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Day: 13 July 2024

Monaco’s Baccalauréat students achieve 97% success rate

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/07/2024
monaco Baccalauréat

This year’s Baccalauréat results are exceptional. In addition to a 97% success rate across all programmes, more than 80% of pupils in Monaco earned special mentions from examiners for their efforts. 

The Baccalauréat, colloquially called the bac, is the national French academic qualification that students typically obtain upon completion of their secondary education at the lycée. 

Monaco’s graduating students have excelled during the 2024 exam period, with an overall success rate of 97% and mentions to 81.1% of pupils. On top of these achievements, 22.6% of the students earned the top ‘Très Bien’ status, meaning very good marks.  

Broken down by programme, the general series exam takers at Albert Ier and Lycée François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré secured a 98% pass rate, with 88.7% receiving honours. 75 students were rewarded with very good honours, 11 of which were given a special mention by the examining body. 

100% of those taking the technological series exams in Monaco passed, with more than half of the students receiving special mentions. 

The professional series students at Lycée Rainier III recorded a 91.2% pass rate, with 72.6% getting mentions.

 

In an official communiqué released following the publication of the Baccalauréat results, the Monaco Government commended its students on “their involvement and sustained work, which made it possible to obtain these excellent results”. 

The government also thanked teaching and non-teaching staff at the schools for their support in making these impressive results a reality.  

Read related:

Students from the Lycée Albert 1er head to New York on educational school trip

 

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Photo source: Ben Mullins, Unsplash

New finance minister pays visit to MonacoTech and Monaco Boost

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/07/2024

Pierre-André Chiappori, the new Minister of Finance and the Economy, has been welcomed by start-up incubator MonacoTech and Monaco Boost, the local business development entity, for a meeting with budding entrepreneurs making waves in the Principality.  

Earlier this month, Chiappori, who was sworn in as Monaco’s new Finance Minister in April, headed to the MonacoTech headquarters in Fontvieille to discuss the positioning, objectives and challenges of the start-up hub with its team. He later met with representatives of the 19 start-ups supported by the scheme before visiting the facility’s impressive biotech laboratory. 

See more: Chiappori sworn in as new finance minister

MonacoTech was formed in 2017 to help groundbreaking, high-growth social impact projects to not only get off the ground, but also to establish themselves as fully-fledged enterprises and transform their innovative ideas from concept to reality.  

MONACO BOOST 

The second part of the minister’s business tour took him to Monaco Boost, where a number of the 50 local businesses backed by the development hub were given the chance to present their projects to Chiappori.  

Launched in January 2021, Monaco Boost was set up by the government and National Council with the goal of giving a helping hand to Monegasque nationals looking to create and develop new business opportunities.  

Also located in Fontvieille, the location offers access to meeting rooms, private offices and co-working spaces in an atmosphere designed to enhance and stimulate collaborative efforts between business-minded people.  

Read related:

Sandrine Sauval-Chanteloube takes over as new Director of MonacoTech

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

Greece’s Oceanos NTUA wins the 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

by: Niki Borisova
13/07/2024
Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

An innovative entry from Greece, the Oceanos NTUA vessel, has clinched the overall champion title at this year’s Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Among the other prize winners were India’s Sea Sakthi, which picked up three different awards, and Italy’s Physis Polimi, the inaugural recipient of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Maritime Technology Award.  

The 11th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, an event organised by the Prince’s eponymous environmental foundation and hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco between 1st and 6th July, has concluded after another spectacular showcase of marine innovation in the name of sustainability. 

Among the big prizes at this year’s event was the newly introduced Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Maritime Technology Award, an accolade given to a chosen university team that had presented a truly exceptional concept. The inaugural winner of this award, which came with a €25,000 grant, was the Italian team behind the Physis Polimi Energy Boat. 

See more: Monaco Energy Boat Challenge introduces new sustainable technology award for 2024

In the Competition Prize section of the event, Vita Seal emerged victorious in the endurance contest, while Evoy 2, repeating its performance from last year, won the YCM Speed Record for 2024 and the 16NM Speed Event. The UK’s Vita Seadog, another 2023 entrant and winner, secured the top spot in the handling round. 

The Mairie de Monaco, which is given the task of choosing the winners of the Communication Prize and Spirit Prize, picked India’s Sea Sakthi for the second year running for the former and Belgium’s Uantwerp for the latter, noting its camaraderie and team ethos.  

Sea Sakthi won a further two awards during the course of the event: the university-exclusive Innovation Prize and the Design Prize, with judges praising its balance of high-end aesthetics and durability.  

The Eco Design Prize was awarded to TSB Energy for its life cycle assessment and promotion of eco-design, while UTT Marine was honoured with the Jury Encouragement Award. 

Poseidon INOCEL received the Jury Coup de Coeur award for its standout project, and Chile’s Condor and Canada’s Exocet both picked up a Special Prize in the category that recognises the most market-ready projects. 

Finally, Uniboat of Italy received the Jury Mention for 2024, and Oceanos NTUA of Greece was elected the overall champion of the 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. 

Read related:

Innovative solutions propel the 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo credits: Yacht Club de Monaco 

France: Airports warn of possible strike action ahead of the Olympic Games

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/07/2024

Workers’ unions representing staff at two of Paris’ major airports, Orly and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, are calling for a strike to be held just nine days before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on 26th July, saying that airport management, Groupe ADP, is ignoring key demands.  

The CGT, CFDT, FO and UNSA unions have asked workers to join the industrial action on 17th July, citing a “deterioration of working conditions” as one of the principal reasons for the proposed strike. Among their other motivations: the need for the hiring of at least 1,000 additional personnel, bonuses for all staff and the guarantee of days off during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Augustin de Romanet, Groupe ADP’s CEO, recently caused a huge upset when he opted to pay only a select group of workers a bonus. 

The unions reacted by releasing a joint press release, saying, “All the unions have unanimously denounced these methods of division and the choices of management. It is clear that the CEO has brushed aside our demands.” 

The statement continues, “The company has the resources to respond to the legitimate demands of employees and their representatives.”

The unions then referenced “comfortable shareholder dividends” as a suitable resource.

 

On 8th July, the unions claimed that around 300 employees “supported the unanimous decision of the unions to interrupt their participation in all forms of meetings with management”. 

They have, however, sought to reassure the public and the thousands of international travellers due to travel through the French capital’s airports during the Games that the strike should not lead to flight cancellations or major disruptions.  

Together, Orly and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle welcome an average of 350,000 passengers each day during the busy summer months.  

Read related:

Lisa Pou and Théo Druenne to lead Monaco’s Olympic athletes in Paris

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo source: Guillaume Didelet, Unsplash

 

Big T introduces BBQ magic to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin’s secluded beach paradise

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/07/2024

New to the French Riviera this season is Cala Pulpo by Big T, a hidden oasis near Monaco where BBQ perfection blends with Riviera elegance and the serene atmosphere of a private beach sanctuary.

With a best-selling recipe book under his belt, Thierry Cornuet, aka Big T, had some pretty high expectations when he opened Cala Pulpo, a private beach restaurant at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin this year. 

Previously occupied by Canailles, Big T took over this little sanctuary that feel miles away from the rest of the world yet is only a 15 minute drive from Monaco. 

Cala Pulpo by Big T is indeed a hidden oasis, found at the end of a short journey down to the Place du Golf Bleu. This family-friendly beach is a bit off the beaten path, which likely explains why it remains pleasantly quiet, even in the height of summer.  

It is where “the art of barbecue meets the Bohemian elegance of the French Riviera”; where the aroma of slow cooked meats mingles with the salty sea breeze, and the searing sound of tomahawk steaks intertwines with the endearing clinking of rosé wine glasses. 

The sunbeds are a perfect place to relax after enjoying lunch

Throughout it all, the affable Big T mingles with clients, inquiring if everything meets their satisfaction and subtly correcting a table layout here and there. It’s clear this restaurant is his passion, a stage for showcasing the BBQ meats that have become the cornerstone of his career.

While the starter menu is made up of all the good things in life – tacos, popcorn shrimp, salmon tartare, caviar and lobster sandwich, the mains are a celebration of Big T’s craft – meat and seafood that has been lovingly slow cooked in the bbq for long hours (lamb shoulder, farm chicken, baby back ribs), or luxurious cuts of beef (wagyu, tomahawk) and seafood (gigantic shrimp, Cuban lobster) kissed by the flames of an open grill. 

The ridiculously comfortable beach beds are perfect for relaxing after all of that Big T goodness. 

Cala Pulpo by Big T is open every day from 10am to 7pm, with DJ sets 7/7, valet parking and boat shuttle available. 

See more in our Instagram video below…

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photos provided

Monaco’s Ambassador to Germany celebrates 19th Anniversary of Prince Albert II’s Reign

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/07/2024

The Embassy of the Principality of Monaco in Germany has hosted a grand reception to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the ascension of Prince Albert II. The event took place at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin, attracting over 200 guests, including notable dignitaries and friends of Monaco.

His Excellency Lorenzo Ravano welcomed representatives from the German Federal Foreign Office, numerous ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent figures from the economic, financial, cultural sectors, and German nobility on Friday 5th July. Also in attendance were the Honorary Consul of Monaco in Potsdam, the co-president of the International German Club of Monaco, and several of its members.

In his speech, Lorenzo Ravano highlighted significant events from recent months. These included the inauguration of the Monaco section at the Miniatur Wunderland museum in Hamburg by the Princely Family in April, and the Prince’s participation in the Arctic Circle Berlin Forum in May, following his scientific cruise in Antarctica.

The Ambassador underscored the strong ties between Monaco and Germany and the vibrant German community within the Principality. He also noted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of Monaco’s membership in UNESCO and the 20th anniversary of its entry into the Council of Europe.

In a poignant moment, Lorenzo Ravano called for a minute of silence to honour victims of conflicts and terrorism worldwide, reflecting on the current unstable times and the growing calls for an Olympic truce.

Highlighting Monaco’s rich sporting tradition, the Ambassador mentioned the country’s connection to the ongoing Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany. He cited the Olympic flame’s passage, the start of the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France in Monaco, and celebrated local successes such as Monegasque Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc’s recent victory.

Dr. Sven Mossler, Head of the Division for Bilateral Relations with Monaco, represented the German Federal Foreign Office and praised the excellent relations between Monaco and Germany. He spoke about the importance of having Monaco as a partner in international forums to uphold the rule of law, combat climate change, and protect the oceans.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication