Agnès Buzyn, Minister of Solidarity and Serge Telle, Minister of State
Agnès Buzyn, France’s Minister of Solidarity and Health, and Serge Telle, Monaco’s Minister of State, have signed a cooperation agreement on health safety and a second agreement on the treatment of blood products.
The framework agreement, signed July 13, is intended to formalise the pre-existing Franco-Monegasque agreements in health surveillance, the provision of emergency health facilities and the pooling of prevention and treatment. It also allows Monaco to be integrated into the PACA health crisis mechanism so that the Principality can fully commit itself to International Health Regulations of the World Health Organisation.
The agreement on blood products will enable the French Blood Establishment to ensure the treatment of blood collected by the Blood Transfusion Centre of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre of Monaco. This is intended to respond in the most effective way to the needs for blood products while respecting a high level of transfusion safety and ethical collection.
The signing of these two health accords is viewed by both countries as a major step forward in cross-border cooperation in health security.
Across July 3 to 8, the first annual Corfu Challenge was held. At its conclusion, George Sakellaris (owner of two of the competing yachts) and Team Proteus, were the 2017 Corfu Challenge winners.
The last race was held on Saturday, and spectators were delighted to watch the exciting pre-start match racing that played out. Conditions started out lighter than previous days, 12 to 16 knots from the northwest. When asked about the team’s pre-start plan, Proteus strategist Tommaso Chieffi explained, “Initially we decided to match race MOMO, we knew if we didn’t they would come after us. There was a lot of action because aside from us, Cannonball was going after Bella Mente to race for third.”
He expanded on the exciting start, “The great thing about this boat is they are so manoeuvrable and light, and with the large number of crew you can pretty much do anything.”
The race seven winner was Hap Fauth and team Bella Mente followed by MOMO, Proteus, Evniki and Cannonball. Rolex, the Official Timepiece, congratulates all teams for completing the first ever Maxi 72 regatta in Greece.
L-R: George Sakellaris, Christine Sakellaris and Hap Fauth
My friend George owns two of the yachts in this regatta, one captained by him (Proteus) and the other by his daughter. I also know Hap Fauth the owner of Bella Mente. I was fortunate enough to go out with Hap on his old yacht ‘Whisper’ in several of the St Barths Bucket Race Regattas over the years. The full sails are just so beautiful, and when racing on the Med with the spectacular vistas, it is just too beautiful.
It was the first-time a group of young sailors and with a female captain, Christine Sakellaris (under the guidance of veteran professionals), racing Evniki, were involved in a world class Maxi 72 event. Over the course of the week, the team was immersed in the daily grind amongst some of the highest-level sailors in the world.
Evoking a modern renaissance of sailing’s oldest Hellenic traditions, the Corfu Challenge has generated great enthusiasm throughout the competitive sailing community and has been included in the 2017 Maxi 72 Overall Trophy.
The regatta was organised by the Marina Gouvia Sailing Club, with the cooperation of the International Maxi Association (IMA) and the Maxi 72 Class. The event is open to all boats with a valid 2017 Maxi 72 Certificate, as well as boats with a valid endorsed 2017 IRC Certificate and a Maxi 72 Class confirmed Wild Card invitation.
“What has made the Corfu Challenge different than any other regatta is the heart, passion, and warm generosity of everyone who came together.” Cathy Sakellaris thanked everyone involved and especially mentioned the organising committee. From day one, committee members continued to give and asked for nothing other than to promote the sport we are all passionate about! Awards were given at the Museum of Asian art at the beautiful Palace of St Michael and St George in the heart of Corfu.
Photo: Rolex/ICARUS Sports
In addition to the hand crafted first-place trophy, a perpetual trophy was introduced in honour of George Coumantaros, an internationally-renowned businessman and veteran ocean racer who passed away in Athens, Greece, on October 17, 2016.
This year it was given to all Corfu Challenge Maxi 72 owners to signify the high level international racing showcased throughout the week.
Many of these superyachts are on to the next regattas at Cops del Ray in Palma at the end of this month, World Championship in Sardinia in early September and Malta’s Mid Sea Sailing in the middle of October.
Lorre White is an international luxury market expert and luxury media personality “The Luxury Guru”, Owner of White Light Consulting, Luxury blog www.LuxGuru.Typepad.com
Monaco’s striker Radamel Falcao has paid €8.2 million to tax authorities in Spain as a caution as an investigation into alleged tax evasion continues, according to several news outlets.
Falcao, 31, has been accused of defrauding the Spanish taxman of €7.4 million by using several shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, Ireland, Colombia and Panama to avoid taxes on income from image rights.
The total sum, which includes interest, relates to Falcao’s time at Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2013. Falcao has said he was resident in Monaco from May 2013, when he joined AS Monaco.
The Spanish authorities have claimed that Falcao constructed an opaque system “with the sole aim of hiding from the Spanish taxman”.
Falcao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has dismissed claims that he helped handle Falcao’s tax affairs.
“In the statement made by Jorge Mendes before the judge, he clarified that his activity as sports agent, when representing players, is limited solely to representing them in their negotiations with the clubs to determine the salary terms of their contracts,” according to a statement from Mendes’ agency.
“Neither he nor his employees have ever intervened in the creation of corporate structures for his clients and much less provided any tax advice to them.”
The same judge is also overseeing the case in which Cristiano Ronaldo, another of Mendes’ clients, is accused of hiding €14.7 million from the taxman. The Real Madrid player is due to appear in court over the matter on July 31.
Three young migrants were picked up by police after being spotted by surveillance cameras near Place Sainte-Dévote on Friday afternoon.
The teenage boys told the Monaco Police that they were minors, but had no papers to prove their age. However, instead of being handed over to the French police, which would happen if they were adults, the three were taken to the Princess Charlene Children’s Home, administered by the Health and Social Affairs Directorate.
This is the first time that unaccompanied minors have been apprehended in Monaco as they have made their way from the Italian border to France as illegal immigrants.
Princess Stephanie’s daughter, Pauline Ducruet, was a recent guest of the Embassy of Monaco in Washington DC, where she took part in an event recognising young circus performers.
As part of a tribute to Prince Rainier III for his involvement in the circus and for the contributions that the Grimaldi Family continues to make to the circus, Ms Ducruet, who is President of the New Generation Young Artists Festival, chaired the closing session of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival devoted to the new generation.
The day before, a reception was held at the Residence of the Ambassador to welcome Ms Ducruet, as well as to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Festival.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is organised by the Smithsonian Institute, which promotes cultural exchanges between countries, artists and the public.
San Francisco City Hall concert on the occasion of the French National Day (Bastille Day). Photo: Facebook Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco
The Petits Chanteurs de Monaco continue their North American tour with concerts in Lynnwood, Seattle, Tacoma, Salem and Sacramento. On Friday, July 14, they sang in San Francisco.
The tour started on July 3 in Vancouver and will finish in Los Angeles on July 23.
Monaco’s embassy in Washington DC and consulates in Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, have been very much involved in making the necessary arrangements for the tour, which has been acclaimed as a great success.
Last year the choir toured Asia for three weeks, including China, South Korea and Japan, where many of their concerts were televised.
Created in 1971 by Prince Rainier III, the audition-only troupe is made up of talented boys aged 8 to 16, who perform, currently under the direction by Pierre Debat, a repertoire of sacred works, French and Monégasque folk songs and English-language songs.
In a statement on the choir website, Prince Albert II comments: “The activities of these little ambassadors of Monaco deserve all of my support, and I commend them for their commitment and their career. Their merit is praiseworthy and so is the enthusiasm they show under the guidance of Mr Pierre Debat, himself gifted with the same passion as that of his parents.”
Photo: Facebook Les Petits Chanteurs de MonacoPhoto: Facebook Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco
Across July 3 to 8, the first annual Corfu Challenge was held. At its conclusion, George Sakellaris (owner of two of the competing yachts) and Team Proteus, were the 2017 Corfu Challenge winners.
Lorre White is an international luxury market expert and luxury media personality “The Luxury Guru”, Owner of White Light Consulting, Luxury blog 
Three young migrants were picked up by police after being spotted by surveillance cameras near Place Sainte-Dévote on Friday afternoon.
