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Day: 25 March 2022

End of CTTR, EPCP and Carlo support coming soon

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/03/2022

As the impact of the pandemic on Monaco recedes, the government has set a date for an end to its financial support for employers and workers as well as remote working.

As the health situation in the Principality no longer requires harsh measures, the government announced on Friday 25th March that it will end the Reinforced Temporary Total Unemployment as well as the Partial Exoneration of Employer Charges schemes, which were temporarily implemented during the crisis, on 31st March. Carlo recipients get a reprieve until 30th June.

These temporary emergency measures were important and essential stopgaps for many workers and employers who were forced to stop work during the pandemic, but with the lifting of restrictions, the economy will be free again to get back to work on its own.

Those who receive government support through the Carlo programme will still be able to take advantage of the scheme until 30th June. The platform, which gives cash back to consumers on purchases made at local participating establishments, will thus continue as is for now with operating costs being covered by the State.

In other work-related areas, telecommuting will continue for employees of Monaco who live in France until 31st May. From 1st June, employers can decide whether to carry on with remote work schedules or revert back to in-office work. If they prefer the remote option, they must do so formally and the Department of Labour has made clear they are available to help companies make the formal steps needed to implement the scheme.

Workers residing in Italy, conversely, will continue with telecommuting for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

RAMOGE releases shocking plastics video  

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/03/2022

During Monaco Ocean Week, the players of RAMOGE, an agreement between Monaco, France and Italy, released an awareness video highlighting the impact of marine pollution, called Thrill in the Abyss. 

It’s only just over four minutes long, but Thrill in the Abyss (Frisson dans les abysses) packs a big punch.

The short French film covers exploration campaigns undertaken by scientists from the three nations that make up RAMOGE, where they found in underwater canyons, along with beauty, an alarming amount of waste accumulation at depths of over 2,000 metres, roughly 30 kilometres off the coast.

The staggering amount of waste was captured on film from wire-guided underwater vehicles in September 2018, which can reach depths of 6,000 metres below sea level. It shows the extremity of the situation, with piles of rubbish sitting on the seabed that had been carried from the land and rivers to these resting places.

The jarring impact of seeing a veritable junk yard where there should be grasses and creatures puts a fine point on the problem facing the seas with regard to ocean pollution. These undersea garbage dumps are filled with plastic cups, old cans, tennis balls and a variety pack of unidentifiable detritus.

There was even a pot of yogurt from the brand Chambourcy, a French company that shut down in 1996.

“It looks light and fragile, but it has been here, in this deep area of ​​ecological interest, for several decades. Seeing is believing. And that’s only the visible part, there are also microplastics,” Anne Vissio, Executive Secretary of the RAMOGE Agreement, told Monaco Matin. “We realised that the canyons are areas of accumulation of waste. All this waste comes from the earth, has been abandoned in nature, then carried by waterways and currents.”

Screenshot from Frisson dans les abysses

“Removing them is very complicated technically and would cost a fortune,” she said. The purpose of this video, which we hope will be relayed massively, is to say ‘Stop, let’s not add more!’ Individually, we can act and stop the use of plastic. On a global scale, we must stop the production of plastic packaging.”

The footage also showed the marvels of the seas, such as fish, tiny sea crustaceans, coral and other such incredible sea flora and fauna, but these beautiful images don’t hold a candle to the mess found in their habitat.

Beyond the horror of how terrible it looks, it is also possible they are dangerous to health. As the plastics slowly break down, they release microplastics which are typically passed through the body without harm. The danger comes from the microplastics on the surface of the ocean that attach to plastic and travel long distances. The plastic actually serves as a carrier. Certain micro-organisms attached to it can be pathogenic for marine organisms, toxic or invasive.

RAMOGE is made up of delegates from France, Monaco and Italy and was formed in 1991 after an oil tanker sank off the coast, threatening the coastlines and the sea life. They work to fight against accidents such as these and establish cooperative agreements in the event of any such occurrence. Additionally, the representatives work to protect the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, which hosts between 25% and 30% of the endemic species and 10% of the marine species known to man, despite only covering 1% of the world’s ocean surface. 

See the video below…

 

 

 

 

Photo: Screenshot from Frisson dans les abysses

 

 

 

New Repossi ring to benefit Prince’s Foundation

by: Luke Entwistle
25/03/2022

Renowned local jewellers Repossi has created a Barbere Chromatic Ocean ring that it will sell and give the profits to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in turn aiding ocean conservation efforts.

The ring, in pink gold and aqua blue lacquer, has a sale price of €3,000, and will be available to order until 31st December from the Repossi Monaco Flagship in Square Beaumarchais.

To mark Monaco Ocean Week, whilst consolidating their commitment to ocean preservation, an engraving reading, “Together for a healthy ocean” will highlight that message.

All benefits from the limited edition, ocean coloured ring will go towards the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, whose eco, sustainable agenda prioritises actions that seek to protect our planet’s waters.

Repossi has a long history in Monaco, where they opened their first boutique in 1978. The legacy of Repossi brand has passed through three generations, and is now entrusted to Gaia, the current artistic director.

She has a history of creating rings in support of causes that she is passionate about. For example, Repossi released a ring following the Beirut explosion in 2020, whilst the Chromatic Sapphire collection was released in collaboration with the Moyo Gems Organisation to serve women’s visibility in the gemstone industry.

This time, Repossi is supporting a cause dear to both Gaia and to Prince Albert, in giving visibility to, and raising funds for the fight to save the oceans.

 

 

 

Finest takes over Monaco Esports in $10 million deal

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/03/2022

Israeli sports organisation Finest has acquired Monaco Esports for $10 million, ending all Monaco Esports branding and operations after the upcoming Sim Racing event, as the bigger venture will absorb the Monaco-based company. 

The merger between Finest and Monaco Esports was announced on 14th March and is part of Finest’s plans for international expansion.

“I am really glad to welcome the Finest group in Monaco, their experience and knowledge of the esports world will help the Principality of Monaco and the Federation to improve and put Monaco in the front of the esports scene,” said Louis Ducruet, President of Monaco Esports Federation.

Finest was founded in 2019 by Rubik Milkis but is now being run by former CEO of the Israeli Football Association Rotem Kamer. Milkis still retains an active role as the company’s Chief Gaming Officer (CGO).

“It is a new era of esports we will witness in Monaco. For years we have been working to build the foundation of what would become a highly global structure. Monaco Esports merging with Finest gives that worldwide reach we’ve been expecting. We are now looking forward to the extraordinary results we are going to achieve within this new family,” said Boris Fedoroff, President and Founder of Monaco Esports.

Finest was recently taken over by media giant RadarZero when CEO Mark Klein took over the majority stake in the business in late 2020. This makes it part of a larger portfolio of gaming operations owned by Radar, such as GameSquare, Enthusiast Gaming and FaZe Clan.

In July 2021, Klein met Louis Ducruet and Boris Fedoroff and began talking about a merger, which made sense for both sides. Monaco Esports would get a money injection and a higher profile, and Finest would get access to Monaco’s market, reputation and enthusiasm.

“The Principality wants to make Monaco a gaming hub in Europe,” Klein explained to gaming site dextero.com. “They would like to see events every two months. Events made for the fans, for the pro teams, for the industry, to create best practices and bring financiers and investors in gaming companies and technology to Monaco.

“They 100 percent want to support those initiatives. They also want to subsidize the fanbase through afterschool programs for kids, for example. Their support is something that, unfortunately, I cannot say that we have here in Israel [from a government perspective].”

Finest also wants to encourage more girls to be part of this world, and already support the Valorant Girls Team. It should be noted that metrics are showing the split between boys and girls in esports is coming close to equal, so the women’s market is becoming hugely important as an untapped resource.

 

 

 

Image source: Finest