Month: December 2017

The entrepreneur and designer Otto Kern has died in Monaco at the age of 67 from, as reported by German media, a heart attack.

An investigation has been launched after the body of the long-time Monaco resident was found on the terrace of a building on avenue Princess Grace, having fallen, according to one source, from his thirteenth floor apartment.

Kern was born in Nürtingen near Stuttgart and first studied law and economics in Frankfurt before entering women’s fashion in the early 1970s.

His successes earned him the title “The King of Shirts and Blouses”. Later he extended his reach into perfumes and other cosmetics.

In 2000, the brand name Otto Kern became part of the Herford-based men’s fashion group Ahlers, which also includes Baldessarini and Pierre Cardin. The Otto Kern logo of a lion with a stylised “K” is today found on men’s shirts, jeans and sportswear, as well on women’s blouses and knitwear.

Kern spent most of his time in Monaco, and also at homes in Kitzbühel in Austria and in the Caribbean. He was married four times and leaves three children.

In 2008, when he wed model Naomi Valeska Salz, the magazine Bunte quoted him saying at that time: “This wedding will be my last and our love will last forever.”

A frequent guest at events such as the Red Cross Ball in Monaco and the Monte-Carlo Circus, Kern was at a dinner at Schloss Bellevue with the Federal President when the royal couple of Monaco visited Germany in July 2012.

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The Government announced that there will be further work carried out on the hot water supply at the Jardins d’Appoline complex, from Tuesday, December 12, at 10 pm until Wednesday at 5 am, and again from Wednesday night until Thursday morning, at the same times.

Cold water will be accessible as usual but hot water will not be available during these periods, and the hot water taps should not be used.

Residents have also been warned to run the hot water for a minute after the service has resumed to get rid of discolouration, although it is possible that some discolouration will last longer.

Most importantly, when the hot water is back in service it will be at a higher temperature initially, at about 55 degrees. Users are advised to open the hot water supply slowly at first, in order to avoid the danger of burns. All this necessary information and precautions should be passed on to children in the household.

The Government service responsible for the repairs has apologised for the inconvenience.

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Gilles Tonelli, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, spoke on a number of topics important to the Principality at the 24th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, held in Vienna on December 7 and 8.

The minister reaffirmed Monaco’s commitment to the fundamental rules of international law, first and foremost the defence of human rights, the rule of law and democracy, as well as the respect for the principles of justice and peace.

Gilles Tonelli praised the OSCE’s many actions in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, as well as the important efforts made to calm tensions in the region. He also reaffirmed the financial support of the Principality to the OSCE Special Observer Mission to Ukraine.

In addition, Mr Tonelli indicated that the Principality will continue its efforts to contribute, as far as it can, to the fight against “the terrorist scourge”. These efforts are reflected in the extension, for three years, of the programme that Monaco is supporting alongside UNODC, aimed at helping the Sahel countries to improve their criminal justice systems in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, and by supporting the “Octopus-Cybercrim Program” under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

Finally, Gilles Tonelli said that the Principality of Monaco remains resolutely engaged with its Mediterranean partners, notably through the extension, in 2018-2019, of a financing agreement between the Prince’s Government and the OSCE on a project to ”fight against trafficking in human beings along migration routes”.

This extension was signed, in the margins of the Ministerial Council, in a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Thomas Greminger, the new Secretary General of the OSCE, in the presence of Madina Jarbussynova, Special Representative and OSCE Coordinator for the fight against trafficking in human beings.

The minister was accompanied in Vienna by Ms Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the OSCE, and Lorenzo Ravano, First Counsellor to the Monaco Embassy in Berlin.

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Minister of State congratulates AMAF grads, opens Security Summit

Government Services have started the first phase of a clean-up operation on the cliff faces of the Rock. The objective is to rid them of certain invasive plant species, preserve heritage species and limit the risk of falling rocks above the Port of Fontvieille.

With the aim of preserving local biodiversity, operators store invasive plants and dangerous stones in large white bags hanging on the cliff. To facilitate their work in the field, species identification sheets are available.

To define the areas with a conservation issue, an inventory of the area produced an exhaustive list of alien species and species of heritage interest. Training on good plant management practices was also organised for those taking part.

This clean-up operation will take place in three phases that will follow each other during the winter. The entire programme will be completed by the end of 2019 by cleaning the areas below the Oceanographic Museum and will conclude with a monitoring of the eradication of invasive alien plant species on these sites.

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Towards the end of the day on Saturday, December 9, Mayor Georges Marsan and several members of the Communal Council welcomed the Princely Couple and their Children to the Christmas Village on Port Hercule. Also in attendance were Baroness Massy, her daughter Mélanie-Antoinette, and many representatives of the high authorities of the Principality.

Following the traditional La Palladienne dance, Mayor Marsan addressed a special wish to Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella who were celebrating their third birthday the next day.

He praised the success achieved each year by the Christmas Village, one of the most important annual events organised by the Monaco City Council, and warmly congratulated all the municipal staff, and more particularly the various teams of the Entertainment Services and the elected officials who collaborate each year on this popular project.

The Sovereign Prince and Princess Charlene admired the many decorations and showcases centred on the theme “The Workshops of Santa Claus”. As usual, wooden chalets and natural spruces are in place on Quai Albert I, as well as the many activities and workshops for children.

By Saturday, many skaters had already found their way to the outdoor skating rink in the heart of the Village, while the more intrepid were trying the joys of free fall in the new wind tunnel installed at the Rainier III swimming pool.

The Monaco City Hall has again ensured complete safety by renewing last year’s security measures so that visitors can enjoy the Christmas Village to the full.

Monaco’s Christmas Village runs until January 7, 2018, while the skating rink is open until March 11.

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In 2002, Action Innocence was set up in Monaco to talk to school children and adolescents about the dangers of the internet, which nowadays includes cyberbulling, sexual predators, pornography and damaged reputations.

Every year, with the cooperation of the Department of Education, the non-profit organisation has a team of trained psychologists that visit each primary and secondary school throughout the Principality, to explain the associated risks that come with online connectivity and to try to instil an ethic and proper conduct while using the internet.

“We don’t shock the students,” Nick Danziger, Vice-President of Action Innocence and award winning photographer, told Monaco Life. “We work very hard to create an awareness in the classroom. And this also means that no child hears the same message twice from our association.”

Over the past fifteen years, more than 53,000 children have benefited from Action Innocence’s prevention program.

Listening to Nick, who sits in on as many of the classroom sessions as he can, my jaw hangs open as I learn what some young people are looking at on their phones, or what they are being exposed to in the world’s best-selling video game – rape or, in another game, as one boy described, the ability to “buy women”; their parents ignorant of the game’s Advisory Warning.

Founded by its president, Louisette Lévy-Soussan Azzoaglio, Action Innocence has one annual fundraiser, the spectacular charity Christmas tree auction in the lobby of the Hotel de Paris, which will take place this Thursday, December 14, at 6:30 pm, in the presence of the association’s patron, HSH Prince Albert II.

“Each year, between 26 to 33 trees are donated by benefactors, and we are hopeful to raise €80,000,” Nick stated.

Part of the monies raised go towards the purchase of safe webcams, ones that cannot be pirated and used by someone with bad intentions, which Action Innocence provides to all students in its prevention campaign.

The funds are also used to pay the salaries of the psychologists and to provide various tools such as educational mousepads and pay for printed materials like posters and helpline cards.

The Christmas tree auction on Thursday is open to the public but get there early, it’s standing room only. If you can’t make it but want to donate €100, download a form from their website.

Action Innocence will hold its next informative meetings for parents on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 8 pm.

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A day in the life of the Prince