21 ° C
Profile

Day: 4 April 2024

Monaco’s Carlo shopping app continues enormous success

by: Elsa Carpenter
04/04/2024

Since its launch at the end of 2020, the Carlo shopping app has gone from strength to strength. More than 1,000,000 purchases were made by the app’s 65,000 users last year, creating cause for celebration and commendation among its designers and backers, namely the Monaco Government. 

On 28th March, the Monaco Government and the company behind the Carlo app invited their more than 650 partners, from retail shops and restaurants to opticians and wellness centres, to MonacoTech for a review of the successful implementation of the digital system. 

The Carlo concept is to encourage users, whether they are residents of the Principality, people living near to Monaco or tourists, to shop local by rewarding them with financial incentives, such as cashback and special offers. 

More than 1,000,000 purchases were made via the app in 2023, which has 65,000 registered users. It is estimated that 2,000 people use Carlo each day.  

On top of that, there are now more than 650 local businesses that offer customers the opportunity to use the app when shopping or paying for a variety of services, up from 500 a year ago. 

See more: How to use the Carlo app and what are the benefits?

Among the positive facts and figures, it was also announced at the meeting that the Monaco Government has decided to prolong its financial backing of the app until the end of March 2025. 

This means that, in a bid to continue its support for local businesses, the government will extend its offer to cover the platform fees. Without this assistance, local businesses who feature on the app would otherwise have to pay 1% of the purchases made through Carlo to its developers.  

In a statement released following the meeting, the government said it is “delighted with this collaboration with Carlo and partner traders, which contributes to the economic dynamism of the Principality”. 

The team behind Carlo, which was created by engineer-turned-entrepreneur Antoine Bahri and established itself as a MonacoTech-backed startup, also unveiled the app’s new sponsorship programme.  

New users referred to Carlo by an existing user will instantly receive €5 cashback, while those who recommend the app will earn a special one-off reward.

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo credit: Monaco Communications Department / Stéphane Danna

Nine surveillance cameras installed in the Louis II tunnel

by: Niki Borisova
04/04/2024

In a bid to improve safety and clamp down on speeding, a series of nine surveillance cameras now line Monaco’s Louis II tunnel.

One year ago, three men in their 30s lost their lives when the car they were travelling in crashed and burst into flames in the Louis II tunnel, which runs from the Port Hercule area of the Principality to the Larvotto neighbourhood.

Drugs and alcohol contributed to the crash – the driver’s blood alcohol level was 1.76 grams per litre while the legal limit in Monaco is 0.5 grams – but the man behind the wheel had also reached at least 148km/h in the moments before the fatal event.

See more: Drugs, alcohol and high speed blamed for fatal Louis II tunnel crash

Due to the lack of public surveillance in the tunnel at the time of the incident, the investigators of the case were forced to rely on a string of privately-owned cameras in order to better understand what exactly had happened.

The Monaco Government recently decided to rectify this absence and a new network of public surveillance cameras have now been installed in the Louis II tunnel, which forms part of Monaco’s iconic Grand Prix circuit.

According to Monaco locals, it is commonplace to see cars and other vehicles travelling at dangerously high speeds in the tunnel, so it is hoped that this new surveillance network will help deter drivers from going too fast and prevent any tragedies similar to the 1st April 2023 crash from happening in the future.

Read related:

Record road deaths force Monaco Police to get tough on drink driving, but how?

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo by Monaco Life

Monaco to run free shuttle service during Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/04/2024

With the 2024 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters due to begin in a matter of days, the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco has confirmed that a free shuttle service to and from the Monte-Carlo Country Club will be up and running again this year. Here are all the details. 

Kicking off the Masters 1000 clay court season on 6th April is the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, which will run until 14th April. 

The event has long had a special place in the annals of tennis and the biggest names in the men’s tennis world always show up to play at the legendarily beautiful site that is the Monte-Carlo Country Club. 

Upwards of 140,000 visitors are expected to attend the tournament over the course of its nine days and in order to facilitate their arrival and departure from the sea-facing venue, Monaco’s government recognises the need to provide reliable and convenient services to and from the event. 

As such, the Compagnie Autobus de Monaco will be providing free shuttles, including the popular “bateau bus”, to all valid ticket holders. 

The buses will run morning and evening, and will accommodate those arriving by car, by coach or by other means.  

See more: Tennis legend Henri Leconte to hold booking signing event at Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo on 6th April

Morning shuttles will be picking up passengers from stops along the seafront route that runs from the Kennedy carpark at the northeastern tip of Port Hercule. The limit of the evening shuttle will be the Portier carpark.  

The pick-up and drop-off spot for coach travellers will be at the Chemin des Pêcheurs car park. 

For more information, click here.

Read related:

Tennis: the 2024 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters line-up is revealed

 

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, 2023

NASA awards €1.75 billion Artemis contract to Venturi Astrolab

by: Niki Borisova
04/04/2024

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. has been awarded a major NASA contract worth up to €1.75 billion. The US company, which famously developed the FLEX rover alongside its Monaco-based strategic partner, the Venturi Group, will now play a crucial role in the development of the Artemis campaign’s next-generation lunar terrain vehicle.

The project, which comes with an overall budget in the region of €4.2 billion and could last as long as 13 years, will be a collaborative affair, drawing on the expertise of Venturi Astrolab as well as its “teammates”: Axiom Space, Inc., and Odyssey Space Research.

Together, they will be tasked with “advancing the development of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which will help Artemis astronauts explore more of the Moon’s surface on future missions”.

New era in space exploration

Gildo Pastor, the president of the Venturi Group, said of the news: “To be a part of this monumental phase in lunar exploration, with our technology being validated by NASA, is incredibly fulfilling. It’s a momentous leap from our historical focus on terrestrial mobility to now contributing to the Artemis missions… Through our strategic partnership with Astrolab, I am proud to see the Venturi Group’s know-how validated by NASA. After 20 years of innovation and world records in the field of terrestrial electric vehicles, we are now involved in an adventure that will go down in the history books: when Man returns to the Moon! When I see this rover, equipped with our wheels and batteries, operating up there I will have made my greatest dream come true.”

Meanwhile, Jaret Matthews, the founder and CEO of Venturi Astrolab, has emphasised the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving NASA’s lunar ambitions: “Our selection by NASA highlights the capability of our FLEX rover and the strength of our collaboration with Venturi Group. We are fully committed to delivering an LTV that will be a critical asset for establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon… Our entire team, together with our business partners, including our strategic partner Venturi Group, are committed to delivering to NASA an LTV that serves as a critical tool in the agency’s efforts to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.”

Read related:

Video: From Monaco to the Moon, Venturi FLEX Rover joins SpaceX mission

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo supplied

International School of Monaco prepares for third TEDxYouth event

by: Niki Borisova
04/04/2024

The International School of Monaco’s upcoming TEDxYouth event, set for 6th April, is presenting itself as a ‘reality check’ on pressing global issues.

The International School of Monaco (ISM) is gearing up to host its third TEDxYouth event on 6th April, continuing its tradition of engaging young minds with powerful ideas. As a local iteration of the global TEDx initiative, the event showcases the establishment’s dedication to encouraging young people’s interest in learning and discussion.

Scheduled to start at 2pm at the school’s harbour-side location, the two-hour session will showcase a mix of 11 young speakers, ranging from 10 to 17 years old, alongside two adult speakers: a parent, Filippo Ghirelli, who is the founder and Executive Chairman of Genera Group, and a teacher from the school community, Katie Lattik.

Filippo will be bringing his expertise in energy transition and sustainability to the event, and says, “Participating in TEDxYouth in Monaco is not only an honour, but it gives me a chance to combine my passion for mentoring the next generation with a reflective examination of our roots.”

This diverse line-up is aimed at broadening the perspective of discussions, embracing topics from the implications of fake news and the role of Artificial Intelligence in modern settings to the nuances of social media impacts and climate change awareness.

This year’s theme, Reality Check, means that the event will be exploring modern topics important to both the speakers and listeners. By discussing cyberbullying, dreams, reality TV and more, it is clear that the event’s focus is on tackling today’s challenges from a young perspective.

Adding to the event’s appeal is the introduction of a new immersive and interactive experience linked to the Pelagos Sanctuary, brought to life by Manila Di Giovanni, CEO of DWorld. The event also promises to entertain attendees with musical performances from the ISM Year 4 Choir and the band Exodity.

See more: Pelagos Sanctuary goes digital with new immersive conservation experience

Co-curator Alicia Sedgwick says, “TEDxYouth events, organised for and by young people, present a combination of live speakers and TED Talk videos to inspire curiosity, ignite new ideas and empower young leaders.”

The presentations will be recorded and uploaded to the TED YouTube channel, making them accessible to a wide audience. The TED Youtube channel can be found here.

Tickets, priced at €10, are available at the main reception or on the event day, with payment due upon collection. For more information, click here.

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo credit: ISM, Facebook

Filming of new Michael Jackson biopic, A Gift from God, underway in Menton

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/04/2024
a gift from god

A Gift from God, Liana Marabini’s new biopic exploring the spiritual life of Michael Jackson, is currently being shot on location in Menton. It is hoped that filming will be complete by mid-April, just in time for a grand reveal at the Cannes Film Festival.  

In the new movie, Monaco-based writer, director and filmmaker Liana Marabini will be lifting the veil on a side of the King of Pop, who died at the age of 50 in 2009, that not many people know a lot about.

His life has been raked over a thousand times before – and since – but his deep religious connections and spiritual side are lesser known.  

Read more: Monte-Carlo Summer Festival unveils its spectacular line-up

Revealing his fascinating diverse views and beliefs is a challenge that Marabini has decided to take on, and she is currently on location in Menton to shoot a portion of the new biopic. 

The aim of A Gift from God is to consider the man apart from his music, and to guide viewers on a journey through the years of 1982 to 1989, an era that saw the release of some of his biggest hits, such as Thriller and Billie Jean.  

Having shied away from the religion of his youth, the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination, Michael Jackson, also known simply as MJ, sought spiritual guidance by immersing himself in religious texts such as the Torah, the Koran and several Eastern philosophies. He also toyed with Catholicism, and had such a deep admiration for Pope John Paul II that he dedicated a painting he made to him. That painting that will be revealed for the very first time in A Gift from God.

The film will star Italian-American actor Joshua Consigli in the title role. 

“I am happy that Joshua is playing Michael with sensitivity and respect because, for me, it is important to show the spiritual aspect of this very special artist, who spent much of his life suffering, but who gave so much beauty, harmony and joy to people,” says Marabini.  

She continues, “A Gift from God takes the audience across continents, showing Michael’s interactions with different spiritual practices and his genuine respect for different religions. The film highlights his love of art, culture and books, illustrating how these experiences influenced his art and his outlook on life. His love for classical music is also expressed through the film’s soundtrack, which features a mix of opera, Bach concertos and the innovative pop symphony of French composer Jean-Marie Benjamin, who wrote it specifically for this film.”  

Filming is anticipated to be complete by mid-April, with the goal of presenting the biopic at the Cannes Film Festival in May.  

 

Join the Monaco Life community – sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo source: Canmandawe, Unsplash