NEWS
Yacht Sinks near Sicily - A 56-meter sailing yacht, Bayesian, has sunk after being hit by a mini tornado during a storm on Sunday night near Palermo, Sicily. Of the 22 people on board, fifteen people have been rescued, and seven remain missing. The missing include British, American, and Canadian nationals. Rescue operations involving helicopters, divers, and coast guard vessels are ongoing, and an investigation has been opened.
Alain Delon has Passed - Alain Delon, one of the last icons of French cinema, passed away at 88. Known for his international fame, Delon starred in numerous films, including "La Piscine" with Romy Schneider, his former love, and "Mélodie en sous-sol" filmed in Cannes. He was celebrated at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival with an honorary Palme d'Or for his legendary career.
Closed Forests and Massifs - Due to wildfire risks, Vaucluse has restricted access to three forest areas: Bollène-Uchaux, Vallée du Rhône, and Enclave des Papes, as of August 19, 2024. Nine other areas have reopened under strict fire safety rules. Seven forest massifs in Bouches-du-Rhône are closed, while others remain accessible with precautions, similar to the Var region. Firefighter reinforcements are in place. In case of fire, call 18 or 112.
Can you Fill your Swimming Pool during Heatwave Alerts? - During heatwave alerts, filling private pools can be restricted or even prohibited, depending on the alert level. While topping off water or initial fillings may be allowed during lower alert levels, no water can be added during a "crisis" level. Violating these rules can result in fines of up to €3,000.
15-year-old arrested in Menton - Police officers have caught a 15-year-old scooter driver that had evaded capture after a previous chase in Menton. They managed to block him, but he hit an officer, causing a knee injury. The officer has been given sick leave until 6 September. The teenager, a repeat offender, has been arrested, and the officer filed a complaint.
Diving Accident - A 65-year-old woman has had a diving accident this morning, 19th August, in Hyères near Toulon. She has been evacuated to the Sainte-Anne military hospital in Toulon.
Robbery in Avignon - Several stores have been robbed in the early hours of Sunday, August 18, in La Cristole, Avignon, including Feu Vert, Dafy Moto, Norauto, and Univers du Cuir. While the stolen goods' value was only a few hundred euros, the property damage was significant. Police are investigating, but no arrests have yet been made.
Truck Crash - A truck driver has violently crashed into a railway bridge on Sunday, August 18, near the Leclerc supermarket in Avignon. The Vaucluse gendarmes humorously commented on Facebook, blaming the accident on inattentiveness to road signs. The truck's roof was completely torn off. This location is known for frequent collisions with high vehicles, including a similar accident in May.
BUSINESS
X, formerly known as Twitter, has closed its Brazil office after a Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, threatened its legal representative with arrest for not complying with censorship orders. The platform, owned by Elon Musk, criticized Moraes for targeting staff and imposed heavy fines for reactivating blocked accounts accused of spreading disinformation. X said it made the decision to close to protect its employees.
The iconic fedora worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom sold for $630,000 (£487,000) at auction. Other film memorabilia, including props from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and James Bond, were also auctioned. The hat, previously owned by Ford's stunt double Dean Ferrandini, was part of his personal collection.
And - YouTube stars KSI and the Sidemen were featured in the Sunday Times' inaugural Gaming Rich List, ranking 21st with a £50m fortune. Co-founders of Playrix, Igor and Dmitry Bukhman, topped the list with £12.54bn, while PewDiePie ranked 25th with £45m. The list highlights several gaming developers and creators, including the Grand Theft Auto and Candy Crush teams.
SPORTS
Tennis - World number one Jannik Sinner overcame Alexander Zverev in three hours and seven minutes to seal a 7-6 (11-9) 5-7 7-6 (7-4) semi-final victory to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open.
Golf - Brooks Koepka beat Jon Rahm in a play-off at the Greenbrier Invitational to win his fifth LIV Golf title and his second of the year.
Athletics - After winning Gold at the Paris Olympics, Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on breaking the 800m women's world record which has stood for more than four decades.
Rugby Union - Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins will miss the start of the 2024-25 Premiership season for Exeter Chiefs after having surgery on his knee and shoulder.
WEATHER
Light clouds on the riviera with gentle to moderate winds. Highs of 29 degrees in Cannes and Marseille, 31 in Nice and Toulon, and 33 degrees in Saint-Tropez.
Tonight, clear skies and lows of 22 degrees.
Outlook for tomorrow, bright and clear throughout the day with highs of 28 degrees with gentle to moderate winds.
BEACH WEATHER
Sea temperature 26 degrees
UV levels 7
Air temperatures 32 degrees near Saint-Tropez with a gentle breeze.
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