The National Council has passed two bills aimed at combating financial crime in Monaco. Among them, a widening of the scope of justice to confiscate capital and sanction fraudulent virtual currency transfers.
The National Council voted unanimously on Monday 31st January on two bills submitted by the Government relating to the prevention and the fight against financial crime.
“These legislative developments testify to the Principality’s desire to continue to adapt its legislation to the best standards and international commitments in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption,” said the government in a statement on Wednesday. “Under the impetus of the Sovereign Prince, the objective pursued by the Principality is, in particular, to maintain the Monegasque banking and financial centre at a high level of standards.”
The government says the bills were produced after discussions between itself and professionals, on the one hand, and between the government and the National Council, on the other.
“In line with the objective pursued by the Principality to strengthen its system in a complex and constantly changing field, exchanges, both at the institutional level and between the public and private sectors, are continuing, in particular within the framework of meetings of the Committee for the Coordination and Monitoring of the National Strategy to Combat Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism, the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Corruption, which will meet for the first time on 3rd February under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Pierre Dartout,” said the government.
The new mechanism voted Monday evening reinforces the capacity of justice to confiscate capital that it finds to be fraudulent in origin. It also widens the scope of application of offences relating to payment instruments, insofar as it can sanction a fraudulent transfer, not only money or monetary in value, but also virtual currency.
The legislation also specifies some of the obligations that are incumbent on professionals subject to the fight against money laundering, particularly in the presence of atypical transactions.
Meanwhile, “the list of subject professionals has been supplemented following the conclusions of the National Risk Assessment (ENR2), with the aim of finding the right balance between the efficient apprehension of risks and the preservation of the attractiveness of Monaco,” added the government.
Before heading out to Beijing as the Monegasque flag-bearer at the Winter Olympics, skier Arnaud Alessandria spoke to Monaco Life about the highs and lows of his journey.
On 4th February in the Beijing National Stadium, Arnaud Alessandria will add his name to the miniscule list of athletes who have had the honour of bearing the Monaco flag in an Olympic ceremony.
The unveiling of Monaco’s latest flag-bearer in the ballroom of the Monaco Yacht Club on 18th January carried a greater symbolism than the regular pre-Olympic formality, the Monegasque flag representing a baton as it was passed from one flag-bearer to the next. Prince Albert II, who has carried the flag three times for Monaco at the Winter Olympics, now bestows the responsibility upon Alessandria, who will fulfil the role for the first time in two weeks.
As Alessandria prepares to wave the Monaco flag aloft in the National Stadium in Beijing, he doesn’t feel the burden of expectation that the role implies. “To be the flag-bearer is an honour,” he tells Monaco Life. “I think it can only be a bonus, and it will further boost me for these Olympics.”
His journey to becoming flag-bearer of his nation has been far from linear and riddled with setbacks. Only a few weeks ago, the skier was involved in a crash in Tarvisio, but his reaction to this is indicative of a determination that has brought him to this point. “I’m doing well. Just a little sprain, so I passed through the hands of the physical therapists, who have put everything back in place and today it’s all good,” he says light-heartedly.
But tantamount to his physical capacity to bounce back is this unwavering self-confidence, leaving him undeterred even in the face of this pre-competition crash. “We’re in a sport where we fall often, so that doesn’t dent my confidence. Just until the departure (to China), I need to get back on the skis to get back into the swing of things.”
Photo of Arnaud Alessandria by Jo Jo Harper
Supplementing the confidence he has in his own ability is the experience of having already competed at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. A 39th place finish in the Men’s Downhill and a 36th in the Men’s Super Combined Downhill on the Russian slopes provides a basis upon which to build. “I can take my experience, and arrive there knowing what to expect, and be more of a participant in the event rather than being overwhelmed by the event,” adds the 28-year-old Monegasque.
Alessandria had initially been hoping to put this experience to use in Pyeongchang in 2018. Not only would he not improve on his 2014 result, he wouldn’t even board the plane to South Korea. With only a matter of days before his expected departure, a cruel turn of events deprived Alessandria of his place in the Olympic team.
With the Monegasque Olympic quota reduced, it was Alessandria who missed out, the timing of the decision, he says, was particularly devastating: “It was a very last-minute decision, I found out about a week before the departure. It was very hard, very hard, because you prepare a lot for an event like that.”
His omission from the team was undoubtedly a sucker-punch. His reaction was, however, indicative of who he is, both as a person and as an athlete. “It has allowed me to bounce back, to work and train harder, to progress so that it doesn’t happen again.” His work since has not only allowed him to return to the fold, but he will do so in style when he leads out his compatriots in the opening ceremony on Friday 4th February.
Like many, preparation for the competition has been marked by the disruption that the global pandemic precipitated. “It has disturbed our preparation. We are used to going to Argentina or Chile in September, so that wasn’t possible, and it’s been impossible for two years now,” he reveals. “So, it’s a bit complicated. Even in Europe with the lockdowns and the restrictions, we’ve had less opportunity to train.”
As well as the epidemiological situation, the build-up to the event has been dominated by a hostile political backdrop. The noise surrounding China’s human rights abuses has only intensified as the games have drawn closer. Questions have been asked about the country’s treatment of the marginalised Uyghur community, whilst the disappearance of Chinese professional tennis player Peng Shuai in December provided an untimely reminder of China’s record, with the start of the games in sight.
Alessandria though is fully concentrated on the task in hand. “I think we’re there to provide sport, to provide a spectacle, and everything that is political isn’t really up to us to judge.” The Monegasque’s objectives are clear, telling Monaco Life, “I want to improve (on my 2014 performance). My ambition is to be in the top 30 in the downhill, so I will just give it my all.”
Alessandria’s flight out to China on 28th January has brought an end to the eight-year wait to compete in his second Winter Olympics. The disappointment of 2018 hasn’t been consigned to the history books. Instead, it is a source of inspiration for Alessandria, who will call on a wealth of experience, both positive and negative, in the search for Olympic glory on the slopes of the Chinese capital this month.
A new polar symposium will be held in February bringing together top scientists to talk about the effects of climate change on the polar regions and how those effects are changing the Earth as a whole.
The polar regions of the planet have been areas of concern for climatologists for years. In October 2021, scientists estimated that nearly 75% of Arctic sea ice has disappeared, while last summer, the Arctic ice area was the smallest it has been for a millennia. The Antarctic has a rosier picture, showing a stabilisation of ice thickness and area, but temperature rises there are making for an uncertain future.
In response to this situation, which of late has been overshadowed by the global pandemic, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, along with the Scientific Committee on Arctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), have joined with the Oceanographic Institute, the Prince Albert I Foundation and the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to create The Cold is Getting Hot!, a hybrid in-person and online symposium being held 24th and 25th February.
Leading scientific figures will discuss how fast and in what ways the polar region’s changes are affecting the Earth’s climate and living systems, as well as how it is a concern for the population-at-large.
The two-day event will feature talks from experts and key partners about the management, policies and actions being taken at international and regional levels and will spotlight how science’s role remains of the utmost importance.
In all, there will be four sessions. The scheduled talks are ‘Understanding changes in the poles’, ‘Contribution of polar changes to the global climate’, ‘Effects of polar changes upon global human societies and economies’, and ‘Management responses in the face of uncertainties’.
The Cold is Getting Hot! will take place at the Oceanographic Museum on 24th February from 9am to 16:30pm, and on the 25th from 8:30am to 4pm. A conference website will soon be launched for more information. Registration for the virtual event is not required, but for in-person spaces, email acarter@fpa2.org to book.
After being forced to cancel last year due to the pandemic, breast cancer awareness organisation Pink Ribbon Monaco is hosting its 10th Pink Ribbon Walk in February, encouraging participants to turn out in their pinkest kit to exercise for charity.
France had 58,083 new cases of breast cancer in 2020, making it the second most common cancer in the country behind prostate cancer. Worldwide, one in eight women will be affected by the disease in their lifetime.
Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of recurring cancer by as much as 25% and may improve survival rates by 30%.
Since 2011, Pink Ribbon Monaco, founded by Natasha Frost-Savio, has been putting the word out to raise awareness on early screening methods and prevention through a variety of campaigns and events. Their flagship event is the Pink Ribbon Walk.
The 5km fun walk takes participants from Port Hercule, past many iconic Monegasque buildings such as the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, and the terraces of the Monte-Carlo Casino.
Walkers will be asked to wear bibs with messages of support or tribute to those who have or had the disease rather than numbers. The event is not designed to be a competition, but more of a celebration, with the goal being to have as many active participants as possible showing their backing whilst getting out for a bit of exercise with friends.
The walk is also a show of solidarity for the women affected by breast cancer. Men are encouraged to join in, as well. As husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers of the woman battling the disease, they are affected too.
This year’s co-partners in the event are SBM Offshore and the Monegasque Athletics Federation (FMA).
The Pink Ribbon Walk starts at 10am on Sunday 13th February at Port Hercule. Pre-registration is open on 12th February from 10am to 5pm, and again before 10am on the 13th on the esplanade of the port. Alternatively, walkers can go online and register. The cost is €30 with all proceeds going to support breast cancer awareness.
Children are welcome and are free to enter under the age of 13. Those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs may need assistance in certain areas. Raffle tickets will be on sale for €10 for a book of five, and a t-shirt is being offered to all walkers courtesy of SBM Offshore.
For more information, or to register for the walk online, visit the website at www.pinkribbon.mc
An overview of the Monaco Red Cross has shown that while the organisation was called upon heavily due to the health crisis in 2021, it still managed to revamp and modernise its founding texts and statutes with the aim of heading into a brighter future.
Last year was a tricky year for many associations, even ones as firmly entrenched as the Monaco Red Cross. Nonetheless, the organisation made great strides and imposed several changes, taking them into 2022 on strong footing.
In addition to updating their decrees, they renewed their Board of Directors for a three-year term. This included the additions of new members Princess Charlene as Vice-President, Camille Gottlieb as Head of Youth, and Director of Princess Grace Hospital Benoîte de Sevelinges as Head of Hospital Assistance.
The Monaco Red Cross sat on the front lines of the pandemic, raising €1.8 million in donations that was used to do their part. This included participation in screening and self-testing campaigns, personal protective equipment deliveries to caregivers, and manning call centre and home monitoring centre hotlines. In all, volunteers gave 3,040 hours of their time during the past year.
The Red Cross was also on the scene at many events, where they logged 365 first aid actions carried out over 17,700 hours of time given. They were present at major events in the Principality such as the Grand Prix, football and basketball games, the Herculis athletics event, on walking trails, and at the lifeguard stations on Larvotto last summer.
Covid didn’t prevent training programmes from being carried out and allowed for professionals and volunteers to be taught or given continued education in water safety and rescue, making it possible to assist lifeguards at pools and on the beaches.
A real source of pride this year comes from the fact that the Monaco Red Cross is attracting young volunteers. A third of the 623 volunteers are under 35 years of age.
“Of 92 new registrants in 2021, more than half are young people. The Covid crisis has made them want to find actions that make sense. We have always had more difficulty attracting young people. In order to maintain this momentum, we are planning more actions in line with what they expect to invite them to give their time, in particular on intergenerational missions,” said Frédéric Platini, Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross.
Additionally, €800,000 was earmarked in 2021 for those in need. Financial assistance for rent, energy bills, school catering costs and food was doled out to 621 households in the Principality and the surrounding villages.
Now that 2021 is over, the association looks to the coming year to continue its work.
Notably, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Presidency of Prince Albert II at the Monaco Red Cross. As such, they are looking to incorporate his philosophies into the agenda, vowing to “strengthen its commitment to the environment” and “push actions on the theme of psychological distress” through a mental health plan developed with the government. They have also agreed to continued adherence to the Energy Transition Pact, of which they have been a part since 2019, as well as continuing to keep their carbon footprint low.
Though many have forgotten about the hardships endured in the Roya Valley after Storm Alex struck the area in October 2020, the Red Cross continues working to help them get life back to normal. In 2022, they have pledged to offer funds to help rebuild two bridges to reconnect families in Breil-sur-Roya to the world again.
Four new projects are being undertaken as well in 2022, including the taking on of sexual violence cases against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, another working with migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one more around issues of water, hygiene and food diversification in south-west Burkina Faso, and finally, the association is starting a regional first aid development project in partnership with the world first aid centre of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Monaco government in five countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
On a lighter note, after the success of the Red Cross Ball summer concert, the organisation is considering a reprisal of the event this year. “We liked the format, and we are considering it again for the summer of 2022,” Mr Platini explained. The event is set to again take place on Casino Square.
Monaco Life fashion contributor Isabella Marino takes us inside Paris Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 and shows us her favourite looks from Stéphane Rolland and Dior.
Stéphane Rolland haute couture show, Théâtre National de Chaillot 25th January
The French couturier this season looked to the abstract expressionism of emerging Italian-Spanish painter Viani for his deeply emotional art, expressing freedom, happiness and love-anger dichotomy.
He wanted to portray the woman as “free, beautiful, and sensual without being aggressive”, opening the show with a homage to French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, who died on 23rd January.
Stéphane Rolland haute couture show SS22
The couturier carried through a fabulous collection of mostly fluid and monochromatic outfits, with few adornments save for oversize crystals and glass pebbles, executed by French glassmaker Théophile Caillethat.
I was emotionally impressed by this show, not only by the beauty of each piece, but because Stéphane Rolland expressed the iconic woman I have in mind: mysterious, feminine, sensual, free and fluid. Airy tunics, kaftans, see-through skirts and immense draped hoods and head veils added some mystery to the feminine and elegant collection.
Nieves Álvarez walks the catwalk for Stéphane Rolland
Rolland’s muse, the Spanish model Nieves Álvarez, dominated the catwalk with her iconic beauty.
Voluptuousness is in season for this new summer collection.
My favourite: the black ballgowns.
Isabella Marino at the Dior SS22 fashion show, Musée Rodin Paris
Dior haute couture show, Musée Rodin 24th January
Dior’s collection featured large embroidered artworks from Indian artist couple Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh. The LVMH-owned fashion house collaborated with the Chanakya School of Craft based in Mumbai for some of the silhouettes, including a top embroidered with silver ribbons and crystal tassels matched with an a-line skirt. The designer Maria Grazia Chiuri wanted to highlight art and craft.
Dior
Rhinestone and pearl embroideries dominated the collection, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits, sleeveless jackets and low-heel shoes.
Simplicity, embroideries and craftsmanship are in season for this new summer collection.
My favourite: a black total-look, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits and low-heel shoes.
Click on the gallery below to see more photos from the fashion shows…
