RivieraLife News Archive 19 - Oct/Nov 2011

Riviera Life News Archive 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Nice man ordered to pay €10,000 for sexual abstinence in marriage terrafemina.com 30 Nov 11 The Aix-en-Provence appeals court has confirmed the decision of a family judge in Nice, dating from 2009, who had pronounced the divorce of a couple solely to blame on the husband, because of his sexual abstinence. The husband is ordered to pay €10,000 in damages for having abandoned his wife sexually. The two ex-spouses were married in 1986. The court quoted Article 1382 of the Civil Code which says that any person "who causes damage to another" must repair this damage. The husband put down the lack of sex to, "health problems and chronic fatigue from long working hours." Nicolas Pouilley.

Joël Bouzou elected President of the World Olympians Association aroundtherings.com 29 Nov 11 The President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou was elected as President of the World Olympians Association (WOA) at their General Assembly held on Saturday in Lausanne. He succeeds the American Richard 'Dick' Fosbury at the head of the only international organization which unites all of the 100,000 athletes to have competed in an Olympic event. In 2007, Bouzou founded Peace and Sport, a neutral international organization based in Monaco placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose backbone of activity is a group of more than 60 international top-level athletes called 'Champions for Peace.'

Poster marks new AIDS awareness campaign in PACA region france3.fr 28 Nov 11 While the numbers of the newly contaminated are down in France, the AIDS epidemic is still progressing. In 2010, 36% of diagnoses of seropositivity in the region concerned persons who were unaware of being infected. There is close to 50,000 untested people unaware of being seropositive in France. The Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur is the second French region in terms of the number of HIV-positive. Rapid screening tests will soon become available, where a drop of blood is sufficient to detect the presence of antibodies and therefore the presence of the HIV virus. These tests take a few minutes for the results and it is hoped will encourage people to get tested. Xavier Collombier.

Two hikers killed by fall on Mercantour peak AFP 27 Nov 11 Two hikers, ages 25 and 41, were found dead Sunday morning after falling 250m on a snow shelf on the massif Grand Capelet in the valley of Vésubie . A third man, aged 24, was found alive near the highest peak at 2,900m. The three hikers had climbed the summit of Grand Capelet and down towards the valley of the Gordolasque. The survivor, separated from his companions, called for assistance on his mobile phone. The survivor, suffering from hypothermia, was evacuated from the area at 08.00 Sunday by helicopter to a hospital in Nice. Another helicopter recovered the bodies of the deceased who have been identified as Clément Charpentier, 25, and Bernard Cabriel, 41 from Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Jeweller shot dead in Cannes robbery leparisien.fr 27 Nov 11 A jeweller was shot in the head during the robbery of his store by four criminals, late afternoon Saturday in Cannes-La-Bocca. The robbery took place at 18.10 in the Unik jewellery shop, ave Francis-Tonner. The criminals arrived on a scooter and a motorcycle. The robbers made everyone lie down and started breaking windows. A single shot was fired, and the jeweller, aged 45 to 50 died of his injuries at about 18.45. The four masked robbers, were armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, a handgun and baseball bats. After stealing jewellery, the perpetrators fled on the scooter and the bike, but a witness was able to give a partial license plate number to investigators. AFP.

Latvala wins Rallye du Var crash.net 27 Nov 11 Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's Jari-Matti Latvala claimed his first victory on asphalt Sunday when he won Rallye du Var in his Fiesta RS WRC car. Based in the mountains near the picturesque town of Saint-Maxime, close to Saint Tropez, the Rallye du Var was the final round of the all-asphalt French Rally Championship. Latvala set the pace on three of Friday's four speed tests to establish an early lead. The 26-year-old, winner of the final round of the World Rally Championship in Britain earlier this month, extended his advantage during Saturday's second leg over Stéphane Sarrazin, a previous Rallye du Var winner, to end the day with a commanding cushion. He took no risks in the final leg to finish 49.1sec clear.

27 kg of cannabis seized after car chase in the East Var varmatin.com 26 Nov 11 He was desperate to avoid being caught. Thursday, around 14.00, customs officers of the brigade of domestic surveillance of Frejus attempted to check a vehicle at the Le Capitou pay toll. The driver accelerated in the direction of Nice.and was immediately pursued by two police bikes. He tried to hit the two officials before leaving the motorway in the direction of Les Adrets and Fayence. Shortly after the Combes, Callian roundabout, the car hit a taxi. He then took flight on foot, towards the industrial area. The individual was arrested by Customs and handed over to the police. 27 kg of cannabis resin was found in his possession.

FBI art crimes chief 'ordered theft of Monet and Sisley paintings from Nice gallery' telegraph.co.uk 25 Nov 11 Seven people go on trial on Monday for the multi-million pound theft of a Monet, Sisley and two Breughels in Nice but their leader claims the FBI's art crimes chief "ordered" the heist. The men face maximum sentences of 30 years in prison for armed robbery at the end of the week-long trial in Aix-en-Provence. The leader's lawyer claims they were a bunch of bumbling art amateurs talked into the heist by the world's most notorious art detective bent on catching bigger prey. At lunchtime 05 Aug 07, thieves dressed in blue overalls and ski masks burst into the poorly guarded Musée des Beaux Arts. Henry Samuel.

Stalker who murdered grandmother in Cages-sur-Mer gets 20 years yorkshirepost.co.uk 25 Nov 11 A sex-crazed stalker who murdered a Yorkshire grandmother in a frenzied knife attack at her home on the French Riviera has been jailed for 20 years. Frenchman Franck Delacourt, 46, had become “infatuated” with his 65-year-old neighbour Carol Hagues, originally from Market Weighton, after she rejected his advances, the court heard. He bombarded Mrs Hagues with up to 14 phone calls a day -– despite living just 100 yards away with his elderly mother in the resort of Cagnes-sur-Mer. Delacourt stabbed her five times through the throat, chest and heart with a kitchen knife after she let him into her apartment, a £300,000 converted artists’ studio, last February. Mrs Hagues’s daughter Karen Larbi, who also lives in Cagnes with her four daughters, said the family were “devastated” at her mother’s death.

Convicted of abuse, the former mayor of Vence files an appeal laprovence.com 25 Nov 11 The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Wednesday against the conviction in February of Christian Iacono, 76, to nine years in prison. The former mayor of Vence was convicted for abusing his grand-son Gabriel, from 1996-99 while the victim was aged between 5 and 8 years. Gabriel Iacono, now 20 years old, had always accused his grandfather in the two trials, in Nice in April 2009 and on appeal in Aix-en-Provence in February. And then, three months after the second verdict, Gabriel Iacono wrote to the Prosecutor in Grasse retracting his statements and clearing his grandfather. Christian Iacono, currently on probation, could be returned to jail. Luc Leroux.

Var: An Englishman sets himself on fire lefigaro.fr 24 Nov 11 The body of what is suspected to be a 60 year old Englishman, burnt to death, was found yesterday morning near his charred vehicle on a forest track in Bauduen (Var), less than 4 km from his home. The discovery took place at about 10am. The initial information gathered on site by the police and criminal investigation specialists suggest a suicide victim. An autopsy will be carried out to try and ascertain the exact cause of death and to confirm the identity of the victim, who has so far not been named. AFP.

Another Russian oligarch turns to soccer club AS Monaco rt.com 24 Nov 11 Monaco’s Prince Albert II says Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev is eager to invest €200 million into the local football club. “We’re going to discuss the investment issue with the club’s administration in the coming days,” the monarch told Nice Matin newspaper. Seven-time French champions AS Monaco are experiencing serious money shortages after being relegated from Ligue 1 last season. The club’s bosses need extra funds to strengthen the team, led by coach Marco Simone, during the upcoming winter transfer window. Rybolovlev, who used to be the owner of Russia’s biggest potash fertilizer company, Uralkaly, currently lives in Monaco.

Monaco visit for Pope Benedict in 2012 still on agenda lecroix.fr 23 Nov 11 The French Catholic newspaper La Croix, in an article on Pope Benedict XVI travel agenda next year, reports that a trip to Monaco, at the invitation of Archbishop Bernard Barsi, could take place in autumn 2012. According to the constitution of Monaco in 1962, Catholicism is the state religion. Whilst the Vatican has confirmed the principle of a trip to Mexico and Cuba by Benedict XVI in 2012, the date of the Monaco visit still awaits final confirmation. The pope could also visit Lebanon next year. Frédéric Mounier.

Monte-Carlo Franco-Russian cuisine week montecarlonews.it 23 Nov 11 After the celebration of Bavarian food and beer at the Oktoberfest in Monaco, it is now time to celebrate Russian cuisine. From 24-27 Nov 11 Russian chef Igor Shurupov (pic) and French chef Philippe Jourdin (Café de Paris, Monte Carlo) will present typical contemporary Russian cusine at the Café de Paris. It is the first time in Monte Carlo for chef Igor Shurupov. After training in hotels in Italy and Moscow, he opened his Accent Restaurant in the Ostojenka area of Moscow in 2002. It was voted the best restaurant in Moscow in 2010.

Monte Carlo: Princesse Charlene seeks Lady-In-Waiting agi.it 23 Nov 11 Monaco's Princess Charlene is seeking a lady-in-waiting. The lady companion must be discrete, courteous and always ready to help the princess both while traveling and with her guests. The French daily Le Figaro revealed that Charlene is still assisted by Virginia Gallico, Grace Kelly's former lady-in-waiting and current top palace staff member.

Discarded Wallaby Giteau starts his year in Provence smh.com.au 22 Nov 11 As the Wallabies prepare to take on the Barbarians this weekend, discarded playmaker Matt Giteau is set to make his debut for French rugby side Toulon against Castres. The 29-year-old only touched down in France this month but, having trained fastidiously throughout the World Cup in case he was needed by coach Robbie Deans, Giteau arrived in Toulon as fit as he's ever been. The Inside Back understands he will wear the No.12 jumper outside the England five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson. Inside centre is the same position All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams played for the side, and Giteau will play alongside his childhood friend and fellow former Wallaby Matt Henjak. Josh Rakic.

François Fillon opens the new Hospital Sainte-Musse in Toulon varmatin.com 21 Nov 11 The opening of the new state of the art Sainte-Musse Hospital in Toulon was an event important enough to involve not only the Prime Minister Francois Fillon, but also Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labour, Employment and Health. The official delegation visited the services and facilities of the building with the medical-surgical and obstetrics departments at the heart of the new structure. Located on ten acres, three buildings house 738 beds and 46 day places. The first patients are expected in late December.

Proposed takeover of ASM almost completed asmfoot.org 21 Nov 11 The arrival of a new investor in Monaco’s beleaguered soccer club AS Monaco could be confirmed by the end of this year. The deals sees the arrival of Jean-Marc Goiran, with a recovery plan for the club. Together with existing shareholder, the Russian Dmitry Rybolovlev, both are said to be prepared to invest over several years. Rybolovlev would sit on the board but Goiran would likely take on the role of President. (Goiran is involved with Monaco based Barnaby Holdings, a consortium that includes former Brazil star Dunga and that bought a ten per cent stake in QPR at the start of the season. Since 2005 he has also been DG of the US based sports management company Jess Group. Ed.)

Kenyan Luka Kanda wins Alpes-Maritimes Marathon in record time nicematin.com 20 Nov 11 Kenyan Luka Kanda has made his mark in the history of the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes. The runner from the Kenyan highlands broke the event record with a 2h 08m 40sec run. This little guy out outrun all of his opponents. All of the almost 11,000 amateurs and professionals participating could only salute the performance of Luka Kanda. Four other runners also came in below the previous record of 2h10mn. In the women’s event, the Ethiopian Te Ame Shumye came in first with a time of 2h 30m 53sec. 45,000 spectators turned out along the route between Nice and Cannes.

Video Princess Charlene dazzles on Monaco's National Day ibtimes.com 20 Nov 11 Newlyweds Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco greeted its citizens and led the country in observing its National Day on Saturday. During the morning ceremonies and the gala evening festivities, the princess opted for dresses in monochromatic colours. This was the first National Day that Charlene attended as princess of Monaco. The royal couple were joined by Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, along with Caroline's children: Andrea, Caroline, and Pierre Casiraghi, and Princess Alexandra. The holiday dates back to 1856. Albert moved the holiday to Nov. 19, the feast day of St. Rainier of Arezzo, in honor of his father, Prince Rainier III. Monami Thakur.

Chestnuts a fall treasure in Collobrieres thechronicleherald.ca 19 Nov 11 Forget summer and the seaside in the south of France. Instead, hit the back country in autumn. "The trees I have here are 400 to 500 years old," says Laurent Jartoux, a major chestnut grower in Collobrieres in the hilly backlands of the Var region, known as the Massif des Maures. "They’re anchored in the histories of the families." Most everyone has chestnut trees on their land, and the town, with a population of less than 2,000, holds Chestnut Festivals yearly on the last three Sundays of October. Chestnuts grow in several regions of France, but the locals of the Massif des Maures vaunt their special variety, the marronge, as the sweetest. Elaine Ganley / AP.

Cannes: Five police officers accused of sexual misconduct rtl.fr 19 Nov 11 Five municipal police officers have been suspended in Cannes on Friday after allegedly touching a female colleague during a farewell 'that went wrong' at the police station. The young woman, transferred from Cannes to Nice, was in the shower when five male colleagues were alleged to have touched her breasts. The mayor of Cannes confirmed the suspension of the five men without wanting to give details. The file is now in the hands of the prosecutor in Grasse. "We have learned that serious events took place in Cannes City Police involving a young woman and a number of her colleagues," said Alain Jouanjus, director general of the city of Cannes.

Prince Albert tells AS Monaco to buck-up planete-asm.fr 19 Nov 11 Prince Albert wants to see his team respond quickly. Until now there have been few words from the Prince of Monaco about the catastrophic situation of the club, but he says that he now expects a ‘surge.’ "The current classification of AS Monaco is of course a huge disappointment. I regret that the ambitions of earlier this season have been eroded a little more after each game. I expect a start, it is necessary to recover. Everyone has to get involved to save this season that began disastrously." The rumor of the arrival of new investors has surfaced. The Sovereign does not deny it: "This will be discussed soon with the management team." Monaco Matin.

Declaration of a state of natural disaster in the Alpes-Maritimes nicerendezvous.com 19 Nov 11 An order dated 18 Nov 11, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on 19 Nov 11, has recognised the victims of natural disasters in the Alpes-Maritimes following the flooding and mudslides that occurred from 04 - 06 Nov 11. The victims have 10 days from the publication of the order to file an estimate of their losses with their insurance companies to benefit from the compensation scheme established by law No. 82-600 of 13 July 1982. A total of 312 communes in the South East including the Var and Corsica departments have been declared areas of natural disaster. Click here to see the full list.

Fundraiser Debbie will carry a 14kg solider’s pack as she runs the French Riviera Marathon wisbechstandard.co.uk 17 Nov 11 A weekend in the South of France may sound idyllic ... but for fundraiser Debbie Smith it’s bound to be a hard slog. She will pound the roads from Nice to Cannes to run a marathon with a 14kg soldier’s pack on her back. Debbie, 34, expects to raise about £3,000 for Help for Heroes. She has become a local co-ordinator for the charity that looks after injured service personnel. Debbie said: “The pack I am carrying used to belong to a soldier who was injured in Afghanistan and lost both his legs. “His wife lent me the pack ... she thinks I am mad.” To sponsor Debbie, contact 07411 492700.

Final preparations for the Nice-Cannes Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes nice-premium.com 17 Nov 11 Sunday,20 Nov 11, the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes will begin at 8:00 sharp on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and ends in front of the InterContinental Carlton Cannes. On 16.00 Saturday, 19 Nov 11 at the Running Expo Marathon Village, Azur Sport Organisation will hold its annual press briefing with the presentation of the athletes in the presence of the main partners of the event and representatives from the seven towns traversed by the event. Earlier Saturday at 10.00 a waters race ‘Jogging P’tit Dej’ will be accompanied by a traditional breakfast.

An Englishman wins the Partouche Poker Tour Cannes nicematin.com 16 Nov 11 Chipleader last September, after the first round of the fourth annual World Series of Poker, Sam Trickett has had to wait two months before becoming a millionaire. The 25 year old Englishman won the grand final on Sunday night, held at the Palm Beach Casino in Cannes. Sam Trickett, previously unknown to the general public, win one million euros. He succeeds the American Vanessa Selbst. Only 579 players participated this year, with many international stars withdrawing including Phil Ivey and Gus Hansen. The Partouche Poker Tour will be back on the Croisette next year for a fifth edition with a 5 million euros pot.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur remains the region with the most doctors le parisien.fr 15 Nov 11 Despite a slight decline, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region is endowed with the most regular practicing physicians (370 physicians per 100,000 inhabitants as of 0 1 Jun 11, against 374 in 2010), according to the new edition of the Atlas of regional medical demography of the National Council of the College of Physicians (CNOM), presented Tuesday, Nov. 15. PACA is followed by Ile-de-France (366 per 100.000), Languedoc-Roussillon (336) and Aquitaine (318). In contrast, the lowest density was observed in Picardy, with only 239 active physicians per 100,000 people.

Death of Odile Remik-Adim, former ambassador of France in Monaco monacomatin.mc 15 Nov 11 The French Embassy in Monaco announced the death Tuesday of Odile Remik-Adim, former ambassador of France in Monaco. She was 54. A graduate of the Institute of Political Studies, she worked at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was Consul General in Turin and Genoa from 2002 to 2007. In Sep 07 she joined the General Secretariat of the French delegation to the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York. Redim was appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan in Oct 07, before being appointed Ambassador to Monaco in April 2008. Faced with a serious illness, she resigned on 31 Aug 11. Hugues Moret, the new French Ambassador took office a few days ago.

Floods: 120 communes in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes declared disaster zones AFP 14 Nov 11 One hundred and twenty communes in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes have been declared flood disaster zones by Interior Minister Claude Gueant whilst visiting Puget-sur-Argens, one of the worst hit areas, on Monday. 80 out of 153 communes in the Var and 40 out of 163 communes in the Alpes Maritimes were on the list. The minister, who visited an industrial zone in Puget-sur-Argens, congratulated the security forces and civil protection organisations for their work during the flooding. The Interior Minister had announced on 08 Nov 11 in the National Assembly the payment of €300,000 in extreme urgency aid to the prefect of the Var.

Heritage of the monks of Saint Honorat, "not billionaires!" nicematin.com 14 Nov 11 The monks on the island of Saint Honorat off of Cannes have denied rumours that they are rich through property sales on the Croisette, Opio or from the sales of the wine that they produce. Abbot Dom Vladimir Gaudrat told the Nice Matin newspaper, "We have no buildings on the Croisette and are not billionaires! About Opio, we have not sold anything there lately. However, we actually have a plot that the congregation bought in the early twentieth century as a summer vacation place for the monks. We sold a plot of it three years ago. Ten hectares remain. Our greatest asset is obviously the Ile Saint-Honorat we own. It is a priceless heritage." Emmanuelle Pouquet.

Alpes-Maritimes: 89% of regional trains (now) on time metrofrance.com 14 Nov 11 Since the beginning of the year, 89.07% of trains in the region arrived on time. What should be a 'non-story' becomes one in the Alpes-Maritimes department known for years for its train delays and cancellations. The PACA regional council that pays a €230 million subsidy each year, put its foot down in 2010, threatening fines of €12 million if the situation did not improve. For nine months, almost nine out of ten trains ran on time with very few cancellations and an increase in the number of passengers. As of 11 Dec 11, capacity will increase by 28% between Nice and Menton and 16% between Nice and Cannes during peak hours. 40,000 passengers use trains on the Riviera every day.

Bolt and Pearson named Athletes of the Year in Monaco rt.com 13 Nov 11 Jamaica's Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson of Australia have been named Athletes of the Year by the IAAF at an awards ceremony in Monte Carlo. The Jamaican star, who grabbed the award for a record-equaling third time, was recognized for bouncing back from his shock disqualification in the World Championship 100-meters final in South Korea’s Daegu to snatch the 200-meter title in style before leading Jamaica to the 4x100 meters relay victory at a world record pace. As for Pearson, the Australian sprinter gave a lightening performance in the women's 100-meters hurdles final, also in Daegu, claiming a time of 12.28 seconds – the fourth fastest in history – on her way to victory.

Harry Redknapp to stand trial for Monaco tax evasion telegraph.co.uk 12 Nov 11 Harry Redknapp, 65, and former Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric are charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue dating from their involvement at Portsmouth soccer club in 2007, when they were manager and chairman respectively. It is alleged that the pair fraudulently concealed payments totalling $295,000 from HM Revenue and Customs by paying the money into a Monaco bank account opened by Redknapp specifically for the purpose. The trial has been scheduled to start on or after Jan 23 next year and is expected to last for two weeks. Paul Kelso.

Coe delighted to secure 2012 legacy in Monaco cambridge-news.co.uk 12 Nov 11 Sebastian Coe is celebrating completing some "unfinished business" after London was awarded the 2017 World Athletics Championships. Coe led London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics six years ago and the IAAF vice-president and London 2012 chairman knew he had to fulfil his promise for the Olympic Stadium to have an athletics legacy, something taken care of when London beat Doha 16-10 in a vote of the IAAF Council in Monaco. Doha vowed to host a World Championships "like never before" thanks to a budget of USD200million for a solar-powered, temperature controlled stadium. However, London's bid team stressed they could offer a full stadium.

Storms in southern France will cost several million lepoint.fr 10 Nov 11 The damage caused by storms that affected the Alpes-Maritimes from Saturday to Tuesday, especially in the west of the department, amount to 'several million euros', according to a first assessment by the prefecture. The Caisse Centrale de Reassurance (CCR) said Thursday in a statement that "the floods that hit southern France during the first week of November may cost between €550 to 800 million to insurers." The estimate cover the area stretching from the Atlantic Pyrenees to the Alpes-Maritimes and Corsica. Thirty-six municipalities have so far applied for recognition of a state of natural disaster, including Villeneuve-Loubet, Auribeau-sur-Siagne and La Colle-sur-Loup.

Brangelina sued by former secretary of Chateau Miraval tvnz.co.nz 10 Nov 11 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are being sued by their former secretary. Bilingual Ana Charlotiaux worked at the couple's Chateau Miraval estate in the South of France until February 2010 dealing with phone and email enquiries, but she claims she was sacked for taking too much sick leave. Charlotiaux, 45, has now filed an unfair dismissal case and is seeking €80,000 in compensation from the couple - who are known for their charity work and raise six children together. At a hearing, her lawyer Emmanuel Ludot said: "This money is a drop in the ocean for these stars. She has nothing against them personally, and says she was always treated well by them, but they did not step in to prevent her being dismissed. The Prud'Hommes tribunal will deliver its verdict on Charlotiaux's unfair dismissal case next February.

More bad weather in Southeast France: One man is washed away lci.tf1.fr 9 Nov 11 Firefighters in the Alpes-Maritimes are searching for a man who was washed away by the Var river. The 50 year old was working in a bulldozer to repair a bank along the Var near Castagniers, north west of Nice. The alarm was raised around 9 am, Wednesday morning. The bulldozer plunged into the river, the driver was able to grab onto the river bank and be rescued, but his colleague was taken away by the waves. "The chances of finding the man alive have diminished significantly" commented one of the rescue team. A crane will lift the bulldozer Thursday morning to see if the body of the man is underneath. Strong winds Tuesday caused coastal flooding from giant waves. The Promenade des Anglais was ravaged by high seas with clean-up crews working all night to clear up debris. The waves reached up to six metres in places, and caused the complete closure of the Bord de Mar between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Antibes.

Alpes-Maritimes allocates €2.5 million for flood damage lefigaro.fr 07 Nov 11 The General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes has decided to release aid of € 2.5 million to repair flood damage that hit several towns in the area this weekend. "We have decided on a plan to help the municipalities affected, including Pégomas, Auribeau-sur-Siagne, Villeneuve-Loubet and La Colle-sur-Loup," said its president, Eric Ciotti. Two million euros will be spent on "heavy investments, including the rebuilding of levees destroyed at Auribeau-sur-Siagne," he said. A budget of €500,000 will be allocated to municipalities and individuals in the form of emergency credit. The assistance plan must be approved by a Council meeting 18 Nov 11. "We will refine the plan after estimating the damage to businesses." Ciotti said that he has sked the Ministry of the Interior to declare a state of natural disaster.

The Riviera counts the cost of flooding 20minutes.fr 07 Nov 11 Heavy rains caused confusion throughout the department this weekend. The west of the department was worst affected. The prefecture reported more than a thousand evacuees, mainly in Pegomas, Auribeau-sur-Siagne, Antibes and Villeneuve-Loubet. Rail traffic is reduced to one lane between Nice and Cannes, and the coastal roads are shut, strewn with trash from the beach. Approximately 8,000 homes were without electricity Sunday, including 3,200 in Nice where the situation returned to normal around 16:30. Some 500 pompiers and about sixty Force 06 officers were at work this weekend to deal with emergencies. No casualties were reported in the Alpes-Maritimes. By late afternoon Sunday, about 300 residents had still not been able to return home. J. C. Magnenet & A. Selvi.

Rain, wind, flooding lash the Cote d'azur and Var lepoint.fr 06 Nov11 Heavy rains caused the deaths of three people in the South of France including a retired couple from carbon monoxide intoxication. Two retirees aged 71 years old died overnight in Bagnols-en-Forêt from carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to evacuate water from their basement with a pump. Firefighters made about 1,200 interventions in the Var, including hoisting 30 people to safety, and 600 evacuations. Several rivers burst their banks at Brignoles and Argens. Some 600 people were evacuated on the coast and inland in the Alpes-Maritimes, near Cannes and Grasse. Many secondary roads are cut off by flooding near the Var, Brague, Loup and Siagne rivers. Problems are also reported on the rail network between Cannes and Les Arcs-Draguignan due to power outages. Pierre Thebault.

Opening of a new museum Cocteau in Menton artclair.com 04 Nov 11 A new museum devoted to the work and life of Jean Cocteau opens in Menton Sat 05 Nov 11. Created to expose the 1,800 works from the Wunderman collection donated to the city, it is now the most important public resource in the world for this French artist. The Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand will inaugurate the museum with its 2,700 m2 of exhibition space and 2,000 works of art. The exisitng small museum already in Menton will be retained, however. The museum is divided into seven spaces that trace the milestones and events in the life and work of Jean Cocteau. Located by the sea, the museum was designed by Rudy Ricciotti and is made of white concrete and smoked glass.

Anti-G20 demonstration: Eva Joly in Cap d'Ail nicematin 03 Nov 11 About 320 demonstrators gathered at the border between France and Monaco in Cap d'Ail. Aim of the event, to highlight "the hypocrisy of the G20 on tax havens," said Renaud Fossard, activist CCFD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development). Among them Europe Ecologie presidential candidate Eva Joly (pic) who said, "Monaco has 35,000 residents and 340,000 bank accounts. It is a tax haven! Just because they signed an agreement a few years ago doesn’t mean than it is not one." Regarding the Greek debt, Joly believes that "if the commitments on tax havens were upheld, Greece would not be in this situation. An estimated €120 billion of assets of the rich Greek are held abroad including Switzerland."

Monaco royal couple shoots down 'runaway bride' rumors msnbc.com 02 Nov 11 Charlene Wittstock looked serene at her July 1 wedding to billionaire Prince Albert II of Monaco. But up until the day she said “I do,” she was dogged by reports she had tried to run away from her opulent nuptials. In an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer on TODAY Wednesday, the 33-year-old former Olympian from South Africa said that she was a victim of the press’s overactive imagination in the hoopla leading up to a royal wedding. “Why would you go through all this effort to have this fantastic, you know, couple of days and have our most intimate, dearest friends come and join us for us to be reluctant?” Princess Charlene said as she sat alongside her new husband. “You know, for me, it just sounded hilarious.” Days before the wedding, the French weekly paper Le Journal du Dimanche reported Whittstock made up to three attempts to flee Monaco in advance of her wedding to Prince Albert. Michael Inbar.

German diver dies off the island of Porquerolles nouvelobs.com 02 Nov 11 A German female diver (51) died Tuesday during a dive off the island of Porquerolles (Var). The victim had just completed a 40 meter dive, when she was brought to the surface unconscious for an unknown reason. Rescuers were alerted by the Giens diving club. While three members of the club, a doctor and two nurses attempted to resuscitate the victim, the CROSSMED requested the intervention of a navy helicopter from Toulon. Despite resuscitation attempts, the victim was declared dead at 12.40. Thirty-six people died during last summer in the Mediterranean against five deaths and 24 missing in 2010, a significant increase, said the prefecture. AP.

Monaco's Princely Couple attend Princess Grace Awards in New York ndtv.com 02 Nov 11 In their first US visit since their wedding in July, Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attended the 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala honouring veteran actor and singer, Julie Andrews. A total of 21 awards were presented to emerging artists at the event, held Tuesday night (01 Nov 11) at New York's Cipriani. Actress Anne Hathaway introduced a special tribute to Julie Andrews, who received the Prince Rainier III Award. The Princess Grace Foundation-USA was created after the death of Prince Albert's mother, American actress Grace Kelly, in 1982. The charity presents scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to artists at the start of their careers. AP.

Thousands of anti-capitalists march in Nice ahead of G20 AFP 01 Nov 11 Thousands of anti-capitalists poured into Nice on Tuesday for a march against corporate greed ahead of the G20 summit in nearby Cannes, echoing protests worldwide. Shouting "People first, not finance!", protesters from around Europe and beyond marched noisily along their assigned route in the city's outskirts on a sunny and peaceful national holiday in the Mediterranean city. They have been arriving since Monday at the "Old Abattoir" cultural centre where a "People's Summit" is to be held in parallel to the summit of Group of 20 leaders in Cannes on Thursday and Friday. Police put the number of demonstrators at 5,400, while organisers, who say 10,000-12,000 took part. Hugues Jeanneaud.

Seventeen Var banks hit by Italian fraudsters varmatin.com 01 Nov 11 Between March 2010 and their arrest on 19 Nov 11 at Les Arcs, Gianni De Angelis, a 30 year old Italian, and Alina Dimitriu, a 23 year old Romanian, both residing in Turin, scoured banks in the eastern Var to execute a fraud that generated almost €200,000. They were sentenced yesterday by the Criminal Court of Draguignan to four and thirty months in prison respectively. It was a classic scam, opening accounts under a false name, with some cash, to obtain credit cards and cheque books. These were used to obtain cash to open other accounts in other banks. Seventeen branches were victims of the fraud. Both denied being part of a gang that specialises in this type of scam.

€4.5 million jackpot won on slot machine at La Siesta Antibes europe1.fr 31 Oct 11 A Sunday siesta for a 59 year old Antibes woman was worth €4,522,674 when she won the jackpot on a slot machine at the Casino La Siesta (Loa Group) in Antibes. She won with a €1.50 bet on the ‘Magic Jackpot Casino’ game and was quoted by the organisers as saying that she wants to "buy a beautiful house and go around the world." Launched 18 Sep 09, the 'Magic Jackpot' links more than 300 machines in a hundred casinos, (groups Barrière, Joa, Tranchant, Emerald, Cogit and independents) spread throughout France, that gradually accumulate a single jackpot. AFP.

Corbin Bleu jets to Monaco to star in charity Cinderella performance RLTV 30 Oct 11 High School Musical TV star Corbin Bleu will jet from L.A. to Monaco late November to give 4,000 underprivileged children from the area an early Christmas gift. The 22 year old show-biz veteran will be prince for a day in the Principality in Cinderella. He'll be joined in the all singing and dancing contemporary take on the fairytale by Skylar Summer as Cinders and singer Stella Star as a flying fairy godmother. Afternoon performances will be held at the Grimaldi Forum on 23 Nov 11 for the 4,000 kids cared for by Les Enfants de Frankie, followed by an early evening show open to the public. Lois Bolton.

Lily Safra's lawyers say mock trial of late husband's murder would be ‘grotesque’ nydailynews.com 29 Oct 11 Lily Safra's lawyers claim a mock retrying of her billionaire banker husband Edmond Safra's murder trial will make a mockery of her. The wealthy widow's law firm Mishcon de Reya fired off a letter to International Bar Association president Akira Kawamura seeking documents from the mock trial and warning him that Safra "will not hesitate to protect her reputation." Criminal defense attorney Michael J. Griffith has put together a group of 'world-class lawyers' to restage the 2002 case of his client, nurse Ted Maher, at the IBA's annual conference next Tuesday in Dubai. Maher, who served eight years in a Monaco prison, will reprise his real-life role as defendant.

The first visitors discover Menton's new Cocteau Museum nicematin.com 28 Oct 11 250 people visted Menton’s new Cocteau museum, set to officially open 05 Nov 11. Elected officials and staff from the town hall had a sneak preview of Severin Wunderman donated collection. Meanwhile, construction workers continued with finishing touches to the building. The public will be allowed to visit from 14.30hrs on 08 Nov 11. Although some works remain to be displayed, the initial reaction from the visitors was positive, ‘Wonderful,’ ‘grandiose,’ ‘breathtaking,’ ‘rewarding.’ The architecture of the new museum also received compliments. It is ‘fascinating, so close to the sea that it seems as if it is floating with reflections that bathes the works with light.’ Romain Maksymowycz.

Extensive search in Gréolières fails to find Mickael Phul nicematin.com 27 Oct 11 A major search undertaken on Wednesday in Gréolières-les-Neiges, failed to find Mickael Phul (42), the cultural attaché of the municipality of Saint-Paul, who has been missing since Monday, 03 Oct 11. Thirty gendarmes from St. Paul and Grasse were aided by 4x4 vehicles and a helicopter. Before disappearing, Phul had sent a letter to his family informing them that he wanted to end his life. He seems to have taken measures to avoid being found. His last known movement was to fill the petrol tank of his grey Renault Clio on October 3. The car was found Tuesday in the forest of Gréolières. Fabien Pigalle.

G20: Controls in place at the Italian border nicematin.com 26 Oct 11 French Gendarmes re-established border controls at the Italian frontier in Menton overnight Monday/Tuesday. The controls will remain in place until 05 Nov 11 to try and prevent public disorder in the run-up and during the G20 summit in Cannes 03-04 Nov 11. Three hundred men are on the ground to monitor 164 km of border. Agents are equipped with automatic number plate readers and are checking identity documents and inspecting cars. The authorities are concerned that members of the "black bloc” will try to enter French territory in order to mingle with protests scheduled in Nice and Cap-d Ail next week.

Mayor of Cap-Ferrat sentenced for embezzlement leparisien.fr 25 Oct 11 Senator Mayor of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat René Vestri (UMP) was sentenced Tuesday by the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence to a five months suspended sentence for misappropriation of European funds. Mr. Vestri was also fined €3,000. Funds allocated by the European Union and the Conseil Générale, which were allocated for cultural exchanges between schoolchildren in Cape Ferrat and Italian schoolchildren, had in fact been used to finance municipal actions unrelated to their original destination. The Senate has approved a partial lifting of parliamentary immunity for the Senator in connection with this matter. AFP.

Major damage from mini-tornado in Sanary-sur-Mer varmatin.com 25 Oct 11 A mini-tornado caused considerable damage this morning in Sanary-sur-Mer in the Var. At around 7:30 a.m., a mini tornado hit the neighborhoods of Portissol and Beaucours. According to firefighters, the mini tornado formed on the sea before moving inland. The mini-tornado destroyed roofs and crushed cars under tall pines. In all, nearly 30 villas have been affected, according to a first assessment. However no injuries were reported. About 70 firefighters were hard at work this morning clearing away hazardous trees. Roads were cut off by fallen trees but were reopened to traffic around 11am. The mini tornado also hit the SNCF network.

Towards the end of impunity for foreign drivers 20minutes.fr 25 Oct 11 The 25 members of the mission on road safety today present their report to the government. Objective: to bring down the number of deaths on the roads. "It went from 18,000 in 1972 to 4,000 in 2010, but 2011 was marked by bad numbers," says Nice M.P. Rudy Salles. In the Alpes-Maritimes, between January and May 2011, 26 people died, 4 more than in 2010. Among the measures proposed: the obligation to file radar speeding fines between European countries. In 2012 Foreign drivers in the department would be receive a ticket at their home address when they are flashed in France. 11-speed dedicated radar controls will be added in the Alpes Maritimes in 2012 with six additional red light cameras in Nice.

Russia asks court for help to repossess Nice cathedral nicematin.com 25 Oct 11 The Russian Federation has asked the high court of Nice to order measures to enable the State to repossess the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, in order to let representatives of the state to enter the building and to order the removal of the association (pic) occupying the building, if necessary with the help of a locksmith and the police and a penalty of €10,000 per day of delay. The courts granted the Russian Federation ownership of the Cathedral last Spring. Counsel for the association requested time to better prepare their defense. A request granted by the court. The case ultimately will be judged this Thursday, 27 Oct 11 at 14.00.

Bill Gates invited to the G20 in Cannes nicematin.com 23 Oct 11 Microsoft founder Bill Gates will be in Cannes for the G20 summit on 03 and 04 Nov 11. He will be attending at the request of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "At my request, Bill Gates will present proposals in Cannes on the subject of innovative financing, following the mission that we have entrusted to him," Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday in a speech devoted to development. Among the possible avenues for innovative financing, France and Germany are exploring a tax on financial transactions. The proceeds of this tax would be dedicated to the development of the poorest countries. AFP.

Colonel Xavier Prache appointed new aide to Prince Albert II monacomatin.mc 21 Oct 11 Colonel Xavier Prache has just taken up his office in the Monaco Palace. He is the new adjutant of Prince Albert II. Aged 43, he was previously stationed at the General Staff of the Navy in Paris. After a career as Commissioner of the Navy, Xavier Prache now specialises in human resources management. He completed his last two seasons on the helicopter carrier 'Jeanne d'Arc' on which Prince Albert II himself was stationed in 1981.

Demonstrations by farmers against the high speed line lafranceagricole.fr 21 Oct 11 Hundreds of growers and farmers on tractors and cars converged on Toulon on Friday morning to demonstrate against the proposed route of the high-speed rail line (LGV). "We oppose passage of the LGV in the middle of our agricultural land, which will impact more than 1,700 hectares," argued the President of Young Farmers in the Var, Sébastien Perrin. While denouncing the fact that "the direct and indirect consequences have not been measured at fair value," they point out that "it is the quality of life as a whole and the impact on the landscape of the Var that is at stake.” Agriculture in the Var concerns 6,000 operators, 40,000 indirect jobs and about €600 million turnover.

Constantinople Patriarchate doesn't intend to hand over Nice cathedral to Russian Church interfax-religion.com 19 Oct 11 The Constntinople Patriarchate continues to consider itself a legal owner of St.Nicholas Cathedral in Nice. "The religious association of the parish has appealed against the decision of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence which attributed ownership to the Russian Federation," the Exarchate says. The religious association "believes that the decision of the Court of Appeal does not deprive it of its right to lawful occupancy, as it has done for 80 years. The religious association has had to stop demanding entrance fees for visitors, which has obliged them to lay off reception and maintenance staff. Consequently the cathedral is closed for visits outside of services."

Book Review: Edward Quinn ‘Riviera Cocktail’ lalettredelaphotographie.com 19 Oct 11 Born in Dublin in 1920, Edward Quinn played Hawaiian guitar in Belfast, then went into the Royal Air Force. He eventually made his way to the Côte d’Azur, where he photographed world leaders, glamour girls and playboys, as well as figures from the worlds of art, music and literature. His most memorable work included images of an unknown Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly’s first meeting with Prince Rainier, and a precocious Brigitte Bardot. His exacting eye showcased Picasso, T.S. Eliot, and Gary Cooper. With a polished technique and great patience and charm, Quinn caught some of the post-war Riviera’s most memorable moments.

Daily Mail to pay Lady Moore 'substantial' damages over diary story guardian.co.uk 18 Oct 11 Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers has agreed to pay "substantial" damages to Lady Moore, the wife of Sir Roger Moore, over an Ephraim Hardcastle diary item that wrongly suggested she had had relationships with wealthy older men more than 50 years ago. The diary piece, published in the Ephraim Hardcastle column on 08 Oct 10, falsely claimed that Moore, formerly Kristina Tholstrup, had an affair with 74-year-old Taki Theodoracopulos and a 90-year-old man in 1958 on the French Riviera. A lawyer acting for Moore told the high court in London on Tuesday that, "Lady Moore was 18 in 1958 and was living in Sweden with her parents and at that time had never visited France." Josh Halliday.

Armenian Ambassador presents credentials to Prince of Monaco news.am 18 Oct 11 Vigen Chitechyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco, presented his credentials to Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco 11 Oct 11. During the private conversation held after the official presentation ceremony, Prince Albert welcomed the accreditation of Armenia’s first-ever Ambassador to Monaco and expressed a conviction that this would stimulate the development of bilateral relations between the two countries. In his turn, Armenia’s Ambassador likewise underscored the development of bilateral relations between Armenia and Monaco, and the cooperation within international organisations.

Brits queue up to run Alpes Maritimes Marathon 20minutes.fr 18 Oct 11 More than 10,000 participants are expected to run the 4th annual Alpes-Maritimes Marathon between Nice and Cannes 20 Nov 11. Between 10 and 11,000 are expected to register for the 42.195 km race. The finish line this year will be in front of the Carlton Hotel on the Croisette in Cannes. The record for the race was set at 2h 10m 17s in 2009 by the Ethiopian runner Adelo Roba. More than 50 countries are already registered. "We are impressed by the number of English who are participating," smiles Pascal Thiriot, President of the Azur Sport organisation. As of yesterday, only 26% of those registered were from the Alpes-Maritimes. J. C. Magnenet.

G20 protesters plan major demonstration in Cannes guardian.co.uk 17 Oct 11 Anti-capitalist protesters are planning demonstrations around the G20 summit in Cannes next month. Protesters hope to defy attempts by French authorities to lock down a swath of the Côte d'Azur, including plans to close France's border with Italy to block protesters from crossing into the country. Residents have been warned to expect major disruption and told that nobody, including those living locally, will be allowed into Cannes without official badges. Several anti-summit organisations have called on protesters to mobilise in Nice two days before the opening of the 48-hour summit. The groups said they are planning an action at the Monaco border to demonstrate against tax havens. Kim Willsher.

Monaco sink to foot of second tier, crisis deepens AFP 17 Oct 11 The troubles of former French champions Monaco continued on Monday night as the principality club sank to the bottom of the second division in the wake of a 4-0 hammering at Guingamp. Monaco were not helped by the sendings-off of goalkeeper Johann Carrasso and Vincent Muratori that forced them to play almost half the game in Brittany with ten men, but the rout confirms that recently-appointed coach Marco Simone has a huge job on his hands to turn things around at the Stade Louis II. A former Monaco striker, Italian Simone has overseen just one win in five games at the helm, and the seven-times title winners have just nine points after 11 matches.

Leading the (imaginary) high life in Monaco telegraph.co.uk 17 Oct 11 In a futile attempt to keep up with the lifestyle of the Grimaldis, I allowed myself an imaginary €15,167,241 for my recent visit to Monaco. After all, there is no point in doing things by halves when in the principality. Of course, I could have avoided the squash on the train on the short journey from Nice if I had taken the helicopter at €125 for the seven-minute flight so I thought it better to invest in one of my own since I hoped to be using it regularly. Then I found just what I wanted advertised in a shop window; a 2003 €3,145,000 Eurocopter with enhanced sound-proofing, as they can be quite noisy. Robert Hopkins.

Ocean's Eleven-style con at French Riviera casinos telegraph.co.uk 13 Oct 11 A gang of Italian con men has been arrested on the French Riviera for a scam using invisible ink and infra-red glasses that could have come straight from the Hollywood film Ocean's Eleven. The gang allegedly netted more than €60,000 during poker games by secretly marking decks of cards with the invisible ink which they were then able to read with the customised glasses. In their most recent but ultimately final sting, the gang targeted the Princes Casino in Cannes, netting around €20,000 in just a few hours. Police believe the gang of three Italians was helped by an insider at the casino – a Frenchman who surreptitiously marked cards with the invisible ink. Nick Squires.

Monaco: six days in prison for insulting the Prince 20minutes.fr 11 Oct 11 A man in his fifties has been sentenced by the criminal court of Monaco to six days in prison for insulting the Prince Albert II. Around midnight on Tuesday, Hicham, a man in his fifties and living in Beausoleil, decided to enter a bar in the Principality. He was apparently drunk and was refused service. Upset by this refusal he began insulting some customers in the bar. When Monaco Police were alerted and when they arrived at the bar he began vigorously ranting against them, and Prince Albert II of Monaco. At his trial, he claimed to remember nothing. He was sentenced to six days in prison.

Dead dolphins found tied to concrete block thelocal.fr 07 Oct 11 Two divers made a macabre discovery when they came across three dead dolphins in the water that had been tied by their tails to a concrete block. The dolphins were found in the Morgiou creek off the Calanques coast of Marseille. "We were at a depth of 55m when we noticed an unusually shaped light-coloured mass just underneath us," said Fabienne Henri. "As we got closer, we could make out the shapes of three dead dolphins lying on the sand." The Marseille prosecutor has opened an inquiry and an autopsy will be carried out to establish the cause of death. "These mammals are protected and killing them is a criminal offence for which the guilty could go to prison," said a spokesperson for the maritime police.

PACA region lags behind in recycling waste leparisien.fr 07 Oct 11 The recycling of waste increased in 2010 in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), but remains well below the national average, according to figures released this week by the organization Eco-Packaging. Some 159,000 tonnes of household packaging was recycled last year, or 33 kg per capita, a figure up 4% from 2009 but well below the 47.5 kg average sorted in France. The Hautes-Alpes figures are good (54 kg / capita), while the Bouches-du-Rhône show the lowest performance (23 kg / cap). The gap is explained by the very different profile of these two departments, one rural and one highly urbanized. AFP.

Davenport exploited Monaco image to con clients RLTV 07 Oct 11 The self-styled 'Lord' Edward Davenport, exploited the image of Monaco to con his clients. He was jailed for 8 years for a £4.5 million advanced fee scheme in which scores of businesses were ripped off. Davenport owns an apartment in Monaco and used photos of himself with celebrities to gain credibility. There is no suggestion whatsoever that any of the celebrities were ever involved in, or even aware of, his fraudulent activities. His 'lieutenant', Peter Riley, who was also jailed for the fraud used emails from a fictitious Monaco lawyer 'Louis Martin' to stall clients who were waiting for loans that never materialised. On his website, Davenport claims to have assisted the Monaco Consulate in London. MD.

Body of missing Warwick pensioner found in Valbonne forest warwickcourier.co.uk 04 Oct 11 A Warwick pensioner was found dead in a forest in the south of France last weekend following several days of searching. Retired doctor Derek Barrowcliff, 92, had gone on 19 Sep 11 for a ten day break near Cannes, but after going missing last week French police were alerted when he failed to show up to a lunch with friends in Valbonne. Over 250 people volunteered to help search for the man, but the body of Mr Barrowcliff - known to friends and family as Poppy - was discovered on Sunday. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the death of a British national who was found in the Valbonne area on 02 Oct 11. We are in touch with next of kin and are providing consular assistance.”

Moscow-Nice train to stop in Monaco from December leparisien.fr 04 Oct 11 The Moscow-Nice train, launched in autumn 2010 by the SNCF and its Russian counterpart, will make a 2 minutes stopover in Monaco from mid-December, said the French railway company. Travelers interested can already purchase tickets in 1,100 stations and 150 SNCF shops. The 3,200 km route is the longest in Europe. The train covers the distance in 50 hours and 23 minutes and passes through seven European countries, including Austria and Poland. Nearly 6,000 passengers have taken the journey over the last six months.

Only Watch Charity Auction Raises over $6 million for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy elitetraveler.com 04 Oct 11 Horology lovers from around the globe came together to buy time and better lives for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the fourth biennial Only Watch Charity Auction, housed at the illustrious Hotel Hermitage in Monaco. Online and call-in connoisseurs bid on the 40 innovative watches showcased, along with collectors brimming the auction room—including prominent personalities like Ronnie Woods of the Rolling Stones. International participants from the United States to Hong Kong to Switzerland raised a whopping $6.2 million. The Patek Phillippe (pic) brought in the highest bid of almost $560,000.

'I'll do it my way': Princess Charlene AFP 03 Oct 11 Monaco's newly-wed Princess Charlene vowed to carry out her royal duties in her own style but admitted adapting to the role was taking time, in an interview published in Monday's Daily Telegraph newspaper. The 33-year-old South African married Prince Albert II in July amid reports in British newspapers that she had tried to run away before the big day, and the former Olympic swimmer took a swipe at her "enemies" in the British press. The couple married weeks after Britain's Prince William and Catherine Middleton tied the knot, but Charlene brushed off any comparisons between the two princesses, promising to "do it my way."

Zimbabwe's golden girl Kirsty ‘defects’ to Monaco zimpapers.co.za 02 Oct 11 Kirsty-Leigh Coventry, Zimbabwe’s golden girl of swimming, has shifted her training base from Johannesburg to the Principality of Monaco in preparation for the London Olympic Games. Coventry, a multiple gold medalist at major events such as the Olympics, World Championships and All-Africa Games, recently secured an ideal training venue in the chic city state, courtesy of a personal invitation from her good friend and former Olympic swimmer, Princess Charlene of Monaco. The neighbourly Princess Charlene, who prior to her recent wedding to Prince Albert II, the Prince of Monaco, was known as Charlene Wittstock, is a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa. Goodwill Zunidza.

Prostitution along N7 ‘more discreet’ nouvelobs.com 01 Oct 11 Prostitution along the N7 between Frejus, Vidauban, Brignoles and Aix-en-Provence has become more discreet according to a survey carried out over nearly two months. It is likely that the actions of law enforcement and municipalities have helped to reduce the presence of prostitutes on the N7. There remain little more than four places of prostitution, however, it should be noted that in some places: entrance to Vidauban, near Roquebrune and Aix-en-Provence, the presence of prostitutes still exists but is much more rare. Prostitution in the Var, Bouches du Rhone and Alpes Maritimes, is always present.

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RivieraLife News Archive 19 - Oct/Nov 2011