Obituary: Gunter Sachs  telegraph.co.uk 09 May 11 Gunter Sachs, who committed suicide at his chalet in Gstaad on Saturday aged 78, was a multi-millionaire German playboy, scion of the Opel motor dynasty, European bobsleigh champion of 1958 and the third husband of Brigitte Bardot. Sachs first met Bardot at Saint-Tropez in May 1966. She was drinking champagne with friends in a bar when she spotted the handsome German with striking blue eyes: “I thought he was magnificent,” she recalled. “I was hypnotised... he had the same Rolls as me!. In fact, the same everything!” The next day Sachs paid for a helicopter to fly over her Cote d’Azur home, La Madrague, and shower it with thousands of red roses. “It’s not every day that a man drops a ton of roses in your yard,” she later wrote.

Monaco’s live music venue Moods has closed  monacomatin.mc 10 May 11 Moods Music Bar is closed its dorrs for the last time 30 Apr. After a revamp the locale will reopen late autumn 2011 as Jimmy’z Winter Club. Live music is unlikely to feature in this new manisfestation. Two petitions, with so far 1,400 signatures, have been organised to keep the club open. Those signing include musicians John McLaughlin and Andre Ceccarelli. "There is certainly a problem of profitability,” says Alain Provenzano, Vice President of the Monaco Jazz Chorus. “We held almost half of our concerts at Moods, about five per year." Joelle Deviras.

Wales centre Gavin Henson released by Toulon  AP 24 May 11 Toulon will release Gavin Henson after deciding against offering the Wales centre a permanent contract following his brief stint with the French club. Toulon team manager Tom Whitford cited financial restrictions and the risk of losing Henson for a lengthy period during this year's World Cup in New Zealand as the main reasons behind the decision. Henson left English side Saracens in February to join Toulon on a short-term deal, but featured in only three matches for the club in the Top 14. He was suspended by Toulon for a week in April for brawling with a teammate hours after a league victory over Toulouse.

Hamilton apologizes for post-race Monaco outburst  cnn.com 31 May 11 McLaren's Lewis Hamilton apologised Tuesday for his angry outburst against fellow drivers Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado after the Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton collided with Ferrari's Massa and Maldonado, who drives for Williams, at separate points during Sunday's incident-packed race which was won by defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany. The 26-year-old Briton was given a 20-second drive through penalty for each offense, the second for his rash overtaking move on Venezuela's Maldonado, coming retrospectively after the race ended. Both Massa and Maldonado were forced to pull out after the incidents, while Hamilton finished a distant sixth.

Samy Naceri held in custody at Grasse prison  leparisien.fr 31 May 11 Actor Samy Naceri was apprehended Monday night in Grasse jail. In late April, the Paris Criminal Court found him guilty of assaulting at knifepoint a friend of his former girlfriend in January 2009 in Paris. In two separate cases unrelated to the assault, the hero of the TV series Taxi will appear in the Grasse court June 21 for exhibitionism and insulting police officers. On May 22, during the Cannes Film Festival at the Hotel Martinez, he dropped his pants and 'mooned' a young girl and her parents who had asked him to pose for a photograph. A few days earlier, he had insulted police after being denied entrance to a private party on a beach in Cannes. In both cases, he was placed in custody and then released.

AS Monaco relegated after 0-2 defeat to Lyon  heraldscotland.com 01 Jun 11 What should have been the highlight of Prince Albert’s year, the Monaco Grand Prix, has now gone down as an ignominious date. Just a few hours after the race, Albert was at the Louis II Stadium to watch his beloved AS Monaco relegated to the French second division. A 2-0 defeat to Lyon on the last day of the campaign condemned Monaco – seven-times champions – to the drop for the first time in 35 years. As recently as 2004, Monaco reached the Champions League final, where a team that included Dado Prso lost to FC Porto. Royal patronage from the Grimaldi family shaped Monaco’s rise to European football’s elite under Albert’s late father, Prince Rainier.

Video Hailstones as big as golf balls hit South of France  news.sky.com 05 Jun 11 Golf ball-sized hailstones have smashed buildings and destroyed crops in the south of France. Measuring around 3cm in diameter, the hailstones hit the towns of Cavaillon and Plan-d'Orgon in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. The violent storm happened without warning. The weather had been very warm when suddenly it started to rain and a threatening cloud appeared, reports said. About 60mm of water fell within minutes. One farmer said he lost around 25 tonnes of melons. Other witnesses said several buildings, including greenhouses, were damaged.

New museum opened in Mougins by British collector  artclair.com 08 Jun 11 A new private museum has opened in Mougins. It houses the art collection of wealthy British trader Christian Levett. The Museum of Classical Art of Mougins is dedicated to ancient art but neo-classical, modern and contemporary pieces also find their place among the ancient statues and sculptures. The museum occupies 400sqm on four levels with the crypt devoted to the afterlife, the ground floor to  celebrities, first floor to deities and the second floor to armour. The building dates from the post-medieval and is located in the old village of Mougins. The museum is run by curator Mark Merrony and director Julianne Coutts.

'Mad Men' wins in Monte Carlo  variety.com 11 Jun 11 "Mad Men" was named top drama series at the Monte Carlo Television Festival on Friday evening, while "Modern Family" took the prize for comedy skein. Among thesping honors, "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm took actor in a drama series, and "30 Rock's" Tracy Morgan took actor in a comedy series. Kudos for drama series actress went to Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays a political leader in Denmark's "Government," and comedy series actress went to Annette Frier for Germany's "Danni Lowinski". The miniseries award was won by Italy's "The Queens of Swing," a 30s-set drama about a singing trio of Jewish sisters. The Special Prize of Prince Rainier III went to France's "Tipping Point," a docu about ocean acidification. Leo Barraclough.

Didier Drogba marries fiancée Lala Diakite In Monaco  goal.com 11 Jun 11 Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba wed long-time fiancée Lala Diakite today in Monaco before some 500 guests drawn from the world of sport and show business. The ceremonies, chaired by Chelsea owner Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, last until Mon 13 Jun 11. Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o, Senegalese singer Youssour N’Dour, R&B singer Akon and a crop of NBA stars attended. The marriage was officiated at the Marie de Monaco followed by festivities at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel. Drogba’s team-mates Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda were part of the groom’s men. Drogba and his Malian wife Lala met in France while the player was beginning his career. They have three children. Kingsley Kobo.

Found Picasso pictures: couple indicted  lefigaro.fr 12 Jun 11 The former electrician Pierre Guennec (pic), 71, and his wife Danielle, who kept 271 original works by Picasso in their home in Mouans Sartoux, have been indicted for receiving stolen goods. The Grasse tribunal was unable to confirm this Saturday, while Pierre Guennec could not be reached, nor his lawyer Evelyn Rees. According to Le Monde, the couple were indicted on 03 May 11 by Grasse judge Catherine Bonnici. The case erupted in the fall after the electrician visited Picasso's heirs to obtain certificates authenticating the works he had kept in a garage for nearly forty years. Guennec says that these works were given to him by Picasso and his wife Jacqueline, while doing work at the Mas Notre-Dame-de-Vie in Mougins. AFP.

Woman stunt legend and British pilot husband die in plane crash on Mont Agel  dailymail.co.uk 18 Jun 11 A British stunt driver and her husband have been killed after their plane crashed in the South of France. Jacqueline Balmer, 53, was in a light aircraft flown by her husband James, 68, when it crashed into a mountain near Monaco on Friday. They took off from Lucia, Italy, and were flying to Troyes, south of Paris, when radar contact was lost. Wreckage of the twin-engine Piper PA-39 and the bodies of the couple from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, were found four hours later by searchers on Mont Agel. A witness who spotted the plane flying at 'very low altitude' had alerted the emergency services. The cause of the crash remained unknown last night. Steve Farrell.

Monaco Sovereign Wedding News Archive From the first announcement in June last year, through the preparations, to the actual event in July 2011; follow how the world's media covered this major event in the life of the Principality of Monaco with articles and video reports. Prince Albert II of Monaco married the South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock 1st & 2nd July 2011. Concerts from The Eagles and Jean-Michel Jarre and a spectacular fireworks display accompanied the civil and religious ceremonies, whilst the media speculated over allegations about Prince Albert's private life.

Earthquake felt on Cote d’azur, firefighters flooded with calls  nouvelobs.com 08 Jul 11 An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 degrees on the Richter scale was felt on Thursday night not only in Corsica, in the Var and Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), but also as far as Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), the emergency services said on Friday. No casualties or  damage has been reported and the authorities dismiss the risk of a tsunami. The epicentre was about 95km west of Ajaccio. Two successive earthquakes were felt in the coastal zone, one at 21:20 with a magnitude of 5.2 and a second at 22:04, with a magnitude of 2.9. According to emergency services, a low magnitude tremor was felt on Wednesday night in Ajaccio (Corse-du-Sud) and Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).

Video Castorama Antibes destroyed by fire  nicematin.com 17 Jul 11 2 000 m2 of Castorama Antibes, was destroyed by fire overnight Saturday to Sunday at 2am. The fire spread to the forest and a nearby warehouse. About 130 firefighters responded to contain the disaster.

Monaco royals to sue over break-up rumours: premier  yahoo.com 22 Jul 11 Monaco's government head Michel Roger railed Friday against "false" rumours of discord between Prince Albert II and his wife, and said the couple will sue a French magazine for spreading them. "It is very distressing," Roger, whose official title is minister of state, told journalists of the gossip that swirled around the wedding held over two days in early July. Rumours that Charlene Wittstock tried to leave the principality in a huff just days before the royal wedding have already been rejected by the palace, a lawyer for the princely pair, as well as by Albert himself. "They are all false," added Roger. Roger said the couple intended to sue L'Express because it "gave credibility to these unfounded rumours by publishing them". Valery Hache / AFP.

Video French runners suspended after brawl at Monaco Diamond League meet  jamaicaobserver.com 24 Jul 11 Top French runners Mehdi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad have been suspended pending an inquiry into their embarrassing punch-up on the track on Friday. The two men squared up and traded blows at the end of the 1,500m, prompting Bernard Amsalem, the president of the French athletics federation, to set up a meeting of the disciplinary committee. The committee will meet within the next eight days during which time the two runners will be provisionally suspended. The duo had finished 9th and 11th in a high-quality race won by Kenyan Silas Kiplagat. But at the end of the race Benabbad lashed out at his senior team-mate when he came over to console him, headbutts and slaps shared between the two, to the jeers and whistles of a large crowd at the Louis II stadium. AFP.

Earthquake felt In Italy, France, Switzerland and Monaco  irishweatheronline.com 25 Jul 11 A moderate earthquake shook the northern Italian city of Turin, as well as parts of neighbouring France, Monaco and Switzerland, on Monday afternoon. The magnitude 4.8 quake struck at 14.31 in the Piedmont Region of Italy, 22 km northwest of Turin. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was felt in Sion, Switzerland (114 km away), Milan (137 km) and Monaco(161 km). It was recorded at a depth of just 9.9 km,. An eyewitness in Nice (143 km S from epicenter) said, “Sitting at my computer  and seat started moving in a rolling/wave motion. The rolling did not go on for long. Our cat wasn’t upset -he just looked alert until the wave action finshed”. Mark Dunphy.

Blonde driving Bentley crashes into Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche in Monaco  caradvice.com.au 28 Jul 11 A woman driving a Bentley Azure in Monaco's Place du Casino last weekend managed to crash into a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, then an Aston Martin and Porsche 911, and finally stopping into a Ferrari 430. All up the cars cost around $1 million, yet the expected bill for the repairs is said to be just $60,000. Specific details of  how the crash occurred are unknown at this stage. Speed could normally be a contributing factor, but in central Monte Carlo, with so many cars and tourists gawking around at the prestigious city, it’s nigh on impossible to reach a decent speed. We’d be putting it down to lack of concentration and failure to adapt to the conditions. Brett Davis.

Suicide of policewoman in Cagnes "No fault of the hierarchy"  nicematin.com 01 Aug 11 Despite leaving a suicide note claiming ‘work conditions’ as a motive, a police report has found that the police hierarchy was not responsible for the suicide of Cagnes-sur Mer policewoman Nelly Bardaine (39) who commited suicide on 04 Jul 11 at 08.30, when she shot herself through the heart with her police gun. In a hand-written letter Bardaine stated police reforms and work pressure had contributed to her being ‘sick of this awful life’. The police investigation said it found 'no dysfunctionality in the Cagnes police department that could have lead to the suicide of Nelly.’ Stéphanie Gasiglia.

Fraser Yachts superyacht partner of the 34th America's Cup Fraser Yachts is the official partner for the 34th America's Cup superyachts programme. In its exciting new format, superyachts will form an amphitheatre around the race circuit. Fraser Yachts will be responsible for all chartering arrangements. The 34th America's Cup will be hosted by the last winners, the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco in 2013. In this video report we interview Fraser Yachts Marketing Director Patrick Coote.

A man suspected of assaulting a 17 year old Scottish tourist arrested in Nice  nouvelobs.com 04 Aug 11 An Algerrian tourist suspected of sexually assaulting a 17 year old Scottish tourist was arrested in the old town of Nice on Tuesday. The assault took place Saturday night/Sunday morning in the Jardin Albert 1er in Nice. The girl who was with a group of friends was isolated by a man who had approached the group and was then assaulted. The assailant then fled after stealing the victim’s mobile phone. The man arrested had the girl’s phone in his possession and was positively identified by the victim.

Summer rainfall up 120% on the French Riviera  meteoconsult.fr 08 Aug 11 The drought that France experienced between March and early June, with a rainfall deficit around 60%, has been replaced by above average rainfall. Since the beginning of July there has been a net excess of 20 to 30% in most regions. It even reached 120% above average on the Riviera, unaccustomed to seeing so much rain in summer. Corsica is experiencing a great summer, hot and dry, but rainfall was excessive this spring. Over the next few days, the sun will temporarily return. Unfortunately, we can expect a further deterioration from the west next weekend, with cooler temperatures.

Riviera political giant Charles Ehrmann dies aged 99  france3.fr 08 Aug 11 Charles Ehrmann, one of the leading figures in Riviera politics over four decades, has died aged 99. Deputy Mayor of Nice, UDF parliamentary deputy, he also served on the regional Conseil Generale. Ehrmann begun his career under Nice mayor Jacques Médecin. He retired from politics in 2002. He was a geography teacher at Nice's Lycée Masséna for 40 years. His students included former Nice mayor  Jacques Peyrat. He was responsible for sports in Nice for 18 years under Jacques Médecin. Nice's Stade Ehrmann was named after him. Charles Ehrmann was born in Paris, October 7, 1911 of Alsatian ancestry. His family came to France in 1871. His father died in the Battle of the Marne in 1914. Yves Lebaratoux.

Anger after the shooting of Gréolières mascot Tito the deer  lefigaro.fr 10 Aug 11 Tito the deer was the mascot of Gréolières-les-Neiges, a small ski resort near Cannes in the Alpes-Maritimes. Five days after the discovery of the body of this tame  deer who was shot twice, the locals have been expressing their anger. "Who is the infamous bastard who killed Tito" asks Patrick Leoni, a resident quoted by the daily local newspaper Nice Matin. An  investigation has so far not been able to determine who shot the deer.

Le Cannet opens Pierre Bonnard museum  lemonde.fr 17 Aug 11 The painter Pierre Bonnard (1867 -1947) discovered the small town of Le Cannet in 1922. In 1927 he bought a house there. It was preserved by his heirs, donated to the state in 1947 and has been a listed monument since 2007. However, the house is too small to open to visitors. In 1998, the town acquired one of the last Belle Epoque villas that had not been defaced or destroyed by real estate speculation, the hotel Saint-Vianney. After two years of work, the Musée Bonnard was inaugurated there on 25 Jun 11. The opening exhibition brings together forty paintings, drawings and books. Among these works, a 1927 view overlooking Le Cannet. Philippe Degan.

Paris court rules against blogger attacking Monaco  albawaba.com 17 Aug 11 For the past few years, Robert Eringer has been running an anti-Monaco blog. The man (who claims to have been Prince Albert's 'spymaster' Ed.) was introduced to Prince Albert in the 1980s. According to sources from the Principality, Eringer's blog "is a libelous and defamatory work." Sources claim that Eringer tried to blackmail the Principality to stop blogging against the Prince. Eringer has been found guilty by Paris courts of publishing "false information" on Monaco and local key personalities.  Following the court's ruling, Mr. Eringer removed stories from his blog but has so far refused to make any payment for damages. In a June 14 2011 ruling he was ordered to pay €20,000 damages plus €7,000 legal fees.

Bono denies hospitalization, heart scare  reuters.com 22 Aug 11 Reports that Bono was rushed to a Monaco hospital last week with chest pains and heart palpitations are false, a spokesperson for the singer said in a written statement on Monday. Initial word was that the 51-year-old U2 frontman was hospitalized at the Princess Grace Memorial Hospital after a heart scare, but Bono's team is pouring cold water on those accounts. "Bono has not suffered a recent health scare," the statement said. "Reports of being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment are untrue. Bono is in good health and enjoying a family holiday in the South of France. The sighting of the singer at Princess Grace Hospital was due to a routine check up." Brent Lang.

Josephine, the dolphin star of Le Grand Bleu, dies in Antibes  AFP 23 Aug 11 Josephine the dolphin, heroine of the film "Le Grand Bleu" by director Luc Besson, died "as a result of kidney disease associated with advanced age," Marineland of Antibes reported Tuesday. "Josephine was a mother and grandmother of several children and grandchildren," Jon Kershaw, director of the zoological park told AFP. She was captured in the United States in 1979 for the marine park in Antibes and had to be about forty years old, "a great age for this species", he added. The capture of dolphins at sea for marine parks has been banned since 1985. Josephine became famous by appearing in "the most technically challenging scenes" from the movie " Le Grand Bleu " released in 1988. Watch a clip here.

Dehydration forces Sir Tom to cancel Monte Carlo show  walesonline.co.uk 29 Aug 11 Sir Tom Jones was yesterday being treated for “severe dehydration” at a hospital in Monaco, amid reports of “a heart scare”. A spokesman for the 71-year-old Sex Bomb singer said he had been “ordered by doctors” to cancel a planned £200-a-ticket show at a luxury Monte Carlo nightspot on Saturday evening. Rumours about Sir Tom’s deteriorating health began circulating yesterday on social networking site Twitter after David King, the theatrical manager at the venue, tweeted: “Tonight’s concert at the Sporting Club, Monte Carlo, cancelled as Tom Jones admitted to hospital with a heart scare.” However, a spokesman for Sir Tom insisted he had dehydration after performing in high temperatures on Friday night. Clare Hutchinson.

Monaco communications advisor resigns  AFP 31 Aug 11 Christiane Stahl, adviser to the cabinet of Prince Albert II of Monaco in charge of communication, has decided to leave office, the Prince's Palace said in a short statement Wednesday. "Christiane Stahl decided in agreement with the Sovereign, to step down because she wants to return to Paris where she is called to other responsibilities. The prince wishes to express his appreciation for the work done at his side during the past six years and welcomes her commitment to the Principality of Monaco and its people." Christiane Stahl, once close to former President Jacques Chirac, had the task of organizing the wedding coverage of Prince Albert II and his girlfriend Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene, in July.

Nice man fined for ignoring wife in bedroom  independent.co.uk 08 Sep 11 A French man has been sued for nearly £9,000 by his ex-wife for not having enough sex with her. The 51-year-old, known only as JeanLouis B, was fined under article 215 of France's civil code, which says that married couples must agree to a "shared communal life". The court in Aix-en-Provence heard that the couple had been married for 21 years, and raised two children on the French Riviera. But uninspired Jean-Louis was "solely responsible" for the lack of fireworks in their bedroom, blaming lethargy and stress of work. "A sexual relationship between husband and wife is the expression of affection they have for each other, and in this case it was absent," the judge declared, with typically French haughtiness. Amol Rajan.

Ex-AC Milan star Marco Simone named AS Monaco coach  tribalfootball.com 14 Sep 11 Former AC Milan striker Marco Simone has been named new coach of AS Monaco. Simone, who played in attack for Milan and Monaco during his career, will be assisted by Jean Petit, the French club have confirmed. Monaco are struggling domestically following their relegation from the top flight last term. They are currently second from bottom in the standings. Simone is 42 and also has a past with French giants Paris Saint-Germain as a player. Despite a decent career at club level, he only won four caps for his country.

Battle of Nice Cathedral divides Russian Orthodox community  la-croix.com 15 Sep 11 Russia’s ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov, criticised the administration of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Nice Thursday saying that the decision to close its gates to visitors and release its five employees is “a unilateral decision to take hostage the people of Nice and tourists.”  The action follows a ruling by the court of appeal in Aix-en-Provence 19 May 11 allowing the Russian state to take control of the cathedral. "We received a bailiff notice asking us to suspend admission fees (€3) that allowed us to pay our five employees. We'll have to fire them and can no longer ensure the reception of visitors,” said P. Jean Gueit, rector of the cathedral.  François-Xavier Maigre.

Briton dies after brawl outside Cannes nightclub  guardian.co.uk 20 Sep 11 A Territorial army soldier who served in Iraq has died following a brawl believed to have been sparked over the cost of drinks at a lap-dancing club in Cannes. Lee Fisher, 37, from Camberley, Surrey, had been working as a labourer in the French Riviera city, erecting stands for a duty free and retail trade exhibition. He died after reportedly being punched in the face during a row with a group of local men in the early hours of Monday. Fisher, who was married, was one of four Britons working for the design consultancy firm Lea International, constructing the exhibition space for the Tax Free World Association trade show. Caroline Davies.

Monaco Yacht Show 11 'A tale of two recessions' The 21st Monaco Yacht Show, 21-24 Sep 11, was a tale of two recessions. The super rich continue to commission superyachts of 50 metres and more, whilst there are fire sales for second hand smaller yachts that have flooded the market. Meanwhile, the regulators are catching up with this offshore business, with new laws regulating crew and safety conditions. RivieraLife.tv's Andrew Burroughs reports and talks to Jamie Edmiston of Edmiston and Company, Sir Alan Massey and Luca Bassani Antivari of Monaco's Wally Yachts.

Griffin Yacht Club, Le Saint Benoit Restaurant, MYS 2011 Griffin Marine Travel debuted the Griffin Yacht Club (GYC) at the 21st Monaco Yacht Show 21st-24th September 2011. Located in the Le Saint Benoit Restaurant overlooking Port Hercules, the GYC was an instant hit with Captains, Crew and Yachting Professionals. Free hospitality included breakfast, lunch and an open bar. In this video report, RivieraLife.tv correspondent Andrew Burroughs profiles the GYC and speaks with Griffin Yacht Travel VP Wally Kelm and sponsors of the GYC.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

€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.

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.

RivieraLife.tv Cannes G20 archive Leaders from the most powerful countries in the world congregated in Cannes 03-04 Nov 11 for the G20 summit in the midst of one of the most serious economic crisis ever. Cannes faced an almost total shut down for security reasons. The summit's goals were blown apart by the Greek Prime Ministers decision to call a referendum on his country's EU rescue package. A decision that was swiftly reversed under international pressure, causing even more indecision as Greece faced an internal political crisis. Visit our special G20 page for news & videos from this historic event.

November floods & storms lash the Riviera: News Archive An extra-tropical storm system that developed over the Mediterranean in early November 2011 brought heavy rains, strong winds and flooding to the Alpes Maritimes and Var. Several were killed and there was several hundred million euros worth of damage. The Var, Loup, Siagne and Brague rivers swelled and coastal roads between Antibes and Villeneuve Loubet, Menton and the Promenade des Anglais were flooded and strewn with debris. Winds off of the Porquerelles Island gusted to 150km/h. We archive all of the news with video reports here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Five sentenced for stealing from Nice museum after being caught in FBI sting  telegraph.co.uk 02 Dec 11 Five men received prison sentences for stealing a Monet, a Sisley and two Brueghel's from a Nice museum before being arrested in a sting operation involving the FBI. In 2007, the gang walked into the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nice at lunchtime, held staff at gunpoint and unhooked two Brueghels – Allegory of Water and Allegory of Earth – Alfred Sisley's Avenue of Poplars at Moret and Claude Monet's Cliffs Near Dieppe. They had a combined value of €22 million. On Friday a court in Aix-en-Provence handed the men sentences of between two and nine years for armed robbery and reception of stolen goods by an organised gang. Henry Samuel.

Monaco: Seven years in prison for ‘Ndrangheta boss  monacomatin.com 07 Dec 11 The alleged leader of the Calabrese 'Ndrangheta, Massimiliano Avesani, was sentenced Tue 06 Dec 11 in Monaco to seven years in prison with an arrest warrant, a €100,000 fine and forfeiture of €1.6 million deposited in his bank accounts in the Principality. The accused, who was not present at the hearing, is on probation in Rome where he is appealing an 18 year sentence. Avesani was accused of laundering drug dealing money in the Principality. After the hearing, Avesani’s lawyer Mr. Franck Michel decided to appeal the conviction. (Avesani was arrested in Monaco in 2008 for drug trafficking from Spain and extradited to Italy in 2009. Ed.)

Tony the Eel, bandit turned novelist, indicted  AFP 08 Dec 11 Antoine Cossu (71) aka 'Tony the Eel' was indicted Thursday for 'conspiracy', in an investigation into drug trafficking. Nice Police claim to have almost completed the dismantling of a sprawling network with 22 indictments, including many 'big names' from the world of organised crime. "We are doing the who's who of banditry in the south-east of France", says Philippe Frizon, head of Nice Police. 'Tony the Eel' is the former brother-in-law and confidant of the legendary Marseilles godfather Francis Vanverberghe, known as 'The Belgian', who was murdered in Paris in 2000. Cossu has to his credit robberies, international drug trafficking and multiple escapes. He has spent twenty years in prison. Catherine Marciano.

Toulon: Thousands of demonstrators and 130 tractors against the LGV  AFP 11 Dec 11 Between 2,400 people according to police and 4,000 according to organisers, came in two processions from La Crau and Cadiere d'Azur (Var), on board of 130 tractors and cars to Toulon Saturday, to demonstrate against the new high speed LGV PACA train project. The port was blocked to traffic for much of the day. A minute of noise with sirens and horns blaring, was also observed. The consultation on the route was discontinued in the Bouches-du-Rhone and the Var, after several eventful public meetings, but continues in the Alpes-Maritimes. The proposed high speed rail line would reduce travel times from 5 hours 40 minutes presently to 4 hours.

Alleged rape of a prostitute in Nice: four police officers in the dock  rtl.be 11 Dec 11 Four police officers appear before the Assize Court of the Alpes-Maritimes in Nice on Monday, three for the alleged rape of a prostitute in Nice in February 2010, the fourth for failure to assist a person in danger. The four agents, now aged 30-39 years, were patrolling in a van on the night of 23 to 24 February 2010 when they stopped, around 2:00 am. A 27 year old single mother from Toulon was soliciting with an alcoholic beverage in hand. The woman says that she was forced to have sex with three of them. They admit to having sex with her but claim it was consensual. If found guilty the policemen, who have been suspended from duty,  could face a 20 year sentence. A verdict is expected on Thursday.

Amorous Briton floods squatted Riviera villa  AFP 14 Dec 11 A British fantasist who sneaked into a French luxury villa to prepare it for a romantic night ended up facing charges after flooding the property. Alexander Thomas, a raffish 31-year-old from Manchester, boasts of being a top golfer but lives in his car on the French Riviera. On 08 Dec 11, he climbed into a holiday property in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. He turned on taps and showers to fill the pool and left them running while setting off to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the lady in question -- an American -- turned up three hours late for her date, already drunk, and refused to return with Thomas. When he returned to the villa at 1.00 am he found the son of the owner, an Italian businessman based in Monaco, had returned from a trip to Africa -- and that the pool had overflowed and partially flooded the villa.

South of France's faulty breast implants scandal  guardian.co.uk 14 Dec 11 More than 30,000 women in France, Spain, UK and other countries have had breast implants filled with industrial silicone instead of medical-grade fillers. The company Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP), based in the south of France, was one of the world's leaders in silicone implant production until last year when it was found to have been cutting corners and saving an estimated €1bn a year by using industrial silicone instead of medical-grade fillers in their breast implants. The casing around the filling was also faulty and prone to rupture or leakage. The company has closed and more than 2,000 women have filed legal complaints. Angelique Chrisafis.

Keys of Nice's Russian Cathedral handed over to a Russian Archpriest  fr.ria.ru 15 Dec 11 The keys to the Cathedral of St. Nicolas de Nice, the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside Russia, were handed over Thursday to an archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Moscow Patriarchate in France. The Association of Russian Orthodox worship Nice (ACOR), had managed the Cathedral from 1923 to 2010. In 2010, the Nice Tribunal recognised Russia as owner of the cathedral. On May 19, 2011, the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence upheld the property rights of the Russian Federation on the cathedral and dismissed the appeal of the cultural association of Nice, founded by families who fled the Bolsheviks in the early twentieth century. RIA Novosti.

Dog electrocuted by electric Christmas tree in Menton  nicematin.com 18 Dec 11 A Beauceron rottweiler crossbreed dog called Daily collapsed and died from an electric shock after ‘approaching’ one of the fake Christmas trees along the Promenade in Menton. Panicked, before dying, the animal bit his mistress, a 43-year-old Menton women. Shocked by the death of her dog, and with a few scratches, the woman had to be taken to La Palmosa hospital. Daily, the dog, was just one year old. The fire brigade and city police quickly cut power to the electric Christmas trees. Christophe Enghien, responsible for the lights, immediately ordered an investigation.

263 teaching jobs to be cut in Alpes Maritimes and Var  lamarseillaise.fr 21 Dec 11 Out of 14,000 jobs cuts proposed for 2012 in the education sector in France, 262 are set to be cut in the Alpes Maritimes and Var. It is not yet known which positions will be eliminated. A technical committee will give its recommendations in January, and a departmental committee will decide in February which schools and colleges will be impacted. Teachers of students with disabilities are reported to be in the front line of the budget cuts. Class sizes are also expected to increase. A demonstration against the cuts is being planned for sometime in January. Roman Alcraz.

Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev takes over AS Monaco  bbc.co.uk 23 Dec 11 Billionaire Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev has bought a majority stake in AS Monaco. The seven-time French champions are in the second division but Rybolovlev has pledged to invest at least €100m over the next 4 years. "I am a passionate football fan," said the 45-year-old. "I think this club has enormous potential, both domestically and in Europe." The Russian, who is ranked 93rd on the Forbes list of billionaires, has acquired 66.67% of Monaco. He sold his stake in fertiliser producer Uralkali for $6.5bn in June 2010, his net worth is estimated at $9.5bn, and he bought American businessman Donald Trump's Palm Beach mansion for $100m in 2008.