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Day: 12 February 2023

Scintillating Monaco sink sorry PSG

by: Luke Entwistle
12/02/2023

AS Monaco strode to an emphatic victory over Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (3-1) at the Stade Louis II on Saturday, extending their impressive unbeaten league record in 2023. 

For the first time since 2012, PSG weren’t the bookies’ favourite heading into the tie, which in itself was a realistic reflection of the state of affairs going into the match. Unlike Monaco, unbeaten since the turn of the year in league football, PSG are struggling for form, and are seeing their lead at the top eaten into. Les Parisiens entered the game off the back of a demoralising Coupe de France exit at the hands of Olympique de Marseille, whilst an injury crisis deepened as the hours ticked down to kick-off. 

Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti were all suffering from injuries that would see them miss the game against Les Monégasques. This worsened just before kick-off as a virus ripped through the squad, manager Christophe Galtier revealing post-match that he was forced to chop and change his lineup several times on the morning of the tie. 

Photo by Monaco Life

The illness perhaps accounted for PSG’s lacklustre start to the game. Philippe Clement’s side targeted Juan Bernat, and soon got their reward, Aleksandr Golovin pouncing in the box to net an early opener and continue his hot streak of form. 

Things got better for Monaco just minutes later. The young El Chadaille Bitshiabu was forced into a mistake under pressure from Krépin Diatta, presenting the ball to Wissam Ben Yedder, who finished past Gianluigi Donnarumma to double the lead. 

However, it was PSG who got the next goal in an entertaining half in front of a packed crowd at the Louis II. Monaco’s defence was static as a series of simple passes led to a simple chance for Warren Zaïre-Emery inside the box, who finished with composure. 

Monaco’s deserved two-goal cushion was restored just before the break, the brilliant Eliesse Ben Seghir slotting in Ben Yedder, who doubled his account via the inside of the post. Clement was perhaps fearing a reaction after the break, but he needn’t have. PSG were limp and incoherent, leading Galtier to admit post-match that he is “worried” about Tuesday’s clash against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. 

Monaco, however, are flying. They are provisionally on the podium and head into Thursday’s Europa League game against Bayer Leverkusen high on confidence. “The players should be proud today. They’ll have a day off tomorrow, and they’ll have deserved it. but I want to see them in training and ambitious on Monday. [The match against Leverkusen] is a final, like many others that are to come in the months to come,” said Clement post-match. 

 

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Photo by AS Monaco

 

1960s Maona and Club La Vigie set date for summer return

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/02/2023
maona and club la vigie

One was a hotspot in the 1960s and the other has been Monaco’s best-kept secret since 1952, but both Maona and Club La Vigie have been cleverly reimagined for the Principality’s 2023 summer season. Here’s what to expect.  

MAONA 

Maona, the portmanteau of two of Monaco’s most famous denizens, Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, harks back to the heady days of Monaco in the 1960s and 1970s when the Principality’s reputation as the most glamourous place on Earth was at its zenith. Famous residents Onassis, the wildly wealthy Greek shipping magnate, and his long-time mistress, Callas, the famed opera singer, opened the joint venture in 1962: Ma for Maria and Ona for Onassis. Carefree and irreverent, the nightclub embodied the times.  

Now, in 2023, near the very site of the original and overlooking the Mediterranean, a modern version of the club is about to hit the scene in the form of a Monaco first: a cabaret under the stars.  

Enjoy cabaret under the stars this summer at Maona. Photo by SBM

The food will be a collection of past and present, featuring family recipes culled from SBM staffers, their parents and even their grandparents. Dishes include favourites such as gambas with pastis, tagliatelle with capon and marjoram-lemon sauce and classic summery desserts like peach melba.  

The cocktail menu is inspired with vintage vermouths, Monaco orange-infused drinks and other interesting combinations.  

Entertainment will run from 7pm to 2am with a pianist, a DJ and a diva taking it in turns to amuse and delight the crowds. A VIP space will be available, seating 12 guests, and designed with a nod to Josephine Baker. 

CLUB LA VIGIE 

From 2nd June, La Pointe de la Vigie will be turned into a private club every day from noon to 8pm.  

In an unspoilt natural setting on the seafront, Club La Vigie will be “the” place for festive afternoons and sunsets. The space will combine, say SBM, “a beach club feel at the water’s edge with Mediterranean food, creative cocktails and cutting-edge musical programming”.  

It will also feature the best-kept secret at Monte-Carlo Beach since 1952: five bungalows tucked away among the pines, rechristened ‘Love Nests’ for those who like a bit of privacy. Access will be by boat, with a shuttle offering easy access to Maona to continue the evening in style. 

Club La Vigie to become a private club with access by boat. Photo by SBM

 

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Photos courtesy of Société des Bains de Mer

Photos: 150th Nice Carnival kicks off in spectacular, colourful style

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/02/2023

The ‘Treasures of the World’ carnival is underway and crowds are packing the streets of Nice for the larger-than-life parade.

The Nice carnival, celebrating its 150th year, kicked off on Friday 10th February with a spectacular night parade through the centre of the city, and a ‘flower battle’ on the Promenade des Anglais on Saturday.

For the next two weeks, colourfully decorated floats, 16 for the parade and 16 for the flower battle, will take to the streets, accompanied by a swarm of street troupes and musicians.

For this special anniversary year, the Rio Carnival joined the weekend celebrations, adding an extra flair to this extraordinary carnival.

Giant eagle float in the Nice Carnival 2023
Nice Carnival 2023. Photo source: Ville de Nice

The Carnival Parade of Lights are held on Saturdays and Tuesday from 8.30pm and last for around 1 hour 30 minutes. The Flower Parades take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays during the afternoon and last around 1 hours 30 minutes.

On Friday 17th February, Lou Queernaval will be held – the first gay carnival in France. It is an event open to all and is committed to promoting the values of sharing, inclusion and living together.

The Nice Carnival will end on Sunday 26th February on the Promenade des Anglais with a fireworks display and the traditional burning of the king and queen floats at sea.

For tickets, click here.

Click on the gallery below to see more pictures of the Nice Carnival 2023…

 

All photos by the Ville de Nice

 

The fight against financial crime: Monaco launches English-language webinar series

by: Elsa Carpenter
12/02/2023
monaco money laundering

As part of its deepening efforts to tackle money laundering and the financing of terrorism within its borders, Monaco has embarked on a year-long webinar programme for willing businesses and financial institutions in the Principality.  

Following the analysis and subsequent publishing of a report by Moneyval into Monaco’s handle on money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT-P), the Monegasque government has launched a national information campaign in the form of webinars – delivered for the most part in English – to improve the understanding of the related issues and its expectations amongst relevant stakeholders in the Principality.  

Every Tuesday from 10am to 11am, a webinar will be held on a range of subjects connected to its AML/CFT-P efforts. These will be hosted by a number of Monegasque authorities and complemented by input from international experts. The target audience of the webinars are alternatively financial institutions (FIs) such as banks, management companies, insurance brokers and money handlers, and non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs).  

“We stress the importance of a very active participation of reporting entities in these seminars,” says a representative for the SICCFIN, Monaco’s Service d’Information et de Contrôle sur les Circuits Financiers. “A certificate will be issued to reporting entities that will have participated in all 23 sessions scheduled between February and December 2023.” 

Although the campaign has already begun, with the first being held on 7th February, the links to each webinar and the information they contain can be accessed retrospectively via the SICCFIN website. The programme, which can be found here, will continue until the end of 2023.  

In other Moneyval-related news, the newly created financial crime task force set-up by the government in the wake of Moneyval’s assessment is set to hold its first meeting on 16th February. Monaco Life understands that the outcome of the meeting will be the adoption of a national strategy against money laundering and financing of terrorism as well as a concrete action plan to tackle the necessary changes Monaco must make if it is to fully align itself with the high standards set by Moneyval.  

READ MORE:

Monaco to “step up” financial crime action after damning Moneyval report

 

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Photo source: Rolad Art for Pixabay

Holiday traffic disruption on Boulevard du Larvotto

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/02/2023

Taking advantage of the school holidays when traffic is less dense, the government will instigate preparatory works on boulevard du Larvotto for a new housing project.

Surveys will be conducted ahead of the construction of real estate project ‘Larvotto Supérieur’ and the continued deployment of the thalasso-thermal energy network.

The surveys will be carried out from 13th to 17th February between 7:30am and 7pm, in two places: near the roundabout between boulevard du Larvotto and avenue de Grande-Bretagne, and at the exit of the IM2S Tunnel, in the Monaco-Nice direction.

While the roads will be open and controlled by workers, users are advised to take alternative routes, such as Avenue Princesse Grace.

The ‘Larvotto Supérieur’ state real estate project is part of the National Housing Plan for Monegasques launched by the Prince’s Government in 2019. It provides for the construction of a 31-apartment residential building on the land located between 17 and 21 boulevard du Larvotto.