The twinning cities of Palermo and Monte Carlo may well say they gained a new symbol of their friendship: the Esimit Europa 2 yacht. The 30-meter maxi yacht, under the patronage of Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, and with Gazprom as main sponsor, was the first one to cross the finish line of the 500-nautical-mile course.

SAN REMO, Italy, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Esimit Europa 2 (www.esimit.com) has taken line honours in the Giraglia Race after it majestically crossed the finish line in San Remo at 11:05 in the morning.

By FRANK DIGIALLEONARDO Two years ago, the Our Bay section in The Capital featured the Corsica River and posed the question: "Can This River be Saved?" While a science-based answer will take more time to formulate, the people living here believe more than ever that it can be done.

By Matt Warren I am on the stairway to heaven, but I'm wishing I'd caught the elevator. It's high noon in Corsica and we are a thousand feet above the pretty port of Cargese.

BASTIA, France (Reuters) - French soldiers stormed a car ferry in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday to recapture it from about 50 striking workers who had seized the vessel in protest at plans to privatize their ferry company.