NEWS
Delays in Nice Airports - Flights at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport have been delayed on Thursday due to stormy weather in the Alpes-Maritimes region. Average delays reached 47 minutes for arrivals and 20 minutes for departures, with some planes forced to take detours. While conditions have improved, delays of up to two hours continued throughout the day.
Les Voiles Blanches - Monaco City Hall is supporting the Les Voiles Blanches project, which collects new toys for hospitalized children. Donation chests are located at the town hall and Condamine market, with collections running until September 9. The White Pirate sailboat will arrive in Monaco on August 24 to gather the toys for distribution.
Train Journey - A woman’s train journey from Lyon to Nice on August 14 took over 14 hours instead of the usual seven due to stormy weather. A mini tornado blocked the tracks near Draguignan, leaving her stranded for nine hours in the train. She finally arrived in Nice the next morning and is seeking reimbursement, including for her cat's ticket.
Fatal road Accident - A road accident claimed the life of two twenty-year-old men early this morning, Friday 16th August, in boulevard Carnot in Nice. When emergency services arrived, the two young men had already passed away. Two other passengers suffered injuries and have been taken to the Pasteur Hospital of Nice. An investigation has been opened.
Fire in Cannes - 23 firefighters have intervened Friday morning to extinguish a fire at a villa on Avenue du Docteur Raymond Picaud in Cannes. The blaze started on the wooden roof of the veranda and spread to the villa’s roof. Two sisters have been evacuated unharmed, but their black-and-white cat is missing. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and gas bottles were safely removed from the house.
Wildfire in Canjuers, near Draguignan - A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon in a remote area of the Canjuers military camp near Draguignan, burning 21 hectares. As of Friday morning, 103 firefighters, aided by rain, continue to battle the flames using aerial support. The fire's cause is unclear, though it's suspected to be natural, with no military activity in the area at the time.
Closed Beaches - Due to heavy rains on August 15, Martigues has closed all its beaches until August 17 as a precaution against pollution risks. The rainfall caused water runoff and potential contamination of bathing waters. Bacteria monitoring has been increased, and signs have been posted to inform beachgoers.
Citizen Gathering in Marseille - A citizen gathering is planned for August 22 after a young doctor was violently attacked for refusing to issue a prescription in Marseille. The assault occurred in the La Viste neighborhood, and the doctor has filed a complaint. The event, organized by her colleague Dr. Saïd Ouichou, seeks public support to address rising violence against medical professionals.
BUSINESS
President Biden announced significant price cuts for 10 common prescription drugs under Medicare, reducing costs by 38% to 79%, effective in 2026. The changes, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, aim to save Medicare $6 billion and lower out-of-pocket costs by $1.5 billion for around nine million users. Drug companies have opposed the cuts, but the policy marks a key victory for Biden's administration.
Kim Dotcom, founder of the file-sharing site Megaupload, has lost his long legal battle to avoid extradition from New Zealand to the U.S. He faces charges including copyright infringement and money laundering related to digital piracy, which allegedly cost media companies over $500 million. Despite claiming he had no control over user uploads, Dotcom could face a lengthy prison term if convicted.
The closure of Game Informer, a gaming magazine that ran for 33 years, has been called a "big loss" to the industry by developers of The Casting of Frank Stone, the final game to feature on its cover. Despite industry layoffs, the developers remain committed to expanding the horror gaming world.
SPORTS
Tennis - British number one Jack Draper fought back from a set down to beat world number 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas and reach the Cincinnati Open third round. Draper won 12 of the last 17 points to wrap up a 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory.
Golf - Australia's Minjee Lee leads the Women's Scottish Open by one shot after carding a bogey-free, five-under 67 on the rain-interrupted first day at Dundonald Links.
Rugby Union - Scrum-half Ben Youngs says Michael Cheika's appointment as Leicester Tigers head coach has generated "excitement" among players after a season of "frustration".
Cycling - The president of the Sarrians BMX club made the announcement on Thursday 15 August that the Vaucluse track will once again host a round of the World Cup. The event will take place in 2025.
WEATHER
Risks of thunderstorm persist throughout the region, especially this evening. Highs of 32 degrees across the region with gentle to moderate winds.
Tonight, the sky remains a bit grey with lows of 24 degrees.
Outlook for this weekend,
Saturday: clear afternoon and thunderous evening with highs of 30 degrees.
Sunday: Mostly clear with light rain near Nice and highs of 28 degrees.
Monday: Mostly fine with highs of 30 degrees and moderate winds.
BEACH WEATHER
Despite the thunder roaring in the sky this evening, the sea remains warm, reaching 27 degrees. The UV levels are of 7 and the air temperatures are of 25. Not the ideal scenery for a swim, unless you’re feeling adventurous.
The Alpes-Maritimes department is tackling "ghost fishing nets," abandoned plastic nets that harm marine ecosystems. ...
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The French government has claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu has immunity from arrest warrants which have been issued by the international criminal court...
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A criminal network that cloned payment cards to steal "hundreds of thousands of euros" from trucking companies across France, including the Côte d’Azu...
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The CGT has released a map detailing nearly 200,000 jobs threatened across France due to layoffs and industrial restructuring since September 2023, wi...
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The A8 motorway was temporarily closed at the La Barque toll plaza toward Nice due to a vehicle driving the wrong way near Aix-en-Provence....
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