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Month: February 2024

Crime rates remain stable in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter
01/02/2024

Monaco’s reputation as one of the safest places to live in the world is justified, but that doesn’t mean crime is non-existent in the Principality. 

According to “délinquance générale” figures published by the Monaco Matin, 834 incidents ranging from thefts and burglaries to drink driving and drug possession were recorded by the Principality’s Police Department in 2023, up 0.9% on those reported in 2022.  

The 606 officer-strong police force, which is backed up by a massive network of 1,087 security cameras to make it the world’s largest per-capita and per-area force, attended 9,400 callouts and emergency interventions last year and conducted 44,750 identity and 57,000 vehicles checks over the course of 2023. 

Just one incident of car theft was noted, down from four the year before, but the number of two-wheeled vehicles rose to 11 from nine.  

143 people were found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, an increase of nearly 24% on 2022’s statistics, while 118 cases of drug possession were registered by officers, up almost 50% in 12 months.  

Richard Marangoni, the head of the Police Department, confirmed to the newspaper that the force was keeping a close eye on telephone and email scams and those behind them. 18 crimes of this category were recorded in 2023, compared to 27 the previous year. Marangoni added that one perpetrator had very recently been arrested.  

See more: Authorities warn of new email scam doing rounds

For the first time ever, statistics on crimes against members of the police force have been made public: seven officers were the subject of verbal assaults while 10 came up against resistance while attempting to perform their duties and seven were violently attacked. Marangoni told local reporters that he hoped communicating these figures would help demonstrate the reality faced day-to-day by his officers.  

 

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Photo source: Jakub Zerdzicki, Unsplash

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler sells personal guitar collection, breaks records

by: Cassandra Tanti
01/02/2024

The final hammer has gone down on the auction of guitars from the personal collection of music legend Mark Knopfler, the celebrated singer-songwriter, guitar hero and frontman of the iconic British band Dire Straits. The sale was 100% sold, realising a total of €10,342,987. 

The sale was led by Knopfler’s 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard which sold for £693,000, setting a new world auction record for the model. Further new world auction records were set, including for a Pensa-Suhr, which sold for sold for £504,000. The guitar was completed in record time so it would be ready for Knopfler to play at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert on 11th June 1988 at Wembley Stadium. The guitar made its debut a week earlier when Knopfler played ‘Money For Nothing’ and ‘Layla’ with Eric Clapton’s All-Star Band at the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala on 6th June 1988.

Another record was broken with the sale of a  Red Schecter Telecaster  setting a new world auction record for a Schecter. Knopfler purchased the guitar in 1984 and used it to record the hit Dire Straits song ‘Walk Of Life’ and its accompanying music video. This vermillion red workhorse has become one of his most recognisable and long-serving instruments, with a live performance history spanning Dire Straits’ 1985-86 Brothers in Arms Tour through to Knopfler’s 2008 Kill To Get Crimson Tour, with notable appearances at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert in 1988 and on the 1996 live concert DVD A Night In London Schecter. This legendary guitar sold for £415,800.

Music aficionados, fans and collectors from 61 countries registered to bid, with high levels of competition across the 122 lots offered, resulting in the auction lasting over six hours.

25% of the total hammer price will be divided equally and donated to charities that Mark Knopfler has supported for many years: The British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts of the North East. 100% of the funds raised from the final lot are being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. In addition, Christie’s is contributing a further £50,000 to each of the four charities.

“This auction has been an incredible journey and I am so pleased that these much loved instruments will find new players and new songs as well as raising money for charities that mean a lot to me,” said Mark Knopfler. “It has been heart-warming to witness how much these guitars mean to so many people and I am also pleased that they will continue to give joy to many through the songs recorded over the years with me. To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you all good things.”

According to Amelia Walker, Christie’s Specialist Head of Private and Iconic Collections, London, “The auction saw an unprecedented number of bidders register to take part. We feel privileged to have been entrusted by Mark to find new owners for his old ‘friends’, some of which appear on his upcoming new album One Deep River to be released in April, and to have helped raise money for his chosen charities.”

Another standout in the auction is the Gibson Les Paul ‘Gold Top’ which sold for £403,200. The guitar betokens a highly anticipated collaboration project featuring some of the world’s most iconic musicians, spearheaded by Mark Knopfler, to be announced in February. The autographs on this guitar include Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Slash, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Sting, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, The Edge, Joan Jett, and Nile Rodgers, as well as many other world-famous artists.

For the full set of the results, click here.

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Photo source: Christies

Puccini’s legacy to be honoured with gala evening at the Opéra de Nice

by: Niki Borisova
01/02/2024

The centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, the lauded Italian composer, is to be commemorated later this month with a spectacular gala evening in Nice that will feature a performance by Ermonela Jaho, the Nice Opera Choir and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra.  

On 9th February at 8pm, the doors of the Nice Côte d’Azur Opera in the old town will open for a dazzling night of culture and cuisine.  

The evening is being held in commemoration of the centenary of the death of Puccini, the Italian composer renowned for revolutionising the world of the opera with works such as La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly.  

The cultural highlight of the event will be a performance by Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho, who is recognised worldwide for her spellbinding interpretations of Puccini’s heroines. In the role of conductor will be Daniele Callegari, who will lead the Nice Opera Choir and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Following the concert, guests will be invited to mix and mingle at a VIP cocktail before heading through to the Opera’s Salon for a gourmet dining experience.  

Tickets cost €350, but up to 66% is tax deductible, while a table for 10 guests can be reserved for €3,500. 

Click here for more information about the event.  

 

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Photo credit: Opéra de Nice

Basketball: Roca Team dominate Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade

by: Niki Borisova
01/02/2024

AS Monaco Basket put on a commanding performance for their home fans in the Salle Gaston Médecin on Wednesday 31st January, overcoming Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade by a 15-point margin and improving their record against the Serbian side to 14-10. 

Despite an early points deficit, AS Monaco were on track by halftime and maintained a steady control of Partizan Belgrade and their top scorer Kevin Punter.

The third quarter solidified Monaco’s dominance; the standout moment came when Mike James hit a three-pointer and further extended the Roca Team’s lead whilst simultaneously dampening Partizan’s hopes of a comeback.

Monaco’s defence held strong, preventing any significant challenge from the opposing team in the final quarter, and the close of the game saw the Roca Team earn a comfortable victory: 85-70.

James’ contributions not only helped his side win the fixture, but also saw him claim the title of the EuroLeague’s top scorer this season with an impressive 19.2 points per game rating. He also moves up to third place in the all-time rankings, behind Nando De Colo and the legendary Vassilis Spanoulis.  

Post-game, AS Monaco’s coach Sasa Obradovic praised the team, saying, “This is a special team. All players were engaged; it’s a real pleasure to coach them.”  

Looking ahead, the Roca Team will next host Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in a EuroLeague clash on 2nd February.  

Read related:

The February schedule of home games for AS Monaco and the Roca Team

 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Blue Coast Brewing Company launches new burger range and beer pong tournaments

by: Stephanie Horsman
01/02/2024

Just in time for the Six Nations Championship, the Blue Coast Brewing Company in Nice has announced a brand-new burger menu to accompany its taproom beverages as well as a monthly beer pong tournament that will begin this Friday. 

The French Riviera micro-brewery, which was launched in 2017 by a collection of avid brewers, sports stars and celebrities, is branching out with a range of gourmet burgers that will be served on-site at the taproom on Chemin de Saquier in Nice. 

The kitchen will be open from Friday 2nd February, a date that marks the start of the 2024 Six Nations Championship, with a game between Ireland and France due to begin at 9pm. 

The same day, and on the first Friday of every month going forwards, the Blue Coast Brewing Company will host its first beer pong tournament. 

Beer pong, for the uninitiated, is a game where players aim to land table tennis balls in a cup of beer located on their opponent’s side of a table. If a ball makes its way into a cup, the person next to the cup must drink its contents.  

It costs €6.50 to sign up for the tournament, which will kick off at 7.30pm. The prize is a free metre of the Blue Coast Brewing Company’s award-winning artisanal beer! 

Click here for more information. 

 

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Photo source: Blue Coast Brewing Company, Facebook

Toll price hikes on the A8 are among the highest in France

by: Stephanie Horsman
01/02/2024

As of 1st February, Vinci Autoroutes, which manages close to half of France’s motorways, has increased the prices of tolls across its network, but the changes aren’t all equal. 

The average increase is of 2.7%, but in the south of France, some toll costs have soared by up to 4.4%. 

Not all péages have been affected by the price changes – Nice’s Saint Isidore, for example, remains at €1.50 for the Category 1 vehicle group that includes the standard family car – but the La Turbie toll near Monaco has increased by 20 centimes, making a journey between Nice Airport and the east of the Alpes-Maritimes 4.4% more expensive. 

The Antibes péage has also increased by 10 centimes, from €3.40 to €3.50, on the back on last year’s increase, which saw the toll rise by 20 centimes from €3.20.  

Read related:

New ‘Monaco Est’ motorway exit finally inaugurated

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department