The worrying extent of damage caused by a cyberattack on the Départment des Alpes-Maritimes in early November has been revealed by a ransomware group on the dark web.
Back on Thursday 10th November, when the cyberattack took place, the Département des Alpes-Maritimes cut all its IT networks in an attempt to “protect sensitive data”. Despite hopeful statements made at the time by the local authorities – namely that the “responsiveness of the action taken could well have assured no pirating of community data” – it now seems certain that vast quantities of public information was stolen.
Over last weekend, reports began to surface that a ransomware group called Play was planning on going public with the data it had taken. On the morning of Tuesday 29th November, 13GB of pirated data out an alleged 290GB that the hackers have in their control was published on the dark web.
Screenshots shared by the Journal du Net (JDN) suggest that Play has gained access to a wide range of sensitive data, from PAIE and URSSAF files to work-from-home and Covid-related information. Even files on the Christmas voucher scheme for children in the Alpes-Maritimes appear to have been compromised.
Play is a relatively new player in the murky world of ransomware and hacking, although experts say it leaves behind signatures similar to better-known groups like Hive and Nokayawa. Its goal for the attack on the Alpes-Maritimes is not yet clear, but this recent assault on a French local authority is somewhat unusual for Play, who typically targets South America, according to the JDN. The media outlet reported that Play’s latest major “hit” was on a courthouse in Cordoba, Argentina, earlier this year.
Works to connect Monaco to the high-speed fibre optic system Europe India Gateway will impact traffic in Fontvieille for the next few weeks.
Civil engineering teams will be working on Avenue Albert II between 21st November and 16th December to connect Monaco Telecom facilities to Zone F in Fontvieille.
The works are an important development for the Principality’s international strategy as they will be allowing for the connection of Monaco to the Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable, a high-speed fibre optic system.
Works will be undertaken during the day from Monday to Friday, from the stadium roundabout to the intersection of Rue de la Lüjerneta. The works will not cause any initial changes to the traffic lanes, however deviations will be implemented as the work progresses.
For the duration of the work, the Albert II bus stop will be moved from its current location to the nearby parking areas, which will be partially neutralised.
Monaco’s free bus trials will now continue until 2nd January in a change to the schedule that will give the government time to better assess and analyse data on the impact the scheme is making to commuters, road traffic and the Principality overall.
The trial period for the free bus service in the Principality has officially been extended to cover the holidays, with an end date of 2nd January.
The government has said they wanted to allow “the time and the means to collect and analyse, in their entirety, data on the impact of this measure regarding the use of buses, road traffic in the city correlated to the use of public car parks [and] changes in the level of automobile pollution” in order to make a final decision on the success of the scheme.
The trials, set up by the National Council with the assistance of the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM), were started to encourage people to use public transport as a means of lessening their individual greenhouse gas emission footprints and to lessen traffic, especially during busy commuting hours.
Photo source: Monaco Communications Department
Heartbreak for Rosberg X Racing as they miss out on Extreme E title
A disastrous ‘Crazy Race’ at the Extreme E season finale in Uruguay saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) miss out on the final, with X44 Vida Carbon Racing clinching the title.
Saturday’s ‘Crazy Race’ lived up to its name. From lights out, RXR were right in the thick of the action. Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky made three separate contacts in just two turns on the opening lap, sustaining damage in the process.
Although she managed to limp back to the pits for repairs and a driver changeover, the team was ultimately disqualified due to an infringement of the rules with too many mechanics working in the repair zone at any one time.
Consequently, X44 Vida Carbon Racing qualified with ease for Sunday’s Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix with the title up for grabs. But Lewis Hamilton’s team didn’t get off to a good start. Sébastien Loeb failed to make progress and was bogged down in fourth place.
However, in the second phase of the race, Genesys Andretti United, in third position at the time, picked up a seven-second time penalty. That meant that X44 only needed to finish within seven seconds to secure the bottom step on the podium, but more importantly the title, beating RXR by just two points.
In a social media post, RXR reacted to the loss: “A devastating end to our Championship dreams, but second place is still something to be proud of… We will be back!”
Extreme E will return for a third season in 2023 with a series of new locations making the calendar. The grid will travel to Saudi Arabia in March, before racing in Scotland, and Sardinia. There will also be a race in Brazil or the USA in September and a season final in Chile next December is TBC.
Photo by Sam Bloxham
Helicopter crash: local victim named as Vyacheslav Taran
While authorities are yet to formally release the identities of the two victims in Friday’s shocking helicopter crash near Eze, the passenger has been named locally as Monaco resident Vyacheslav Taran.
Originally from Russia, Vyacheslav Taran settled in Monaco around 10 years ago and was a fintech entrepreneur and co-founder of the trading and investment platform Libertex.
He was the husband of Hello Monaco Founder Olga Taran and a father of three children.
“It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and Chairman of Board of Directors, Vyacheslav Taran, after a helicopter crash that took place en route to Monaco on Friday, 25 November 2022,” said the company in a statement. “The Board of Directors of Libertex Group and company employees extend their most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Taran family.”
Vyacheslav Taran, aged 53, was the sole passenger travelling in a Monacair helicopter from Lausanne in Switzerland to Monaco when it crashed into a hillside near Eze village at around 2pm. The pilot, aged in his 30s, also died instantly.
“A well-known and highly respected businessman, described as kind-hearted, polite and humble by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him, Taran was a true visionary,” continued Libertex in its statement. “Taran was also devoted to giving back to the community and always rushed to help those in need, particularly children. He co-founded Change One Life, a charitable foundation helping children from orphanages and child-care institutions to find families and live fulfilling lives. To this day, Change One Life has helped more than 30,000 orphaned children. Vyacheslav Taran will be missed more than words can express, and everyone at Libertex will eternally be grateful for what he has accomplished.”
An investigation has been launched into the crash, as agents from Airbus, manufacturer of the H130 helicopter, also work to determine the cause.
End of an era: Stars ‘n’ Bars to close at 30-year mark
One of Monaco’s most iconic restaurants, Stars ‘n’ Bars, is closing after 30 years. But while the city’s first family-friendly restaurant and international sports bar will be no more, there is another exciting project in the works. Owner Didier Rubiolo tells us more.
The news broke publicly on Monday 28th November with a sign on the landmark star telling patrons that these will be the last two months of the bar and restaurant as we know it.
“I have been very, very happy with Stars ‘n’ Bars,” Co-Founder Didier Rubiolo told Monaco Life before the announcement. “It has been an honour to serve millions of guests from all over the world and we especially want to thank the Monaco community for its amazing support.”
The restaurant-bar will close in January 2023, exactly three decades after it was opened by Didier Rubiolo and Kate Powers, who sadly passed away in 2021. The pair had recognised in the early 90s that, despite Monaco’s jet set image, there was a real community of working mothers and fathers here who wanted somewhere fun and reasonably priced to eat with their kids.
Didier Rubolio and Kate Powers on the opening day of Stars ‘n’ Bars in 1993, photo provided
Overlooking luxury yachts on Port Hercule, and right next to the team paddock of the famous Monaco Grand Prix, Stars ‘n’ Bars was also a big drawcard for the many celebrities that frequented the Principality.
“I remember, Chuck Berry came the first night we opened. After one and a half months, Prince came and did two concerts here, one private and one public. I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is amazing’,” says Didier, smiling. “One night, Stevie Wonder came with his musicians and team after playing at the Sporting. He said to Kate, ‘If you give my team American food, I will play for you tonight.’ So, we fed them, and he played for one hour. That happened so often here.”
The memories are clearly more than Didier can articulate. He remembers the time that Sean Penn came in to eat with a friend and was barely recognised by anyone until he got up to leave; when Celine Dion dropped in to say hi; and how Claudia Schiffer would come for brunch on the terrace when she used to live in Monaco.
Inside Stars ‘n’ Bars today, with all its memorabilia. Photo by Monaco Life
Many of these moments were captured on camera and adorn the walls of the huge three-story establishment. They sit alongside an enormous array of sporting memorabilia – an actual F1 racing car donated by two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen, jerseys from Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, footballs and uniforms signed by Pele and SuperBowl pros, as well as rackets, balls and photos given by Nadal, Federer and McEnroe. Prince Albert II of Monaco himself donated the first sporting memorabilia to Didier and Kate, the bobsleigh he raced in at the Winter Olympics.
It will all be auctioned off, save for a few, and Didier now has the difficult task of documenting everything for sale.
Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen’s F1 car hangs on a wall in Stars ‘n’ Bars. Photo by Monaco Life
But Stars ‘n’ Bars has been more than a magnet for celebrities and hungry families. It has been a pioneer in the sustainable development goals of the Principality. It was the first in Monaco to say no to plastic straws, bottled water and non-biodegradable containers. 100% of the electricity comes from renewable energy sources, and they even have their own fleet of electric vehicles.
Their menu offers eco-friendly dishes with primarily organic, local ingredients and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options as well as organic meat and sustainable fish.
Kate and Didier also joined other eco-conscious activists in Monaco to create Monacology, an annual week-long educational experience to help school children learn how to respect their planet.
“We all need to accept that climate change threatens the planet and our children’s lives. Kate and I decided that we wanted to raise conscientiousness about that threat and help the community find solutions,” says Didier. “It will be sad to say goodbye to Stars ‘n’ Bars after 30 years, but it’s time to create something even more special. We will be releasing details of a new project soon and we can’t wait to take the next step!”
Prince Albert with Kate Powers and government minister Marie Pierre-Gramaglia at the inauguration of the 14th edition of Monacology 2018, photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Communication Department
Without divulging too much information, Didier reveals that the new restaurant will have a very strong eco-friendly emphasis, and will look very different to how it does now.
In the meantime, the restaurant plans to celebrate its 30 years of service by organising special animations over the next two months, including reintroducing popular “nostalgia” dishes from the past that are no longer on the current menu.
The Stars ‘n’ Bars team will also share videos and flashback images from unforgettable events over the last three decades on its social media sites, including Halloween, the 4th of July, Monaco Grand Prix, a concert by Prince and surprise visits by international celebrities.
Photo opportunities will be staged for visitors who want to be immortalised as part of the famous restaurant décor and atmosphere before it disappears forever in January.
In addition, customers will be invited to post their favorite SNB memories, which will serve to create a permanent “living history” of Stars ‘n’ Bars on the internet.
Click on the gallery below for some Stars ‘n’ Bars highlights throughout the decades…
Photo above: Didier Rubiolo, Co-Founder of Stars ‘n’ Bars, by Monaco Life. Gallery photos provided.
All the headlines and highlights from Monaco, direct to you every morning
