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Month: August 2023

Watch the terrifying rockslide that’s halted train services between France and Italy

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/08/2023

Spectacular images show the terrifying moment 700 cubic metres of rocks broke away in the Savoie region on Sunday and slammed into the protective barrier of a major road, forcing the suspension of all cross-border trains on the Chambery-Turn line.

The footage, captured by Loic Borella, show the exact moment the bolders came hurtling towards the RD 1006 road that leads to the Mont-Cenis pass into Italy’s Susa Valley.

Regional authorities in Savoie said the rockslide occurred at 5:15pm on Sunday when “boulders with a total volume of 700 cubic metres” slammed into a protective barrier along the road that was being used by motorists at the time.

Miraculously, no injuries have been reported. The rockslide was likely caused by the torrential rains which struck much of France over the weekend.

The landslide forced the suspension of all cross-border trains on the Chambery-Turin line, as well as TER regional trains in the Maurienne valley, French rail operator SNCF said.

“It’s closed until at least Wednesday inclusive, but we expect it to last longer,” SNCF told AFP. “Access to the site is still prohibited by the prefecture because there is still a risk of landslides. As soon as we can access it, we can establish a diagnosis and check the damage.”

The Frejus tunnel connecting France and Italy under the Alps has also been closed to heavy trucks, with a diversion in place along the the Mont Blanc tunnel or the A8 motorway.

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AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder “firmly contests” rape accusations

by: Luke Entwistle
28/08/2023
Wissam Ben Yedder in AS Monaco training

In comments made to the Nice Matin, Wissam Ben Yedder’s lawyer has “firmly” contested the accusations of rape made against the AS Monaco captain.

33-year-old Ben Yedder was charged with rape by the Nice Public Prosecutor two weeks ago. The alleged events took place on 1oth July in Beausoleil, a town that borders the Principality to the north, after which two women, aged 19 and 20, lodged complaints against Ben Yedder and his younger brother at a police station in Cagnes-sur-Mer.

According to the Nice Matin, Ben Yedder was taken into custody for 48 hours and was released on judicial supervision after posting a €900,000 bail. Ben Yedder’s lawyer, Hasna Louzé, has now responded and “firmly contests” the allegations levelled against her client. She added that she hopes for “the justice system to be able to carry out its works calmly and without any kind of pressure”.

Since the charges, Ben Yedder has continued to play for Monaco, featuring and captaining the Principality club in the opening three games of the season. Manager Adi Hütter announced that the France international would retain the armband this season, prior to the news of the charges.

 

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Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Athletics: AS Monaco’s Téo Andant helps France to only medal of World Championships

by: Luke Entwistle
28/08/2023
AS Monaco Athlétisme's Téo Andant

AS Monaco athlete Téo Andant ensured that France didn’t finish the Athletics World Championships in Budapest without a medal, winning silver in the Men’s 4x400m relay.

France looked set to finish the World Championships without a medal, but with just two events remaining on the final night of competition, the 24-year-old AS Monaco athlete, who was born in Nice, was part of a team that ensured a positive end to a difficult week of competition.

Ludvy Vaillant, Gilles Biron and David Sombé all ran before Andant took the final lap and helped the French team to a second-place finish behind the eventual winners, the USA. As well as earning a strong spot on the podium, the efforts of the four men saw them also break the French record (2’58″45).

“I just needed to finish it off”

The AS Monaco athlete had to see off a late surge from Great Britain, who came on strong in the final 100m (2’58″71).

“I’m so proud of my partners. They’ve done incredible work. They gave me my leg in a great position, I just needed to finish it off,” said Andant.

The team victory in Budapest marks the latest achievement in a season that just gets better and better for Andant. The 24-year-old athlete was crowned 400m French champion in July, and his consistent performances will provide hope of earning a medal at his home Olympics in Paris next year.

 

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Photo source: AS Monaco Athlétisme

Could it be a record season for Monaco’s major venues and tourist attractions?

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/08/2023

If provisional reports are anything to go by, Monaco’s popular tourist attractions, exhibitions and sports venues may well have pulled in record numbers of visitors this summer.  

The summer isn’t quite over yet, but there seems to be plenty of reasons to rejoice a successful season amongst those running the cultural and tourist attractions in Monaco as, according to a report from Monaco Matin, “certain cultural establishments” within the Principality have already achieved record numbers of visitors. 

The Prince’s Car Collection 

The Prince’s Car Collection is one such beneficiary, having almost completed its first summer in its new location.

The summer has been deemed a huge success, according to statements made by the collection’s director, Valérie Closier, who told the local paper that the attraction had welcomed “very good figures” far above those seen at the museum’s previous location in Fontvieille.  

“We had a lot of people in July and August,” she revealed. “We had a peak of 2,400 people around two weeks ago. We oscillate between 2,000 and 2,400 every day. We have a lot of cruise passengers – Dutch, English, Spanish and even tourists from Eastern countries. There are also French people, but very few from the Mediterranean basin.” 

The Prince’s Car Collection can now be found in Port Hercule. Photo credit: Michael Alesi

Palais Princier de Monaco 

After reopening in early April, the Palace Apartments also saw an uptick in visitors as this year, with the Prince Rainier III centenary anniversary exhibition being cited as a big reason for renewed interest in the historic property. July alone saw 15% more visitors than in previous years, according to the Monaco Matin.  

The crowds will no doubt continue into the autumn; the new Picasso exhibit is sure to be a huge draw as well. The recently restored 16th century frescoes within the Palace too are proving to be vastly popular with visitors new and old.

Grimaldi Forum  

The ongoing Monet exhibition, Monet en Pleine Lumière, has been well-received by the art-loving community in the Principality and from further afield, exceeding the already high visitor expectations and cementing the status of the Grimaldi Forum as a hot spot for major cultural and art events.  

According to the Monaco Matin, the only other show of this size and scope to have drawn more people was the 2007 Grace Kelly retrospective, which saw 135,000 people pass through the doors of the venue. Final visitor figures for the Monet exhibit will likely be published in the autumn.  

The Monet en Pleine Lumière exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum. Photo by Monaco Life

Oceanographic Museum 

Not to be outdone, the Oceanographic Museum has stated that upward of 176,000 guests passed through its doors between 1st July and 21st August.

Though slightly down on last year, the numbers are still impressive and give the museum reason to be content. Given the wet forecasts of the final week of the summer holidays, many families will be heading for this much-appreciated destination in the coming days so these figures will likely rise further still… Summer isn’t over yet!  

 

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Featured photo by Monaco Life

Photos: More than a dozen babies born at the Jardin Animalier Rainier III this summer 

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/08/2023

The Jardin Animalier Rainier III has been rather busy this summer! From peacocks to an Azara’s agouti, here’s everything you need to know about Monaco’s youngest – and smallest – residents. 

The Jardin Animalier Rainier III, newly renamed on 31st May in honour of “Builder” Prince Rainier III, has seen its numbers swell this summer.  

14 NEWBORNS 

Between June and August, a total of 14 babies were born at Monaco’s beloved zoological park.  

These included a new Azara’s agouti, a shy furry little creature native to South America that is known as the “jungle gardener” due to its habit of burying nuts and seeds then forgetting where they put them.  

The baby Azara’s agouti born earlier this summer. Photo credit: Jardin Animalier Rainier III

There were also three peacock chicks, born on 20th June, two scarlet Ibises on 22nd June, three Nicobar pigeons on 27th June and a handful of whistling ducks.  

Apart from the whistling ducks, the youngsters will ultimately be transferred out of the park when it is appropriate and safe to do so in order to allow for genetic mixing and conservation at other zoological parks and educational farms, according to Laurent Peyronel, the director of the Jardin Animalier Rainier III.  

A PASSION PROJECT 

The Jardin Animalier Rainier III is home to around 400 animals from 60 species hailing from around the world. The majority make their way to Monaco having been confiscated by border controllers or abandoned. Others make their home here after unsuccessful stays at different zoological parks.

The park was a lifetime passion project for the late Prince Rainier, and since the end of May, a photography exhibition in memory of the great man has acted as an added attraction at the park.

Entitled “Le Prince et ses animaux”, it tells the story of Prince Rainier III’s love for and devotion to the Jardin Animalier Rainier III through a series of snaps taken within the property. Many have never been seen before in public and offer an intimate insight into the role of the Prince in the missions and goals of the park. It will continue to be open to the public until 31st December. 

The park is open year-round and tickets cost €6 for adults, €3 for children aged six to 17, and are free of charge for under sixes. For more information, please click here. 

Click on the images below to see some of the babies born this summer:

 

Read more:

Exhibition: The story behind Prince Rainier’s “Noah’s Ark”

 

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Featured photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

Formula 1: Max Verstappen weathers the storm to win in Zandvoort

by: Luke Entwistle
27/08/2023

Max Verstappen weathered the storm at his home Grand Prix to win at Zandvoort and record his ninth-consecutive victory, whilst Charles Leclerc’s miserable weekend ended with a retirement.

At the Dutch Grand Prix, on home soil, Verstappen edged ever closer to a third consecutive title. However, unlike for much of this season, he didn’t have it all his own way with rain mixing up the field in the early stages.

Despite getting off to a clean start and retaining first place from pole, rain struck on the first lap. Those who anticipated the rain, notably teammate Sergio Perez, profited from his early change onto intermediates giving him the lead.

However, by the time drivers began to change back onto slicks, Verstappen found himself once again in his familiar position at the front of the pack. That lead was never conceded, even despite another, and much heavier shower in the dying stages.

Surprise podium for Gasly

As the grid changed from intermediates to full wets in worsening conditions, Guanyu Zhou went into the barriers, bringing out a red flag. Perez looked to have been the big loser, having found himself in the pits at the time of the neutralisation of the race, but his third place was then reinstated.

However, the Mexican was penalised for speeding in the pitlane, having tapped the wall on the way in. Perez didn’t challenge Fernando Alonso, who drove flawlessly on his way to second place, behind the invincible Verstappen.

Nightmare weekend for Leclerc

The five-second penalty incurred by Perez allowed Pierre Gasly to earn just the second podium of his career. The result was timely for Alpine, who have been off the pace and error-strewn for much of the season.

Close friend Leclerc didn’t have such fortune. The Monégasque endured a difficult weekend in the Netherlands. Having crashed out of qualifying, he damaged his floor early-on in Sunday’s race. That damage proved terminal, with Leclerc struggling in the lower-midfield, Ferrari retired the car on lap 43 of 72.

Ferrari’s difficulties continue, whilst the team that they rivalled last season, Red Bull, are imperious. The team have won every race so far this season, with Verstappen winning the last nine. The Dutchman is in a league of his own, and having weathered the storm at the his home Grand Prix, it is clear that he won’t be denied a third consecutive title.

 

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office