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Month: February 2024

Football: AS Monaco back in the top three after victory over Lens

by: Niki Borisova
26/02/2024

With the team’s president, Dmitry Rybolovlev, watching on, AS Monaco clinched an important victory against RC Lens over the weekend that has propelled the Monegasque side back into the top three of the Ligue 1 rankings. 

After a disappointing defeat at home to Toulouse, Monaco was eager to bounce back and demonstrate the fighting spirit that saw them triumph in the Derby against Nice earlier in the month.  

The match against Lens, a team just eliminated from the Europa League by Fribourg, but still a formidable opponent in Ligue 1, was seen as a perfect opportunity for redemption. 

Match highlights 

Monaco quickly took control, with Folarin Balogun opening the scoring in the 19th minute. Despite doubling their lead thanks to a Takumi Minamino goal minutes later, Lens narrowed the gap soon after.  

The second half saw Lens land an equaliser, but Minamino came through with a final third goal for the Rouges et Blancs to finish the game 2-3.  

Coach Adi Hütter praised his team’s performance, saying, “It was a hell of a game between two teams that fought hard… It’s fantastic to come here and win, everyone enjoyed it, even the Lens fansm who must be disappointed.”  

Mohammed Salisu, an AS Monaco defender, reflected on one of the match’s most climactic moments, saying, “It’s very difficult to score in this stadium, so when Taki [Minamino] did it, everyone exploded.”  

AS Monaco’s ability to secure points against top-half teams has been a real strength this season, with only Paris Saint-Germain outperforming them in this regard.  

As the season progresses, Monaco’s sights will be set on maintaining – or improving – their podium position and continuing their challenge for the highest honours in French football.  

The next League 1 match is scheduled for 1st March against Paris Saint-Germain at home in the Stade Louis II. 

SEE ALSO:

Watch AS Monaco play Paris Saint-Germain for just €45

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Foot

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc “cautiously optimistic” after strong pre-season testing

by: Elsa Carpenter
26/02/2024

Days out from the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc wound up a successful few days of testing feeling positive about the changes made over the winter, but admitted, “It is still difficult to assess [the car’s] level of competitiveness right now.” 

Preparations for the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, which begins this coming weekend, stepped up a notch last week as the grid headed to Bahrain for three intense days of testing on the track the drivers will race on come 2nd March. 

For Monegasque Charles Leclerc and his Spanish teammate at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, the Sakhir track provided an opportunity to put to the test the new SF-24 and experiment with their cars’ potential by trialling various fuel loads and tyre compounds. 

In total, the pair completed 432 laps to cover more than 2,250 kilometres, the equivalent of over seven Grands Prix. It was the second highest total of all the teams.  

“Our first morning of testing was quite productive. As for the performance, it’s just too early to comment or draw conclusions,” reported Leclerc. “We ran all the tests we planned to and things are going ahead as expected, which is a positive.” 

The Monaco-born driver’s confidence seemed to grow as the testing sessions continued, despite a red flag causing some delays on Day 2.  

“The first two days have gone well as we have run our full programme, although at this stage, we can’t say how competitive we are. I think the first time we will get an idea of where we stand will be in qualifying next week,” he said. “We made some general changes to the car today and yesterday, with our focus shifting to fine-tuning our set-up on the last day of testing.” 

Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc recorded the second fastest lap of the testing sessions. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

By the end of testing, Sainz had recorded the fastest lap, with Leclerc just behind him. Trackside F1 commentators described the pair as seeming “cautiously optimistic about how the team had carried out their programme”.  

“We achieved our goals without a hitch, gathering extensive data and ensuring the SF-24’s predictability and ease of handling,” said Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur. “These were three productive days, with no technical problems, which is what you want most, especially when it’s the only session before the start of the season. Looking just at our own performance, we have got off on the right foot.” 

The team’s thoughts will now shift to the upcoming opening stage of the season in Bahrain.  

“It’s full focus on the race and I can’t wait to be back on track next week,” said Leclerc. 

Read related:

F1: Charles Leclerc reacts to Scuderia Ferrari’s new SF-24

 

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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Moneyval compliance: Parliament approves new law on trusts

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/02/2024

Monaco has completed another step towards its Moneyval compliance, this time with the adoption of part four of bill no.1084 by the National Council relating to trusts.

During an Extraordinary Session on Thursday 22nd February, the National Council voted on bill no.1084, adapting the legislative provisions relating to the fight against money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (part IV).

“The vote on bill no. 1084 allows us to have legislation that is fully compliant with the recommendations of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force),” said Thomas Brezzo, President of the Legislation Commission.

Part IV is in addition to law no. 1.549 of July 2023 relating to central preventative measures, law no. 1.550 Pt.2 of 10th August 2023 on transparency of legal entities, and bill no. 1080 pt.3 passed in November on repressive measures.

The provisions of the law primarily relate to trusts and deals with certain aspects that could not be covered by the previous legislative reforms, and makes further amendments to laws already reformed.

The text includes the addition of the concept of the trustee’s “domicile”, of keeping updated information on the beneficial owners of trusts for control considerations in Monaco, of the need to keep updated information on professionals who enter into a business relationship or carry out a transaction with the trust that’s been set up or transferred to Monaco, to give authorities access to information on trusts, and the mandatory registration of trusts with the Economic Development Department.

“On this major issue for the image and reputation of the Principality, the elected representatives of the National Council respected their commitments to provide the Principality with effective legislative texts, meeting the best international standards in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism,” said the National Council in a public statement.

SEE ALSO:

Civil societies given new legal obligations to follow

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The cost of fast fashion: France to consider adding a dissuasive surcharge to cheap imported purchases

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/02/2024

Fast fashion might be a cheap way to keep up with the trends, the industry is a major source of pollution and may even be harmful to human health, which is why one young French politician has launched a campaign for change.  

According to Antoine Vermorel-Marques, a 31-year-old member of the Les Républicains party, the inexpensive and often sweatshop-sourced clothing sold by fast fashion brands the world over is not only damaging the environment and causing untold harm to biodiversity, but also seriously threatening human health.  

He argues that change is desperately needed and has suggested slapping a €5 supplementary charge on all fast fashion purchases. 

In a video posted on TikTok earlier this month, Vermorel-Marques hit home the seriousness with which he takes this issue.

In the clip, which can be found here, the young politician unpacks a series of items from the low-end and predominately online retailers with whom he takes umbrage in a style parodying social media’s community of fast fashion influencers and describes the pieces in detail.

 

@antoinevermorel42 🛑 Les vêtements à 2€ qui arrivent en avion, contiennent des substances nocives pour la santé et finissent sur les plages en Afrique, c’est non ! Je dépose à l’Assemblée nationale une proposition de loi pour instaurer un bonus-malus afin de pénaliser les marques et pour encourager les démarches plus vertueuses ♻️ #shein#sheinhaul#ecologie#fastfashion#stopshein#pourtoi#fyp @lookbookaly @menezangel_ @loufitlove @lila_drila @cilia.ghass @tifanywallemacq @veronika_cln @lia__toutcourt @iamm_mae.e@IAMM_MAE.E ♬ son original – antoinevermorel

Picking up a pair of shoes from Chinese online mega-seller Shein, Vermorel-Marques notes that they have been “treated with phthalate, a substance which is an endocrine disruptor that can make us sterile”. Then he chooses a set of “so cute, so classy” baby clothes, remarking on how they have been doused with formaldehyde, a substance that “potentially causes cancer in babies”. 

An estimated 92 million tonnes of clothing end up in landfill every year, with a large portion coming from online fast fashion titans such as the aforementioned Shein and its competitors, the likes of Temu and Boohoo.  

Vermorel-Marques’ concept is to add a €5 surcharge on purchases from these cut-price imported brands while offering a counter €5 rebate on domestically produced and sustainably made items.

“What is key here is that it’s not another tax,” he says. “We’re not here to take money from you. We’re just saying: ‘If you pollute, you pay. And if you don’t pollute, you win.’ It’s a win-win for both the consumer and the planet.” 

While opponents of the bill say it would penalise those on lower incomes, who can manage the minimal costs of fast fashion clothing – the average price of an item from Shein is €7 – but often cannot afford the more expensive but “better for the planet” pieces championed by Vermorel-Marques and are reluctant to buy second-hand items.  

The bill is expected to be brought before France’s National Assembly for debate in the next few months. 

 

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Photo source: Rio Lecatompessy, Unsplash

Princely couple in Courchevel for charity gala benefitting Princess Charlene Foundation

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/02/2024

Over the weekend, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco headed to the glamourous Alpine resort of Courchevel, where they were the guests of a charity auction and gala organised for the benefit of the Princess Charlene Foundation and the Club des Sports Courchevel. 

The turnout for the second Courchevel Charity Gala, held under the Honorary Presidency of Prince Albert and British billionaire Sir James Ratcliffe, was impressive, with some 200 VIPs from the worlds of sport, business, the arts and European nobility, such as Prince Alexandre of Liechtenstein and his wife, Princess Astrid, coming together to support the event’s two chosen beneficiaries.    

Held in the Crystal Globe Room of the Ineos Club House on 24th February, it was an evening filled with great food and music.  

Before dinner, the attendees were treated to a concert by three extraordinary young musicians: 17-year-old Monegasque piano virtuoso Stella Almondo, French-South Korean violin prodigy Léo Couralet and France’s Gabriel Guignier, who has been playing cello since the age of five and is a student of Paris’ prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse. 

Monegasque piano virtuoso Stella Almondo performed at the prestigious event. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

The highlight of the night was, no doubt, the exceptional auction that was headed up by auctioneer Olivier Valmier and French artist Richard Orlinski. The lots included spectacular works of art, exclusive culinary and touristic experiences, rare wines and sport merchandise signed by world famous athletes as well as a beautiful photograph of Princess Charlene. 

A glamourous black and white photograph of Princess Charlene was one of the coveted lots presented for sale during the auction. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

All of the proceeds from the sales will go towards programmes put on by the Princess Charlene Foundation, the primary focus of which is water safety and drowning prevention, and the Club des Sports Courchevel’s kids club.  

 

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All photo credits: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

2023 was Monaco’s second hottest year on record

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/02/2024

2023, a year characterised by long-lasting heat waves, high temperatures and average monthly rainfall levels well below their normal zones, was one of the hottest 12 months on record in Monaco. 

This revelation, which has been confirmed by statistics published in IMSEE’s annual meteorological report, likely won’t come as a surprise to anyone living in and around the Principality.

According to the localised weather review, which was published in late February, two “distinct meteorological phenomena” punctuated a near record-setting year: high heat that preceded and continued well beyond the usual summer season and rainfall totals that were significantly below average for the third year in a row.  

THE HEAT IS ON 

Since the 1970s, average temperatures in Monaco have been steadily climbing.  

The average maximum between 1971 and 1980 was just under 18.7°C, but by 2023 had shot up to 20.6°C. Indeed, the average overall temperature last year was a balmy 18°C.  

During the hottest day of last year, the mercury climbed to 34.9°C, which is just shy of the record set in 2022: 35.1°C.  

At the other end of the scale, 2023’s absolute minimum was 4.6°C. Unlike pre-2020, when negative temperatures were normal winter occurrences, temperatures haven’t fallen below 0°C in the last five years, according to the data collected by Monaco’s principal weather station in the Jardin Exotique.  

HERE COMES THE SUN 

There were an average 7.3 hours of sunshine per day in 2023. July was sunniest and clocked 326 hours, while December noted the least, with 130. Overall, there was just 0.3% difference between 2023 and 2022, the equivalent of a mere nine hours.  

Precipitation levels were alarming low, with only 436mm of rain recorded throughout the entire year, compared to Monaco’s annual average of 794mm.

There were 46 rainy days in total, a full 17 days less than normal. Oddly, the rainiest day came in August, when 47.3mm fell in a single day. Overall, October was the wettest month of last year, racking up 90mm, while February came bottom of the list with a shocking 0mm.  

After record lows in 2001 and then again in 2007, 2023 has the dubious honour of being among the three driest years on record in the Principality.  

To read the full report for yourself, click here.  

 

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Photo source: Antoine Contenseau, Unsplash