch, and the 60.4 metre Blue Moon came in a close second and third.
“It has been a very busy year for us,” said Northrop and Johnson President and COO Daniel Ziriakus. “We were very lucky in 2020 to have weathered the hardships well thanks to our ever-increasing technological prowess and the hard work and dedication of our brokers and team members. Everyone started off 2021 running, excited to properly get back to work and to work hard and our numbers speak for themselves. We are exceedingly proud of all that our teams have accomplished this year. There is strong indication that these trends will continue into 2022.”
Monaco’s participation, particularly during the Monaco Yacht Show in September, helped in this record-setting year. In addition to the sale of Anna 1, several other sales were announced that same week.
“We had countless viewings each day and a lot of strong interest in our yachts on display,” said Patrick Coote, Northrop and Johnson’s European Managing Director. “It was clear that there were fewer yachts and fewer people at this year’s show, but overall, those in attendance were high quality and seriously interested in purchasing or chartering.
“Additionally, the client experience was better, giving a more exclusive feeling and the ability for clients to more easily tour the yachts on display. As expected, there were far fewer Americans and those from the Far East than normal, however, we were pleased that it was more than made up for by the number of people from Europe and the Middle East.”
Northrop and Johnson delivers professional services in  luxury yacht sales  and purchasing,  private yacht charter,  new yacht construction,  charter management,  crew placement  and more.
 
 
Photo of Solo, source: Northrop and Johnson