RivieraLife News Archive 8 - December 2009 / January 2010

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 supporters clash with police wsn.com 30 Jan 10 Around two hundred supporters of French First Division strugglers Nice clashed with police here on Saturday after they invaded the pitch and tried to confront rival fans from Monaco. The pitch invasion followed their side's 3-2 defeat in the Riviera derby which left them fifth from bottom, just six points above the relegation places. However, police prevented the Nice supporters from crossing the pitch and taking on their opponents. Nice president Gilbert Stellardo said he had not seen the incident after leaving following shouts for him to resign. AFP.

Park's brace maintains Monaco's unbeaten run Google.com 30 Jan 10 A double by Korean international Park Chu-young inspired Monaco to a 3-2 victory over Nice on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run to seven league matches. Park's brace, and one by Brazilian star Nene, ended a 14-year winless run against their opponents who are deep in relegation trouble having not won in their past nine games, a run which included a Cup exit at the hands of lower league Plabennec. Park - who on Friday signed a contract extension tying him to Monaco until 2013 - struck in the 19th minute with a header from a corner by Nene. Pirate Irwin / AFP.

Cote d'azur on the cheap — the €1 trip The Times 30 Jan 10 What can you do with €1 on the Côte d’Azur, the sun-baked playground of the rich and Botoxed? It barely pays for a sip of a champagne cocktail on the terrace of the Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. It won’t even buy a Happy Meal at McDonald’s farther up the beach. But, amazingly, it is enough for a trip along the length of the Riveria. The €1 bus will take you from Cannes to Monte Carlo, and everywhere in between, whether you want to feel yacht envy in Antibes or wander round the hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence. Julia Brookes.

A8 Motorway Users Angry Over Toll Increases Nice Matin 28 Jan 10 From the first of February, the 38 000 drivers who each day use the A8 motorway will have to pay 20 cents more between Aix-en-Provence and Menton. The motorway operator Escota increase tariffs the same time each year. In 2010, the rate increase is 0.89% for cars and 2.93% for trucks. Six toll stations will see their rates increase. They are the toll barriers at La Turbie and Le Capitou plus the exits at Saint-Maximim, Frejus, Carnoules and Saint Isidore West. The A8 is the most expensive in France thanks to it’s topography with many tunnels and viaducts. Escota will invest €777 in maintainence and improvements up to 2011.

Caroline of Monaco’s victory against Paris Match, angers the weekly rtlinfo.be 28 Jan 10 Paris Match editor Olivier Royant has denounced a ruling against his weekly magazine as "an extremely serious violation of freedom of information" after being sentenced Thursday over a September 2009 front page story claiming that Princess Caroline of Monaco had separated from her husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover. The ruling by a court in Nanterre near Paris said that the French weekly had violated their rights. The couple regularly defend against the publication of paparazzi photos or articles relating to privacy. The greatest victory of Caroline of Monaco was in 2004 when she won a case before the European Court of Human Rights. LRT.

Spurs to Take Gudjohnsen on Loan From Monaco New York Times 28 Jan 10 Tottenham Hotspur are poised to sign former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco until the end of the season. "I just thought he's a good player and he can play several positions for us," manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC on Thursday. Gudjohnsen was due to have a medical at the north London club before finalising the deal this week. The Iceland international has played 11 matches in all competitions for Monaco this season, starting seven, but has not scored for the Ligue 1 side. Alan Baldwin / Reuters.

Video Monaco Celebrates Patron Saint Devote RLTV 26 Jan 10 The patron saint of Monaco, Saint Devote is celebrated with a national holiday Wed 27 Jan 10. The day before a series of events commemorate the life of Saint Devote who was tortured to death in the 4th century on Corsica as part of the persecution of Christians ordered by the Roman Emporor Diocletian. Saint Devote died without denying her faith and her body was placed on a boat by her followers to avoid her body being burnt, hoping for a Christian burial by those who found her. The boat ended up at the site of the present day Saint Devote church in Monaco. Follow the links to read more about her story and to watch videos on Monaco's Saint Devote celebrations. MD.

Alpes-Maritimes to cut budget by €61 million Metro 25 Jan 10 The gloomy economic climate has forced the Conseil Générale of the Alpes-Maritimes to implement spending cuts of €61 million. The president of the Conseil Générale Eric Ciotti announced an austerity plan Monday to rescue the finances of the department. The housing crisis caused a dramatic €100 million downturn in transfer taxes, more than half the revenue of the Conseil Générale. One third of the savings (€20 million) will be on "Planning", including cuts in subsidies to large organizations (Team ITC Tourism Committee) and the abandonment of the project Centre for Sustainable Development, representing an expenditure of €15 million. The Conseil Générale will also reduce its payroll by not replacing one in two retirees (€5.2 million savings this year). Michel Bernouin.

34th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival Review The Stage 25 Jan 10 An expectant audience gathers in Monte Carlo for the 34th International Circus Festival and its first four days of competition for the prestigious clown awards open with a saxophone solo played by the famous Franco-Italian white-face clown Yann Rossi. Granted a place at the festival by Princess Stephanie after appearing on French TV show Incroyable Talent, Acro Trio kick off the performances. Two attractive girls and a tiny, super flexible child perform hand-balancing, banquine (hand-boosted somersaults). Liz Arratoon.

Bridget Bardot's St Tropez is still a real eye-opener on the French Riviera Daily Mail 24 Jan 10 I should have known St Tropez during my teenage years in the late Fifties, when sex was something that one thought happened only in France, Brigitte Bardot was the sexiest film star ever and 'St Trop' was her personal playground. Like all my schoolfriends, I collected every available picture of Bardot posing in striped bikinis on its dazzling plage and smiling invitingly. But I could never escape from a horribly different kind of seaside - working in my father's pinball arcade at the end of an Isle of Wight pier. Philip Norman.

Black Eyed Peas denied NRJ award win BBC.co.uk 24 Jan 10 The Black Eyed Peas were the victims of a blunder at France's top music awards, where they were mistakenly named best international group. The stars were originally declared winners at the NRJ Awards in Cannes, but there were boos when it was later revealed that an error had been made. German band Tokio Hotel were the real victors, it was announced. Rihanna accepted the award for best international female after slipping off the stage following her performance. Robbie Williams was there to pick up best international male as well as an honorary award. Ian Youngs.

Polished finish sees Hirvonen to Monte Carlo Rally victory Google 23 Jan 10 Finland's two-time world rally championship runner-up Mikko Hirvonen won the Monte Carlo Rally after leading from start to finish in the IRC opener. The 29-year-old Fiesta Ford driver won by nearly two minutes over compatriot Juho Hanninen, driving a Skoda, while Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz was third in another Skoda. Hirvonen's victory was virtually assured, barring a catastrophe, when another Frenchman and last year's winner Sebastien Ogier had to retire. The Peugeot driver looked to have the momentum to repeat his victory after he moved to within 46 seconds of Hirvonen after winning the opening stage on the third and final day. AFP.

Burnley take Monaco striker Frederic Nimani on loan BBC Sport 23 Jan 10 Burnley have confirmed the signing of Monaco striker Frederic Nimani on a five-month loan deal, with a view to a possible permanent transfer. The 21-year-old scored seven goals in his first full season with Monaco, but has found first-team chances hard to come by this campaign. Birmingham and Bolton were also reported to have been interested.

Video Illegal refugees dumped in Corsica are sent to mainland France 24 23 Jan 10 A group of some 60 refugees in Corsica, identifying themselves as Syrian Kurds, were flown to mainland France on Saturday. The rest of the 124 refugees are soon to follow. The group landed in Corsica after being dumped by traffickers on Friday. The migrants were dropped off by the traffickers near the southern town of Bonifacio by a boat which then departed, officials said. They were taken to a gymnasium to be treated by doctors and aid staff.

Court rejects appeal from wife of murdered English aristocrat AFP 21 Jan 10 A French court rejected an appeal by the widow of the 10th Earl of Shaftesbury, who was convicted for plotting to murder the aristocrat in 2004, making her 20-year prison sentence final. The court rejected former nightclub hostess Jamila M'Barek's appeal, more than five years after the killing. M'Barek and her Tunisian brother Mohamed were jailed for 25 years in 2007 for plotting to kill 66-year-old Anthony Ashley-Cooper, out of fear an impending divorce would threaten her inheritance. The earl's decomposing body was found in April 2005 on a patch of wasteland on the French Riviera, five months after he disappeared from his home in Cannes.

Scandal with Russian Acrobats at Circus Festival in Monaco Russia Info Centre 21 Jan 10 The only Russian participants of the world’s largest circus festival in Monaco left the festival driven by a conflict with the circus administration. According to the festival’s vice-president Urs Pilz, Russian acrobats did not agree to the fact that they had not received grand prizes but were given only the jury’s prize. “They were also sent away because they had behaved badly on all the rehearsals. They always wanted to command” – the vice-president stated after the Russian company had not shown up at the gala night.

Russia wins court case and gets Nice cathedral DesMoinesRegister.com 20 Jan 10 A French court ruled Wednesday that a Russian Orthodox cathedral built on the French Riviera nearly a century ago under Czar Nicholas II now belongs to Moscow. The ruling by the Nice court is the latest development in Russia's bid to obtain ownership of Orthodox edifices around the world; Wednesday's ruling was a defeat for an association founded by Russians who fled the Bolshevik Revolution that has been fighting to maintain its control over the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Nice, and its archbishop is accusing the Russian government of a land grab as part of a national pride campaign. Jamey Keaten / AP. RIA Novosti report

René Vestri's Parliamentary Immunity Lifted Nice Matin 20 Jan 10 The French Senate this morning lifted parliamentary immunity for René Vestri, Senator and Mayor of St Jean Cap Ferrat. Vestri is suspected of corruption and money laundering in connection with what was called Operation Clean Hands, a case that also involves the daughter of the Senator, Lino Alberti and the construction boss Gerard Spinelli, who has been released on bail.

Van Gogh's Provence Telegraph.co.uk 20 Jan 10 As the new Van Gogh exhibition prepares to open at London's Royal Academy, Nick Trend heads to Provence to marvel at the sights and colours that inspired the Dutch genius. During his stay at Arles, and then at the asylum in Saint Rémy until shortly before his death in 1890, Van Gogh painted what have become some of the most reproduced images in Western art. For many of us, they still form our first impression of the south of France – of the deep green spears of the cypress trees, the frothing white of the almond blossom, and the intense, yellow heat and brilliant light and colour of summer.

The Negresco in Nice sentenced in racial harassment case AFP 18 Jan 10 The Hotel Negresco in Nice has been condemned by the Court of Appeal in Montpellier in a case of racist bullying against of one of its former employees. After five years of proceedings, the prestige hotel on the Promenade des Anglais has been found guilty for failing to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of harassment suffered by the employee, a 56 year old who worked at the Negresco as a painter between 1988 and 2003. The institution will pay over €55,000 in damages and various allowances.

Police shoot-out in Antibes Riviera Times 18 Jan 10 Four injured as police try to block suspects on the road. It was more like a scene from an American crime movie than a peaceful evening on the Côte d’Azur, as a residential area of Antibes suddenly found itself the centre of a gun drama. Claire Lathbury.

Regional Red Cross appeal for Haiti disaster Riviera Times 15 Jan 10 The French Red Cross in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var has been inundated with calls from the public asking what they can do to help the situation in Haiti, following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake. In an interview with local paper Nice-Matin, the President of the region’s Red Cross, Simone Long, explained that donations of money were what was needed most. To get clothes, blankets and food to Haiti would be too expensive and difficult to organise from this distance, and she urged people to send money instead. http://www.croix-rouge.

Robert Kubica set for first taste of the full Monte Observer 17 Jan 10 The pulling power of the Monte Carlo Rally is such that the motoring classic, which starts from Valence in France on Tuesday night, has tempted a grand prix driver to take part. Robert Kubica's entry is the icing on the cake for one of the world's most famous sporting contests and confirms that the Monte Carlo Rally is more important in terms of kudos than the rest of the championships put together. Kubica will provide a story whether he wins or crashes, such is the novelty value of an F1 driver being effectively allowed out to have fun. Maurice Hamilton. (Editors note: Kubica also recently participated in the Var Rally.)

Video UMP Mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer sentenced FR3 15 Jan 09 Gerard Grosgogeat, the UMP mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, has been sentenced to a four months suspended sentence by the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence. He was accused of using his public office to benefit his private interests by giving a contract to refurbish the reception room of the municipality worth €23,100 to a company headed by his son in 2008. The court upheld an initial ruling from Feb 2009 by the Nice Correctional Court. "We will probably file an appeal," stated Grosgogeat’s lawyer Gérard Baudoux. Gerard Grosgogeat said he had awarded the contract in good faith and had asked his son’s company to repay the contract value when he realized his "stupidity".

Hotelier slapped by prince not beaten, says Princess Caroline nzherald.co.nz 15 Jan 10 Princess Caroline of Monaco told a court yesterday that her husband slapped a hotel owner in Kenya as a symbolic reproach over noise from a disco but did not beat the man. The Princess told the court her husband got angry with Josef Brunlehner, owner of a hotel on Lamu Island, and slapped him twice with an open hand after becoming irritated at the noise from a disco. Ernst August, 55, great-grandson of the last German Emperor, Wilhelm II - is being retried after being convicted in 2004 and fined €445,000. Ernst August does not deny the assault but he is seeking to have the charge and sentence reduced. AP.

TriStar Event Set To Replace Monaco Ironman 70.3 triathlon.competitor.com 15 Jan 10 A few months after the announcement that the Monaco Ironman 70.3 would no longer exist, TriStar announced it has worked with the Principality of Monaco to create a shorter version of the former half-Ironman race. The new race will be held on Sept. 5, 2010 and will consist of a 1km swim leg, 100km bike leg and a 10km run leg.

Valeri crosses the floor of Monaco parliament in historic move Riviera Times 12 Jan 10 Jean François Robillon has been chosen to lead Monaco’s elected parliament, the Conseil National, replacing former president Stéphane Valeri (pictured left) who has been appointed an advisor to the Prince’s government on health and social affairs. It is the first time a President has “crossed the floor” in this way and is seen by many as a further sign of the openness and modernity of the Sovereign Prince Albert II. Claire Lathbury.

Meeke gets top seed for Monte Carlo Rally autosport.com 11 Jan 10 Britain's reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champions Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle have been seeded first for next week's Monte Carlo Rally. The entry list, issued by the Automobile Club de Monaco today, features 63 cars, 19 of which are Super 2000s. Directly behind Meeke's Peugeot 207 S2000 is Mikko Hirvonen's Ford Fiesta S2000, the M-Sport-built car making its first competitive appearance on the event which starts from Valence on Tuesday January 19.

Wilkinson set to extend French sojourn at Toulon Scrum.com 08 Jan 10 England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is set to take up the second year option on his contract with French Top 14 side Toulon.The Times reports that the 30-year-old is settled on the Côte d'Azur and will confirm his decision to extend his stay for another season in the coming weeks. The Rugby World Cup winner made a high profile switch to the Mediterranean last year having recovered from his latest injury woe - a dislocated knee - that curtailed his 12-year stint with Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.

New swindling claims as conman with home in La Turbie spotted in Bordighera Hampstead & High 07 Jan 10 Two elderly people have come forward alleging they have also been swindled by the man revealed to have stolen more than £1million from a blind Hampstead widow. The pair have joined the Ham&High in our campaign to hunt down Mogens Hauschildt, 68, a convicted conman who is believed to be hiding out on the Mediterranean coast around the French-Italian border. He was last seen in the Italian coastal town of Bordighera. One 84-year-old woman, who says she has lost half a million Euros to Hauschildt spoke to us from her home on the French Riviera on condition of anonymity because she has not yet told her family of the loss. Hauschildt has a property in La Turbie valued at around £2million. Ben McPartland.

Kubica to contest Monte Carlo Rally itv.com 09 Jan 10 Robert Kubica is to contest the forthcoming Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most famous events in the rallying calendar. The legendary sprint around the icy roads of the French Riviera starts 19 January. Although Monte Carlo is not currently part of the World Rally Championship due to disagreements over the event's format, it is the season opener and showpiece round for the second-string Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Kubica has dabbled in rallying since signing for Renault, recently contesting events in Italy and France with the same Clio R3 he will use in Monte Carlo.

Video Berlusconi shops for nudes in St Paul de Vence Yahoo! 06 Jan 10 Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi took a break from the rough and tumble of Italian politics Wednesday, shopping for nudes on the French riviera. The premier, who is recovering from an attack last month that broke his nose and two teeth, visited the village Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the Cote d'Azur, where he bought four bronze statuettes. Art gallery spokesman Loic Deltour described the works as "sensual nudes" worth "several tens of thousands of euros." AFP.

The big ski blackout Riviera Times 06 Jan 10 ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) were forced yesterday afternoon to erect generators in local villages that had been left with no power between Monday and Tuesday. The massive power cut was caused when a 63,000 volt line, operated by TEN and supplying the villages of Isola, Saint-Etienne de Tinee and Saint-Dalmas le Selvage, failed at Haute-Tinée. Among those hit by the lengthy blackout were skiers in the resorts of Isola 2000 and Auron. Ski stations reopen after blackout RLTV 07 Jan 10 Isola 2000 and Auron ski resorts are operating again, after electricity was restored. Technicians completed repairs to a 63-thousand volt power line at Haute-Tinée Wednesday. MD.

Nice hope over Digard deal SportingLife.com 06 Jan 10 Nice are hoping to conclude a deal for Middlesbrough's Didier Digard. The Cote D'Azur outfit are struggling in 16th in Ligue Un and want to bolster their squad this month. Coach Didier Olle-Nicolle has targeted a central defender and a midfielder and Digard has now emerged as his top midfield target. Digard only joined Boro at the start of last season, signed by former boss Gareth Southgate as a replacement for Lee Cattermole.However, Digard has failed to make the expected impact on Teesside and Gordon Strachan has seemingly deemed him surplus to his requirements. Patrick Haond.

Avalanche death in the 3 Valleys Planetski.eu 04 Jan 10 A French man has died in Grenoble hospital from his injuries after being caught in an avalanche in Val Thorens. It's a dangerous time in the Alps for off-piste skiing; another avalanche and another death, this time a French skier from the Alpes-Maritimes area of France becomes the victim of a snowslide. He is the eigth person to die in France this season. Ben Clatworthy.

One Killed, Three Wounded in Roquebrune - Cap Martin Knife Attack AFP 03 Jan 10 A mentally instable man stabbed three people, one fatally Saturday in an apartment block in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. He had previously stabbed the guardian of the residence in 2005, but was released as not being responsible for his own actions. The man, aged 27, broke into the building Saturday in Roquebrune and went to the fourth floor where he fatally stabbed the 80 year old caretaker. A neighbour, hearing the cries of the octogenarian, came to his aid but was in turn stabbed in the throat. Seriously wounded, he was hospitalised but is not in danger. The neighbour's wife also intervened and was stabbed in the shoulder. The attacker was arrested in Roquebrune soon afterwards.

Video Killer waves on Riviera sweep beach walkers on New Year’s Day France 24 02 Jan 10 Rescue teams called off their search Saturday, following deadly giant waves that washed the shores of the French Riviera on New Year’s Day, killing at least three people. At the Cap Croisette in Marseille, an elderly couple was found washed up fully dressed on the beach Friday. They were believed to have died while trying to save a dog from the waves. In separate incidents on the same stretch of the Cote d'Azur coastline, six beach-goers were engulfed by waves -- though five of them managed to make their way back to shore. A young woman of 28 however suffered a cardiac arrest at St. Jean Cap ferrat after she was engulfed by waves stirred up by strong westerly winds.

Picasso, Rousseau paintings stolen in South of France France 24 02 Jan 10 Around 30 paintings, including works by Picasso and Rousseau, valued at around a million euros, have been stolen from a private villa in the south of France. But a Modigliani initially believed to be part of the haul has since been found. The villa's French owner was holidaying in Sweden at the time of the break-in, which was discovered by the caretaker on Thursday afternoon. The reported burglary in La Cadiere d'Azur comes after a pastel by Degas disappeared from the Cantini museum in Marseille on New Year's Eve. AFP.

Degas painting stolen in Marseille Independent.co.uk 01 Jan 10 A small pastel painting of choir singers by the French impressionist master Edgar Degas has been stolen from an exhibition in Marseilles. The theft was noticed when staff opened the Musée Cantini in the centre of Marseilles yesterday morning. The pastel, part of a Degas exhibition due to end in two days' time, had been removed from its frame. The painting, Les Choristes, was said by its owner, the French museums service, to be worth around € 800,000. The Marseilles city councillor in charge of exhibitions said the theft was a "catastrophe" for a museum. John Lichfield.

Freak wave in Nice: two women snatched by a wave Nice Matin 26 Dec 09 A freak wave struck the coast of Nice yesterday, with waves in some places reaching very near to the coast road. They also, unfortunately, caused a drama. Two women walking on the Chemin des Douaniers coastal path by Coco Beach, were snatched by a huge wave yesterday at 15 h. Among them, a 48 year old lady was washed away in front of her daughter. The two women were rescued by the Pompiers and taken to the L'Archet Hospital, where one of them last night, was still in a state considered extremely serious.

Seven new names proposed for PACA region RLTV 24 Dec 09 This region, once known as Provence, could soon be rebaptised as er...Provence. A panel of seven experts made up of academics, politicians and civil servants have come up with seven possible alternatives to the current acronym of PACA (Provence Alpes Cote d'azur) designated in 1972. The proposed new names are; Pays de Provence, Provence-Méditerranée, Alpes-Méditerranée, Alpes-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Méditerranée, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and yes you guessed it....Provence. PACA President Michel Vauzelle says that the acronym is a 'stain on the region.' The local population will decide in a referendum June/July 2010 estimated to cost almost €100,000. MD.

Video Two million without power in southeast France Terradaily.com 21 Dec 09 The French electricity grid was forced to cut off power to around two million people in the southeast of the country Monday for an hour in order to avoid a massive regional blackout. Some districts of Marseille, including the city centre, and of the suburbs of Nice, were without power during the stoppage, and firefighters made several calls to rescue passengers stuck in lifts. The blackout lasted from 1.46 pm to 2.45 pm. A spokesman said that the problem was caused by increased power use due to freezing temperatures and a "technical incident" at a power sub-station in Tavel, near Avignon, in the southern Rhone valley. AFP.

Snowfall snarls Riviera road, rail & air traffic RLTV 19 Dec 09 Heavy snow fell around the Nice and Monaco/La Turbie area Friday night making for treacherous driving on the A8 motorway. The heaviest snowfall was around Nice where several centimetres fell. There were traffic jams on the A8 motorway between Nice St. Isidore and Nice Nord overnight. Lorries lined up along the slow lane whilst traffic ground to a halt or crawled along at 20-40km/h. The A8 motorway was shut between Menton & Nice in both directions Saturday morning.

Ham&High joins international search for conman HamHigh.co.uk 24 Dec 09 The hunt for a convicted conman, who swindled a Hampstead widow out of her home and savings has been hindered by French police, their British counterparts claimed. Mogens Hauschildt, 68, is believed to be hiding in the south of France with around £1million belonging to Pamela Schutzmann, an 87-year-old blind woman from Finchley Road. Danish-born Hauschildt, who befriended Ms Schutzmann and became her financial adviser, was convicted in his absence by a jury last year after going on the run before his trial started. He has a £2million home in the small town of La Turbie, between Nice and the Italian border. Ben McPartland.

No escape for drivers across the border Riviera Times 16 Dec 09 Italian-registered cars flashed by speed cameras in France have been at the centre of a trial which could spell the end of a fine-free era for foreign cars caught in European countries. For the moment the system only targets those doing more than 20 km over the speed limit and they are not able to implement a points penalty on the licence. A European measure allows for agreements like this to be made between countries, although it means offenders pay the fine in their own country. Claire Lathbury.

Royal Mougins Golf resort was born in a dream Comoxvalleyrecord.com 17 Dec 09 To create Kubla Khan, the poem about the pleasure dome in Xanadu, Samuel T. Coleridge was inspired by an opium-induced dream. To create the Royal Mougins Golf Resort, manager Rattan Chadha was also inspired by a dream. In his own words, “I dreamt that I broke into the Garden of Eden to play a round of golf. I dreamt of a resort where I could pursue my passion for golf, and vacation in a preserved natural setting, ideally situated on the Cote d’Azur. He succeeded, although no opium was involved. Bill Peeler.

First winners announced for the Midem Classical Awards Cannes 2010 Gramophone 16 Dec 09 The Midem Classical Awards 2010 will be held during the record industry’s annual trade fair in Cannes in late January. Among the recipients of the special artist awards are the Italian soprano Mirella Freni who is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award and the Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt, voted Instrumentalist of the Year. Two singers are receiving the Singer of the Year, the Latvian mezzo Elina Garanca and the German baritone, Christian Gerhaher. James Jolly.

Ridley Scott loses Provence legal battle to stop 'bad odours' Telegraph.co.uk 15 Dec 09 The British director of films including Alien, Blade Runner and Gladiator bought a second home in the Luberon 15 years ago. In 2005, he shot a film starring Russell Crowe in the area based on Peter Mayle's book, A Good Year. But the idyllic, French way of life offered by the region began to go awry five years ago when a couple bought a neighbouring plot in Oppède, near Cavaillon, and set up an organic poultry farm. Horrified by the cackling chickens and allegedly unseemly smell that wafted into his property, Sir Ridley, 72, took his neighbours to court, complaining that their chickens caused "aural & visual pollution and bad odours. Henry Samuel.

UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Princess Stephanie of Monaco visits the HIV frontline in South Africa UNAIDS.org 14 Dec 09 Visiting South Africa for the first time in her role as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco met with community organizations and partners at the forefront of South Africa’s response to the HIV epidemic. South Africa has one of the largest HIV epidemics, with an estimated 5.7 million people living with HIV. During her visit, Princess Stephanie met with the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé who was in South Africa to address a meeting of African Jurists on HIV and the Law. The Princess shared her experience of interacting with people living with HIV in the townships.

Tickets Now On-Sale for the 2010 Trans-Provence Bike Magazine 13 Dec 09 Ash Smith has never been much of a fan of big, elaborately staged, mass attendance mountain bike races. Instead, as the owner of trailAddiction, a mountain bike guiding company based out of Les Arcs, France, Smith makes a living taking small groups of riders into the Alps, showing them the kind of riding experience that he is a fan of—epic all-day adventures across stunning terrain, following singletrack as much as possible. Smith has dreamt up a seven-day, point-to-point stage race across the Maritime Alps. In total, the Trans-Provence boasts more singletrack descending than any other seven-day race in existence. Chris Lesser.

Emergency Landing for Easyjet Geneva flight at Nice Airport Nice Matin 12 Dec 09 144 passengers and 6 crew onboard the Easyjet flight from Geneva received a fright Friday evening, when the Airbus A 319 plane had to make an emergency landing at Nice airport. The onboard computer signalled a block on the planes the landing gear and emergency landing procedures were implemented with passengers and crew adopting crash positions. Firemen were called to the runway and all other air traffic at Nice airport was suspended. Due to arrive at 20.55, the plane eventually landed safely at 22.06. Regular air traffic resumed 2 minutes later. One passenger was taken to Nice’s St. Roch hospital and treated for shock. Last nights return flight was cancelled pending a full inspection of the plane today.

Lino Alberti leaves his cell today Monaco Today 11 Dec 09 The co-accused in the Clean Hands affair, the retired Monaco entrepreneur Lino Alberti, was due to be released from jail in Draguignan this morning after a court in Aix agreed on stringent bail conditions. Alberti has been ordered to pay 500,000 euros immediately, and a further half million by March 1, 2010. He will not be able to return to the villa he shares with Chantal Grundig, the electronics heiress, but will have to stay with his sister in Antibes. The firm he founded in Monaco is involved in the building of the Odeon Tower. Gerard Spinelli, the mayor of neighbouring Beausoleil, suspected of accepting a bribe of 65,000 for not opposing the building of the 49-story tower, failed on Wednesday in his own application for bail. Ian Brodie.

Button and Brawn collect their silverware in Monaco Formula1.com 11 Dec 09 Jenson Button and Brawn GP were officially presented with their world championship trophies on Friday evening, as the annual FIA Gala in Monaco provided the grand finale for a dramatic 2009 Formula One season. Button and Ross Brawn picked up the silverware for the drivers’ and constructors’ titles respectively, whilst Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Brawn’s Rubens Barrichello took the stage to collect their second and third place trophies. It was a season of records for all of those on stage. With Button having won six of the first seven races of the championship, Brawn became the first team to claim the constructors’ title in its debut season.

Massaro defeats Perry in Monaco BBC.co.uk 11 Dec 09 Madeline Perry fell to an agonising 3-2 defeat against top seed Laura Massaro in Friday's Monte Carlo Classic final. The second seed from Banbridge, 32, stormed back from two games down and then let victory slip from her grasp as Preston's Massaro triumphed. She was 6-1 up in the deciding game but failed to register another point as she lost 5-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-2, 6-11.

Blind widow, 87, robbed of savings by Danish fraudster believed to be in South of France Ham&High 10 Dec 09 An 87-year-old blind woman, who was swindled out of her home and life savings by a cruel conman, has told the Ham&High she wants to know justice has been done before she dies. It was revealed this week that Danish-born fraudster Mogens Hauschildt, 68, is on the run with around £1million belonging to widow Pamela Schutzmann, who has been left penniless. Hauschildt posed as a financial adviser to strip Ms Schutzmann of her assets including her home on Finchley Road and around £400,000 worth of her savings. He then fled the country before he could be jailed and was convicted in his absence of several counts of fraud and deception by a jury last year. He is believed to be living in the South of France. Ben McPartland.

Oceans Day in Copenhagen will be opened by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco PR Newswire 07 Dec 09 A special day is being set aside during the U.N.-sponsored international climate talks in Copenhagen in December to stress the urgent need to protect the oceans. Oceans Day, December 14, will highlight the direct link between climate change, ocean health, and human well-being. Oceans Day will be opened by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, unveiling a new Blue Initiative. Collaborators include a host of other governments and organizations, including the Government of the Seychelles and World Wildlife Fund.

MIDEM Reveals Its Talents For 2010 Mi2n.com 06 Dec 09 For the third year running, MidemTalent is promoting up and coming artists with strong export potential. From 24-26 January, thirteen pop/rock, electro, world music and jazz artists and bands will perform on stage at the Carlton Hotel for professionals attending MIDEM and the public of Cannes. British performers Alex Hepburn, Wayne Beckford, King Charles and The Black Swan Effect; French rockers Plastiscines; Irish singer-songwriter and Mercury Awards nominee Lisa Hannigan; and French pop group Diving with Andy, nominated for the Prix Constantin 2009, are just a few of the artists lined up for MidemTalent 2010.

Hirvonen to debut new Fiesta S2000 on Monte Carlo Rally Crash.net 04 Dec 09 BP Ford Abu Dhabi team leader Mikko Hirvonen will drive the all-new Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car, in what will be its competitive debut, in the famous Monte Carlo Rally early next year, it has been announced. The Finn will use the five-day rally as a key part of his preparation for the 2010 World Rally Championship, which starts in February, while showcasing the exciting Fiesta S2000 rally car for the first time in competition.

Italy: Cycling champion investigated for Monaco tax evasion adnkronos.com 04 Dec 09 Italian tax police are reportedly investigating retired cycling champion Paolo Bettini for suspected tax evasion, alleging he hid almost 11 million euros of his earnings in the tax haven of Monaco.The two-time world road race champion and Olympic gold and silver medallist also took up residence in Monaco to avoid paying taxes to Italian authorities. Bettini claimed he was living in Monaco, although he continued to live in Italy, according to unnamed police sources.

Monaco Playboy 'lord' accused of conning stars out of £12million Daily Mail 03 Dec 09 A playboy businessman was yesterday accused of swindling celebrity clients out of £12million. Edward Davenport, 43, allegedly conned well-known and wealthy figures by offering loans of up to £250million. But prospective clients never received the money, despite paying a ten per cent security deposit, City of London Magistrates' Court heard. Davenport divides his time between Monaco, where he says he is a tax exile, Jersey and his Georgian property in central London - once the High Commission of Sierra Leone. Stephen Wright & Claire Ellicott.

Usher heads to the French Riviera for his new fragrance commercial Drug Store News 02 Dec 09 Recording artist Usher traveled to the French Riviera to film the new commercial for his latest fragrance, Elizabeth Arden announced on Tuesday. Filmmaker Pierre Morel directed to television spot showing Usher and his female companion being chased by paparazzi through the streets of Monte Carlo. The debut of Usher VIP comes in anticipation of the release of his new album due out in early 2010. Antoinette Alexander. Watch the video here.

On trial in Grasse: the question of what is modern art Independent.co.uk 01 Dec 09 The reputation of modern art went on trial in the south of France yesterday. Two brothers are accused in a court in Grasse of faking sculptures, supposedly by the internationally celebrated French artist, César. Two well-known art dealers, one French, one Belgian, are accused of selling the works knowing them to be false. After eight years of investigations, the one-week trial will inevitably turn into something else: an inquisition into the credulity of art experts and the artless banality of modern art, or at least some modern art. John Lichfield.

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RivieraLife News Archive 8 - December 2009 / January 2010